Isis Ring

Yesterday my husband was going through some boxes in the garage and found an Isis ring that he had bought years ago on the Oregon coast. Something about it 'spoke' to me. It looked like it might be copper. I didn't get around to cleaning it until last night and it is NOT copper; it is silver. I believe it is real silver. A lot of tarnish came off it when I used a metal cleaner, and it has a nice sheen to it. The detail in the figure and the wings is very tiny; it's a band with the wingspan going about halfway around the circle of the ring. It fits on my middle finger and he said I could have it. It feels good wearing it.

I invoked Isis in my last Horus ritual; I can't remember exactly why now. I can't find the book where I wrote the ritual. I do remember that I called Isis and Horus, and she seemed to be more present than he did, but then he is a rather vague, inscrutable god. It has got me to wondering if I should work with her a little and see what happens. The Bob Dylan song "Isis" has been running in my head ever since I got the ring, though it has little to do with her. It is still a weird song, full of intriguing imagery.

the boline

Sylverwytch ordered a boline for me, since I have been wanting one and never had one. What arrived is a bit larger than I expected, but it has the curved blade and some real cutting power! It is a Japanese tool for bonsai, in actuality. It has a very light wood handle, almost white. I could woodburn on it, if I had any talent in that regard. I've used it to cut herbs already, and it works beautifully. I feel like such a garden witch when I wield it in my hand, lol!

Circle Casting....

In contemplating new ways to ritual, I've been considered the practice of casting a circle in which to perform a rite. There are a lot of ways to do it, but it seems to be assumed that a circle MUST be cast. It serves as protection, and to contain the energy raised in that space until it is released. Makes sense, yes? But there is something in me that chafes against doing things the way it is "assumed" they have to be done. Let us consider how we might protect ourselves and contain energy without casting a circle.

Each participant will protect him/herself in their chosen way. Grounding, centering, visualization, smudging. All can agree to the protection method and do it together before the ritual, if they so choose. Each one then has a self-contained protective shield. I mean, really, don't many of us maintain such a shield all the time anyway, to guard against even the most mundane outside influences? Is a circle even necessary in addition to this?

The containment of energy may be a little more tricky. If the group is comfortable with each other with full trust and openness, each one should be capable of raising and holding energy until the Priest/ess directs all to release it. In some way, I can see this method as being even more powerful than all energies mingling together in a circle's cone of power. Each individual's energy is released to do the work of that person. We all stress our individuality as witches; would not this then serve to send out our unique desires to the universe and our will to be manifested?

I'm just brainstorming here. I know Sylverwytch and I disagree on this topic; he is a firm believer in casting a circle. With all his knowledge, I am hesitant to disagree. However, I think it would be interesting to try this approach and see how it works.

Thoughts, comments???