The Outer Temple of Witchcraft: Circles, Spells and Rituals: Wicca & Witchcraft Books : Pentacle Press

As you enter the heart of Witchcraft, you find at its core the power of sacred space. In Christopher Penczaks first book, The Inner Temple of Witchcraft, you found the sacred space within yourself. Now The Outer Temple of Witchcraft: Circles, Spells and Rituals helps you manifest the sacred in the outer world through ritual and spellwork. The book's twelve lessons, with exercises, rituals, and homework, follow the traditional Wiccan one-year-and-a-day training period. It culminates in a self-test and self-initiation ritual to the second degree of Witchcraft — the arena of the priestess and priest.

The following is an excerpt from The Outer Temple of Witchcraft: Circles, Spells and Rituals:

Sacred Space and the Circle

If you enter the heart of the teachings of witchcraft, at the core you will find the power of sacred space. When I started, sacred space was just words in a ritual. No one really explained the true meaning of that term to me. Sacred space was just a buzzword. But as I kept saying it as a part of the rituals, I learned. Eventually, the layers of the mystery were revealed to me. I finally understood what sacred space was all about.

Looking back on it, it seems so obvious, but the teachings I initially received didn't emphasize the sacred aspects of the craft. Everyone around me was so afraid of using the word religion or spirituality; so much was kept to the technical and philosophical. And at the time, that's what I needed. My emphasis wasn't on the sacred. Now, in my own teachings, I have a hard time divorcing myself from talking about the spiritual path of witchcraft, because it is all part of what led me to my spiritual path. At the moment, if you are like I was, you might not appreciate this. In fact, I can describe it at length and with my own personal stories and meanings, but until you seek spirituality out and start to experience it yourself, my words are meaningless.

I've contemplated not sharing these things, but letting my students figure it out for themselves, as I did. I decided not to for one simple reason. For many people, the craft of the witch becomes so focused on spellwork or memorizing rituals that even the concept of the greater meanings and mysteries never cross their minds. The possibility is not contemplated and explored because, for so many, it is unknown. Students will still have to figure it out on their own, truly, because it must experienced. All I hope to do is plant a small seed of awareness, and give you the means to be your own gardener, the means to care for and nurture that seed. You can always choose to grow something else. You can save the seed of truly understanding sacred space for a later time, like I did. Or, you can grow it and make it flourish right now. The choice is up to you.

Other books and CDs by Christopher Penczak:

The Witch's Coin: Prosperity and Money Magick

Spirit Allies: Meet Your Team from the Other Side

Gay Witchcraft: Empowering the Tribe

The Living Temple of Witchcraft, Volume Two CD Companion

The Living Temple of Witchcraft, Volume Two: The Journey of the God

The Living Temple of Witchcraft, Volume One CD Companion

The Living Temple of Witchcraft, Volume One: The Descent of the Goddess

The Temple of High Witchcraft Meditation CD Companion

The Temple of High Witchcraft: Ceremonies, Spheres and The Witches' Qabalah

Ascension Magick: Ritual, Myth & Healing for the New Aeon

The Mystic Foundation: Understanding and Exploring the Magical Universe