Wiccan Ritual of Elemental Attunement

This ritual is best suited for a coven, but can certainly be modified for a solitary witch if needed. It is designed to be done outdoors, and works very well around a bonfire. You will need a center altar and four smaller altars for each of the directions. Four large flat rocks work well for these.

Intent: To rid ourselves of our learned acceptance of an artificial world that is out of touch with nature. To honor the elements and Goddesses of the elements and attune ourselves more to them in order to see the natural rhythms and patterns around us.

Items needed:

Four quarter pillar candles in red/green/blue/yellow for each quarter.

In each direction, an altar with the pillar candle and the following items:

On the main altar: wand or athame, cauldron, libation bowl, cakes/wine, God/Goddess/Spirit Candles, sage smudge stick, incense, rattle or bell, purification water in dish, lighter, snuffer

Everyone need bring an herbal offering to honor the element whose energies they most feel they need in their life.

Round the circle for each of the following actions, moving deosil (clockwise).

Smudge circle.

Purify circle with water.

Shake rattle or ring bell at Quarters.

Cast circle with athame or wand.

Light incense on center altar.

At each quarter:

East/Air

Light yellow candle

"We stand and face to the East to honor and call upon the powers of air, winds of creativity and breathe of life."

"We welcome your breeze of inspiration to our circle this night."

South/Fire

Light red candle

"We stand and face to the South to honor and call upon the powers of fire, smoldering passion and flames of courage."

"We welcome your blaze of strength to our circle this night."

West/Water

Light blue candle

"We stand and face to the West to honor and call upon the powers of water, waves of healing and ripples of peace."

"We welcome your flood of emotion to our circle this night."

North/Earth

Light green candle

"We stand and face to the North to honor and call upon the powers of earth, valleys of abundance and soil of fertility."

"We welcome your forests of plenty to our circle this night."

Light Goddess Candle

"She who is known as many, the Great Mother be here with us this night as we honor the Goddess of green and living things."

"Welcome to the Lady!"

Light God Candle

"He who is known as many, the Great Father be here with us this night as we honor the God of sun and sky."

"Welcome to the Lord!"

Light Spirit Candle

"Let our spirits be as one within this, our sacred circle."

"Blessed be our spirit!"

Meditation:

"Imagine you stand on a busy street corner in a large city. Below your feet, you feel the rumble of a subway. Hear the horns, alarms and tires of the cars. Smell the fumes in the air. Feel the tense energy of the disconnected people as they rush past you. Glare at the electric lights and gaze up to the concrete, steel and glass that stretches to the sky so that only a small part of the night blue shows. Now imagine that as you are staring at that sky, the stars become visible up through the chaos. The moon comes into view and as it does, the world around you falls away. Skyscrapers become tall cliffs with magnificent waterfalls and towers become ancient oaks. The rush of traffic becomes the rush of a raging river, and the scent in the air is of lush ferns and honeysuckle. You now stand in a valley full of vibrant life, creatures great and small in natural harmony. A breeze rustles the leaves and you hear the call of birds as they take flight. Feel the wind lift your hair as you feel the warm grass beneath your feet. You are a creature of this world, a wild woman in touch with the elements around her and keenly aware of her connection to them. You are Air. You are Water. You are Fire. You are Earth."

Again, round the circle deosil (clockwise), stopping at each quarter.

East/Air

"As those who have come before us, we honor Amuanet, Goddess of Air, in our circle this night. She who would fly across a night sky over white sands to inspire our minds to greater things."

Draw ankh in white sand with feather.

Bless everyone around circle by stroking cheeks and shoulders with feather.

Say to each:

"Light as a feather on the breeze, you are air."

South/Fire

"As those who have come before us, we honor Vesta, Goddess of Fire, in our circle this night. She who would ignite the flames in our hearts and give us the will to be courageous."

Add bag of Vesta powder to fire.

Bless everyone around circle by holding flame of red candle under hands.

Say to each:

"Warm and bright as the sun, you are fire."

West/Water

"As those who have come before us, we honor Aphrodite, Goddess of Water, in our circle this night. She who would flow into us with her healing and purity and remind us to love and be loved."

Add rose petals to water.

Bless everyone around circle by sprinkling water from shell on cheeks and shoulders.

Say to each:

"Calm and cool as a stream, you are water."

North/Earth

"As those who have come before us, we honor Gaia, Goddess of Earth, in our circle this night. She who would grow for us her bountiful harvest and give us firm ground on which to make our stand."

Add flax seeds to soil.

Bless everyone around circle by sprinkling soil/seeds from clay pot into open hands.

Say to each:

"Solid and fertile as the soil, you are earth."

Spiritual Blessing

"In the names of these and all goddesses beyond time and space, we bind our spirits to the elements of air, fire, water and earth. As sure as our physical bodies need the forces of the elements to survive, as do our spirits."

Everyone in turn now adds a personal offering to the cauldron and asks for the aid of one of the elements. May be stated aloud or to self.

Hold cauldron up to sky.

"With this ritual tonight, we are blessed with the knowledge that we are one with nature. We will see the natural rhythms that surround us in our daily lives. When we see rain fall, we will know that it is water kissing earth, and when we see that rain puddle evaporate, we will know it is air kissing water. We will feel the fiery warmth of the sun kiss our cheeks, and we will smile and know that we are the wild children of the earth.”

Pour herbal offerings into fire.

"So mote it be!"

Everyone raises wine to toast the Goddess.

"In sacred sisterhood we honor the Mother."

Add some of wine to libation bowl.

Everyone raises cakes to toast the God.

"In sacred sisterhood we honor the Father."

Add some of cakes to libation bowl.

"Great Mother Goddess and Great Father God, we honor you and thank you for your presence in this our sacred circle. You are with us always."

Snuff Goddess, God and Spirit candles

Starting in the North move round the circle widdershins (counter-clockwise).

Release North/Earth

"We thank you, earthly guardians of the North, for your presence here tonight. Fare thee well and be at peace!"

Snuff Earth candle.

Release West/Water

"We thank you, watery guardians of the West, for your presence here tonight. Fare thee well and be at peace!"

Snuff West candle.

Release South/Fire

"We thank you, fiery guardians of the South, for your presence here tonight. Fare thee well and be at peace!"

Snuff South candle.

Release East/Air

"We thank you, airy guardians of the East, for your presence here tonight. Fare thee well and be at peace!"

Snuff East candle.

The circle is now open.

"Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!"

Ritual written by Ayla Riversage