Shadowulfe
October 15th, 2001, 09:49 PM
Dedication Ritual from Celtic Myth & Magick by Edain McCoy
Self-Dedication is best done at the inbetween times which the Celts held to be so powerful. These are times such as midnight, dawn, dusk, seasonal changes, etc., all times when it is hard to tell if it is day or night, or winter or summer, etc. Doing your dedication at these times symbolizes your willing enterance into a life which consciously walks the fine line between the seen and unseen worlds.
Cast your circle the usual way and have your altar set up in any quarter you like. Have on hand some salt water, an item which has been very popular in self-dedication rituals over the past several decades. It represents the union of the elements of earth(the salt) and of water, and is also a time-honored purifying force.
Begin with your personal statement of purpose to the deities. Before the ritual begins spend some time contemplating which deities of your chosen pantheon you personally feel most aligned with at this stage of your spiritual development. You can discover these affinities through reading myths and folktales, alignment practice, or meditation on the question. Evoke these deities to your circle. You can bring in as many as you are comfortable with, or as many as you can visualize at one time. Be sure you are comfortable aligning yourself with each one, for the will be a part of this Self-Dedication Ritual.
When they are all present, stand before them proudly. Do not kneel in supplication, as this habit would have been alien to the Celts. Announce again your desire to initiate yourself into the Pagan faith, declaring this intent with your chosen new name. You might say something like:
Blessed Old Ones, I stand before you, sure and steadfast in my desire to dedicate the beginning of my new conscious life as your child, to initiate myself into the mysteries of the Celtic way (or you can insert the name of the tradition you follow).Henceforth, I will be known among the magickal folk as (state your new name). Old Ones, I seek knowledge in the light, and revelation in the darkness. As I step from darkness into the light, bless, guide, and guard me in my never-ending quest for understanding.
You may wish to add words to it which reaffirm your self-dedication such as:
And as my feet walk in your ways, may they remain steadfast in their honor of Goddess and God and all that my chosen spirituality symbolizes.
Align yourself with each diety present, feeling their essence to truly be a part of your own. Since you have dedicated yourself to each deity's magickal traditions, the experiance will be stronger because you will be stronger because you have literally aligned all parts of your being with the energies on a deeper inner-level than any you have experianced before.
You may also choose personal deities if you like, ones with whom you feel a special affinity, whom you call upon frequently, who teach and share your interests and even some of your personality. Call their energy into a talisman or amulet and wear it as a keepsake of your dedication. You might even want to amend your Craft name to proclaim yourself as that deity's child. For example, you may wish to call yourself Tara Daughter of Brid, or Brian son of Lugh.
There are many other ways you can choose to dedicate yourself, and these are only suggestions. Whatever else you do in your Self-Dedication Ritual, remember to use the energies of your choosen pantheon to enhance the ceremony and to bind you more closely with their power.
p.s. don't forget to close your circle after you finish the ritual...
Self-Dedication is best done at the inbetween times which the Celts held to be so powerful. These are times such as midnight, dawn, dusk, seasonal changes, etc., all times when it is hard to tell if it is day or night, or winter or summer, etc. Doing your dedication at these times symbolizes your willing enterance into a life which consciously walks the fine line between the seen and unseen worlds.
Cast your circle the usual way and have your altar set up in any quarter you like. Have on hand some salt water, an item which has been very popular in self-dedication rituals over the past several decades. It represents the union of the elements of earth(the salt) and of water, and is also a time-honored purifying force.
Begin with your personal statement of purpose to the deities. Before the ritual begins spend some time contemplating which deities of your chosen pantheon you personally feel most aligned with at this stage of your spiritual development. You can discover these affinities through reading myths and folktales, alignment practice, or meditation on the question. Evoke these deities to your circle. You can bring in as many as you are comfortable with, or as many as you can visualize at one time. Be sure you are comfortable aligning yourself with each one, for the will be a part of this Self-Dedication Ritual.
When they are all present, stand before them proudly. Do not kneel in supplication, as this habit would have been alien to the Celts. Announce again your desire to initiate yourself into the Pagan faith, declaring this intent with your chosen new name. You might say something like:
Blessed Old Ones, I stand before you, sure and steadfast in my desire to dedicate the beginning of my new conscious life as your child, to initiate myself into the mysteries of the Celtic way (or you can insert the name of the tradition you follow).Henceforth, I will be known among the magickal folk as (state your new name). Old Ones, I seek knowledge in the light, and revelation in the darkness. As I step from darkness into the light, bless, guide, and guard me in my never-ending quest for understanding.
You may wish to add words to it which reaffirm your self-dedication such as:
And as my feet walk in your ways, may they remain steadfast in their honor of Goddess and God and all that my chosen spirituality symbolizes.
Align yourself with each diety present, feeling their essence to truly be a part of your own. Since you have dedicated yourself to each deity's magickal traditions, the experiance will be stronger because you will be stronger because you have literally aligned all parts of your being with the energies on a deeper inner-level than any you have experianced before.
You may also choose personal deities if you like, ones with whom you feel a special affinity, whom you call upon frequently, who teach and share your interests and even some of your personality. Call their energy into a talisman or amulet and wear it as a keepsake of your dedication. You might even want to amend your Craft name to proclaim yourself as that deity's child. For example, you may wish to call yourself Tara Daughter of Brid, or Brian son of Lugh.
There are many other ways you can choose to dedicate yourself, and these are only suggestions. Whatever else you do in your Self-Dedication Ritual, remember to use the energies of your choosen pantheon to enhance the ceremony and to bind you more closely with their power.
p.s. don't forget to close your circle after you finish the ritual...