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Alcohol and Magick
From: ba@mrcnext.cso.uiuc.edu (B.A. Davis-Howe)
Newsgroups: alt.magick
Subject: Re: Alcohol and Magick
Date: 22 Jul 1994 01:08:01 GMT
Sherry Michael writes:
During a ritual, my consort and I hit the libation wine a bit hard. :) I noticed that the resulting ritual was focused and spontaneous. I've never been one to condone (or really condemn) the controlled use of drugs in magic. Has anyone anything to coment on their experiences with alcohol in ritual? Any dangers? (besides burning the house down knocking down candles)
There is no one answer to this question. Sometimes, for some people, wine can be very useful to lower some inhibition barriers just enough to allow the people to reach new levels of connection, openness, or whatever. In other cases, wine can make everyone too muddleheaded to do anything useful. For some people, wine should never be used, including in ritual because of their addictions. Any circle should be able to do ritual without wine if it would cause problems for anyone present. If a circle believes that they can't do ritual without alcohol, I would suggest they need to look at why.
An additional facet: people are likely to respond to alcohol differently in circle than usual (set and setting, you know). In one case, five people who didn't tend to drink went through a bottle of Maywine, a bottle of blackberry wine, and half a pint of cranberry liquour with none of us getting even tipsy. In other cases, quantities of alcohol which would have no major effects under normal circumstances may have major effects in circle because the person is especially receptive.
Case by case is the only way to deal with ritual use of alcohol, IME.
Book Of Shadows Blessing 
Often a Book of Shadows begins with a book blessing.
This poem is adapted from Silver Ravenwolf's "To Stir a Magick Cauldron"
reminds us of who we are and why we keep this book.I will serve the Great Goddess
And give reverence to the Great God
I am a Pagan Witch
A stone in the ancient circle
Standing firmly
Balanced on the earth
Yet open to the winds of heaven
And enduring through time
May the old gods witness my words
Blessed be.
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