I remember about 30 years ago or so, when I was a young witch and just starting out, our Priestess required us to memorize every line. There were no 3×5 cards or handouts allowed inside her sacred space. We studied hard and long to commit each sacred word to memory, to insure that each syllable we uttered inside the sacred space was imprinted on our brain cells.
When the time came, about a decade or so later, for me to have my own circle, I felt that for the young ones it would be ok to have the occasional 3×5 card or notes tucked away just in case they were needed. But for myself, I still required that every word only be uttered from memory, unless it was a brand new ritual. But the ritual and invocations we used to create our sacred space were the same for all our circles, so this was not a terribly difficult task, after all we used them over and over and over again.
One fine night, with the full moon blazing in the sky we gathered in our sacred space. We were a small group and each person was assigned to invoke one of the directions starting with the East. I was the Priestess for the circle. When it was time to invoke the North, I stepped up to the northern edge of the circle. My feet firmly planted on Mother Earth, my arms raised to the stars, inhaling deeping to gather the power…
***sound of crickets in the silence***
I took another deep, cleansing breath….
***sound of crickets in the silence***
While this is happening Mama Kelly and the other members of the circle are focusing on the wonderful circle energy that is gathering, thinking to themselves that their Priestess must be really drawing down some powerful energy on this night.
Another deep, cleansing breath….
***sound of crickets in the silence***
Then I lean over slightly towards Mama Kelly and say
“pssst….what’s the line?”
With a few giggles, North was invoked and with laughter the circle was raised. And from that night forward sacred 3×5 cards and notes were allowed in the circle for every one, including me.
Bright blessings, Lady Rose
