RITUAL OBSERVANCES

RITUAL THEORY IN THE WESTERN ESOTERIC TRADITION

The Western Mystery Traditions have always held that study and knowledge of the cycles of the manifest Universe, experienced on earth through nature and in the stars through the celestial bodies, is highly beneficial to the spiritual aspirant. The Qabalists related the seven planets of the ancients to the Spheres on the Tree of Life, and esoteric initiates continued this associative tradition through the Sacred Tarot. The seven ancient planets included the sun and the moon.

These two planets most directly affect the earth, causing the shifts from light to dark, warm to cold, and from creation to decay and death. Thus, the ancient sages taught that all of the mysteries of God/dess are hidden in manifest nature. In the east, nature is called Prikriti, the substance that forms the maya, or illusion of manifest reality. In the western teachings this same substance is called the root matter or astral light, that permeates and underlies all seeming physicality. Nature thus provides a guide or map for the aspirant that allows him/her to align more closely with the energies of the Creator, and see the mysteries of being more clearly.

Alignment with this creation energy has been done primarily through ritual practices in the western traditions. By taking the time to mark the turning of the Wheel of Life, we allow our consciousness to experience the subtle forces that move manifestation through endless change. Each point of this Wheel holds a specialized type of energy that can be accessed through ritual observances. The energy is then synthesized into consciousness through meditation during and after the ritual performance.

In the beginning stages, the aspirant makes use of the special energies of nature to clear, purify, and balance the vehicles of the lower self. As one advances, and great receptivity and clarity is established in the body, mind, and emotions, the practitioner uses the same energetic alignments to bring more harmonious results into all magical workings. Since the endless emanation of creation can never be exhausted, our opportunities for growth, expansion, and realization through the forces of nature are also limitless. By observing and applying these powerful rhythms, we progress from identification with the personality toward Self- and God-realization with every turn of the Wheel.

The first planetary forces of manifest nature that we work with are those seen in the rhythms of the sun and the moon. In the solar cycle, the primary Sabbaths are those of the Equinoxes and Solstices. These four major points of the solar cycle are times when light and dark are virtually equal (equinox), and when one of these potencies comes into its fullest power (solstices). The solstices occur in winter, when the sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn, and in summer, when the sun enters Cancer.  The equinoxes are in the fall, when the sun enters Libra, and in the spring, when the sun enters Aries. These points are reversed in the southern hemisphere of the earth.

	Solstice
Equinox		Equinox
	Solstice

Image of Solar Star from Wisdom of the West, Pathways to Self-Realization

In addition to these four major points, the halfway point in between each equinox and solstice is considered to be a source of additional energies and balance. As the cycle gets ready to shift from a place of balance to a place of dominance of one potency or from dominance back into balance, we use this energy to prepare ourselves to experience each potency in its fullness, and to equilibrate those forces within.  These four minor energy points are often called quarter-point Sabbaths, indicating their dispersion around the Wheel in between each of the four major Sabbaths.

The eight Sabbaths thus form spokes within the Wheel of the Year. This structure of an eight-rayed wheel is the symbol for the Sphere of Chokmah, Wisdom, that Supernal Force that creates and sustains all of manifestations. Even the Angels of Chokmah are known as The Wheels. Ezekiel and St. John describe this same wheel of creation in the bible. Knowledge of its existence and purposes are contained in the sacred symbol structures of all ancient esoteric sciences. By the conscious and directed use of the specific cyclic energies of the Wheel of Life, the aspirant reaches the goal of enlightenment much more quickly.

As the seasons change, so do the inhabitants of the earth. Although the changes may be subtle among the masses, it does occur nevertheless. Many cycles are required before one even becomes aware of the subtle energies of manifestation shown to us through the veil of nature. More cycles are needed to come fully into command of the various forces of the Wheel of Life. We must remember always that the Wheel is actually a spiral, taking us ever upward toward greater Light and Understanding. In due time, all will ascend to the higher arcs of existence and know the Truth of Oneness. Conscious participation in the Wheel of Life through ritual observances accelerates this process, and can lead to an almost immediate expansion in the spiritual awareness of participants.

The Moon rules Cancer. It is feminine and receptive (negative). Five positive words describing the moon are: (1) patience, (2) sympathy, (3) receptivity, (4) protective, and (5) good memory. Five key words of the planet are: (1) habits (2) emotions, (3) moods, (4) receptivity, and (5) sensitivity. The basic personality function of this planet is stimulating our responses to our conditions and environments.

The moon is the sum total of all our past life habits and experiences combined with into our present personality. The moon does not retrograde. Its basic nature is determined by our life patterns from the past.

Astrologers consider the moon to be the personality and the sun to be the individuality. The sign the sun occupies in this lifetime are positive traits to be incorporated in to the individuality. The moon is the total of all the personalities we have had in other incarnations.  The sun sign shapes the former personalities until they have melded into one distinct personality. To discover the characteristics of the personality, look at what sign the natal moon is in.

Energies

The phases of the moon are important to consider in preparing and planning rituals. The zodiac sign the moon is in is also an important factor in ritual work. The Moon is the representation of the Great Mother - the Goddess. It is assigned to Yesod on the Tree of Life, so it also has great connection to the subconscious. There is a strong link between the element of water and the moon and is likewise a special relationship between Binah and Yesod since Binah is the Great Sea.

The phases of the Moon are waxing, waning, full, and dark; or maiden, mother, and crone in Goddess symbolism.

Phases

The dark or new moon is a time of inwardness and seclusion. The dark moon is the crone, represented as the old wise woman or the destroyer gods: Hecate, Kali, Medusa, Morrigan, and Shiva. The dark moon is a time for inner journeys, banishing, cleansing, going Îbeneath the veil', divination. It is a time to make a vow, acknowledge and integrate our shadow selves, to banish ties that bind us to old, outworn forms of the lower self, to cut ourselves free from obsessions, compulsions, fears. In the dark moon, we disassemble in order to build anew. It is the time of maximum decrease.

The Full Moon is a time of culmination, fruition, and celebration. It is an energy of revelation, renewal, and illumination. It is the time of greatest light in the darkness. Moonlight is the most magical light. The sun can burn but moonlight cools and soothes and heals. It causes things to grow, it bathes the land in ethereal light. The effect of the energy of a full moon lasts for three days - the day before, the day of, and the day after. The energy builds to a peak, then drops off. It is a time of maximum increase. The full moon is the Mother Moon - full, abundant, and sensual. It is represented by Diana, Isis, Selene, Aphrodite, Radha, and Brahma. The full moon is the best energy for charging crystals, making magical tools potent, and performing the magic of increase.

Waxing and Waning are the two directions the moon moves from full to dark and from dark to full. The full moon's power decreases as the moon wanes, as less of the sun's light is reflected, and the dark power increases. The power of the dark moon lessens as it waxes toward full. 

When the first crescent is seen as the moon turns toward full again (sometimes called the new moon) the Maiden aspect of the Great Mother is seen - the first beginning of growth toward full life. Some mystical traditions teach of a bright and a dark Maiden to indicate the first growth or decrease in each direction. Maiden god forms include Artemis, Nimue, Kore, and Vishnu.

These are natural cycles of one of the primary energies of the earth. The moon reflects the sun and stays in the earth's orbit. Esoterically, the sun represents the Individuality or Higher Self. The moon is the personality, striving to become the perfect reflection of this Self. The earth is the body, the life of manifestation into which the Higher Self and then the Spirit are meant to enter, thus reflecting the Divine Light. It's easy to see why a wise magician will move with the energy of the larger universe

To learn about the Solar Sabbaths: The Eight Solar Sabbaths

To learn about Full Moon Ritual Observances: Full Moon Celebrations