#setting up

My sister & I 🥰💞😘

ryan setting up at el corazon in seattle, washington on 15 april 2010

Everyone starts somewhere! Setting up for a ritual can be a whole process that some look forward to, some dread, and others simply see as part of the process. This can apply for home grown or found rituals alike.  More ceremonial practices might have their own rules for how one should set up for their rituals that are specific to them, but if you are making your own, you own this part of the process too.

Cleansing and Warding

More often than not you’re going to want to cleanse and ward a space before you do a spell. This cleans the slate and readies the space for your intent. This is also when you might ward against unwelcome spirits or against those who might seek to undermine your working. While not everyone is going to make a hobby of making enemies of other witches, the person undermining your working might even be yourself, your own self doubt, your own conflicted wishes.  This is the moment you leave that at the door. Cleanse out what does not serve you, ward against it while you work, and have faith in yourself to carry through unimpeded.  This is your space now.

Who, What, When, Where, and Why?

Who?

Who is going to be part of a spell can range from a group to those who will be present metaphysically.  Your guides might be part of this process, your friends might be apart of the process. You may even say a prayer to ask a deity or similar entity for their help with the proceedings. Regardless, those who are present should know that this is what is happening.  You largely don’t want anyone interrupting.  

What?

Spellwork often involves materials or other objects that correspond with what you are trying to do. This is your substance.  These are your elements.  You may want to make a checklist of all the components you will need, or construct the spell where you keep all of your witchy objects to have it be burnt, buried, or returned to nature to complete your spell. This is going to vary by spell.  Other things to consider are what you have your spell in, what you plan to do with it after, and how this can be done. (You wouldn’t bury forever a non-biodegradable vessel or burn something that produces toxic gas for example.)

When?

Those who prescribe more to astrology are going to use the position of the stars or phases of the moon to decide when to perform a spell.  Those that follow the equinoxes/ solstices, or the wheel of the year might pick times when the veil (the separation between the physical and the metaphysical) is thinner.  Those that follow saints or other religions might pick specific holidays to plan for when their guides, patrons, or deities will be able to offer them the most assistance.

Where?

 Many witches take to doing their craft in their home, and will have an altar of sorts that they do their spellwork around. However, many practitioners will also take into account place as an aspect of their working.  They may go out into the woods to get more help from nature or take advantage of very old corresponding trees that they don’t have to take clippings from in order to utilize. It also might be the best way to find a space that you can temporarily designate as your own, or where you won’t be bothered.

The ease of using an altar means that you have to be less concerned about not having everything with you that you plan to use.  If this is the case you can have everything set up ahead of time, or just in reach for when you need it.  However, if you plan to go somewhere else, you might want to pack a travel altar (a smaller, often easily concealable, altar to take with you).  This will act as your witchy toolbox.

Why?

Setting up as a process is important to many for a variety of personal reasons. As you progress as a witch you may do more rituatual preparation or you may do less.  It can help get you in the right headspace, involve divination to decide if it’s worth it, or just be a more literal act of preparing tools, objects, and a clean quiet space. Your reasons are your own, and all of them are completely valid ways to approach the craft.

Sealing and Taking Down

Once you’ve sealed, signifying that this now comes to a close you may want to start undoing everything you’ve put up to perform the spell. This begins the process of returning the space to the way it was prior.  If this is your home it might include taking down the warding around the spell.  If this is out in nature remember to take only memories and leave only footprints.  Usually in the reverse order that you put everything up. I still use righty-tighty lefty-loosey. Many also cleanse the space afterwards.