#16 19  05 Aug 85  22:48:33 (RECV'D)
From: Curly Howard  To: Da Sysop
See also msg # 17 
Subject: NEO-PAGANISM

Alright, I don't want to sound dumb, but I have no idea what these rituals 
entain. What goes on during these, and what is their purpose ?  
                                 Curly Howard


#17 19  06 Aug 85  11:59:57 (RECV'D)
From: Brad Hicks  REPLY To: Curly Howard
Reply to msg # 16    See also msg # 18 
Subject: NEOPAGAN RITUAL

   Boy, you don't ask the easy ones.  Dr. Regardie takes 12 volumes to 
answer this one; Aleister Crowley, 13 or so; Isaac Bonewits, two (and 
that's only introductory).  
 
   I'll try to summarize, but if you're really interested, track down 
Starhawk's THE SPIRAL DANCE for further details.  Most scholars divide 
ritual into two classes:  1) theurgic, and 2) thaumaturgic.  In fancy 
words, this means that either you are praying to make your self "a better 
person" or "closer to God/ess" or "to be saved from your sins", or you are 
praying for the God/ess to intervene in the world around you - prayers for 
peace, for money, for health, etc.  
 
   Neopagan ritual partakes of both aspects, to some extent.  In a typical 
ritual, various techniques (as old as humanity) are used to "raise the 
power," then the power is focused via magickal symbols to contact the 
God(s) and/or Goddess(es) who are being called upon.  He/She/They take that 
magickal energy, augment it, and return it to the circle.  The High 
Priest/ess then focuses that energy on the target - the object or person to 
be affected, if any - then any energies that remain (or the total energy, 
if there is no magickal target) are returned to the Gods, via a processes 
called "grounding." 
 
   To paraphrase Uncle Isaac's wonderful book on the subject, you have the 
wind-up, the pitch, and the follow-through.  
 
   The windup uses any ritual techniques that are appropriate to a) the 
setting, b) the purpose of the ritual, c) the deities being contacted, and 
d) the skills of the participants.  The universals are chanting, dance, and 
"ritual theatre."  There are, of course, others.  
 
   The "pitch" uses beautiful, poetic imagery in guided meditations and 
ritual movement.  Occasionally (if possible), this uses music and dance.  
Once the gods are contacted and the energy flows, it is concentrated in an 
object - usually cakes and wine, but occasionally by other means - and 
distributed, symbolically to all the participants.  Having partaken of the 
energy thus raised, the guided meditations direct the people in focusing 
their energy on the purpose at hand.  
 
   Finally, the High Priest or Priestess goes through a "follow-through", 
which involves dissolving the "group mind", reassuring people that what we 
have worked is done and was effective, and then "grounding" any loose 
energies, so that when the group leaves the ritual circle, they are back in 
their normal minds.  
 
   As I write, it occurs to me that the real answer to your question lies 
in that last sentence - "back in their normal minds."  Neopagan ritual is a 
collection of tools and techniques for altering your consciousness, 
temporarily, to a place where the Gods and Goddesses are real and near, 
where we as their children and lovers and friends can worship them, and 
where the magick we work can come true.  Having convinced ourselves of 
this, we act on it, then return to our daily lives refreshed.  
 
   (Gods, what a bunch of gibberish!  You would have been better off 
reading the books!) 
 
   Anyway, I tried.  Anyone else (esp. Black Dragon if he shows up again, 
as he's worked at least as much ritual as I) please feel free to add or 
comment.  Was this the kind of answer you wanted, Curly?  
 
                   - Reverend Talespinner, O.S.C.
                     Clan Destiny Chapel of Eris & Dionysus
                     (aka, Brad Hicks)