The Implements
Over the next ten days I am expecting life to be chaotic, as some fairly extensive decorating work is taking place. I shall attempt to keep up the same posting routine, but if it slips a bit, I ask your indulgence.
Meanwhile, here is the next instalment of The New Pagans’ Handbook:
The Implements of Ritual
It is said to be possible for extreme adepts to carry out a ritual using neither implements nor images. This is, however, altogether a too spartan procedure for most of us, for it argues that the Deities have been so interiorised that no external stimuli nor aids are necessary. Such a perfect response we aspire to make perhaps, but in practice we need images and ritual to assist our concentration and to serve as points of focus to our thoughts. Their use adds a magic quality to our observances and makes them feel ‘otherworld’, and so holy.
All instruments used for ritual must be dedicated to the worship of the Deities. This means that they must be properly made, preferably by hand, and preferably by the hand of one of the celebrants of the group if the devotee is unable to fashion them himself. But best of all is self-made matter, for the concentration and will required in the making are held in the field of the object, and in use reflect our purpose back to ourselves, whence we can fortify our dedication outwards to the Deities. These tools need not necessarily be reserved for ritual purposes, but then should be re-dedicated at each time of ritual use. In practice it is simpler to lay up such tools apart, placing them before a symbol or statuette of the Goddess or image of Her Gods.
