Centering, grounding and anchoring are all ways to prepare for ritual however, which has unique characteristics and benefits. Often these first two are used interchangeable but they are not the same.

Centering comes from the meditative process. This occurs by taking a moment to find your ‘center’ or source of power. It is also seems to translate to forgetting the mundane world and moving to the magical one. There are several methods to achieve this. For a beginner, an easy technique includes sitting quietly until you feel at peace and ready. There are numerous other ways to achieve this first level of personal connection. In my group, we have used dancing the Maypole prior to the Beltane ritual to bring our awareness into focus. Song, drums, and or a nature walk can also work. Although it takes time to build it, repeated phrases at the beginning of ritual also to this. Some more formal groups such as Gardnerians have a certain piece recited each time. Participants begin to intuitively react and focus each time these words are said. It is important to recognize that centering is for focus not for working of power. You have only connected to and become more aware of your own power.

The term grounding also comes from the meditative process. Grounding is a way to connect to the greater power and prepare to run energy through you. Many groups also use grounding as a centering process. The technique most often used is a simple guided visualization. This can be done internally for the solitary practitioner or with one person of the group speaking aloud for the whole group to follow. It can be done standing or seated with people holding hands or each standing separately. Often the visualization involves recognizing your breathing, leaving your cares and worries behind and sinking roots into the earth. There are as many variations to the guided visualization as there are people. Groundings can be long or short. The more practiced the group is the easier it is to connect. They know the feeling and have the key to reaching it. You will note that all the following visualizations start the same way. This is key to creating a group consciousness that easily connects. The group begins to recognize the beginnings of the grounding or anchoring and can flow into that connection much quicker. I also keep the endings similar for the same reason. Longer visualizations are good for people just starting or with large and diverse groups. The time allows everyone to catch up and be ready.

The grounding process allows you to be in touch with the greater energy. Being in touch with this energy permits you to run power through you as you do magic and ritual. This is extremely important. Long-term practitioners know that we do not pull energy from ourselves in magic but run the energy around us and through us. If your magic involves only pulling energy from yourself you will find yourself exhausted after any ritual. The lethargic feeling the next day is known as a ‘magical hangover’. If you are using the greater energy instead of just your own, then you are simply the conduit and you are not personally drained. This can be extremely important if you are doing any healing work. It can be dangerous to your health to send too much of your own personal energy to heal another. Letting the energy in the universe flow through you allows both you and the person being healed to feel empowered.

A note about guided visualizations: These are not to be rushed. The speaker should speak slowly, calmly and clearly. Allow people to focus and follow. Pause between sentences. Try to feel the energy that is the group and pace yourself accordingly. Be sure you have read them in advance and feel ready to guide others. It breaks the power and flow if the guide must stop and get a candle to read the next line! Remember that these are guides. Go with the flow of the moment and do not worry if a word or step changes. The most important part of the structure of a guided visualization is to return the way you came and not leave bits and pieces around. Also, always adapt to the room or space you are working in. Some of my visualization mention the outdoors while others are set in buildings. Modify them as needed. The phrase "BE HERE NOW" is designed to finish pulling everyone back into the room. It is usually spoken firmly as a command.

Basic Grounding: Begin by standing comfortably. Feel your balance point and firmly plant your feet. Begin by taking a deep breath and as you release it, release the thoughts of the day. Take in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it relax your shoulders. Draw in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it begin to feel the energy in your heart. Feel the flow and pulse of your heart, your lifeblood. Begin to make that energy – your energy - swirl inside your chest. Now take that energy and send it down your body – flooding your chest and stomach – filling your hips – warming your thighs, your knees, your calves – now it is filling your feet - all the way to your toes. Now feel that energy reach out of your feet – through the flooring – into the rich earth below you. Now spread that energy like roots reaching out and reaching deeper. Feel it pass through subterranean pools of water. Feel your energy move into the warm inner layers of the Earth. Reach out until you have touched the hot inner core that is the heart of the earth. Begin to pull that energy back up with you. Draw this warm energy up through the layers of earth. Feel the hidden pools of water sizzle as you pass. Continue to pull this warm energy of the earth up through the rich earth, up through the flooring and let this wonderful healing energy of the Mother enter your feet. Now feel this warm healing energy flow up your calves, your knees your thighs. Feel it fill your hips, your belly and move up into heart. Now move this energy up into your shoulders – down your arms – flowing warm into your hands and down your fingers. Now feel the energy of earth move up your neck and flooding into you head. Allow is wonderful warmth to feel and join with you. You are grounded, you are connected, you are whole, and when you are ready "BE HERE NOW".

Variation on basic grounding: A counselor in Southern California gifted the base for this visualization to me. Although his name has been lost in time, he taught me how to slow down. At the time I did not find meditating joyful and had trouble sitting through a guided visualization. His journey was the first that I found empowering. I have made changes to it over the years, but I thank him for the seeds.

Begin by standing comfortably. Feel your balance point and firmly plant your feet. Begin by taking a deep breath and as you release it, release the thoughts of the day. Take in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it relax your shoulders. Draw in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it begin to feel the energy in your heart. Feel the flow and pulse of your heart, your lifeblood. Begin to make that energy – your energy - swirl inside your chest. Now take that energy and send it down your body – flooding your chest and stomach – filling your hips – warming your thighs, your knees, your calves – now it is filling your feet - all the way to your toes. Now feel that energy reach out of your feet – through the flooring – into the rich earth below you. Now spread that energy like roots reaching out and reaching deeper. Feel it pass through subterranean pools of water. Feel your energy move into the warm inner layers of the Earth. Reach out until you have touched the hot inner core that is the heart of the earth. Begin to pull that energy back up with you. Draw this warm energy up through the layers of earth. Feel the hidden pools of water sizzle as you pass. Continue to pull this warm energy of the earth up through the rich earth, up through the flooring and let this wonderful healing energy of the Mother enter your feet. Now feel this warm healing energy flow up your calves, your knees your thighs. Feel it fill your hips, your belly and move up into heart. Let the energy swirl within the energy of your heart. Now take the energy of your heart and move it up – filling you shoulders and arms – flowing up into your neck – warming and filling your head. Now let your heart energy flow out of your head and into the room above you. Allow your energy to move out of the building and up into the night sky. Feel the cool night air as you let your energy continue to rise – passing through the stratosphere and out into space. Feel the power of the stars. Begin to pull on this energy – bringing it back with you. Feel the warmth of this celestial energy coming down into the stratosphere – coming down into the night sky. Pull this star energy into the building and into this room. Now allow this warm celestial energy to fill your head – let it move into your neck – let it flow into your shoulders and down your arms. Feel the tingle of star energy in your fingertips. Now allow the star energy to fill your heart where it meets the energy of the earth. Now place your right hand out in front of you. Begin it see a glowing ball of energy in your hand. This is your energy – your own healing energy. Slowly begin to bring your healing energy toward your chest. Place your healing energy into the energy of earth and sky. You are connected, you are healed, you are whole, and when you are ready "BE HERE NOW".

Anchoring is term I began using after developing classes in the Elements. I found as I grew in my magical life that grounding as very important. But if I planned to astral travel, then being grounded wasn’t likely to help. I began looking for a new way to connect to the energy around me. In anchoring, I have used the technique of guided visualization but I have created journeys that connect myself and/or the group to each element. This allows me to pull on the appropriate energy for the task at hand.

Before each of the visualizations that follow, I have explained the types of magic and energy that is appropriate for that type of anchoring. The added benefit of anchoring is that you begin to really feel and understand the elements, the sabbat or the esbat.

Air: Begin by standing comfortably. Feel your balance point and firmly plant your feet. Begin by taking a deep breath and as you release it, release the thoughts of the day. Take in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it relax your shoulders. Draw in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it begin to feel the energy in your heart. Feel the flow and pulse of your heart, your lifeblood. Begin to make that energy – your energy - swirl inside your chest.

Fire: (If done in a group, it is best to suggest the holding of hands) Begin by standing comfortably. Feel your balance point and firmly plant your feet. Begin by taking a deep breath and as you release it, release the thoughts of the day. Take in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it relax your shoulders. Draw in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it begin to feel the energy in your heart. Feel the flow and pulse of your heart, your lifeblood. Begin to make that energy – your energy - swirl inside your chest. Now see a large candle with a beautiful flame forming in the in the center of our circle. The flame is even with our hearts. Take the energy of your heart and send it out into the flame. Feel the power as your energy meets the energy of the flame and the group. Allow this powerful blend of energy to flow back to you – flooding into you and spreading its warmth throughout your body. Now begin to send this powerful energy out of your right hand and receive it through your left hand. Allow the energy to run through everyone in the circle – filling and empowering. Now slow the flow down. Slowly begin to pull back into yourself – still feeling the power and potential in your hands and body. Now pull your energy back from the flame and into your heart. As you do this the candle begins to waver and fade. You know that it is not gone but just waiting between the worlds for you to call on this power when needed. You are now anchored to Fire, you are connected, you are whole and when you are ready "BE HERE NOW".

Water: Begin by standing comfortably. Feel your balance point and firmly plant your feet. Begin by taking a deep breath and as you release it, release the thoughts of the day. Take in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it relax your shoulders. Draw in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it begin to feel the energy in your heart. Feel the flow and pulse of your heart, your lifeblood. Begin to make that energy – your energy - swirl inside your chest.

Earth: Begin by standing comfortably. Feel your balance point and firmly plant your feet. Begin by taking a deep breath and as you release it, release the thoughts of the day. Take in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it relax your shoulders. Draw in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it begin to feel the energy in your heart. Feel the flow and pulse of your heart, your lifeblood. Begin to make that energy – your energy - swirl inside your chest.

Spirit: (It is a good idea to be seated for this anchoring because some people become a little light headed with the intense energy.) Begin by being seated comfortably. Feel your body and make yourself comfortable. Begin by taking a deep breath and as you release it, release the thoughts of the day. Take in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it relax your shoulders. Draw in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it begin to feel a sparkling ball of energy in your solar plexus. Allow this ball of energy to go up through your heart, your throat and onward through the crown of your head. Now allow this sparkling energy of you to burst forth into the room. See the energies merge and fill the room. Now begin to bring the combined energy into the center of the circle. As it moves together, you see a galaxy spinning in the midst of the circle. You can see and the feel the stars that are being born and the stars that are dying. Allow the galaxy to begin to swirl doesil and expand. The galaxy continues to grow - to expand – with its arms reaching out. As it reaches you, you sense it swirl through you continue to grow and expand. You can feel the space between the atoms that make your physical body. You realize the galaxy is within you. You have the power within you to start a star into being and you have the power to sense the death of stars. All is within you and you are connected to all that is without you. Now allow the galaxy to begin swirling widdershins and begin to contract. Feel the power as it leaves your body and continues to contract – swirling smaller and smaller into the center of the circle. Eventually you can no longer see the galaxy but you can always sense its energy. Now pull your energy back into yourself through the crown of your head. Move your energy back into your body through your throat, your heart and your solar plexus. You are anchored to SPIRIT, you are connected, you are whole and when you are ready "BE HERE NOW".

Pentacle Anchoring: (Group of five. Every stands and holds hands) Begin by standing comfortably and holding hands. Feel your balance point and firmly plant your feet. Begin by taking a deep breath and as you release it, release the thoughts of the day. Take in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it relax your shoulders. Draw in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it begin to feel the energy in your heart. Feel the flow and pulse of your heart, your lifeblood. Begin to make that energy – your energy - swirl inside your chest. Now send that energy into the very center of the circle. See it meet the other energies to form a five-pointed star. As a group, we are the sacred pentagrams. We are all the elements joined in love and protection. Now as group, send the combined energy down into the earth. Feel it moving down into the rich ground. Allow our energies to feel the power of the fertile ground. Now begin to pull this energy upward – back into the center of the pentagram of energy. Now push the combined energy upward into the sky. Allow our energies to push up and out into the stars. As we touch the energy of the stars, feel the power of its cold fire. Now begin to pull that energy back into the center of our pentagram. Feel the swirl of power in the center of our circle. Now draw this powerful blend of energy back into yourself. Feel the flood of healing power within you. Make sure you have pulled all the energy you need back into yourself. We are anchored, we are connected, we are whole and when you are ready "BE HERE NOW".

Moon: Begin by standing comfortably. Feel your balance point and firmly plant your feet. Begin by taking a deep breath and as you release it, release the thoughts of the day. Take in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it relax your shoulders. Draw in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it begin to feel the energy in your heart. Feel the flow and pulse of your heart, your lifeblood. Begin to make that energy – your energy swirl inside your chest.

Samhain: Begin by standing comfortably. Feel your balance point and firmly plant your feet. Begin by taking a deep breath and as you release it, release the thoughts of the day. Take in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it relax your shoulders. Draw in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it begin to feel the energy in your heart. Feel the flow and pulse of your heart, your lifeblood. Begin to make that energy – your energy swirl inside your chest.

Yule: Begin by standing comfortably. Feel your balance point and firmly plant your feet. Begin by taking a deep breath and as you release it, release the thoughts of the day. Take in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it relax your shoulders. Draw in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it begin to feel the energy in your heart. Feel the flow and pulse of your heart, your lifeblood. Begin to make that energy – your energy swirl inside your chest.

Imbolc: (This is the Fire anchoring using Brigid’s Flame. If done in a group, it is best to suggest the holding of hands) Begin by standing comfortably. Feel your balance point and firmly plant your feet. Begin by taking a deep breath and as you release it, release the thoughts of the day. Take in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it relax your shoulders. Draw in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it begin to feel the energy in your heart. Feel the flow and pulse of your heart, your lifeblood. Begin to make that energy – your energy - swirl inside your chest. Now see a large candle with Brigid’s beautiful flame forming in the in the center of our circle. The flame is even with our hearts. Take the energy of your heart and send it out into the flame of Brigid’s Forge. Feel the power as your energy meets the energy of her flame and the group. Allow this powerful blend of energy to flow back to you – flooding into you and spreading its warmth throughout your body. Now begin to send this powerful energy out of your right hand and receive it through your left hand. Allow the energy to run through everyone in the circle – filling and empowering. Now slow the flow down. Slowly begin to pull back into yourself – still feeling the power and potential in your hands and body. Now pull your energy back from the her flame and into your heart. As you do this the candle begins to waver and fade. You know that it is not gone but just waiting between the worlds for you to call on this power when needed. You are now anchored to Fire, you are connected, you are whole and when you are ready "BE HERE NOW".

Ostara: Begin by standing comfortably. Feel your balance point and firmly plant your feet. Begin by taking a deep breath and as you release it, release the thoughts of the day. Take in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it relax your shoulders. Draw in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it begin to feel the energy in your heart. Feel the flow and pulse of your heart, your lifeblood. Begin to make that energy – your energy swirl inside your chest. Now take that energy and send it down your body – flooding your chest and stomach – filling your hips – warming your thighs, your knees, your calves – now it is filling your feet - all the way to your toes. Now feel that energy reach out of your feet – through the flooring – into the rich earth below you. Now spread that energy like roots reaching out into the fertile land. Allow you roots to sink while you feel sprout begin to reach up through the spring soil. Feel the joy of the first ray of sun shining on your new sproutings. Stretch, reach and grow. Feel the cool breeze of spring whispering through your new growth. Now pull this fresh energy back into your roots and up through the flooring. Bring that newness back up into your feet and allow it to flow up your legs - filling your hips and stomach – blossoming in your heart. Let this fresh renewing energy flow into your shoulders – down your arms – until your fingertips tingle with the power. Now let the energy fill your neck and flow into your head. Bask in the refreshing sense of new beginnings. Lift your face and feel the glow of the sun. You are anchored to SPRING, you are connected and you are whole, and when you are ready "BE HERE NOW".

Beltane: Begin by standing comfortably. Feel your balance point and firmly plant your feet. Begin by taking a deep breath and as you release it, release the thoughts of the day. Take in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it relax your shoulders. Draw in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it begin to feel the energy in your heart. Feel the flow and pulse of your heart, your lifeblood. Begin to make that energy – your energy swirl inside your chest.

Litha: Begin by standing comfortably. Feel your balance point and firmly plant your feet. Begin by taking a deep breath and as you release it, release the thoughts of the day. Take in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it relax your shoulders. Draw in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it begin to feel the energy in your heart. Feel the flow and pulse of your heart, your lifeblood. Begin to make that energy – your energy swirl inside your chest.

Lughnasa: Begin by standing comfortably. Feel your balance point and firmly plant your feet. Begin by taking a deep breath and as you release it, release the thoughts of the day. Take in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it relax your shoulders. Draw in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it begin to feel the energy in your heart. Feel the flow and pulse of your heart, your lifeblood. Begin to make that energy – your energy swirl inside your chest.

Mabon: Begin by standing comfortably. Feel your balance point and firmly plant your feet. Begin by taking a deep breath and as you release it, release the thoughts of the day. Take in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it relax your shoulders. Draw in another deep and cleansing breath and as you release it begin to feel the energy in your heart. Feel the flow and pulse of your heart, your lifeblood. Begin to make that energy – your energy swirl inside your chest.