Attire
I consider ritual attire to be optional in an open circle, as this allows those who have robes and want to wear them to do so without excluding people who choose to attend in street clothes. The point of having open rituals is to utilize the energy of the lunar phase or Sabbat season in a way that is comfortable for all involved. As the presenter, you should wear something that distinguishes you for that role. It can be ritual wear, a special cloak or decorative duster that feels appropriate, ritual jewelry, or simply your cingulum (knotted belt). It is not the embellishments of jewelry, flowing robes, and crowns of antlers that make a ritual—it is the content and the heart that goes into it that matters.
Getting Started
There are variables in rituals that allow for the facilitator’s personal touches to be added in even the rudimentary stages of circle casting, such as sweeping, smudging, bringing in the attendees, and calling the quarters. Alternative methods can be applied with sweeping the circle space, for example. As a ritual tool rather than a cleaning tool, the besom is used to clear the prospective sacred space by moving aside energies that might be counterproductive to the ritual. From the perspective of moving energy, I usually sweep prior to the guests entering the circle in order to avoid brushing the negative or chaotic energy onto the feet of the guests. The exception to this order of events is when I do a group cleansing. People are then brought into the ritual area and I guide them in drawing together the stressful, negative, or chaotic energies that have upset them or that they sense as barriers to their happiness or fulfillment. These negative energies are gathered starting at the head, pulled together through the body, and pushed down to their feet and cast out as a ball on the floor/ground in front of them. I then take the besom around the circle and carefully gather all the discarded energies and brush these out of the circle for Nature to reclaim, cleanse, and recycle. By explaining my actions throughout the process, everyone knows what is happening, and the magical act is enforced with the power of words.
By explaining my actions throughout the process, everyone knows what is happening, and the magical act is enforced with the power of words.
Smudging the circle after this allows for the attendees to feel the total sensation of cleansing and revitalization. Imbolc is an especially good time for smudging, as the ritual includes purifying and blessing the besom, but I include this group cleansing whenever I feel the collective energy of the guests needs more than smudging with sage.
I usually bring the guests into the sacred space area prior to casting the circle so they can feel the energy of inclusion and can participate in calling the quarters. I have attended rituals where everyone stands around while a group completely sets up the circle, then creates a doorway for the guests to enter, being smudged as they cross the threshold, and I sometimes use this method for Esbats. The threshold can be envisioned or symbolized with a crossed besom and sword, but if using tools, be sure to remind people to step over these objects, as someone inevitably will stumble on them otherwise.
Participation
At the start of an open ritual, I have a volunteer hold the text and turn pages on my signal. In a coven or family setting, this role may be given to a young member of the group, who is called the maiden or the lad. As the presenter, you can do all the parts as though in a Solitary ritual, which provides people with an idea of how they can conduct their own private rituals. If you have others who are able to help out with the ritual, they can take on some of the lines and actions such as smudging, calling the quarters, alternating the spoken portions, helping with blessing the Simple Feast, or distributing food and drink.
Throughout the ritual, giving people clues on what to do helps them feel involved. Let them know when to face the directions and raise their arms to greet or bid farewell to the elementals. Pause a moment for people to repeat aloud certain phrases from the ritual such as “Hail and Welcome,” “Hail and Farewell,” “Blessed Be,” “So Mote It Be,” and be ready to prompt with a gesture so they all chime in with “Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again” at the conclusion of the ritual.
Since Esbats are also a time for magical workings, any kind of activity that draws in the power of the lunar phase can be used in an open circle, but be considerate of the guests. While I have let people select a rune and provided handouts with the meanings, I have also used meditations and opened gateways with a black mirror. Not everyone will participate, and that is fine. The presenter at an Esbat needs to keep an eye on the people in the circle to gauge their comfort level and help them stay at ease. Sometimes the simplest activities are the best, such as sprinkling the guests with blessed lunar water, but this is also a good time for making projects that can be taken home, such as charm bags, talismans, herbal blends, bath salts, and so forth. I have made dozens of small charm bags with herbs and little stones to honor
