10 Things You Need for an Outdoor Ritual

The outdoors is an exciting place to hold your ritual this summer, but it is not for the unprepared. Read this checklist before you venture into unknown territory. By Kether W.

Conducting an outdoor ritual is one of the most exciting things you can do this summer. You can go outside, meditate early morning, visit your local park, or walk along the beach. An outdoor ritual is the perfect solution to celebrate your Sabbats away from the stress of urban noise and city living.

But before you pack your things for the big day, consider what you are going to bring. Most people would just stuff their backpacks with dozens of ritual paraphernalia, food, and water. But always remember that the outdoors won’t be that accommodating to everyone especially for the unprepared. The moment you step out of your home, you will need to adjust yourself to the environment, not the other way around.

For years, I have spent most of my summer rituals outdoors and every moment is a lesson learned. Here are the 10 things you need to bring with you in an outdoor ritual.

1. Insect Repellant. What can I say? Such a life saver in all of my outdoor rituals. They say all you need to ruin the ritual is an army of ravenous mosquitoes. If you are having your rituals near bodies of fresh water, canals, or places with a lot of bananas, you have to be prepared with repellants because some insects carry diseases and may cause malaria or dengue. And the last thing you wouldn’t want to end up is to be bitten by one of these deadly insects. Fleas can also be your worst enemy, they have this toxic venom that can inflame your skin or can cause allergic reactions. So insect repellant is your best friend.

2. Mobile Phone. You cannot expect that a paramedic would be present in times of disaster or accidents. Always have your phone units handy and fully charged just in case you need help immediately. If you get lost during the trip, you can catch up with friends through their phones. (Suggestion: It would also be more convenient if the people who care about you knows where you’re going and when you’ll be back in case there is no cellular signal)

3. First Aid Kit. Tourniquet, band-aids, skin disinfectants, etcetera. Do not go outdoors without a first aid kit; you can’t predict accidents along the way so it would be of great help if you can instantly apply first aid at any circumstance. And don’t forget medicines such as paracetamols, attapulgites, and anti-allergy tablets for allergic reactions.

4. Map. “Ang hindi tumitingin sa pinanggalingan…ay siguradong maliligaw!” Have A Map. A Map doesn’t mean you have to buy a huge topographical map for navigation. A rough sketch of the place where you are going to do your rituals, how to get there, and the markers that might be helpful on your way back. Having this map handy would save you time and effort on your way back.

5. Flash Lights. In case you are planning for an evening ritual, flash lights, pin lights, or any type of illumination during the night is a must have item in your bag.

6. Matches or Lighters. I can’t imagine outdoor rituals without matches or lighters. During the ritual you will have to light some candles and incense; if you don’t have these inside your bag, you are in big trouble. Worst, if plan to stay late night without any source of fire for the camp, you’ll probably risk yourself with insects or any dangerous nocturnal beasts that may pay a visit during the night.

7. LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER. You can forget everything that I said earlier but not water. You cannot possibly survive a day without water especially if you are going outdoors. And when I say water, I mean lots, and lots, and lots of water. For summers like this, where temperatures can rise to about 40 degrees Celsius, keeping your body cool needs a great deal of water intake. So don’t hesitate to bring lots and lots of water.

8. Extra Clothing. When you get all soaked with sweat and dirt you will need to change your clothes. You can’t wear your wet clothes during the ritual. You need to be comfortable or else you will not enjoy the outdoor ritual. Changing your clothes can also avoid unwanted smells, and I’m sure you don’t want your peers to smell your stinking clothes.

9. A Compass. Most people underestimate the power of a compass. People sometimes take them for granted, but when you are in a ritual and you can’t tell where the cardinal points are, a compass will be a great help. This is most helpful at night when you are not exactly sure where the north south east west directions are. A compass together with the map would be a great navigational tool in your outdoor ritual so you must have one of these in your bag.

10. Your Ritual Tools. When you do an outdoor ritual you don’t need to bring with you a complete set of altar tools. An athame, chalice, a pair of element bowls and an altar plaque would be enough. But if you want to add more, you might want to assign it to others so as not to add too much tools in your back pack. Don’t be so vain and show off all your ritual tools to your peers; it will only cause you more headaches than applause.

One last thing that I must remind you is to Pack Lightly. Take only the things that you need, and leave the things that won’t be necessary in the ritual. It would be such a hassle to bring all your tools only to find out that you won’t even need them. These tools would only add an extra pound on your back.


About the Author: A dedicate practitioner of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, KETHER is currently involve as a writer for various occult publication in the country. He has written numerous articles of occult genre and always an active participant of occult projects and activities for the last 5 years. Kether is a nature lover and is currently involve with non-governmental organization to promote environmental protection and preservation.

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