Irisanya Moon - Pagan Portals: Reclaiming Witchcraft

When you come to a ritual or a class, we often begin with a welcome, a way to bring people together to understand what they are about to experience and what they need to know about the culture of Reclaiming.

Welcome. Welcome to this space and time. Welcome to a journey of Reclaiming Witchcraft.

I first begin by honoring those who held the land I walk upon and rest upon, those who cultivated the land and honored it. I acknowledge that the land upon which I write is of the Wappo, Southern Pomo, and Graton Rancheria. These indigenous peoples are those who stewarded the land before and whose culture remains alive today.

May the work of my magick in Reclaiming be an act of reciprocity and healing. May our continued acknowledgement of the land and its people of before, now, and tomorrow offer a blessing.

As you read through this book, you will notice that it focuses on the history, the beliefs, the structures, the courses, and some of the key ideas of Reclaiming. While we are a living tradition that is often passed down orally in classes, this book strives to give some insights into the way Reclaiming groups and Witches often (not always!) practice.

But this is not a book of magickal practice. And as you will learn, saying there is one practice for every Reclaiming Witch is unrealistic.

Our public rituals and classes are clean and sober. We seek to change our consciousness at will, so we need the fullness of our will at all times. This does not mean that all Reclaiming Witches are in recovery or are clean and sober. We strive to support our beloveds in recovery by making our rituals and classes free from intoxicants.

We maintain confidentiality. We do not share stories or pictures of others unless we have their express permission to do so. Not everyone is out of the broom closet, nor do they want their information shared in public.

We are an ecstatic and participatory tradition. We seek to have embodied magickal experiences that are not focused on a high priestess/priest model. While there might be ritual leaders, everyone is encouraged to participate at the level that feels good to them.

We strive to make all events accessible. Our classes and rituals are sliding scale, meaning they are offered at a range of rates, based on ability to pay, without the need to provide proof of income. Many classes and camps offer scholarships or work trade opportunities. If there are any issues with physical access, we are eager to learn how we can help support as many people as possible, knowing there are budget/site limitations in some cases.

We seek to remember that we are all doing our best. We can meet each other where we are, without trying to change or fix each other. But we still hold each other accountable for our actions - and their impact, no matter the intention.

Welcome.

I want to acknowledge my lineage in Reclaiming and the people from whom I have learned and grown, mostly from mistakes and missteps, and all the trappings of this human experience.

I started my Reclaiming community experience by attending California Witchcamp as recommended by Sefora and organized by Madrone, and took my first path/class with Rose May Dance and John Brazaitis.

I proceeded to take Elements of Magick, Rites of Passages, Iron Pentacle, Pearl Pentacle, and a year-long Priestess Journey with Copper Persephone and Diana Melisabee. I continued in a Priestess Apprenticeship with Ravyn Stanfield, Suzanne Sterling and Dawn Isidora. I was initiated into the Reclaiming tradition in 2014.

Ive been in ritual planning cells with Copper Persephone, Diana Melisabee, Mer, Ross, Helen Hawk, Pavini, Phoenix Le Fae, Dailey, Gwion, Justin, Root, Norma, Bran, Susan, Lizann, Bran, Vixen, Yule, Coyote, Honeycomb, Neon Animal, Lilith, Bryan, and probably others. (Forgive me!)

Ive taught with a myriad of folx, including Copper, Urania, Riyana, Laura M., Georgie, Cypress, Inanna, Gwion, Justin, Phoenix, Heidi, Honeycomb, Lore, Ewa, Root, Rose May Dance, Pandora, Willow Kelly, River Roberts, Shiray, Sharon J., Sue D., Linda B., Tracey C., George F., Rock, Vesper, Hilary, Mykel, K-Mo, Sequoia, Jessica Dreamer, Elinor P., and likely others.

And I thank the magick and work of M. Macha Nightmare, Anne Hill, Deborah Oak, Donald L. Engstrom-Reese, T Thorn Coyle, Jane Meredith. Gede Parma (Fio), and more.

I am ever thankful to Starhawk and those who came before for calling out to me before I knew Reclaiming was a real group of people and not just a book called Spiral Dance I am grateful to the godds who walk with me and nudge me in directions I didnt expect to travel.

Im grateful to those who have gone before me, those who paved roads and worked magick I can feel in my bones. I thank those whose names I know and those whose names I have yet to uncover. Raven Moonshadow, Luanne, Judy Foster, Moher Downing, Tyrell ONeal, Angela Magara, Beth Bone Blossom, Victor and Cora Anderson, Rebecca Tidewalker, Margot Adler, Gwydion Pendderwen, Lizann Bassham, and so many others.

I am thankful to Trevor and the Moon Books community for their support and encouragement.

And I am thankful to my partner who has been very patient as I spend hours writing in my office.

To help create ease in ritual planning, it can help to plan by following the elements that we invoke:

CENTER - What is the transformation we seek to create in this ritual? What is the magick?

AIR - What is the intention of the ritual? What is the story we will tell?

FIRE - What is the energy of the ritual? What is the structure of the energy? What might be needed to create it?

WATER - What are the emotions of this ritual? What is the flow? What is under the surface?

EARTH - What logistics do we need to keep in mind? What props/supplies do we need? How will we get from that point to the other point?

It can help to move through these steps, perhaps in an order that makes sense to your group, or perhaps in this order as a starting point.

Here are some other ideas to help with brainstorming on your own or in a group:

• What are we doing? Why are we doing it?
• Talk about the moon and the energetic placement of the day; the sabbat.
• Intention creation: brainstorming; dropped and open; thinking about the holiday/date; deities; energy from a previous ritual that might be carried forward; whats at stake?
• What will serve this work? How will we move toward fueling the energy for the intention?
• Do we need introspection? Group/partner work?
• How can we all move into the liminal space to make magick together?
• Assigning roles how does each role serve the intention? Who will take on this role? One person? Multiple persons?
• What songs/chants/dance leader(s) do we need?
• Drumming and music - who can support this role? How many people do we need? Who will guide the energy and follow the intention of the ritual as well as align with the energy of the group as it emerges?
• What do we need to bring/make/do?

Listed below are books with more information about Reclaiming Witchcraft magick and the practices taught in classes, the activism seen on the streets, etc.