Creating Circles and Ceremonies: Rituals for All Seasons And Reasons

by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart

Creating Circles and Ceremonies is the accumulation of decades of circles, ceremonies, rituals, Mystery plays, initiations, rites of passage, and other magickal workings co-created by the Zell-Ravenhearts, today's foremost Wizard/Witch couple. For more than 30 years, Oberon and Morning Glory have traveled widely throughout the worldwide magickal community--participating in gatherings, conducting workshops, and creating rituals for groups large and small. They have met and made Magick with the leaders of many traditions: Celtic Shamanism, British Dianic, Italian Strega, Welsh Witchcraft, Faerie Trad, Ceremonial Magick, Ozark Druidry, the New Reformed Order of the Golden Dawn (NROOGD), Hinduism, Native American tribes, Greek and Egyptian mythology, and the futuristic Church of All Worlds.

Here, in one easy-to-read volume, is their collection of chants, invocations, circle-castings, quarter-callings, spells, and ceremonies. It is also a "kit" to use to assemble your own rituals, for any season or reason: Book I presents a basic ritual outline. Each element is followed by numerous examples which may be "plugged in" to customize your own ceremony. Book II gives numerous examples of actual ceremonies: Esbats (full Moons) and special occasions; Rites of Passage; Mysteries and Initiations; spells and consecrations. These can be adapted and modified as needed for any size group--from small family gatherings in your living room, to huge outdoor celebrations involving thousands of people. Book III provides an assortment of full rituals and ritual elements for celebrations of the eight great seasonal festivals called the Wheel of the Year. Versions of these have been commemorated for millennia in most traditional cultures of the Northern Hemisphere; and today are universal throughout the worldwide Pagan community.

Genres: Wicca, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Religion, Witchcraft, Magic, Paganism

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 7, 2006

Reviews

[Autumn (Triquetra Reviews) · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Ulrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very comprehensive book covering both theory and practice. Detailed how-tos accompany general outlines for the more adventurous or experienced magic practitioner. Plenty of tables of correspondences, neat diagrams and pretty and helpful illustrations. Also includes short essays from young and old members of this particular tradition to really let you in and see as well as you can through a book the type of life this community created for itself. The Zell-Ravenhearts packed a generation of an entire community into a fairly small tome, quite a feat! This is a book to have around and refer to as needed, it's not so great to read straight through.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

As insightful as Ravenheart himself, this book by both he and his wife is the cherished collection of lifetime of memories. It is also a wealth of information on everything from high, ceremonial, magical circle creation to the easiest of passage circles. It is a treasure that every Pagan should read and own.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good reference for anyone looking to create a pagan ritual.
(Or maybe not everyone, just newbs? I don't have a lot of experience.)

Starts with a sort of generic ritual format, then gives lots of specific examples for each part. Some of the examples seemed kind of corny, but there were some I really liked.

[Deb White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most were fine, but some worried me. There are other books more suitable for references, even though I still love Zell.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

i use this as a reference book regularly. Great ideas for ceremony.