Sacred Space

I was encouraged to write this guide for someone involved in Christian Wicca. It is based on my past personal experience and training in Reclaiming / Alexandrian Wicca.

Sacred Space.

The word Sacred simply means to set aside for a special purpose.
We define a new space and a new time each time we cast a circle for a ritual. A circle is a boundary on the edge of the here and now and the eternal. Of the seen and unseen. It is where all of our daily rules melt away and only natural law exists and the Divine within us is revealed.
The circle creates a boundary to keep the subtle energy forces within, not to keep unwanted  energy out. It is the cauldron, or Ark to contain the energy, and raise it to a higher level.
The act of casting a circle is "enacted meditation". The tools and symbols used, resonate with our deeper selves to unlock the door to the Divine. They are the physical forms of our inner visualization.
The casting of the circle becomes our cue to switch to a deeper level of awareness. Where we suspend our pre-programmed responses and self judgment.
The memorization of specific invocations and chants are not as important as our inner visualizations.
Our group was very intuitive in it's practice. Each person would invoke the directions or the Divine in a way that spoke to them at that moment rather than adhering to a rigid script.
Entering and leaving a circle during a ritual agitates and dissipates the subtle energy within. If someone needs to leave the circle, cut a gateway and re seal it.

Grounding and Centering.

To ground ourselves, at first we need to become straight and  upright. We become like a mountain. You should feel solidly rooted. We stand with feet slightly apart, our tailbone pointed downward, head erect and our spine straight, and of course, barefoot, if possible.  Feel the energy in your body moving down your spine, through your feet and into the ground. If you are sitting, feel the energy move through your tailbone into the earth. Feel yourself relax and become still.
To centre ourselves, we bring our minds to the still point. The quiet place of stillness within us. Where we are neither pulled toward thought nor action, negative or positive, but where we simply ARE. Think of the sign of the cross. We ground down to the earth and centre across into our heart. A powerful symbol.
A Rosary is also a common way to centre.
There are hundreds of grounding exercises and centering exercises. Try a few, one or two will speak to you and feel right and help you connect on a deeper level. After you feel what it is like to ground and centre, you will just be able to do it. In fact, you will find that just starting to clear the circle will start you grounding automatically. Like a key that opens the door. I can deal with these in more detail later in Energy Work.

Clearing.

We usually begin a circle by banishing any negative energy in that space. Stand quietly for a moment facing the altar and ground and centre. Usually using a broom, sweep counterclockwise from the east to the east while holding in your mind the intention of sweeping away any negative energy. When finished face the altar again for a moment stilling your mind.
Instead of a standard broom, and if you are into herbs, you can use either sage or hyssop as an incense to clear a space of negative energy. Both are excellent "clearing " herbs. They can also be used to clear your own aura or the aura of another and raise  spiritual vibrations. Though I would be careful using Hyssop as an incense, as it contains pino-camphone and it has been know to cause seizures in people with epilepsy.


Casting.

In Wicca, the altar is usually set up in the north to revere the Earth mother. However, we are often limited by the area in which we build our sacred space, so you can improvise. As a Christian I would feel drawn to place the altar in the east as it is associated with light, birth and creation.


Beginning at the altar in the east, pause a moment. Give a salute, a kiss or a bow toward the direction. If you are using a wand, visualize a white light coming from the end of it creating a ring as you slowly walk around the circle clockwise. As you cast, state your intention that " This is a place that is not a place, in a time that is not a time, half way between the world of God and mankind". Or something to that effect. Then "Blessed Be" or" Amen". Whichever you are comfortable with.  Again once you reach the altar again, bow or salute and place your wand on the altar. If you do not have a wand, use a crystal or  the two fingers of your right hand.
The salute, kiss or bow is not a sign of subservience, but of reverence and respect.
In traditional Wicca, the athame or ritual blade or sword is used to cast the circle. The athame is a more direct tool and represents the channeling of power and Spirit of Air. In some traditions it is associated with the Spirit of fire.
Christians Wiccans are creating a space of hospitality. One invites the angels to come and asks God to be in the circle. It is better to use a wand, or staff. ( The staff is more associated with Druidry ) The wand is more yielding and gentle. Some associate it with air. In the Kabbalah the wand  represents the Spirit of fire,  It is also the magical tool that is most deeply connected with ourselves. Our own spiritual essence.
A circle is cast over a larger area for a group, but for an individual can be just around the outer edge of our own aura. Tools do not have to be used. Like I said they are the physical forms of our inner visualization. There may come a time when you do not need to use physical tools at all.

Calling the Quarters.

The quarters are associated with the four elements, the four directions and  the Archangels.

Starting in the east welcome in the element of air, and the angels, spirits or guides you associate with this direction and element. Ask them to be with you in the circle and bringing the attributes they represent. Spirits of Air, Sky Father, light, Spring, Thought, birth, creativity. Blessed Be or Amen.
Moving clockwise to the south, welcome the element of fire.  Spirits of Fire, Summer,  inspiration, action, passion, power.
In the west the element of water is invoked . Spirits of Water, Autumn, emotions, transformation, reflection.
In the north, the element of earth is invoked. Spirits of Earth, mountains, forests, winter. Earth Mother, strength, belonging, solidity, protection.
The specific words are not important. But you may find a rhyming poem of invocation is beautiful and easy to remember. Once the four directions are called or invoked, we ask God to be with us.
In Wicca, each person has a Matron or Patron Godde. ( I learned this word Godde from Carl McColeman. To designate God in a way that is neither male or female, or can be both. This Old English spelling of God is halfway between God and Goddess. I like it. )
We may simply ask the Trinity to be with us. Or we may choose to call  Abba, Jesus and Mary and The Holy Spirit or Christ, Sophia and Abwoon  ( Father/Mother God ).  You may have a specific purpose for the circle where one form is more appropriate than another to call.
Or as we often did, we ask "Whomever it would be" to come into the circle. Godde knows our intentions better than we do. Blessed Be or Amen.
I know of a few people who have Jesus as their personal spiritual guide. They are deeply moved by his presence, yet they would never consider themselves Christian.

Raising Energy.

This can vary a lot from group to group. Some use chanting, some dancing, or meditation. There are many ways. The purpose of this is to elevate the energetic vibrations within the circle. While, chanting, dancing, or meditating, visualize a soft blue light spiraling upwards. When you feel it is time to stop, visualize the energy floating down and filling the circle. One chant I liked is elemental in nature:

Earth my body, water my blood, air my breath and fire my spirit.

I first learned this at a Mabon celebration. It was sung and accompanied with American Sign Language.
Very beautiful.

Intention.

Now the circle is open for devotion, celebration, or specific prayerful action. Each circle that is created has to have a purpose. This can range from simply reading poetry, prayers, music, reciting the Charge of the Goddess, magic, healing and or trance work. In our group  in each esbat circle ( new moon and full moon ) was  Drawing Down the Moon and Drawing Down the Sun.  Some groups don't do it at all.
Drawing Down the Moon and Drawing Down the Sun is when we invoke the spirit of Godde to enter into the high priestess and high priest, to embody the presence of Godde within the circle. This could be, and usually was a sense of Divine presence. Sometimes the high priestess or high priest would be inspired to say something or to address a particular person in the group. Sometimes we would get a full ecstatic trance, but this was really rare.  It's a form of channeling. This would be done during the inner circles open only to the initiates of the tradition. The Sabbat circles are for seasonal celebrations.Ours were usually outer court circles open to everyone. Most of our circles would be out of doors. Either in public parks, ravines, or backyards. In the winter, or inclement weather, indoors at various homes.

Sharing

At the end of our meetings, we always shared food and drink. The emphasis in many Wiccan traditions is the actual ritual blessing. In our tradition, the focus was on sharing. Usually seasonal, organic foods.
Since in Wicca, all of nature is part of the body of God, all food, whether it be vegetable, fruit, meat, wine, juice or water, is considered sacred.
The blessing or "Grace" we used  can be used by anyone. We say:

 " It is not we who bless food and drink, but it that blesses us. For by it's nature it nourishes us, and in it's sharing we have the opportunity to create community.  Blessed Be." ( Or Amen )

We pass the food and drink on to the person to our right saying: Never hunger. Never thirst
This generally is for use in a group.
This is the time for talking and sharing.  About what was felt during the circle, what has transpired in our lives since the last circle, and for making plans for the next. As a solitary it would be a good time for journaling.

Closing

The circle that has been created must be undone at the end.  Moving counterclockwise, say goodbye to each direction and thank the angels and spirits. Thank Godde. Ask them to go until next time. State that the circle has come to an end. Merry Meet and Merry Part and Merry Meet again. Blessed Be (or Amen).
Hugs all around. (That was my favorite part).

Well that's about it for Sacred Space.