Wicca by Scott Cunningham

Author:Scott Cunningham
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: OCC026000
ISBN: 9780738717159
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
Published: 2008-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

Invocation

In some ways this is the heart of all Wiccan ritual, and indeed is the only necessary part. Wiccan rites are attunements with the powers that are the Goddess and God; all else is pageantry.*

The word “invocation” shouldn’t be taken too literally. This usually refers to a spoken prayer or verse, but may also consist of music, dance, gestures, and song.

There are several invocations to the Goddess and God in The Standing Stones Book of Shadows. Feel free to use them when designing your own rituals, but remember that impromptu invocations are often more effective than the most ancient prayers.

If you do write up your own invocations, you may wish to incorporate a rhyme. Centuries of magical tradition attest to the value of rhyme. It certainly makes invocations that much easier to memorize.

Rhyme also contacts the unconscious or psychic mind. It drowses our societally, materially, and intellectually based minds and lets us slip into ritual consciousness.

When actually invoking, don’t curse if you forget a word, mispronounce something, or entirely lose your train of thought. This is quite natural and is usually a manifestation of fatigue, stress, or a desire to be word perfect in the circle.

Invocation requires a willingness to open yourself to the Goddess and God. It needn’t be a pristine performance. As most rituals begin with invocation, this is, in a sense, the moment of truth. If the invocation isn’t sincere, it won’t contact the Goddess and God within, and the ritual that follows will be nothing more than form.

Practice invoking the Goddess and God, not only in ritual but daily, throughout your life. Remember:Wiccan practice isn’t limited to full moons or sabbats—it is a round-the-clock way of life.

In a more metaphysical sense, invocation is a dual-level act. It not only invokes the Goddess and God, it also awakens us (shifts our awareness) to that part of us that is divine—our inviolable, intrans-mutable essence: our link with the Old Ones.

In other words, when you invoke do so not only to higher forces but also to the deities that dwell within, to that spark of divine energy that exists inside all living creatures.

The powers behind all deities are one. They are resident within all humans. This explains why all religions merge at their cores, and why they work for their respective adherents. If only one correct way of approaching deity were possible, there would be one religious ideal. This will never happen.

The concept of the Goddess and God dwelling within may seem egotistical (we’re all divine!) but only from an unbalanced viewpoint.Yes, when some people grasp this idea they start acting as if they were indeed divine. Seeing the divinity within all other humans helps bring this idea into balance.

While we are, in a sense, immortal (our souls certainly are), we are not the Immortal Ones. We’re not the universal, timeless, transcendent beings that are revered in all religions.

Call the Goddess and God with love and sincerity, and your rituals should be blessedly successful.

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