Ritual Etiquette

• Arrive on Time! If you have been told to get there by 7 p.m., be there on time. There is a little thing in the Pagan community called "Pagan Time." This is the time kept by people who arrive 3 hours late. Personally, I don't buy it. Late is late and late is rude! Being a Pagan doesn't give you some right to be rude.
  
• Make it your business to find the hostess and say a quick hello. Give a quick introduction and take your leave. The hostess has a lot to organize and doesn't need to hold your hand. (If first time to site)
• Remember, this circle is being conducted in a location that is considered sacred. Don't wander around, and don't touch anything. Respect the trust placed in you when you were invited.
• When invited to attend a private ritual, it is not OK to bring along an uninvited person.
• Never summon Anything you can't banish.
• Support the leaders. Avoid complaining about them or the ritual. People need to hear what they did right . Unless they specifically ask for constructive feedback, bite your tongue. Show them a better way, if you have one, by leading the next ritual yourself.
• Never laugh at someone who is skyclad. They can see you, too.
• Gratuitous funny remarks can be disruptive. Even those rituals that appear to be informal have been planned carefully. Focus - don't chit-chat. Come early to have time to socialize. Ritual time is too precious - and too scarce - to be frittered away.
• Don't be arrogant. Just because you have read books at home does not make you an expert or smarter than anyone else. Be mindful that you are not in the same capacity as those presenting the event; so avoid acting as if you are a big shot.
• If you don't need it, don't bring it. Many small circles are held in a location where space is limited. Don't bring a lot of ritual gear if you don't need it. Ask what you will need and bring only that.
• Ask how you should be dressed. Dress in either robes or comfortable clothes. Your body should be clean and your mind clear. Barefeet bring you closer to the Earth. Save skyclad for private occasions. A clown costume is hardly ever appropriate.
• Do not bring your dog. Unless you have been invited to.
• Bring the hostess a gift. Don't spend a fortune. If it's your first time, what about a little jar of some incense you made or perhaps something a bit more practical, like a roll of charcoal blocks.
• If you are asked to bring food, buy something appropriate. Don't just bring junk food like a bag of chips! Finger food works best.
• This may sound silly but do have a bath or shower before you arrive for the circle. Cleanliness makes the evening more pleasant for everyone else and it's also important to be clean when taking part in rituals. There is a reason (both practical and spiritual) why all religions promote cleanliness in relation to worship!
• If you have kids, ask if they are welcome at the circle. Not all rituals are appropriate for kids and they can be distracting if they get tired or bored. It shouldn't be up to someone else to look after them if you are busy.
• Children - be on your good behaviour - it's okay to ask questions.
• The old adage, "You break it, you bought it!" holds here. You should replace any damages or breakages no matter what the hostess says. Find a replacement or send enough money to cover its replacement.
• Before the circle begins - find someone who is helping to organize the event and ask them to give you a rundown on what is expected of you. If there isn't time for this, do as you are told, keep your mouth shut and your eyes and ears open.
• Also, before the circle begins - go to the bathroom, drink some water, do whatever you need to BEFORE the circle begins. Turn off your beeper and cell phone.
• There is usually open flame at a Circle. Be aware lest you set yourself on fire. If someone else sets themself on fire, it is not part of the ritual. Put them out.
• On that note - never set the witch next to you on fire.
• Watch where you wave the sharp pointy items.
• Don't Cause A Scene - if you have a problem with someone or with how the ritual was conducted, don't make a scene during the circle. If you feel strongly about it, speak to the relevant people constructively after the circle. Don't yell at the kids for being kids - unless they are disrupting everyone else.
• Participate fully. Sing, and if you don't know the words, hum, or clap, or drum. . . It's everyone's participation that makes a ritual work. If you're not adding to the ritual, you are a weight on the collective energy, so join in however you can.
• Go Home! - Circles can be very draining experiences both physically and mentally for those who organize and run them. Learn when to leave.
• But thank the hostess for a nice evening first.
• If you notice the place is a mess, it would probably be much appreciated if you offered to help clean up a little. If the offer is refused, accept the refusal gracefully and leave. When attending a circle you are often entering someone's home. Respect that. Clean up your magickal residue. Release the directions and deities, erase signs and symbols, and open the circle before you leave.
• Remember that you are taking part in a sacred celebration. Give it the respect and contribution that it deserves.
• Good manners never go out of fashion!
• Later, do not tell outsiders who else was at the Circle. Do not greet publicly someone you see again with reference to the Circle gathering. Respect their privacy. Persecution really does happen. Keep in mind - everyone might not be out of the broom closet.

Funny Rules or Rules for Dummies

• Avoid walking through disembodied spirits.
• Carry an all-purpose translator's dictionary in case the ritual leader begins talking in some strange and unknown language.
• Avoid joining your life force to anything with glowing red eyes.
• If asked to sign a contract or pact and you are experiencing doubts or reservations, sign your neighbor's name. Malevolent entities rarely ask for photo ID.
• Blood IS thicker than water. Soak ritual garments an extra 30-45 minutes.
• While drunken weaving may be mistaken for ecstatic dancing, slurring the names of Deities is generally considered bad form.
• If the ritual leader should ask for a volunteer, resist the urge to raise your hand! While it is true that volunteering will most likely gain you stature and prestige amongst the group, thereby allowing you to advance quickly through the ranks, it is equally likely to get you strapped to a table and eaten alive by a drooling demonic horde.