{"id":2700,"date":"2009-11-01T01:10:53","date_gmt":"2009-11-01T06:10:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=2757"},"modified":"2009-10-28T11:19:36","modified_gmt":"2009-10-28T16:19:36","slug":"dispensing-the-sacraments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2009\/11\/01\/dispensing-the-sacraments\/","title":{"rendered":"Dispensing the Sacraments"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
I\u2019ve been happily involved in Paganism for over 30 years and witnessed a lot of rituals in my time.\u00a0 It was in 1982 that I began studying the subject of ritual making and my book on that subject, The Spell of Making<\/em>, was published in 1995.\u00a0 I continue to learn more every day and have had a wonderful time integrating that material into my workshops on ritual construction.\u00a0 The book is focused on how to build rituals that are powerful and effective but there isn\u2019t a great deal in it about the presentation of those rituals.\u00a0 That will be what this article will discuss.\u00a0 So there isn\u2019t any confusion, let me explain why the title of this article is \u201cDispensing the Sacraments\u201d but I begin by saying the article is about presenting rituals.<\/span>Wicca (and modern Paganism in general) is classified as a \u2018mystery<\/em> religion.\u2019 That means that we don\u2019t have a book of scripture that delineates the spiritual truth for us.\u00a0 We don\u2019t require that you adhere to a firm belief system dictated by an ordained priesthood charged with interpreting holy writ.\u00a0 Instead, we expect and allow each person to find their own spiritual truths and to interpret and apply them as part of their journey through life.\u00a0 Our faith group believes that each person, no matter their abilities or way of life, will have their own unique experiences and therefore their own distinctive spiritual truths.\u00a0 This we call \u2018the mysteries,\u2019 for they are only known to the one who experiences them.\u00a0 We can\u2019t teach others our<\/em> mysteries; we can only provide opportunities for them to experience their own.\u00a0 Such opportunities, presented in sacred space, are known as sacraments<\/em>.\u00a0 To \u2018dispense the sacraments\u2019 is to provide an opportunity to directly experience an ineffable connection to the gods. Every sacrament is for that purpose.\u00a0 Any act or experience that purposely provides an opportunity to make or increase our connection to the Divine is a sacrament.\u00a0 It is the role of the priesthood to present the sacraments. <\/span><\/p>\n

Many (but not all) sacraments are produced (or \u2018dispensed\u2019) under ritual conditions.\u00a0 Rituals present them in symbolic form that speaks directly to the unconscious.\u00a0 And because the unconscious mind is what integrates all the information that comes to us and provides us with a model for understanding our world, this is an excellent place for the sacraments to take hold and work their magic. <\/span><\/p>\n

There is no guarantee that a sacrament will actually result in greater spiritual understanding for any particular person.\u00a0 Everyone will respond to them in different ways.\u00a0 What might be a wondrous and moving experience for one might be no big deal for the person next to them.\u00a0 And what may have a profound effect on us at one time could leave us feeling nothing at another.\u00a0 It\u2019s impossible to predict exactly how a sacrament will impact a person; we are all different from one another and even from the person we were yesterday.\u00a0 To be a good ritual presenter means you must understand that the sacrament is the ritual\u2019s goal and hone your abilities with this in mind.\u00a0 In doing this work, you will be exposed to the energies of these presentations many more times than those who only attend them once.\u00a0 So every time you rehearse or present the rituals that are the vehicles for these sacraments, you will have the opportunity to increase your own spiritual truth.\u00a0 And every time you see the rite work its magic on another, you will have a better perspective on your own mysteries.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are (at least) three good reasons for becoming a ritual presenter:\u00a0 The personal spiritual insights that one gains by participating as a sacrament dispenser are enormous.\u00a0 No words can describe the wonder of being party to this kind of work.\u00a0 Everyone who actively presents the opportunity for others to become closer to and in greater harmony with the Divine will find themselves growing in spirit as well.\u00a0 All of the energy you put into the rites you present for others will return to you as incredible beauty that fills your spirit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although I won\u2019t bother to explain why here, your magical abilities will also grow.\u00a0 Many people don\u2019t give enough credit to the fact that all<\/em> internal growth makes for greater magical ability.\u00a0 But it\u2019s an indisputable fact that the more ability you gain in being a good ritualist will also manifest in your magic.<\/span><\/p>\n

True leadership is through service.\u00a0 When you become part of a group that serves others in your community, you give a boost to your own social standing.\u00a0 There\u2019s nothing wrong with enjoying that benefit; we all crave positive interaction with others and this is definitely a good way to accomplish it.\u00a0 Becoming a ritual presenter is a wonderful way to serve your community.\u00a0 It will also serve you<\/em> with more rewards than you can imagine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Presentation of a ritual is much more than learning the words and what prop to wave about while saying them.\u00a0 The bottom line about being a good ritualist is that you must be a good actor<\/em>.\u00a0 That doesn\u2019t mean you must pretend<\/em> anything; it means you must feel<\/em> what you act.\u00a0 If I were to single out the most important thing I\u2019ve learned from my spiritual studies, it would be summed up in one sentence:<\/span><\/p>\n

How it feels is what it means.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Try this exercise:\u00a0 Take a page out of a magazine, an advertisement that features a large face shot where the model is looking out at you through the camera.\u00a0 Pin it up on the wall next to a mirror.\u00a0 Stand looking at the picture and say (out loud), \u201cI love you.\u201d\u00a0 Look at your<\/em> face in the mirror.\u00a0 Now turn back to the picture and think of what you mean<\/em> and feel <\/em>when you say those words to somebody you really do love deeply.\u00a0 Form in your mind an image of that person\u2019s face as they look at you when you say the words and how they respond.\u00a0 Wait for just the right moment to say the words, just as you would wait for the right moment with the person you truly love.\u00a0 When your heart bursts with love, say \u201cI love you\u201d again to that picture on the wall.\u00a0 Immediately turn and look at yourself in the mirror once more.\u00a0 Do you see the difference?<\/span><\/p>\n

That is acting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Acting isn\u2019t easy; it takes a tremendous amount of personal discipline.\u00a0 And it takes a great deal of emotional strength.\u00a0 Stop and think about a movie and how the actors made you believe in their characters, how they made you feel<\/em> their emotions and the situations they were in.\u00a0 You knew it was just a movie, just a story, but you got caught up in that story because of the actors and their ability to convince you they were actually living the story.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is a clich\u00e9 joke where an actor is told he is to do something quite common or simple (like pick up a coffee cup) and he turns to the director and asks, \u201cWhat is my motivation<\/em>?\u201d\u00a0 While this certainly might seem like overkill, it also could be an important question.\u00a0 After all, if you pick up a cup to throw it in anger at someone, you would do it differently than if you just wanted to go get some coffee.\u00a0 A good ritualist must provide an experience for all of the people in attendance that is real and believable.\u00a0 That is not possible without the ritualist putting themselves in a real state of feeling<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The use of imagination by ritual actors is key to their ability in presenting the sacrament within the ritual.\u00a0 Each ritualist must draw from within themselves the feelings that are necessary to make what they do and say have real meaning.\u00a0 When that happens, each ritualist will convey that reality of meaning in every inflection of voice, each tiny change of expression, and every movement of their body.\u00a0 Just as in our experiment with the picture next to the mirror: your whole demeanor was changed when you could say, \u201cI love you,\u201d to it and feel<\/em> it.\u00a0 Anyone watching at that moment would have been able to believe the picture was of somebody you loved deeply.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the criticisms I\u2019ve received about my book goes something like this:\u00a0 \u201cAll that structure and planning in making a ritual kills the spontaneity that makes our rites such magical events.\u201d\u00a0 I fully understand where that is coming from.\u00a0 And, although I still strongly believe a ritual should be well thought out and scripted, I also know that it is not<\/em> the scripted words and directions that gives it life; it is the feelings<\/em> of the people who present it.<\/span><\/p>\n

If we are to provide real meaning in ritual form, we must produce emotional connections through our presentations.\u00a0 So, here we are back in acting class: learning how to emote<\/em>.\u00a0 Now, \u201cWhat\u2019s my (e)motivation?\u201d becomes less of a joke and more like an important consideration.\u00a0 The emotional impact of a ritual is generated by the ritualists, not the script.\u00a0 That is why spontaneity on circle can produce such wonderful results.\u00a0 I\u2019m all for spontaneity; I just think that it should have structure behind it.\u00a0 The two are not<\/span> mutually exclusive.<\/span><\/p>\n

When presenting a ritual, making every movement, every word, and every expression into a reality for those attending is the real work.\u00a0 It requires a great deal of self-discipline on the part of each ritualist as well as \u2018the right chemistry\u2019 between all the people presenting the rite. Taking classes on acting and improvisational theater is a very good idea for anyone intending to do this kind of work.\u00a0 When practicing a ritual, the person in charge should keep a critical eye on the feelings<\/em> that are generated by the ritual presenters.\u00a0 More than any other aspect, this will determine the ultimate success of the ritual for those who attend.\u00a0 There is a vast difference between pretending<\/em> and acting<\/em> a part. <\/span><\/p>\n

Think back to when you were a child and you and your friends played at being somebody other than yourselves.\u00a0 Most likely you were grownups: parents or workers, soldiers or bank robbers.\u00a0 In your imagination, you were<\/span><\/em> these characters and not little children.\u00a0 Dolls, toy figures, even pets became real companions that assisted you in your imaginings.\u00a0 Your friends played along with the fantasy and everyone got caught up in what was \u2013 for that moment \u2013 real to you all.\u00a0 When a friend pointed a finger-gun at you and said, \u201cBang, bang,\u201d you didn\u2019t have to think about your response; you either fell over or you dodged the bullet and hid behind the bush\/rock\/car\/ asteroid\/force-field\/ hapless hostage and fired back!\u00a0 You might have children of your own now and can see this same kind of play-acting done by them.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t it magical how a child can produce all the necessary reality they need for moments like this?<\/span><\/p>\n

It most certainly is; that\u2019s real magic!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

All it took was imagination and a willingness to suspend disbelief (another way of saying that you temporarily believed).\u00a0 \u2018Play\u2019 is the word we use for this time when our reality is no longer constrained by what our five senses report to us.\u00a0 It is also the word used for live theater\u2026 such as ritual.\u00a0 When we \u2018play,\u2019 we willfully project and receive<\/em> a reality that surpasses what normally is perceived by us and the people around us.\u00a0 In other words, to play<\/em> is to do magic!<\/span><\/p>\n

Remember what a sacrament is: a means by which a person may make and\/or intensify their personal connection to the Divine\u2026\u00a0however and whatever they<\/em> might envision that to be.\u00a0 There is no way to force this connection but there are many ways to increase the chances for people to experience it.\u00a0 Becoming better at acting<\/em> is one of them; pretending is never enough.\u00a0 Taking on the job of the priesthood demands nothing less of us.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ve been happily involved in Paganism for over 30 years and witnessed a lot of rituals in my time.\u00a0 It was in 1982 that I began studying the subject of ritual making and my book on that subject, The Spell of Making, was published in 1995.\u00a0 I continue to learn more every day and have had a wonderful time integrating that material into my workshops on ritual construction.\u00a0 The book is focused on how to build rituals that are powerful and effective but there isn\u2019t a great deal in it about the presentation of those rituals.\u00a0 That will be what this article will discuss.\u00a0 So there isn\u2019t any confusion, let me explain why the title of this article is \u201cDispensing the Sacraments\u201d but I begin by saying the article is about presenting rituals.Wicca (and modern Paganism in general) is classified as a \u2018mystery religion.\u2019 That means that we don\u2019t have a book of scripture that delineates the spiritual truth for us.\u00a0 We don\u2019t require that you adhere to a firm belief system dictated by an ordained priesthood charged with interpreting holy writ.\u00a0 Instead, we expect and allow each person to find their own spiritual truths and to interpret and apply them as part of their journey through life.\u00a0 Our faith group believes that each person, no matter their abilities or way of life, will have their own unique experiences and therefore their own distinctive spiritual truths.\u00a0 This we call \u2018the mysteries,\u2019 for they are only known to the one who experiences them.\u00a0 We can\u2019t teach others our mysteries; we can only provide opportunities for them to experience their own.\u00a0 Such opportunities, presented in sacred space, are known as sacraments.\u00a0 To \u2018dispense the sacraments\u2019 is to provide an opportunity to directly experience an ineffable connection to the gods. Every sacrament is for that purpose.\u00a0 Any act or experience that purposely provides an opportunity to make or increase our connection to the Divine is a sacrament.\u00a0 It is the role of the priesthood to present the sacraments. Many (but not all) sacraments are produced (or \u2018dispensed\u2019) under ritual conditions.\u00a0 Rituals present them in symbolic form that speaks directly to the unconscious.\u00a0 And because the unconscious mind is what integrates all the information that comes to us and provides us with a model for understanding our world, this is an excellent place for the sacraments to take hold and work their magic. There is no guarantee that a sacrament will actually result in greater spiritual understanding for any particular person.\u00a0 Everyone will respond to them in different ways.\u00a0 What might be a wondrous and moving experience for one might be no big deal for the person next to them.\u00a0 And what may have a profound effect on us at one time could leave us feeling nothing at another.\u00a0 It\u2019s impossible to predict exactly how a sacrament will impact a person; we are all different from one another and even from the person we were yesterday.\u00a0 To be a good ritual presenter means you must understand that the sacrament is the ritual\u2019s goal and hone your abilities with this in mind.\u00a0 In doing this work, you will be exposed to the energies of these presentations many more times than those who only attend them once.\u00a0 So every time you rehearse or present the rituals that are the vehicles for these sacraments, you will have the opportunity to increase your own spiritual truth.\u00a0 And every time you see the rite work its magic on another, you will have a better perspective on your own mysteries. There are (at least) three good reasons for becoming a ritual presenter:\u00a0 The personal spiritual insights that one gains by participating as a sacrament dispenser are enormous.\u00a0 No words can describe the wonder of being party to this kind of work.\u00a0 Everyone who actively presents the opportunity for others to become closer to and in greater harmony with the Divine will find themselves growing in spirit as well.\u00a0 All of the energy you put into the rites you present for others will return to you as incredible beauty that fills your spirit. Although I won\u2019t bother to explain why here, your magical abilities will also grow.\u00a0 Many people don\u2019t give enough credit to the fact that all internal growth makes for greater magical ability.\u00a0 But it\u2019s an indisputable fact that the more ability you gain in being a good ritualist will also manifest in your magic. True leadership is through service.\u00a0 When you become part of a group that serves others in your community, you give a boost to your own social standing.\u00a0 There\u2019s nothing wrong with enjoying that benefit; we all crave positive interaction with others and this is definitely a good way to accomplish it.\u00a0 Becoming a ritual presenter is a wonderful way to serve your community.\u00a0 It will also serve you with more rewards than you can imagine. Presentation of a ritual is much more than learning the words and what prop to wave about while saying them.\u00a0 The bottom line about being a good ritualist is that you must be a good actor.\u00a0 That doesn\u2019t mean you must pretend anything; it means you must feel what you act.\u00a0 If I were to single out the most important thing I\u2019ve learned from my spiritual studies, it would be summed up in one sentence: How it feels is what it means. Try this exercise:\u00a0 Take a page out of a magazine, an advertisement that features a large face shot where the model is looking out at you through the camera.\u00a0 Pin it up on the wall next to a mirror.\u00a0 Stand looking at the picture and say (out loud), \u201cI love you.\u201d\u00a0 Look at your face in the mirror.\u00a0 Now turn back to the picture and think of what you mean and feel when you say those words to somebody you really do love deeply.\u00a0 Form in your mind an image of that person\u2019s face as they look at you when you say the words and how they respond.\u00a0 Wait for just the right moment to say the words, just as you would wait for the right moment with the person you truly love.\u00a0 When your heart bursts with love, say \u201cI love you\u201d again to that picture on the wall.\u00a0 Immediately turn and look at yourself in the mirror once more.\u00a0 Do you see the difference? That is acting. Acting isn\u2019t easy; it takes a tremendous amount of personal discipline.\u00a0 And it takes a great deal of emotional strength.\u00a0 Stop and think about a movie and how the actors made you believe in their characters, how they made you feel their emotions and the situations they were in.\u00a0 You knew it was just a movie, just a story, but you got caught up in that story because of the actors and their ability to convince you they were actually living the story. There is a clich\u00e9 joke where an actor is told he is to do something quite common or simple (like pick up a coffee cup) and he turns to the director and asks, \u201cWhat is my motivation?\u201d\u00a0 While this certainly might seem like overkill, it also could be an important question.\u00a0 After all, if you pick up a cup to throw it in anger at someone, you would do it differently than if you just wanted to go get some coffee.\u00a0 A good ritualist must provide an experience for all of the people in attendance that is real and believable.\u00a0 That is not possible without the ritualist putting themselves in a real state of feeling. The use of imagination by ritual actors is key to their ability in presenting the sacrament within the ritual.\u00a0 Each ritualist must draw from within themselves the feelings that are necessary to make what they do and say have real meaning.\u00a0 When that happens, each ritualist will convey that reality of meaning in every inflection of voice, each tiny change of expression, and every movement of their body.\u00a0 Just as in our experiment with the picture next to the mirror: your whole demeanor was changed when you could say, \u201cI love you,\u201d to it and feel it.\u00a0 Anyone watching at that moment would have been able to believe the picture was of somebody you loved deeply. One of the criticisms I\u2019ve received about my book goes something like this:\u00a0 \u201cAll that structure and planning in making a ritual kills the spontaneity that makes our rites such magical events.\u201d\u00a0 I fully understand where that is coming from.\u00a0 And, although I still strongly believe a ritual should be well thought out and scripted, I also know that it is not the scripted words and directions that gives it life; it is the feelings of the people who present it. If we are to provide real meaning in ritual form, we must produce emotional connections through our presentations.\u00a0 So, here we are back in acting class: learning how to emote.\u00a0 Now, \u201cWhat\u2019s my (e)motivation?\u201d becomes less of a joke and more like an important consideration.\u00a0 The emotional impact of a ritual is generated by the ritualists, not the script.\u00a0 That is why spontaneity on circle can produce such wonderful results.\u00a0 I\u2019m all for spontaneity; I just think that it should have structure behind it.\u00a0 The two are not mutually exclusive. When presenting a ritual, making every movement, every word, and every expression into a reality for those attending is the real work.\u00a0 It requires a great deal of self-discipline on the part of each ritualist as well as \u2018the right chemistry\u2019 between all the people presenting the rite. Taking classes on acting and improvisational theater is a very good idea for anyone intending to do this kind of work.\u00a0 When practicing a ritual, the person in charge should keep a critical eye on the feelings that are generated by the ritual presenters.\u00a0 More than any other aspect, this will determine the ultimate success of the ritual for those who attend.\u00a0 There is a vast difference between pretending and acting a part. Think back to when you were a child and you and your friends played at being somebody other than yourselves.\u00a0 Most likely you were grownups: parents or workers, soldiers or bank robbers.\u00a0 In your imagination, you were these characters and not little children.\u00a0 Dolls, toy figures, even pets became real companions that assisted you in your imaginings.\u00a0 Your friends played along with the fantasy and everyone got caught up in what was \u2013 for that moment \u2013 real to you all.\u00a0 When a friend pointed a finger-gun at you and said, \u201cBang, bang,\u201d you didn\u2019t have to think about your response; you either fell over or you dodged the bullet and hid behind the bush\/rock\/car\/ asteroid\/force-field\/ hapless hostage and fired back!\u00a0 You might have children of your own now and can see this same kind of play-acting done by them.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t it magical how a child can produce all the necessary reality they need for moments like this? It most certainly is; that\u2019s real magic! All it took was imagination and a willingness to suspend disbelief (another way of saying that you temporarily believed).\u00a0 \u2018Play\u2019 is the word we use for this time when our reality is no longer constrained by what our five senses report to us.\u00a0 It is also the word used for live theater\u2026 such as ritual.\u00a0 When we \u2018play,\u2019 we willfully project and receive a reality that surpasses what normally is perceived by us and the people around us.\u00a0 In other words, to play is to do magic! Remember what a sacrament is: a means by which a person may make and\/or intensify their personal connection to the Divine\u2026\u00a0however and whatever they might envision that to be.\u00a0 There is no way to force this connection but there are many ways to increase the chances for people to experience it.\u00a0 Becoming better at acting is one of them; pretending is never enough.\u00a0 Taking on the job of the priesthood demands nothing less of us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2700","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2700","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2700"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2700\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2700"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2700"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2700"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}