Public Ritual Pointers

Here are some tips based on our experience organizing the Asheville Samhain public rituals.

WHEN PLANNING A PUBLIC WICCAN RITUAL...

• DO YOUR HOMEWORK: Go to the central library in town, and look up all the city ordinances having to do with religion, public parades, marches and demonstrations. This could take hours. Write down all references, especially ordinance numbers. This will show people you know your rights when it comes time to apply for permits.
• DON'T BE AFRAID: If you're Witches and you want to dance, do magic, and have a good time, make it plain and state it proudly. Most people will respond in kind. Don't pretend you are more "white light" or New Age than you are, because people will triple their suspicion for every truth you try to make more "pleasant" for public consumption.
• SEND OUT PRESS PACKETS: To local newspapers, police, the city manager, permit people, etc. Include general info about your specific group, frequently asked questions and answers about Wicca, and a separate page covering the details of your upcoming rite. Most print media would rather use what you've already written, as it saves them time from having to write it up themselves.
• BE PERSISTENT: Even if the powers that be make it clear they don't understand, are reluctant to grant permits, make you jump through hoops, etc.-- continue to jump, inform, explain, cajole, wink, smile, remain calm, and stand up for your rights. It is unconstitutional for them to deny a Witches' gathering. Remember that.
• DON'T SPEND MONEY: Though many cities have passed laws making it difficult for the citizens to rally, it is a little known fact that in general, there is nothing they can do about it. Most cities have common areas somewhere that are free for public use. Take advantage of this. Why should you pay $100 to rent a building, when the city green is still free? Use other ritual items you already have. A rite doesn't have to be expensive to be effective (use decorated tiki-torches for quarter markers, bulk rope for a web, etc.)
• BE PREPARED: For bad weather, hostile protestors, lack of experienced participants, bureaucratic surprises...the works. Have a GOOD backup plan prepared for everything you can think of that could go wrong. The best way to deal with protestors is to drown them out with music: The preacher's weapon is his bellowing voice, so disarm him by countering his sounds with yours. (Lve musicians, however, are frustratingly flaky -- drummers, especially, can rarely be relied on to follow directions or even to show up. Use a goodly DJ, a decent sound system, and tracks from Pagan CDs.)
• BE GRACIOUS: If an avalanche of press people deluge you with phone calls, vying with each other to get an interview with you, do everything you can as soon as you realize what's happening to meet, talk and get to know as many as you can. Even if it costs you sleep, time and energy, their words and impressions have far-reaching impact now, and if you ever do anything else later. If they get a bad feeling about your intentions or committment, they may be ruthless in their coverage.
• GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE: Sometimes the press picks a darling, one spokesperson they favor above others who may also be involved in putting on the rite. Make sure you include everyone's name who has a major involvement, or it could create future problems within your Craft community. (Even if you do this, others may become jealous of the attention you receive, but it's worth a try.)
• GATHER SUPPORT: Encourage every Witch you know to become involved in the preparations and ritual activities if they will. Spend the money for phone calls and/or mailings to get the word out to your local Pagan community. Give directions over the phone 40 times a day if necessary, even to strangers who may have found your number through information. The more physical support you have, the better you make the point that you are not some lone nut trying for shock-value. When the rite succeeds, everyone can take comfort in the part they played.
• BE OPEN: Talk at length to the police, concerned Christian ministers, locals, neighbors, closeted Witches...anybody who has an opinion or a question about the rite or your motives. Calm, sure words dispel persecution.
• SAY WHAT IS IMPORTANT: Learn to repeat certain key facts you want people to know in quick, rational, but intriguing sound bites. Stick to the facts and misconceptions about Wicca and your upcoming rite. Your slow, measured speech on theology will likely be cut off because of airtime and page-length constraints.
• CORRECT PRESS MISTAKES THE MOMENT THEY HAPPEN: If you are misquoted or misrepresented, phone the person responsible and let them know you would appreciate a retraction. If that isn't forthcoming, relate in the next interviews that you are aware of certain factual errors being circulated, and what the truth is. (For example, I said we circled regularly with 500 Witches in the tri-state area. The press reported I had 500 members in my coven!)
• DRESS APPROPRIATELY: If you are presenting yourself as a Witch, dress like one. It's okay to wear black, with pentacles, jewelry and bare feet. This in itself doesn't stir up as much controversy, as interest. If you try too much to come off as just another "regular" person, people will be suspicious and unenthusiastic. They won't see that your rite will be something new, different, and special. And other Witches won't have the courage to come caped. Cameras love shiny objects. Let them focus on your pentacle. But never carry or use an athame during interviews or public rites. The news crew will zoom in for a ratings close-up, many will assume it is a sacrificial knife, and the reporter may edit out your clear explanation that the blade only cuts sacred space. We never made this mistake, having learned the lesson from others who did. (Passion cast the circle with a crystal-topped staff of vine-spiraled birch.) But one TV interview we did showed us casting a circle in our ritual room, around our cauldron which held the rope bundles we later used to weave the web. We thought nothing of it until we saw the segment air. There we were -- obviously dancing around a pile of BONES in a cauldron. Sometimes things we take for granted look different on film.
• DON'T PANIC: If the press blatantly tries to create a story where there is none, by stirring up Christian protest, remain calm at all costs. Remember...you went to the trouble of getting many permits, and if you don't want them there, all you have to do is enforce the fact that the Christians don't have permits. You can have the police escourt them from the premesis if you want. (As ours was a public ritual designed to alleviate city Halloween fears, we did not exercise this right.)
• PLAN A FANTASTIC RITE: After all the hoopla, people will be prepared for nothing less than something grand. Give it all you have, because it may be their first, and only impression of Witches and Witchcraft. Don't neglect using lots of movement. People get into things physical. If they're standing around watching everything, they will not enjoy it nearly as much as if they break a sweat, smile, laugh, dance and do something they can see as a finished product (the Web we wove, for example).

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