What else would you call the anniversary of your wedding once you have been divorced? If Alice in Wonderland can have an UnBirthday, I can have an UnWedding Anniversary. So today I did. I was married on December 14th, some year or other. It was a snowy day in a small Illinois town.

Today was another December 14th, not a flake of snow to be found in a large Canadian city. Being in a city has it’s perks on a day like today. I had a bus pass in my pocket, a map in my purse and the city at my feet - for as long as I cared to keep moving. I began by doing what I had done years ago: a long hot shower, some time to pamper myself and a little breakfast. I decided not to shave my legs or wear my wedding attire because this is my day and I’m not out to impress anyone.

There were so many things I thought about doing: a luxurious lunch out, a movie, a trip to the museum, even a bit of retail therapy, but I’m on a tight budget and didn’t want to be out too late and come home in the cold and dark. So I had a fancy coffee, bought chocolates and a lottery ticket. On the way home I gave a homeless woman a donation. I thought about buying myself things I don’t really need. But, I was happy having a day out and feeling kind of pampered and pretty. It was a good hair day and just enough wind to enjoy the sport of hair flipping. Maybe next year I’ll have more adventures.

I'm trying to write about casting a circle for the Wicca and Witchcraft newsletter at BackWash. But... I just can not remember the right term (or the standard term anyway, who says it's right anyway!) for closing the circle. I know about drawing and casting it to begin with. Anyway, the funny thing is, I'm looking at websites about circle casting and such and NONE of them mention closing the circle. Not one single site in over 10 so far talks about ending the ritual by closing the circle. How incomplete of them. I'm surprised yet not astounded.

Still, makes me wonder how many people ignore this part of the ritual then? How many circles are cast but never closed. How much energy is spilled out into the universe due to sloppy rituals? If you build it you must close it too.

Comments

cloverbee

http://www.sibyllinewicca.org/rituals/rit_b_salt.htm

has a nice closure but I can't remember the term either.

I also found this text cached on my computer:

The basic ritual practice of Casting a Circle is complemented by the act of Closing a Circle.

Just as the as the intent of a Circle casting is to allow for the containment and control of energies raised within its' confines, so the closing (or dismantling) of a Circle dismisses those energies, right?? Wrong! The idea of complimenting the "casting" of a Circle with a "closing" of that Circle may not be a correct one in mathematical terms but Wicca is not mathematics and a more useful way of approaching the concept may be to characterize the process as an "Opening" of the Circle.

It is inescapable that the Circle cast must somehow be dealt with when the ritual is finished - but this does not mean that the Circle must be banished! Instead, the Circle is opened after the ritual to encompass the whole world. In this way, the greater good is served through a kind of benediction given by the Circle's energies.

The end of the ritual also marks the return to the ordinary world we left behind when we cast the Circle, but just as we do not leave our beliefs behind us when we leave the sacred space, so is the Circle left "open but never broken".

me

I love that. It's how I see the closing too. I just didn't write it as well.

Thank you :) It may have missed the newsletter but I'll save it for myself.

elementalmuse

In our rituals here, we ALWAYS close the circle, saying something to the effect of, "The circle is open, but never broken, merry meet, merry part and merry meet again."

We don't have a special terms for closing the circle, though. We just simply call it "closing the circle." *grin

There are so many choices to make once you decide you are a Witch. First, what kind of Witch are you, are you even a Witch at all? Some prefer to call themselves Wiccans. To me, Wicca is the new religion based on ancient witchcraft. We don't know a great deal about witchcraft, the old ways. Things weren't written down they were instead passed along from mouth to mouth. Many things were lost along the way, of course. Some were never passed along at all I'm sure. So, modern Witchcraft is only based on what the Witches were doing a hundred or a thousand years ago.

Still, I consider myself a Witch, not a Wiccan. I like to think my beliefs are the older ways, rather than based on the revamping of the older ways which was started with Wicca in the 60's and 70's. I don't put Wicca down as not being true to the old ways or some how not worthy as a Pagan religion. It's just not right for me, personally.

Once you get past the Witch versus Wiccan stage you look at all the flavours in being a Witch/ Wiccan. There are so many. Some are based on different cultures like German, Italian, Egyptian, Irish, Celtic, and Native Indians. Others are based on different elements like water, fire, and ice. Then there are traditions based on mythical things like unicorns, dragons, mermaids and fairies. Don't assume being a myth to our modern culture makes it a myth in reality. People who believe in dragons and fairies and follow that style of Witchcraft are not just playing around, they believe.

Here are some of the basic flavours and styles of witches to help get you started. You should find out at least a few things about each one. That way you will be making an informed choice when you pick which path you will follow.

Alexandrian

British Traditionalist

Celtic Wicca

Caledonii (Hecatine)

Dianic

Eclectic

Gardnerian

Pictish

Seax-Wica (or Saxon) Wicca

Strega

Teutonic (Nordic)

Hedge Witch

Solitary

Asatru

Druidism

Shamanism

Faery

Originally posted to 'BackWash: Where the Wild Things Are' newsletter, July, 28, 2003.

In the old days, say the Regency period of English history, there was a custom of being "not at home". They had fancy door knockers then. If people were not at home (even when they were physically present) they removed the door knocker. That way, anyone who thought to call or visit would see they were "not at home" to callers. It was perfectly acceptable, no lack of manners or politeness.

Why is everyone so eager to be at home for all callers these days? Are we that desperate for company, do we really always have to be available? Can't we have a day and just be not at home?

Personally, I don't own a cell phone and I'm not likely to get one. I don't have my email set to notify me when new email is on the server. I don't always answer the phone. This morning someone is at the door, ringing the bell and guess what... I'm not running down to answer it. I'm not at home.

Instead I'm sitting here in my nightgown, my legs are not shaved, my teeth are not brushed but my hair is freshly brushed. I am making time for myself. Later I will go out and then really, physically, not be at home. Right now I'm just taking the knocker off the door. Anyone who calls can leave their calling card. That's another aspect of the old fashioned not at home custom. People had calling cards made to show they had visited/ come calling.

Being not at home is such an elegant custom. Why on Earth did we drop it?