Ex Penna

I've talked about this a lot--here and elsewhere--and you know what I think:  magic should, nay must, have an element of beauty to be at its best.  The two are interwoven and exist best when their influence is anything but subtle.  Think about every time you've been moved by

Trudging through ritual, reading from a printer-paper copy of a hastily-written ritual you found online and thought it "seemed pretty good" is not only pointless, it's also powerless.

Put some fuel in that mess!  I can see at least 5 places in that scenario where a little life could be injected to make you crave being in that circle.  As it stands, it appears that my hypothetical caster doesn't even want to be there.

Rituals are a Parade with No Spectators

Like a holiday, you must go all-in every time.  You can't leave part of your mind by the phone, part still in bed, part at your desk at work.  You have to Be Here Now.  That's the whole idea of a circle being a separate place from all time, from all other places; what exists within is nowhere else.  

Decorate Your Space with Equal Care

Let your guests warm up to the event right from the start with tasteful adornment on your door, the ritual space, and

everything in between.  

This can be done by creating a color scheme of 2 predominant colors that are associated with your ritual's purpose.  Remove what you can from sight that doesn't fit the theme and replace it with draping tablecloths, colored lighting, plants like cut flowers or live boughs and branches, artwork, pottery, etc. that model your goals in color or style.  

Try to bring some style into it by displaying different textures and patterns that boldly feature your colors.  Check discount fabric bins at craft stores to get some cheap inspiration for throw pillows (or quickly made covers for existing pillows), wall drapery, or slip covers.

You can even make this an intense piece of symbolism: choose deeper, richer shades of the colors or more esoteric occult themes as you approach the sacred space. 

This may sound elaborate but it doesn't require switching up your whole house just for one evening.  Just pick out  what you want your guests to notice and put it on display.  Then that's all they'll remember.

Delight the Senses

Every time you switch to a new step in the process, open up the senses to it in a new way.  Cue the casting with incense.  Accompany incantations with drums, bells, and tambourine.  Dance to raise power.  Open all your senses in the working, including the sixth!

Practice!

I can't stress this enough.  Practicing a ritual beforehand is such a routinely overlooked part of panning that I feel it's my duty to say it twice.  Practice!  Read your parts aloud.  Walk through the space just like you will for the actual event.  Be emphatic, be dramatic.  Memorize everything you can.

Which leads to...

Get--and Stay--in Character

There's an element of actor to every good occultist.  Use your power voice when speaking in ritual.  Change modes of movement, posture inflection in your voice, volume, et al. when you change direction in the rite.  As the power raises, show the excitement building by embodying it.  

One of the most telling comments made by newcomers to ritual work is that the leader suddenly became another person.  For well-executed magic you must be willing to drive it home with everything you've got!

Do the Little Extras

Live musicians, a troupe of dancers, theatrics, special effects, lighting, items for participants to keep--what are you able to find or create to make this something special?  

Finish Strong!

The worst thing you can do is to let your rite just slowly roll to a stop.  Don't allow people to wander off without certainty that the work is done for the evening.  Bring the event to its peak, explode that power in a display that's either loud, bright, or otherwise momentarily chaotic, then shut it down hard!   It sounds rough, but that's how your guests will know it's done.  Think of your big finish as a "curtain drop and lights out."  Once they're done catching their breath, they'll be on their feet applauding!

Critter Bits


This is a hot-button topic, but definitely a traditional part of what we do as magic makers.  To that effect, I hope this article will inspire thought and conversation.

As you may know by now, I am not against the use of animal parts in my own magic as long as the animal's death was accidental.  Roadkill is my main source of fur and bones, and I go to great lengths to respectfully collect and clean them for my spells.  As a vegetarian, this is a tricky topic for me to successfully find solid footing, but I'm willing to to accept that witchcraft--like most other areas of life--doesn't always offer up easy answers.