Review: The Art of Ritual by Rachel Patterson

People often ask me what reading matter I would recommend for pagans who are moving on from the first how-to books. The Art of Ritual, a new book by Rachel Patterson, is one I would certainly mention. If you have been working as a solitary witch for a little while and you want to start running rituals for groups of people, this book teaches everything you need to know.

The first part of the book goes step-by-step through the process. This includes describing various different tools you might want to employ, the preparations and  processes involved in a ritual, how to invite the elements and deities into a sacred space, raising energy, magical workings, closing your ritual and, of course, feasting.

Part two offers a large selection of rituals that you can use as they are, adapt or simply read for inspiration. These start with life rites including baby namings, coming of age celebrations, hand fastings, cronings and crossing over ceremonies as well as dedication and initiation pagan rites of passage. There are also Wheel of the Year rituals to mark the seasonal festivals and some more unusual rituals including Celtic tree rites, elemental rituals, an introduction to Hellenic practices and rituals to honour specific deities including the Cailleach, Elen and Sulis.

Writing and running rituals can be very daunting the first time you try – especially if you are doing it on your own without the support of a coven or experienced teacher. The Art of Ritual offers the right information and guidance to ensure that even your first ritual is a success.

Publisher Moon Books says on its website:

The Art of Ritual takes you through every step of ritual format from the basics to the more unusual. What ritual is, how to create it, work with it and all the different aspects and stages of putting a ritual together and how to get the best out of it whether you are a solitary or within a group. From set up through the entire process including the cake…this book covers just about all you should need to know to give you the best ritual experience. Drawn from the author’s own teachings and experiences this book also shares a variety of different ritual scripts and suggestions along with those from members of her coven.

Author Rachel Patterson is high priestess of the Kitchen Witch Coven and an elder at the online Kitchen Witch School of Natural Witchcraft. Her previous books include Grimoire of a Kitchen Witch, Pagan Portals Moon Magic and A Kitchen Witch’s World of Magical Plants and Herbs.

The Art of Ritualhas an official launch date in May, but the paperback and ebook can be ordered via Amazon.

Links and previous related posts:
Art of Ritual, The
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/01/wicca-witchcraft-finding-out-basics.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/05/review-grimoire-of-kitchen-witch.html
http://www.moon-books.net/

To read more posts like this visit A Bad Witch’s Blog at www.badwitch.co.uk