Eleven people gathered in a modest room lined with shelves full of magical talismans and knick-knacks. Two were casual observers, two others curious participants, three were uninitiated Wiccans and the remaining four Wiccan priestesses and the room was India’s only occult store, Magick. It was the evening of February 2, the night of the new moon, and the night before the Chinese New Year. It was also the evening that the members of the Global Wicca tradition choose to celebrate Imbolc, one of eight sabbaths observed in the year.
Dressed in vibrant red which she covered with a cloak of black, Swati Prakash, high priestess and founder of the Global Wicca tradition, added finishing touches to her preparations for the ritual that was soon to follow. There was light and laughter as the seven women discussed wands, crystals and their lives. Gifts of food were placed on a small table towards the centre of the room as Swati waved a small cardboard box in the air announcing, “If you’d like to send healing energy to anyone not present, write down their names and put them in this box.” Minutes later, after everyone present was arranged satisfactorily around the room, the ritual would commence.
High priestess Swati Prakash, also known as Astra Wishcap, began by anointing those present with a few drops of cleansing water. Then she took up the athame, a ceremonial knife, and drew a circle in the air encompassing the participants of the ritual. “Guardians of the watchtowers of the north, hail and welcome,” said the high priestess, raising her wand, continuing to welcome the guardians of the east, south and west, the spirits of earth, air, water and fire, the goddess and her consort into the circle which she had just cast.
“Close your eyes and focus on the energy that is now flowing through you,” she said. Swati guided the gathering within the circle through several visualisation and mediation techniques, akin to those practised in Reiki — only the physical fetters were different. “Now raise your wands and push healing energy into the box and to the people you wish to heal,” said Swati, pointing at the box stuffed full with the names of loved ones, continuing with the ritual.
“The Imbolc ritual is one that celebrates the first signs of spring, the quickening of the earth itself. On this night, both the sun and the moon are in the same zodiac. It is a ritual that celebrates love and growth. And that is why, in this ritual, we will talk about love,” said Swati, beginning the more interactive part of the ritual. “What is love to you?”, she asked, with a sagacious smile on her face, sparking an intense dialogue between those present, both priestesses and plebeians. “Now it is time to see what messages the Goddess might have for you,” she continued, pulling out a deck of cards. The gathering oohed and aahed over their cards, nodding their heads in agreement with the Goddess.
Lifiting a goblet filled nearly to the brim with what looked like a potion of spiced wine, she said, “Now think of love and think of how you would like love to enter your life and drink.” As she offered the goblet to the members of the circle, she warned, “Do not think of any particular person, for binding someone’s love through magic come to close to the dark arts."
“And now we make our offerings to the Goddess and her Consort,” she continued, pointing to the gifts of food brought in by her fellow practitioners of the craft. She then bent down share the food between those present. She smiled as she raised the athame one more time, to open the circle and to bring the ritual to completion.
— lisa.mahapatra@gmail.com