Not every Witch cleanses and clears their working space prior to every ritual. That comes as a shock to Crafters who have been taught that such things absolutely must happen prior to all magick, sorcery, ritual, or conjuration.The difference between the two approaches boils down to philosophies around pollution and hallowing.
Miasma is the Greek term for a state of uncleanliness or pollution — the absolute belief in which pervades many cultures, though the specifics vary greatly regarding which actions or events generate it. Most ancient and traditional cultures have an understanding that one should come before the Godds (or Powers) free from pollution. This includes both physical pollution as well as psychic or spiritual pollution. Bathing rituals are common across the world’s religions because it is held as a sign of disrespect to approach Them in dirty clothes, smelling of body odor, and caked in grime from the day’s toils. This concept is easy enough to understand, as many modern cultures would also view it as a sign of disrespect or carelessness, for instance, to greet professional colleagues by wiping the Chee-toh dust onto your sweatpants and saying, “Let’s do this, bitches!” (as the popular Witchcraft meme goes).
In the same way that we can be physically “dirty” and therefore unprepared to approach Spirit, we can also be “dirty” on an Unseen level — whether you consider it psychic, energetic, or spiritual will depend on the particulars of your cosmology and preferred Model(s) of Magick. More importantly, what you consider pollution-generating on the Unseen levels will be informed by the cultural traditions you’ve inherited and the magickal or sorcerous practice which you’ve adopted.
These cultural and magickal traditions will dictate your approach to cleansing both yourself and the space in which you perform your magickal work. It will also inform what you view as inherently sacred versus what needs to be consecrated (or hallowed) in order to become sacred. Many traditional practices, for instance, do not see the need to cleanse and consecrate a space dedicated to ritual and the Godds unless something has come into disturb its otherwise enduring hallowed nature. In contemplating your own practice, you will want to consider whether or not your space serves multiple functions, is accessible to others, and whether it is outside or inside a building, as all of these can impact the frequency and intensity with which you cleanse it.
I’ll share my own philosophies and practices as a point of reference. If you don’t already have your own in place, they can serve as a starting point in helping you determine what you consider sacred and profane — and pure versus polluted. If you already have practices in place, comparing and contrasting with mine might give you greater insight into what you’ve been doing and why.
When I am able to work in a space dedicated to the Arts, I do not cleanse it prior to every rite. I will, however, use the “Cleansing Chants” that follow to do quarterly maintenance, as well as any “as needed” cleansing if something comes up. This could include a spiritual or physical intrusion, deep or unpleasant Shadow Work that feels like it’s hanging around, etc. I’ll also cleanse before and after having guests in the space — anyone who isn’t cord-bound in my Tradition and regularly sharing the ritual space with me. I think of it as something akin to putting fresh sheets on a bed for a guest — and changing them again after they leave.)
If I’m working in space that isn’t dedicated to Craft — and especially if I’m working in a space that sees a lot of traffic or the ups-and-downs of daily living — I prefer to use the “Cleansing Chants” prior to every ritual. This has been my habit (and a result of my training) when doing rites in living rooms, backyard that see a lot of family life, public beaches/parks, and retreat cabins/lodges. These spaces accumulate the “yuck” of our physical and emotional pain, and the hallowing wears thin due to mundane usage.
For the “big” rites (namely initiations, but also certain workings that are far-reaching and weighty), I will perform the Star Ruby ritual or the Craft version of Lesser [Banishing] Ritual of the Pentagram. They are very similar to each other in construction and result, however, the Star Ruby is performed entirely in attic Greek, while the standard LBRP is performed in the operator’s native language with a few phrases and names coming from Hebrew traditions. In my Craft Tradition, we’ve created a Witch’s LBRP (shared below), which includes four Latin words but is otherwise spoken in one’s native language. It’s worth noting that these particular cleansing and centering rites are a daily practice for many Mages,as well as being a practice for preparing the ritual grounds. The Witch’s LBRP was humbly offered to the blogosphere by me and my Sisters for Crafters who are drawn to such a practice. (It is oriented to Quarters and Castles/Watchtowers of our Trad, so feel free to adapt it for your use, as needed.)
Cleansing Chants
Each portion of the chant requires a Witch to walk the compass either once or thrice, wielding the appropriate (and obvious) cleansing tools.
Smoke and fume, now as you burn,
cause all harm from us to turn;
let nothing harmful here be found,
as we tread the Witch’s round.
Fire that burns and light that glows,
send all harm away from us;
let nothing harmful here be found,
as we tread the Witch’s round.
Water and salt, brine of the sea,
wash this circle clean and free;
let nothing harmful here be found,
as we tread the Witch’s round.
Besom sweep and besom clean;
above, below and in between;
let nothing harmful here be found,
as we tread the Witch’s round.
Witch’s LBRP
No tools are required for this ritual.
The Qabbalistic Cross
Imagine a ball of light above your head. Reach up with your right hand and grab the light. When you touch yourself with that hand, part of the light will go into you.
Touch your forehead as you say “Corona” (Crown). Let it fill with the light.
Touch your pelvis at the pubic bone and say “Serpens” (Serpent). Let it fill with light.
Touch your right shoulder and say “Clementia” (Mercy). Let it fill with light.
Touch your left shoulder and say “Severitas” (Severity). Let it fill with light.
Hold your hands in prayer over your heart and say “Benedictiones” (Blessings). Let it fill with light.
Feel your whole body fill with the cross of light.
The Pentagrams
Face East. Before you in the air, draw a giant pentagram using your right index finger (or if you prefer use the whole hand) in the direction shown in the illustration. Imagine that pentagram shining in front of you. Take a step forward with your left foot. Just the left. Leave your right one where it is. The size of the step will be determined by your space. At the same time that you step forward, thrust your open hands, side by side, palms downwards, into the pentagram, as if you are diving in. This is called the “Sign of the Enterer.” As you enter the pentagram you will say one of the names of the Witch God or Goddess.
Here, at the first pentagram you will shout “Lucifer.” Lucifer is the Light-Bringer, the Lord of Illumination of the World and the Mind. He is called in the East as the bright aspect of Tubal Cain, and the lord of elemental Fire. Lucifer is called with a jubilant shout to celebrate the rising of the sun in the East.
Step back with your left foot so it is once again beside your right foot. Touch your right index finger to your lips like you are making the “Shhh, no talking” gesture. Point your right index finger to the center of the pentagram and make a quarter turn to your right. As you do so, draw an imaginary arc of white light around to the next direction.
Draw a pentagram in the South. Enter the pentagram while singing “Goda.” Goda is the White Goddess, the Queen of the Seelie Court and Lady of Death-in-Life. She rules the Southern quadrant, the place of elemental Earth. Her name is sung for she is the Lady who shall “have music wherever She goes.”
Make the “shhh” gesture and turn to the right, drawing an arc.
Draw a pentagram in the West. Enter the pentagram intoning “Azazel” in a low voice. Azazel is the Lord of the West, the place of elemental Water. He is Tubal Cain in his aspect as the Lord of the Dead, and is both the angel who taught magic to the daughters of man and the angel who collects our souls for their great rest. The West is the place where the sun goes to die, and it is to the West that we all must travel upon death. Azazel’s name is intoned in a low voice of mourning and respect.
Make the “shhh” gesture and turn to the right, drawing an arc.
Draw a pentagram in the North. Enter the pentagram whispering “Kolyo“. Kolyo is the Black Goddess, the Weaver of Fate and the Lady of Life-in-Death. She rules the North, which is the home of elemental Air. Her name is whispered for she is an ancient mystery.
Make the “shhh” gesture and turn to the right, drawing an arc. This final arc connects all four pentagrams into a single circle.
The Watchtowers
You are now standing in the center of a circle of white light. At each quarter there is a giant, glowing pentagram. Now we post a watchtower between each pentagram. Face the southeast and open up your arms. Stretch out like you are a cross: feet together, arms out at shoulder height. Call the watchtowers to their posts. Stand in the cross position and say:
“Before me stands the Castle of Stone. Behind me stands the Castle of Glass. On my right stands the Castle Perilous. On my left stands the Castle of Revelry.“
These are four of the great castles of myth and legend. The Castle of Stone is Caer Bannog, the Castle of Glass is Glastonbury, the Castle Perilous is the silvery Grail Castle, and the Castle of Revelry is the Golden Castle of the Beacon of Awen.
Spread your feet and lift your arms to stand in pentagram-position and say: “Around me flame the pentagrams. Above me shines a six-rayed star, and below me spins a three-armed triskle. I stand within the Spiral Castle. I am the World Tree.” This declaration places you in all three realms, and allows you to traverse shamanic space. It states that you are the World Tree, and that you ride the stang to other realms.
The Qabbalistic Cross (Closing)
Now repeat the Qabbalistic Cross as you began.
Imagine a ball of light above your head. Reach up with your right hand and grab the light. When you touch yourself with that hand, part of the light will go into you.
Touch your forehead as you say “Corona” (Crown). Let it fill with the light.
Touch your pelvis at the pubic bone and say “Serpens” (Serpent). Let it fill with light.
Touch your right shoulder and say “Clementia” (Mercy). Let it fill with light.
Touch your left shoulder and say “Severitas” (Severity). Let it fill with light.
Hold your hands in prayer over your heart and say “Benedictiones” (Blessings). Let it fill with light.
Feel your whole body fill with the cross of light.
[Written by Laurelei Black.]