Self-Dedication Ritual for Solitary Pagans

For many modern-day Pagans, being part of a coven is not an option. You may not live around any other people who share your beliefs, or perhaps you haven’t yet found the group that’s right for you. Or maybe you’ve just decided you enjoy being a solitary, eclectic practitioner. That’s fine, too. However, one of the benefits of being part of a coven or grove is the initiation process. This is a formal ceremony in which one dedicates oneself to the group and the gods of the tradition. If you don’t have a group or High Priest to initiate you, what do you do?

Quite simply, you can self-dedicate. 

What Should a Self Dedication Include?

By the very definition of the word, you can’t initiate yourself, because to initiate requires more than one person. But what you can do is dedicate yourself to your path and to the gods you have chosen to follow. For many people, doing this as part of a formal ritual helps to cement their relationship with the Divine. Some people choose to wait until they have studied for a year and a day before having a formal self-dedication rite. It’s entirely up to you.

You may want to wait until the time of the new moon to perform this self-dedication because it is a time of new beginnings. Bear in mind that self-dedication is a commitment you are making; it should not be done at random or without significant thought beforehand.

This goal of this rite is to bring the dedicant closer to the Divine, as well as to declare your connection to your spiritual path. It's a pretty important step in your spiritual journey, so you may want to try to include things that make it formal and official in feel and practice.

For instance, you may wish to do a formal preparation with a ritual bath before your ceremony. Perhaps you'd like to include altar tools that you've crafted yourself—you certainly don't have to, but if you do, it can make the ritual even more personal and unique. You might want to choose a new magical name for yourself, so that you can introduce yourself to your gods with it, as part of this dedication. Finally, if you're good at memorization, you might want to take some time in advance to memorize as much of this ritual as possible—if you're worried you might forget what to say, take the time to copy this ritual by hand into your Book of Shadows.

Simple Self-Dedication Ritual

Keep in mind that this ritual is designed as a template, and you can adapt it or adjust it to meet your own needs or those of the tradition you have created.

You should perform this ritual skyclad, if at all possible. Find a place that is quiet, private, and free of distractions. Turn off your cell phone and send the kids out to play if you have to.

Begin by grounding yourself. Find your inner peace, and become good and relaxed. Shut out all the things from your mundane life that distract you—forget for a while about paying the bills, your son’s baseball practice, and whether or not you fed the cat. Focus only on yourself, and the tranquility you’re entitled to.

You will need the following items:

• Blessing oil
• Salt
• A white candle

When you’re ready to proceed, sprinkle the salt on the floor or ground, and stand with your feet upon it. Light your white candle, and feel the warmth of the flame. Look into the glow of the fire and think about what goals you have for yourself on your spiritual journey. Think about your motivations for performing this self-dedication.

Stand before your altar, and say:

I am a child of the gods, and I ask them to bless me.

Dip your finger into the blessing oil, and with eyes closed, anoint your forehead. Some people do this by tracing a pentagram on the skin with the oil. Say:

May my mind be blessed, so that I can accept the wisdom of the gods. Anoint the eyelids (be careful here!) and say: May my eyes be blessed, so I can see my way clearly upon this path. Anoint the tip of your nose with the oil, and say: May my nose be blessed, so I can breathe in the essence of all that is Divine.

Anoint your lips, and say:

May my lips be blessed, so I may always speak with honor and respect.

Anoint your chest, and say:

May my heart be blessed, so I may love and be loved.

Anoint the tops of your hands, and say:

May my hands be blessed, so that I may use them to heal and help others.

Anoint your genital area, and say:

May my womb be blessed, so that I may honor the creation of life. (If you're male, make the appropriate changes here.)

Anoint the soles of your feet, and say:

May my feet be blessed, so that I may walk side by side with the Divine.

If you have specific deities you follow, pledge your loyalty to them now. Otherwise, you can use “God and Goddess,” or “Mother and Father.” Say:

Tonight, I pledge my dedication to the God and Goddess. I will walk with them beside me, and ask them to guide me on this journey. I pledge to honor them, and ask that they allow me to grow closer to them. As I will, so it shall be.

Take some time to meditate. Feel the afterglow of the ritual, and feel the energy of the gods around you. You have brought yourself to the attention of the Divine, so they will be keeping an eye on you. Accept the gift of their wisdom.