Ritual Safety Considerations

Rituals, Spells, Invocations, and more can all be risky activities not only in the spiritual sense at times- but always in the mundane sense as well. After all, there’s often so many moving parts it’s easy to injure yourself, or someone else, unintentionally.

1. Arrange Your Space With Logic, Accessibility, & Safety In Mind

Never forget to put your own physical & mental safety first. So think of what you’re going to do during your ritual or Spellwork. Then consider how you can set up the space to accomplish that in the most logical fashion while still maintaining safety and integrity; make sure that where everything is located is ultimately practical for the ritual and easily accessible at the points needed, that movement patterns and features of interest are located in areas that makes sense for what you’re doing, and that the space is safely designed and accessible for the participants- especially that there’s enough room to move around without knocking hazardous items like candles over.

2. Watch Your Candles

Make sure that any and all candles are placed in an open space. Nothing should be hanging right next to the flame, no shelves should be located above them, nothing wooden nearby unless it is properly isolated; use the proper coasters, patens or tall candle holders (and so on) in order to properly isolate the bottom of the candle- even if it’s a jarred candle.

3. Learn How To Read Candle Flames

This is not actually for a spiritual matter- though the art of “candle flame divination” is a common enough one. Rather, many of the things that cause the “signs” one looks for in divination are actually signs something is wrong with your candle- such as a suddenly long flame meaning that your wick has mushroomed and needs to be trimmed. If you’re not paying attention, you may wind up with a fire on your hands, even if you’ve carefully positioned the candle with “enough distance” between it and a shelf (for a proper flame).

4. Watch Your Own Hydration & Hunger

Keep non-offertory food and drink intended specifically for you near the altar; having something at your fingertips is key to surviving any sudden physical issues that may arise during ritual (especially if you’re disabled, have hypoglycemia or another chronic condition, or otherwise ill at the time)- but it can also especially be important for rituals that include heavy trance work.

5. Double check everything before you start

Even if you’re relatively confident you have everything, and everything is where it should be; that you’ve designed the space well; and so on … It hurts absolutely nothing to give the space a last moment once-over before the ritual (maybe with another person in tow for a second perspective), just to make sure nothing has been forgotten and things are set up safely and appropriately.