Another question or two for my Wiccan friends?

Question

As I understand from the answers to my last post.
For you casting spells is similar to prayer. Do you consider the use of objects similar to using a rosary, incence, prayer shawl or candle?

Answer 1

Yes, we use Incense and Candles. I personally do use a Rosary. I don't know anyone who uses a prayer shawl, but that does't mean it doesn't get used.

Here's the Rosary I use.

The complete rosary stands for the five angelic mysteries. Since I developed the angelic rosary, many people have used them with great success. They are a statement of purpose, a meditative tool, an anchor when things are getting rough, a delight when all goes well, an aid when working spell casting, a vehicle for grounding and centering - I could go on and on.

Supplies

Rawhide string or leather
54 small beads
5 large beads
1 token of the Goddess
1 pentacle or miraculous medal (or both)

Tie a knot between each bead, but make sure there is enough room so each bead can turn. You could use smaller beads between each bead if you don't want to use knots.

Don't worry if you don't want to be artsy-craftsy. I've designed this based on the standard rosary, so you can purchase a regular rosary at any inspirational store and adjust it for your needs by removing the cross and replacing it with the pentacle (or miraculous medal). However, if you are Christian and the cross is a divine symbol to you, by all means keep it where it is.

Does the angelic rosary take a while to memorize? Yes, it does. You will memorize it quickly if you work with it every day. You can always change the prayers to fit your religious choice. For example, I added a plain, small stone right before the pentacle because I like to recite poems by Doreen Valiente. You can do this too, if you like.

Teenagers and children love the angelic rosary, especially if you go to an inspirational shop and buy ready-made ones with shiny or glittering beads. They like the idea that the rosary tells a story of mystery and magick.

Angels of prayer, should you like to call on them when you are working with your rosary, are Akatriel, Metatron, Shekinah, Raphael, Sandalphon, Gabriel, and Michael.

The angelic rosary is your first line of defense against unwanted chaos. Why do I use the word "unwanted"? Sometimes a little chaos in our lives is good. It shakes us up and it gets us thinking and (hopefully) moving.

To Say the Rosary

Begin by making a banishing pentagram on the pentacle (or medal) and saying the Angelic Alignment:

I align myself with universal harmony.
I align myself with the Goddess.
I am in alignment with the God.
I am in alignment with my guardian angel.
So mote it be.

On the first bead, recite the Invocation of the Nine Choirs:

Brilliant Seraphim I call to thee
Circle round, bring love to me.
Mighty Cherubim guard my gate
Remove from me sorrow and hate.
Thrones stand firm, stable be
Keep me steady on land or sea
I call Dominions, leadership true
May I be fair in all I do.
Circles of protection, Powers form
Help me weather any storm
Miraculous Virtues hover near
Element energies I summon here.
Principalities bring global reform
Bless the world and each babe born.
Glorious Archangels show me the way
To bring peace and harmony every day.
Guardian angel, Goddess delight
Gift me with your guiding light.

Say the Prayer of Gabriel on the second bead:

Hail Lady, full of grace, the God is with you.
Blessed is the fruit of your womb, the Consort and Son.
Holy Goddess, Mother of Earth,
Work your mysteries for your children,
Now and in the hour of our need.
So Mote it Be.

Say the prayer of the God on the third bead:

As the rod is to the God
So the chalice is to the Goddess
And together they are one.

Say the Star Goddess Litany on the next bead:

Hear the words of the Star Goddess; she in the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven and whose body encircles the universe. I who am the beauty of the green earth, and the white Moon among the stars, and the mystery of the waters, and the desire of the heart of man, call unto thy soul. Arise and come unto me. For I am the soul of nature, who gives life to the universe. From me all things proceed, and unto me all things must return; and before my face, Beloved of Gods and of men, let thine innermost divine self be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite. Let my worship be within the heart that rejoiceth; for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals. And therefore, let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you. And thou who thinkest to seek for me, know thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not unless thou knowest the mystery; that if that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee, thou wilt never find it without thee. For behold, I have been with thee from the beginning; and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.

The First Mystery

You are now at the point of the first mystery of the angels - Universal love. Meditate on becoming one with the universal energies, opening your heart to divine love. Touch the Goddess medal to your forehead, then turn the next ten beads, reciting Gabriel's Prayer as you turn each bead. Don't forget to meditate on the mystery. See the beads glow as you become one with this sacred concept.

The Second Mystery

This is the gift of magick in our lives and the ability to change our circumstances through free will - the mystery of freedom. Begin with the Prayer of the God on the large bead, then continue with Gabriel's Prayer, turning each bead as you say each prayer. Don't forget to meditate on the mystery. See the beads glow as you become one with this sacred concept.

The Third Mystery

The third mystery is the mystery of your oath. This is the knowledge of and ability to work within the cycles of the universe in service to both the planet and our brothers and sisters. Begin with the Prayer of the God on the large bead, then continue with Gabriel's Prayer turning the successive beads as you say each prayer. Don't forget to meditate on the mystery. See the beads glow as you become one with this sacred concept.

The Fourth Mystery

The knowledge of reincarnation and karma, birth and death, joy and sorrow teaches us that every action we perform has an equal reaction and how to live with the cycles of the seasons. Begin with the Prayer of the God on the large bead, then continue with Gabriel's Prayer turning the successive beads as you say each prayer. Don't forget to meditate on the mystery. See the beads glow as you become one with this sacred concept.

The Fifth Mystery

This is the Gift of wisdom and power to the hidden children of the Goddess. This mystery teaches us to be humble in our will and use our gifts for the good of all, harming none. Begin with the Prayer of the God on the large bead, then continue with Gabriel's Prayer turning the successive beads as you say each prayer. Don't forget to meditate on the mystery. See the beads glow as you become one with this sacred concept.

We are now back to the Goddess medal and at the conclusion of our meditation sequence. End with the Statement of Divinity:

A great sign appears in the heavens.
It is the Goddess clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet.
And on her head a crown of twelve stars.
The God stands behind her in his glory
With his hands resting upon her shoulders
And together they are one.
So Mote it Be.

Finish by making the sign of the equal armed cross.

Answer 2

I would actually call the use of objects in the two traditions even closer than spells/praying. The purpose of objects in both is to help your mind get into the correct mindset, and also in both the objects themselves have a long tradition behind them--and for many, people often have an object that is passed down through the family with even more tradition behind it. So yes, I'd say they're nearly directly the same.

Answer 3

Most of the things Wiccans use have specific purposes, to increase or direct the energy they work with. It can be considered similar, but there are basic differences in idea, since rosaries and incense, etc. in other religions generally are only symbolic.

Answer 4

Yes

Answer 5

Having been a catholic, ecclectic pagan, chaos mage, and atheist (of which I am currently the last two), yes, they're effectively the same concept. Items used to focus one's will on what one is doing with the intention of altering or changing one's self and thus one's world.

Answer 6

The objects are just familiar ritual. What makes spells/prayers "work" is your belief in them, not the objects.

Answer 7

yes