jason winslade wrote:
> Ritual isn't a 'hindrance,' but
> rather is meant to remove hindrances. It's not 'between you and
> something you're trying to do,' it is what you're trying to do.
Yes, I too was puzzled by the idea of
ritual as a hindrance or obstacle or as
having decorative purposes only. To me,
ritual is a tool for focusing one's
will, desire, or energy towards a
specific purpose, whether that be the
accomplishment of some goal or the
reception of spiritual guidance or
magical knowledge. It's more like a lens
than an obstacle.
I have seen objections to the very idea
of ritual, though, on the part of some
folks identifying themselves as witches,
especially those who might use the terms
"kitchen witch" or "traditional
witchcraft." Some of these folks see
ritual as an alien thing that flowed
into witchcraft through Wicca and into
Wicca from lodgecraft and grimoire
magic. That said, I also know people who
identify as traditional witches who use
ritual on a regular basis.
Harry Roth
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