Post by SummerBoi on Jul 3, 2003 23:17:48 GMT -5
What is the Difference??
One of the most interesting and exciting segments of Spirituality is spellcasting and rituals. These two activities are filled with individualism, creativity, and power. It is one of the areas where the practitioner can really spread their wings. Not only are spells and rituals filled with freedom, but rituals also allow a practitioner to connect directly with the God and Goddess.
With something so important to most Spiritualists, it becomes imperative that this section begins with detailed definitions of rituals and spells. While these two terms are commonly used interchangeably in this day and age, spells and rituals actually serve two different purposes. The following definitions take a little from history and add current, modern day practices.
A Spell:
A spell is an activity that prolongs or changes a state of being through direct manipulation of the creative life-force energy (discussed earlier in the "Study Of The Craft"). This is usually done through the use of spoken words (IE: chant or the like) accompanied by candles, gemstones, incense, herbs, amulets, and other items. As an example, let us say that we are working a healing spell. The spell may include spoken words to bring about healing, blue candles, a fluorite gemstone, life-everlasting herb, sandalwood incense, and an amulet that has been blessed for healing. The words and the items used usually all relate directly to the desired intent ... in this case they relate to healing. A spell can be considered a very "hands-on" approach. It is an attempt to change or prolong a situation without directly requesting assistance from deity. (the God and/or Goddess)
A Ritual:
Rituals are used to connect to deity. They are commonly used for such activities as asking for help or guidance from the God and/or Goddess in addition to requesting recognition from deity. Examples of requesting recognition are croning rituals, dedications, birth rituals, and the like. Recognition rituals generally request that deity recognize and/or accept a "change" in a person or situation. Help or guidance rituals may are used to seek assistance from deity. For example, a practitioner may wish to ask for help in healing a serious injury. Connection to deity may be assisted through the use of gemstones, herbs, incense, and the like. These items may either honor the God and/or Goddess, or help the practitioner focus on the connection.
Rituals may also be described as "an activity done two or more times .... a repetitive activity." For example, a healing spell that is done every morning in the same way. The activity of doing it repetitively can be called a "ritual".
Many practitioners use a combination of ritual and spell for most of their workings. An example of this would be a healing rite that includes herbs, candles, and gemstones to help bring about healing (a spell) in addition to a direct request for help from deity (a ritual).
When choosing whether to perform a ritual or a spell, there really is no right or wrong answer. Some people may prefer a ritual to a spell. They may feel safer in asking the more powerful deity for assistance or they may just have better results. Others may use spells more than rituals. They may believe that deity need not be bothered with a "simple" healing request, or they may be a practitioner that believes only in the creative energy. (no thinking deity to "answer requests - discussed earlier in the "pyramid structure")
Once you have decided to work a spell, ritual, or combination of each, it becomes important to understand the consequences. A spell or ritual, even a "positive" one, can change the normal state of being. When this change occurs, a second change may follow, called "Karma", to allow for a balance in the creative energy patterns. In the following chapters we will discuss short-term karma, long-term karma, and the
3-Fold Law in detail, as it is important to understand these before casting a spell or performing a ritual.
SummerBoi
One of the most interesting and exciting segments of Spirituality is spellcasting and rituals. These two activities are filled with individualism, creativity, and power. It is one of the areas where the practitioner can really spread their wings. Not only are spells and rituals filled with freedom, but rituals also allow a practitioner to connect directly with the God and Goddess.
With something so important to most Spiritualists, it becomes imperative that this section begins with detailed definitions of rituals and spells. While these two terms are commonly used interchangeably in this day and age, spells and rituals actually serve two different purposes. The following definitions take a little from history and add current, modern day practices.
A Spell:
A spell is an activity that prolongs or changes a state of being through direct manipulation of the creative life-force energy (discussed earlier in the "Study Of The Craft"). This is usually done through the use of spoken words (IE: chant or the like) accompanied by candles, gemstones, incense, herbs, amulets, and other items. As an example, let us say that we are working a healing spell. The spell may include spoken words to bring about healing, blue candles, a fluorite gemstone, life-everlasting herb, sandalwood incense, and an amulet that has been blessed for healing. The words and the items used usually all relate directly to the desired intent ... in this case they relate to healing. A spell can be considered a very "hands-on" approach. It is an attempt to change or prolong a situation without directly requesting assistance from deity. (the God and/or Goddess)
A Ritual:
Rituals are used to connect to deity. They are commonly used for such activities as asking for help or guidance from the God and/or Goddess in addition to requesting recognition from deity. Examples of requesting recognition are croning rituals, dedications, birth rituals, and the like. Recognition rituals generally request that deity recognize and/or accept a "change" in a person or situation. Help or guidance rituals may are used to seek assistance from deity. For example, a practitioner may wish to ask for help in healing a serious injury. Connection to deity may be assisted through the use of gemstones, herbs, incense, and the like. These items may either honor the God and/or Goddess, or help the practitioner focus on the connection.
Rituals may also be described as "an activity done two or more times .... a repetitive activity." For example, a healing spell that is done every morning in the same way. The activity of doing it repetitively can be called a "ritual".
Many practitioners use a combination of ritual and spell for most of their workings. An example of this would be a healing rite that includes herbs, candles, and gemstones to help bring about healing (a spell) in addition to a direct request for help from deity (a ritual).
When choosing whether to perform a ritual or a spell, there really is no right or wrong answer. Some people may prefer a ritual to a spell. They may feel safer in asking the more powerful deity for assistance or they may just have better results. Others may use spells more than rituals. They may believe that deity need not be bothered with a "simple" healing request, or they may be a practitioner that believes only in the creative energy. (no thinking deity to "answer requests - discussed earlier in the "pyramid structure")
Once you have decided to work a spell, ritual, or combination of each, it becomes important to understand the consequences. A spell or ritual, even a "positive" one, can change the normal state of being. When this change occurs, a second change may follow, called "Karma", to allow for a balance in the creative energy patterns. In the following chapters we will discuss short-term karma, long-term karma, and the
3-Fold Law in detail, as it is important to understand these before casting a spell or performing a ritual.
SummerBoi