Since Wicca is an initiatory tradition, the practice was only available to those who took the oath which meant that they had a coven willing to accept them and was located at a workable distance. Because of its exclusivity, the theology, philosophies, and mode of practice were out of reach from the grand majority of people and there were many who thirsted for the knowledge upon hearing of its existence.
As a member of the New Forest Coven, Gerald Gardner had fears of the religion dying out as the members were aging and it was a secret practice. Using the materials he had learned from the coven as well as injecting other practices he had been exposed to in his lifetime, he formulated his own unique form of religious witchcraft which was the inception of what we now know as Wicca. He decided to go public with the religion, accepting interviews and writing books, careful to not reveal the most sacred and personal parts of the practice while still offering an understanding for the curious. This was also as a means to draw in potential initiates so that the practice would thrive.
His descendents worked in kind, some offering modes of practice to those who were unable to initiate but wanted to experience the magick themselves at any capacity. The information that was dispensed to the public inspired many to write their own materials and solitary Wicca, sometimes called eclectic Wicca, became the most popular form of practice because of its availability.
As someone who deeply values the practice I have formulated, I wanted to offer some guidance to the curious. There are crucial pieces missing that are too sacred and too personal to share with strangers, but much like my elders, I am hoping that what I do provide will create a foundation for outside practitioners to feel the same bit of magick that I do when worshipping within the Maelstrom.
The following is a script that captures the spirit of a Maelstrom ritual without revealing what I believe should remain oathbound. You may practice it as is or decide to change or expand upon it in a way that suits you.
I will also provide a breakdown of the parts to give you a better understanding of why these actions are performed.
Before beginning, select a specific feminine aquatic spirit to honor during the ritual. It may be one that you are already devoted to which would be classified as your matron. If there is none you feel a specific draw to, select one to honor during your ritual. Each Cove has an established matron that has her own specific month for celebration while 11 other Queens are selected to be celebrated in other months. If you have no matron, consider the Queen you’re celebrating to be your matron for this specific ritual.
Additionally, if you do not have the proper tools as required, don’t feel shy about improvising and experimenting.
Altar is set in the west with the pool directly in the center of the space. Begin by bowing to the altar.
NOTE: The direction of widdershins while working in a spiral motion is due to the counter clockwise motion of the spiral found in nature.
Besom
Start in the west, swirl besom widdershins, and walk widdershins in a spiral motion ending in the center of the space while chanting
Besom besom
Witch’s broom
Sweep out darkness
Sweep out doom
Rid this space
Of harm and doubt
Swirl the muck
And sweep it out
Ready this ground
To welcome the tide
To welcome The Mother
Her will I abide
With Maelstrom set in motion
May ebb and flow be
NOTE: The purpose of besom is to stir up energies within the space so they are prepared to be dispersed by your siren song.
Bring Space to Zero
Stand in pool, right hand over heart, left on top of right hand and perform siren song facing west.
NOTE: Sound is often used to bring a space to zero when preparing the space for worship. The siren song is a short and simple melody with no lyrics that is hummed or vocalized. Each siren is required to craft their own unique song at the wave of Baroness.
Call of the Sea
Stand before the altar:
Harken to the call of the sea: each crashing wave awakens me, envelops me, and draws me back into Her Tides. The crisp pierce of salt permeates the air, crystallizing my body and spirit and baptizing me into its wonders.
Ocean Mother…She sings me a song of sloshing white peaks and the buzz of bubbles in my ears. Through the low hum of Her boundless womb I am of the living and the dead, interconnected amongst the unbreakable sinews we speak: O vast Mother, endless Mother of the deep blue…trap us in Your Maelstrom of everlasting life and birth us into a new age of indigo.
Through the sea serpent, Thou commands. Through the shell, Thou nourishes. Through the conch, Thou calls. Through the volcanic vent and seaweed, Thou delights. Through the kelp, Thou trusts. Through the stingray, Thou purifies. Through the whale, Thou lays thy foundation. Through Thy life blood, Thou lays blessing for our sacred swirling Maelstrom of everlasting life.
The Goddess speaks: “I am the white moon amongst the stars and the mystery of the waters. From Me all things proceed and unto Me all things must return.”
Dear Ocean Mother, who of old was called Sedna, Yemaya, Atargatis, Mazu, Venus, Namaka, Atabey, Medusa, Melusine, Ran, Tiamat, Boann and by many other names. The sea is Her life blood. Beating, flowing, crashing. Deep Ocean Mother awakes.
NOTE: This is the official Undinic Ode to Ocean Mother
Call to the Undines
Take wand and draw a west invoking pentagram
I call upon ye Undines
To enter this sacred Maelstrom of ever lasting life
May ye witness my rites and aid in my work
Light blue candle, blow conch horn, kiss wand, and lift wand back up
May ebb and flow be.
NOTE: The lighting of the blue candle is symbolic of the presence of Ocean Mother and the conch horn is crucial in inviting the undines into ritual space. If you do not have a conch horn, use any reverberating sound. Be sure that while you are holding your wand that your hand is touching the copper.
Charcoal briquette is lit using blue candle and incense is added.
NOTE: In Wicca and other religious practices, incense is used for cleansing. In Undinic Craft, incense is used solely to appeal to specific spirits. Research the specific spirit you are honoring in the Maelstrom to see what kind of fragrances she may be fond of. You may use incense cones or sticks in lieu of loose incense.
Consecrate and Cleanse
If sea salt is needed to be added to sweet water, place each in individual open vessels and consecrate thusly:
Draw invoking pentagram in salt with wand
May (matron) bless this salt, driving out any impurities and leaving it wholesome and clean for use in these rites.
Draw banishing pentagram in water
Blessings be upon this creature of water. Let it be clean and pure, sacred to the services of (matron).
Pour entire vessel of sea salt into sweet water. Ignore previous steps if using sea water. Swirl the sea/salt water widdershins while saying:
I call upon Ocean Mother, to cleanse thy life blood to lay blessings for this sacred Maelstrom of ever lasting life.
Take sea water/salt water and sprinkle in a widdershins spiral motion starting from the west and ending in the center. Leftover water is poured into the pool and swirled widdershins.
Bath
Scoop water from the pool into the vessel, step into the pool, and hold vessel up facing west.
I pour this sea water upon me, life blood of Ocean Mother, to cleanse my body and my spirit.
Pour water directly over top of head.
May ebb and flow be.
Cast Maelstrom
Take a wide stance with right food in the pool and left outside while holding the staff at a 45 degree angle. You want to move your body back and forth to begin the churning as wide as possible. Start at the west and spiral widdershins until ending in the center at a 90 degree angle.
I, (craft name), swirl this sacred Maelstrom
Within this hallowed room
Where I hear the low hum
Of Ocean Mother’s womb
Draw me down!
Let me sink!
My spirit drowns!
Upon the brink!
I swirl this Maelstrom in this hallowed space
To welcome Undinic magick and Undinic grace
By the name of my matron, (matron name)
Slam end of staff on the ground.
May ebb and flow be!
NOTE: After the Maelstrom is cast, be sure to ONLY walk widdershins within the space. If you are at the center of the Maelstrom, walk widdershins in a spiral motion if moving to the outer edge of the Maelstrom. In Wicca, a doorway must be “cut” to exit the circle. You may leave and enter the Maelstrom as you wish.
Work
NOTE: Work done at this time may include water based spell craft, divination, meditations, recitals you may have written to honor a Queen and her story, or reading aloud pieces you or others have written about the mythos behind the Queen being celebrated. Any magickal action you may be called to should be done at this time.
Food and Drink
Dip quartz point of wand into drink
I bless this chalice of spirit for the delights of (celebrated Queen).
Quartz point still wet, touch all food with quartz point
Blessings to these/this (food) May I share in the delights of (celebrated Queen).
Consume drink and food while doing reflective work.
NOTE: The food and drink that is offered should appeal to the particular Queen being celebrated. The Queen may be your matron or another feminine aquatic spirit that you wish to honor. If no Queen is being celebrated for this specific Maelstrom, choose food and drink that will appeal to your matron.)
Releasing the West
Take wand and draw a west banishing pentagram.
Undines! Spirits of the West! Thank you for attending my rites and aiding my work. May you aid me outside the Maelstrom to ebb and flow. Hail
Kiss wand and lift back up
and farewell!
Close Maelstrom
Take a wide stance with right foot in pool and left outside, holding staff at 45 degree angle. Repeat the casting of the Maelstrom in reverse in deosil motion.
I (craft name), do release this Maelstrom
Of everlasting life
To let the undines loom
And expel all my strife
Gentle as the lapping shore
May I, a witch of the waters
Ebb and flow evermore.
Slam staff end on ground.
May Ebb and Flow Be!
NOTE: The staff is swirled deosil to reverse the swirling motion of the Maelstrom that was cast to disperse the sacred space.