Ritual Etiquitte
A Sacred Place hosts a number of rituals, some during other gatherings. The following guideline is presented for those who have never been to one and don't know what is expected of them.
There are many different kinds of ritual, but many of them share a common structure:
Opening and creation of sacred space- one of the first steps is to dedicate the area as a place for ritual. This often involves “calling the quarters” with representations of the four elements, or tracing the perimeter.
Invocations- Welcoming the gods, ancestors, nature spirits, or others whose presence is desired.
Building energy- This may take the form of song, dance, chanting, drumming, or a group activity.
Ritual focus- This is the main body of the ritual, which may involve a dance, a speech, a dramatic performance, or some other activity that illustrates the point of the ceremony.
Blessing- Food and drink are brought around as a form of communion.
Closing- Any beings invoked are thanked, and the creation of sacred space is undone that the area may be returned as it was found. Then we normally go feast!
Ritual etiquette:
Ask questions beforehand
After reading this, you should have a rough idea of what to expect. Still, feel free to ask questions before the ritual. Most people will be happy to answer them.
Be respectful.
While that particular event may or may not be non-denominational, a ritual is still a religious service and should be treated as such. This doesn't mean that we don't laugh or cry or applaud at times, but do so with the same respect you would have in any other church.
Do not touch anything that doesn't belong to you.
The four elements are often represented by such objects as a wand, a blade, a cup, and a coin or disc. Other things may be not be as easily recognizable as a statue or a holy book. Many seemingly ordinary items- drums, knives, even a simple wooden stick- may be sacred to their owner, who may have very strong ideas about anyone else handling them. As a general rule, don't touch anything that belongs to someone else unless given explicit permission.
Take a moment to prepare
Before you enter the ritual, everyone will take a moment to ground and center. This is a focus technique for handling energy. If you don't know how to do this properly, then you can just take a moment to close your eyes, breathe deeply, and forget about any distractions by focusing on the here and now.
Be prepared to participate
You are never required to do anything you are uncomfortable with, but keep in mind that many rituals involve active participation. At various points everyone may sing, dance, speak, or otherwise join in. A common Beltaine ritual, for example, involves dancing the maypole after the men retrieve one from the forest and the women dig the hole to stand it in.
Be mindful of the proper way to enter and exit
Once the sacred space is defined, it may have a specific entrance and exit point. If you need to leave the circle for any reason, make sure to do so properly. Sometimes this may involve having someone “cut” a doorway, or escort you through.
You may be offered food or drink
Many rituals include eating and/or drinking as a form of blessing. If the drink is alcoholic, it will likely be announced as such. Again, you are not obligated to do anything you feel uncomfortable with- If you choose to abstain (especially those of you who have food allergies or some such), you may simply say “no thank you” politely.
No photos, please
Some people feel that cameras are distracting and disruptive to the energy flow. Others are just twitchy about having their picture taken. Occasionally, if the ritual features a handfasting (wedding) or other event, there will be one or two people with permission to take photos, but as a general rule, leave the camera in the car.
