Lesson One: Rules, Expectations & Grading
The rules are simple. Be here, for each class. Do not apologize if you come in late, simply come in and try to catch up. You must participate in each lesson; this participation score is then combined with your "ritual space" posts (journal posts) & homework to give you a final grade. If you need an extension on work, or make-up study groups to get your posts in, all you have to do is ask.
Rituals: What are they?
Over the course of the next several weeks you are going to learn the building blocks for performing high rituals, that you may harness the energy from the world around you, protect yourself, and more importantly ward off attacks aggressively. You will need your wand for this course. All other tools and supplies will be provided to you through the course. It is crucial that if you miss a lesson, you make up the work before the next lesson so that you have the foundation to build upon.
Magical rituals are the precisely defined actions, movements and incantations used to work magic. They effectively string together several spells into one larger effect, and often need to be performed in a specific order to produce specific results. This course teaches the building / foundations of rituals.
Ritual magic uses all of the five physical senses and many inner senses as well:
Vision is stimulated by the symbols that you form to invoke the different spirits or energies. It it what you see around you, in the strength of your will that you create. For example: vision could be stimulated by the letter 8, signifying the number of Hod on the Tree of Life. Altar candles of suitable colors also stimulate the visual field.
Taste is stimulated by that which you put into your body, in preparation for a ritual. For example, you might need to drink a tea or a potion.
Hearing is stimulated by the incantations and the words of the ritual, as well as any music that you might be including in the ritual.
Scent is stimulated by oils, perfumes and incense.
Touch is stimulated by the physical movements of the ritual that you make with both your body and your wand.
Step One: Relaxation Ritual
First, you will be learning to put yourself in tune with the energy around you. To do this, you need your own ritual space. It would be advantageous for you to develop your own ritual space, when you leave Hogwarts. For the time being, I have set this department up with individual ritual space. Under no circumstances, should you be in another persons sacred space without their expressed permission.
Detention will be provided if you violate the sanctity of anthers space.
To Begin: Lay on your back, in a relaxed position. Once you have learned to manifest the inner light within you, you may elect to sit up, or remain in a lotus or other meditative position. Keep your eyes closed and try to block out noise and external factors. Think of nothing, of that which you see when your eyes are closed. This is to push all external poisons, toxins and influence away from your body, until there is nothing except your own intelligence and the energy around you. You will be starting with the top of your head and working your way down your body.
Start by tensing the muscles of your forehead for at least three seconds, and release. Relax completely. Repeat the tensing process at least two additional times. Continue down the rest of your body: first tensing, then relaxing the muscles: face, shoulders, arms, chest and back, stomach, buttocks, thighs, calves and feet. Tense and relax each three times. Finally, tense your entire body for as much and and long as you possibly can before relaxing the body. Repeat this two additional times.
Visualization: See yourself completely immersed in light; this may be a different colour for each of you depending on your aura. Breath deeply, but do not strain yourself. Imagine then, that you are enveloped in a sphere of brilliant bright light; feel yourself bathed in the cool of the energy, the refreshing tingles on your skin. Once you feel yourself cool entirely to the energy, you may open your eyes and begin your next ritual.
Rituals: What are they?
Over the course of the next several weeks you are going to learn the building blocks for performing high rituals, that you may harness the energy from the world around you, protect yourself, and more importantly ward off attacks aggressively. You will need your wand for this course. All other tools and supplies will be provided to you through the course. It is crucial that if you miss a lesson, you make up the work before the next lesson so that you have the foundation to build upon.
Magical rituals are the precisely defined actions, movements and incantations used to work magic. They effectively string together several spells into one larger effect, and often need to be performed in a specific order to produce specific results. This course teaches the building / foundations of rituals.
Ritual magic uses all of the five physical senses and many inner senses as well:
Vision is stimulated by the symbols that you form to invoke the different spirits or energies. It it what you see around you, in the strength of your will that you create. For example: vision could be stimulated by the letter 8, signifying the number of Hod on the Tree of Life. Altar candles of suitable colors also stimulate the visual field.
Taste is stimulated by that which you put into your body, in preparation for a ritual. For example, you might need to drink a tea or a potion.
Hearing is stimulated by the incantations and the words of the ritual, as well as any music that you might be including in the ritual.
Scent is stimulated by oils, perfumes and incense.
Touch is stimulated by the physical movements of the ritual that you make with both your body and your wand.
Step One: Relaxation Ritual
First, you will be learning to put yourself in tune with the energy around you. To do this, you need your own ritual space. It would be advantageous for you to develop your own ritual space, when you leave Hogwarts. For the time being, I have set this department up with individual ritual space. Under no circumstances, should you be in another persons sacred space without their expressed permission.
Detention will be provided if you violate the sanctity of anthers space.
To Begin: Lay on your back, in a relaxed position. Once you have learned to manifest the inner light within you, you may elect to sit up, or remain in a lotus or other meditative position. Keep your eyes closed and try to block out noise and external factors. Think of nothing, of that which you see when your eyes are closed. This is to push all external poisons, toxins and influence away from your body, until there is nothing except your own intelligence and the energy around you. You will be starting with the top of your head and working your way down your body.
Start by tensing the muscles of your forehead for at least three seconds, and release. Relax completely. Repeat the tensing process at least two additional times. Continue down the rest of your body: first tensing, then relaxing the muscles: face, shoulders, arms, chest and back, stomach, buttocks, thighs, calves and feet. Tense and relax each three times. Finally, tense your entire body for as much and and long as you possibly can before relaxing the body. Repeat this two additional times.
Visualization: See yourself completely immersed in light; this may be a different colour for each of you depending on your aura. Breath deeply, but do not strain yourself. Imagine then, that you are enveloped in a sphere of brilliant bright light; feel yourself bathed in the cool of the energy, the refreshing tingles on your skin. Once you feel yourself cool entirely to the energy, you may open your eyes and begin your next ritual.