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Internet Book of Shadows, (Various Authors), [1999], at sacred-texts.com

 Subject: Article 2 - BOS section
 Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2001 03:59:00 -0700 (PDT)
 From: Vitriol London 
 To: postmaster@sacred-texts.com
 
 A Self Dedication Ritual
 ===================================================
 For more information on the authors please visit -
 www.avalonia.co.uk or if you wish to contact them
 please write to: BM Avalonia, London, WC1N 3XX, United
 Kingdom. (Please include a SAE)
 © David Rankine & Sorita 2000
 ===================================================
 
 Preparation
 
 When you decide that you want to do a self-dedication,
 plan the date of the ritual at least a month in
 advance, choosing a suitable time, perhaps consulting
 astrological tables, or at least the phases of the
 moon. It is best done on a waxing or full moon.
 
 Start your preparation at the new moon. Make sure that
 you have a day off work for the initiation itself. You
 may already have decided on a magickal or witch name.
 If you haven't yet decided on your witch name, find
 one through meditation and pathworking in the daily
 ritual leading up to the rite of self-initiation.
 
 Begin preparing for the self-initiation by performing
 a daily ritual. Start by creating a sacred space.
 Purify the area with incense and sprinkling salt
 water. Visualize a sphere around yourself, and call on
 the powers of the four quarters, visualizing the
 elemental landscapes. (more...circle casting)
 
 Call on the Goddess and the God, by whatever names you
 prefer to call them. Declare to the Elements, the
 Goddess and the God that you are embarking on the path
 of dedication, and ask for their help in preparing
 you.
 
 Spend some time in meditation on the meaning of
 dedication, and opening yourself up for any messages
 from the Goddess and God. Thank and say farewell to
 the Goddess, God, and Elements, and close the circle.
 
 Closer to the time
 
 Try and spend time every day in the week leading up to
 the self-dedication rite working out your vows and
 meditating. Make sure that the vows you make are
 realistic! It is better to make less demanding vows
 than to make highly demanding vows and not live up to
 them.
 
 The Ritual
 
 Spend the day in quiet meditation and fasting. Drink
 only pure water, or if you really cannot do this,
 allow yourself a small quantity of apple or grape
 juice. Do not smoke, drink alcohol or take drugs! If
 you are on prescribed medication, consult your doctor.
 If the medication is short term, wait until you have
 finished the course of medication before doing the
 ritual.
 
 If possible, go to a sacred site or wild place and
 attune yourself with nature. Communicate with the
 nature spirits, and ask for their blessings.
 
 Think about the vows that you wish to make in your
 initiation. Think of a vow to yourself, one to the
 Goddess and God, and one to the Earth.
 
 Before you start the ritual, have a purification bath.
 You may put essential oils, herbs or sea salt in the
 bath. Whilst in the bath, meditate on purifying your
 aura. See your aura as grey and dirty, but gradually
 becoming lighter and cleaner, until it is brilliant.
 
 When you emerge from the bath, allow yourself to dry
 naturally. Do not use a hair dryer, or rub yourself
 with towels. Rub your entire body with oil. This may
 be olive oil, grapeseed oil, or other vegetable oil,
 scented with pure essential oils of your choice.
 Perform the ritual skyclad if possible.
 
 Have an altar set up, with an altar cloth on it, with
 a chalice of wine, a piece of bread or cake on a
 platter, a censer, two altar candles, some anointing
 oil, your athame or other tool, any ritual jewellery
 which will be put on at the end of the ritual to mark
 your dedication, and two small dishes containing sea
 salt and water (from a spring or sacred well if
 possible). You may also wish to have images or statues
 of the Goddess and God on the altar.
 
 Light the candles and the incense, and purify your
 ritual space. Hold your hands over the water dish and
 say:
 "I purify you, Oh water, in the blessed and mighty
 names of the Goddess and God",
 visualizing it glowing with white light. Do likewise
 with the salt, then tip some of the salt into the
 water, and mix it in with your forefinger.
 
 Sprinkle the salt water around your ritual space.
 Visualize a circle around you. (or cast a circle in
 your usual way) Call on the elements, then on the
 Goddess and God.
 
 Declare your intent, saying something like: "I
 (ordinary name) am prepared for dedication. I have
 followed the path and fulfilled my vows, and I now
 call upon the Goddess and the God to confer on me
 wisdom and integrity. I ask for the blessings of air,
 fire, water and earth".
 
 Spend some time in meditation, and controlled
 breathing to gather energy and achieve an altered
 state of consciousness. You may also wish to use a
 mantra or chant.
 
 Meditate for a while on finding the stillness inside
 yourself. When you are ready, stand before the altar,
 and anoint yourself first with oil, then with salt
 water and lastly wine, saying:
 "I am reborn into my true and magickal self, and I
 take on the name of (Witch name). I ask for the
 blessings of the Goddess and God on my endeavours, and
 I vow (make your vows)".
 
 When anointing yourself you may wish to anoint your
 chakras, or anoint yourself with a circle, pentagram,
 or personal symbol. It is good to write down your vows
 in your magickal diary, and sign the entry with your
 witch name.
 
 Present yourself to the quarters, stating that you are
 now dedicated to the solitary path. Consecrate your
 ritual jewellery with the four elements (incense,
 water, salt and candle flame), and anoint it with oil
 for spirit before putting it on.
 
 Consecrate your athame or other tool in the same
 manner, then hold it to your heart, feeling a link
 with it, and filling it with your energy. Say
 "I am a child of earth and starry heaven."
 
 Hold it up to the moon and stars, and ask for the
 blessings of the cosmos on it, then touch it to the
 ground, and ask for the blessings of mother earth.
 
 Lastly, consecrate the wine and cake by touching your
 athame to them, and channelling energy through it.
 Drink and eat, earthing yourself, then thank the
 Goddess, God and Elements, and close the circle.
 
 Remember: Write up your experiences in your magickal
 diary. Refrain from ritual for at least the next week,
 whilst you integrate the work.