About the Book
Ritual is an essential part of life because it helps us find our true selves. We are not just physical and mental creatures we are also spiritual. We have this thing called a soul and for some of us we cannot shove it in a closet and keep it locked away. It will pound on the door for attention. We know that we must acknowledge this part of ourselves, otherwise we feel incomplete. Ritual provides the means to hand ourselves over to spirit and to participate in the great dance of life.

Entering into ritual helps us awaken to what is eternal within ourselves. When we do this, we find where we fit in the web of life that surrounds us and touches everything in the universe. This connection also extends over time because as we engage in traditional celebrations with the Sabbats, we connect ourselves with those who have gone before us. In a sense we also project out to the future to those who will follow in our footsteps. Our energy becomes part of a spiral that stretches through time and space.

Ritual is not a passive event. That part of us that we awaken cannot be stuffed into a box to await the next ritual. The energy that we raise changes us slightly each time so that when we go back into the world at large, we take some of the energy, some of the magic with us. Through ritual we are transformed and we learn that we become transformers. As the chant suggests, “we are the weavers, we are the web” – we realize that we can weave and transform our lives.

We are sometimes called to help others in their transformation, and so this book practically demanded to be created. Not everyone is a Bard and that's okay – we all have our strengths and gifts. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced practitioner, sooner or later when putting together a ritual you may be pressed for time, or creative inspiration may remain elusive. After all, I would frequently turn to my Book of Scribbles (I’m not that well organized to have a formal Book of Shadows), and pull pieces from here and there.

As a set of Sabbat rituals took shape, I felt something was missing. The Sabbats are important to me, but so are the Esbats. Marking all these occasions help bring me into balance with the rhythms of the natural world. Together the Sabbats and Esbats celebrate the interconnected cycles of the three most important celestial bodies: sun, moon and earth. Through these celebrations we bring our bodies, minds and spirits into alignment.
While this sounds like serious business, ritual is also meant to be joyful – reverence and joy are not mutually exclusive feelings. The rituals contained in A Year of Ritual are intended to reflect both. They are presented in group and solo format and can be easily modified to suit coven structure, or used simply to brainstorm your own ideas.

While this book provides ideas, words and direction for ritual, the most important part must be supplied by you – faith in your beliefs. Without this vital ingredient, ritual is only a performance. Use this book as a framework for your truth and live the magic.

A Year of Ritual Includes:
• An introduction to ritual, the Sabbats and Esbats
• A guide for creating your own rituals
• An easily-modified script for twenty seasonal and lunar celebrations
• Rituals presented in group and solitary format
• Preliminary and background information for each ritual
• A special ritual as tribute to the author's favorite author, J.R.R. Tolkien
• Glossary and pronunciation guide for Elvish, Gaelic and Latin words used in the rituals

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Go to "A Year of Ritual" Calendar of Seasons

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Reviews Online

In the Library Reviews (www.inthelibraryreview.com)
Reviewer: Ayden Delacroix

With rituals for not only the sabbats but also the esbats, A Year of Ritual is perfect for solitaries or coves. I enjoyed the fact the complete ritual for solitaries was written out in its entirety rather than saying "Change this for solitary use", it went a long way in confirming being a solo practitioner isn't a bad thing. In addition, Sandra reminds readers of the reason rituals were and are important. They help us regain and strengthen reverence for the natural world' and 'keep us balanced and in tune with nature's cycles. In addition to the wonderful ritual ideas, suggestions for preparation, themes and even background information, make this the perfect resource book for beginner or advanced practitioners.

I received this book right before Samhain and immediately opened it, hoping to make the upcoming esbat and sabbat special. Sandra Kynes' suggestions were just what I wanted. Something different yet familiar. Tolkien's excerpt, a longtime favorite, and Sandra's ritual served to make this particular esbat, the first spent with my best friend, all the more memorable.

On Amazon.com
Reviewer: Mary Barrett

Beautiful and Soulful

I have been a Pagan since I was a teenager in the 1970s. I've dabbled in this, that and the other, and attended lots of festivals in my travels around the U.S. My bookshelves are loaded with volumes on ritual, Wicca and Paganism and so I was somewhat reluctant to buy yet another. I'm glad I listened to that little voice that said I needed this one. I have been following its rituals for nine months now, and it's been a wonderful journey.

The format of the rituals in this book are the way I have done them for years. Sure, from time to time it's fun to do things differently, but I find comfort in familiar things. I also find that my experience is deeper this way. I work mainly on my own, but enjoy ritual with friends when we can manage to synchronize our schedules. It's great to not have to "transpose" everything for solo ritual. Ms. Kynes' intention that the book be used to brainstorm our own rituals has proven to be an incredible catalyst for our group.

I think I am one of the few Pagans not wild about Lord of the Rings, but the Tolkien ritual is very heartfelt. It really illustrates the power of myth and the importance of storytelling -- stuff we've lost in our crazy society. I think it's a nice tribute from one writer to another. The other rituals have a good balance of creativity, history and meaning for today.

This is what I would call a soft and gentle approach to ritual -- not to be confused with fuzzy bunny because that it is not. The rituals are not wild and showy. They have kept me in touch with my inner self and I can feel the cycle of the year in my heart. I recommend this book for anyone who calls themselves a Pagan.

Learn more about ritual, the sabats and esbats

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