Welcome to Gaia! ::

Rituals can be done for many different reasons and can contain a varity of different things. I am going to share a simple outline of what every ritual should include.

Ritual Preparation
1. Define purpose
2. Write ritual
3. Gather necessary tools
4. Prepare area
5. Prepare body

ok this isn't really part of the ritual but without preperation you don't really have a ritual.

Cast the Circle
This is usually done by walking the circle clockwise with either incense, a staff, an athame, or simply yourself, while saying something

Call the Watchtowers/Quarters
Light a candle in each North, South, East and West, usually starting with east and going clockwise. Again something is usually said at each.

Invoke the God and Goddess
Usually the one you wish to help in whatever you're doing. Light the candles representing the god and goddess. Usually done at north.

Rite
This is whatever spell, celebration, or reason for preforming the ritual.

Meditation
Your ritual may or may not include a meditation, the reason for your ritual may even be the meditation itself, that's ok. Whatever you want to do is up to you.

Thanking the God and Goddess
This is just what it says, you thank the deities who came to or witnessed your ritual. again done in the north postion.

Thanking the Quarters
Thank the beings from each element for witnessing and attending your ritual. Start at North and go counterclockwise.

Open the Circle
Ground the energy, then walk the circle counterclockwise opening it to allows those inside to exit.

Thank you. I didn't see anything on rituals and I know not everyone even those who have been practicing for a while really haven't written a ritual. I just thought it would be a good thing to share especially for newcomers to the path.

very informative, seeing as I am new to my path. thank you.