Dedication

Self-Dedication and Self-Initiation

If Wicca is the path you choose to follow, dedicating yourself to the Goddess and God is a simple and beautiful way to continue your journey. This is different from initiation. Dedication is more of an oath of intent; it confirms your will to walk the Wiccan path.

Generally, dedications are short and uncomplicated. (Many Solitaries choose to dedicate themselves on a full moon, as part of their Full Moon Rite, or prior to initiation.) Casting a circle is not necessary; however, if you chose to make this part of a ritual, you will need to do so. When you are ready to begin, address the Goddess and God:

Oh Blessed Lady

Oh Divine Lord

In this, my circle,

I open myself to your essence.

In this place and time I am changed.

From henceforth, I walk the Wiccan path

In perfect love and perfect trust,

I dedicated myself to you,

Gracious Lady and Horned Lord.

You may stop here, or continue by now initiating yourself. For Solitaries, self-initiation is a less "theatrical" event. Initiation is a symbolic death and rebirth; a rite of passage.

The symbolic death may begin with a ritual bath that leads to blindfolding yourself, wrapping yourself in a shroud, or even singing a dirge. Meditation follows; choose a new name, if you have not done so already.

When you are ready to be reborn, cast of the trappings of death. Call to the Lord and Lady. Address them, and use your new name. Enjoy your first simple feast as a Wiccan. When you are through, thank the God and Goddess, and release the circle.

This ceremony should be meaningful and personal to you. Feel free to alter it to become your initiation.

Self-initiation is a wonderful, momentous, and deeply moving occasion.

You should be ready physically, mentally, and most importantly, spiritually. You will no longer be a student, you will be Wiccan, one of those who respect and cherish Midgard, who communes with the God and Goddess, who uses magick as a tool for positive change. Walk the path of Wicca with confidence, and know that the God and Goddess will always be there to guide you.

Self Dedication

The first step in learning the craft is Self-Dedication. This, in itself, will allow energies to focus on you. Your body is full of psychic energy which you may already use, and Self-Dedication will open up the earth energies of air, fire, water and earth (known as elementals) to you so you may use them as your own. Each energy that you use is a tool, and the more tools you can use, the stronger your magick.

Self-Dedication and Initiation differ in that Initiation focuses the deity and astral energies to you, while Self-Dedication allows you the ability to reach out and draw the energies on your own.

Read this ritual over and memorize it so you can recite it without having to stop and remember what is next. The reason why some memorization is important is the effectiveness of the ritual is directly related to your ability to fully focus on your task. Interrupting a ritual to look up the instruction can easily distract you and divert your energies elsewhere, hence defeating your purpose.

You Will Need
Three white candles
One red candle
Matches or lighter
Sweet smelling incense, such as rose
(stick or cone is fine)
A cup with water
A quiet place

Setup

This must be done on the night of the full moon.
Place the three white candles in the form of a triangle.
Place the red candle in the middle.
Place the water to the left side of the triangle of candles.
Place the incense to the right side of the triangle of candles.

Self Dedication Ceremony

Perform Meditation.
Light the white tip candle and envision white light shooting up from the earth into the candle. Light the remaining white candles while saying your name.
Light the incense and walk around the candles while saying: (If you cannot walk around the candles, simply rotate the incense in a circle around them.)
"On this night, I come before the elements asking for the guardians to arise." "Open the path, open the gates, open the way, I am here."

Light the red candle.
Say why you have chosen Witchcraft or the way of Magick. (It is important to be honest with this step.) (Do not simply state that you want to be a witch.)
(Do some serious soul searching and put your heart into it.) (You can keep it to one sentence or prepare an elaborate speech.)
Stand in the form of the pentagram and say: (Standing in the form of a pentagram means raising your arms to shoulder height
and spreading your feet about two feet apart.) "Earth Mother I invoke you." Stay in this position for a few moments.

Kneel before the candles and take the water. Pass it through the incense and over the candles while saying: "Bless me Earth Mother, with this water charge your energies inside." (This will purify the water.)

Put the cup of water down and place your palms over it, while envisioning a white light coming from the earth, filling the water. Say: "As to earth, as to me, may this water purify me."

Hold the cup high over your head and say: "Open the path, open the gates, open the way, I am here."

Drink the charged water. Put out the red candle and say: "Great Earth Mother Blessed Be." "I am charged, so mote it be."

Let the white candles burn themselves out.