Elements of Ritual: Air, Fire, Water & Earth In the Wiccan Circle
By Deborah Lipp
Llewellyn, 2003 ISBN 073870301x
$25.95 CDN

This book provides an extremely close analysis of every step in a basic Wiccan ritual. Each step is examined in the light of the four elements, each of which Lipp associates with a different theurgic areas: air represents the intellectual, theological aspect of the step ("Why do we do this step, and what is the meaning behind it?"); earth represents the physical performance aspect of the step ("How do we do this step[…] and what are the practical considerations?"); water represents the mythical aspect of the step ("What is the mythology behind this step, or what story is this step telling?"); and fire represents the mystic unifying aspect of the step ("What is the mystical meaning of this step? In what way are the gods involved in this step?"). (All quotes pp.17)

Sound complicated? Yes and no. Lipp does an excellent job of separating these aspects and looking at each one in depth.

This text is great for those wishing to know what a step within a common Wiccan ritual represents, and why it includes certain traditional elements. However, this is not a reference book; it is a deep philosophical and reflective text which encourages the reader to re-evaluate his/her own practice. Ritual is not a place for "just because"; every ceremony should be thoroughly understood, as each action is laden with meaning. Reading Lipp's book makes you think about how you approach ritual and forces you to break down your ritual process in order to truly know it from the inside out.

Lipp does an excellent job of remembering that she speaks only for herself, and uses her experience to illustrate rather than to dictate. As a result, she offers a variety of ritual as examples, ranging from formal to informal. Her examples offer inspiration and prove to practitioners that there are several methods of performing a ceremony. The added value of the book is that while it is Wicca-specific, it sets out a method by example for analysing ritual of all kinds. Lipp's analysis is easily transferrable to rituals of other paths, illuminating them as well by example.

Invaluable for teachers, leaders, and anyone designing a ritual, The Elements of Ritual provides a crucial analytical text that until now has been missing in the field. Readers cannot help but be enriched by this book.

(With thanks to Llewellyn Worldwide for providing the review copy of this text.)

(c) 2003 A. Murphy-Hiscock. Originally published in Wyntergreene, Samhain (October) 2003.