It was common practice for one to perform a vigil the evening prior to becoming a Knight. This normally involved fasting (a physical cleanse and purification) as well as a night-long meditation on the gravity of this oath about to be sworn. The vigil also included the preparation and dedication of one's trusted weapon to be used as their instrument to uphold the tenets of their oath.
You Will Need:
herbs and/or oils for cleansing and purification (ie: benzoin, cedar, clove, copal, frankincense, myrrh, pine, rosemary, sage, thyme, etc)
clean ritual wear or clean white robe (pj's or undertunic also acceptable)
(optional) candles, incense, soft music
(optional) candles, incense, salt, water, etc if you use the physical elements when Calling the Quarters
incense for meditation and prophetic dreaming (ie: anise seeds, bay, damiana, frankincense, gotu kola, jasmine, myrrh, nutmeg, rose, etc)
(optional) tea brewed from mugwort and valerian (to induce prophetic dreams)
paper (journal, Book of Shadows, etc) and pen
I - Cleansing & Purification
In readying oneself to perform any sacred ritual, it is best to partake in a ritual bath to cleanse the mundane and any negativity from your physical body.
Cast a circle in your bathroom as a means of clearing away negativity and creating a safe space to perform your ritual. You may use as simple (Pushing Sky) or as intricate (Calling the Quarters complete with lighting candles and walking the boundaries of the circle with each element) means to cast circle as you so desire. As with all ritual and magick-working, use whatever works for you and discard that which doesn't. Make your own reality.
Draw a hot bath and sprinkle in any herbs or oils associated with cleansing and purification (a few examples would be: benzoin, cedar, clove, copal, frankincense, myrrh, pine, rosemary, sage, thyme).
(optional) You may also light candles the colour of (ie: white, silver, grey, blue) or incense of the scent corresponding with cleansing and purification energy (see above).
You may conduct this cleanse in silence, or play any soft calming music that relaxes you and helps you to ground and release tension and negativity.
As you soak in the bath, visualize the negativity being washed from you, psychically as well as physically. Relax, let go, and clear your mind. Empty yourself of tension and negativity as if you were wiping clean a slate in order to start anew. Become One with the All, seek to become Nothing. Mind like water; mind like the moon.
When you finish your bath, put on a clean white robe (there's that white of purification again) or other clean ritual wear. Clothing worn specifically for ritual is a physical trigger for our subconscious that puts our mind into an altered state where it recognizes that we are about to do something “sacred” or out of the ordinary mundane routine.
II – Cleansing of Weapon
Retire to the location where you will conduct your overnight vigil. If you have Pushed Sky, your circle/sphere will have moved with you. Expand your sphere to fill the space in which you will work. If you called the Quarters, you may wish to do so again in this new location.
If your weapon requires mundane cleaning of dirt or polishing (in the case of metals), you may do so now (if you had not done so beforehand).
Fill your cauldron with tea brewed from mugwort (mugwort tea is used to cleanse magickal tools). If moonlight is able to stream into the room, place the cauldron such that the moonlight touches and charges the water. Use this water to magickally cleanse your weapon.
“I cleanse and consecrate this [athame/wand/grail/stone/etc] as a magickal tool to aid me as I walk my spiritual path. Let it be a tool through which I focus my will and power to effect the changes I would make in the world around me.”
III – Meditation on your Magickal Weapon
Compose yourself as necessary to visit the astral temple, Dun Scathach.
Once inside the Dun, go to the Armoury with your magickal weapon. Here you will meditate on your choice of weapon, and how you will wield it in service to your oath as a Knight. Connect with the psychic manifestation of your weapon in the Dun; visualize yourself armed with it, working with it, learning it and learning from it. Listen to all it has to teach you.
IV – Meditation on your Oath of Knighthood
While you are still inside the astral temple of Dun Scathach, shift your focus now to your upcoming oath of knighthood. Think on what it means to be a Knight of Scathach. Meditate on the 13 Precepts, the Scathach Code of Chivalry, the 7 principles of Bushido, the 9 noble virtues of Asatru, and the 12 Aepling pews.
Why do you want to be a Knight?
As a Knight, what do you have to offer? How will you serve?
Think on your Magickal Name (if you have not chosen one yet). Let the Divine inspire you and guide you in the choosing of a name that is appropriate for you at this stage in your spiritual practice.
You may also open your mind to creative inspiration in designing your personal banner or vexillum (Lesson 10). Since you are already focusing on taking this step from Squire to Knight, you may reflect on anything and everything associated with the Arming Ritual (choosing your Name, your “I Am” statement in the Song of Scathach, your warrior markings/facepaint, your banner design, etc). Incorporate any or all elements that occurred to you during your meditations in the Dun.
((If at any point during either of these meditations in the astral temple you inadvertently fall asleep, pick up where you left off when you do wake.))
V – Wakefulness or DreamState
You may spend the entire night in wakeful vigil, meditating on this Knighthood ascension.
Alternately, you may also conclude the meditations and choose to sleep. If you choose to sleep, you can tell your subconscious to continue to reflect on these meditations and to remember your dreams upon waking.
It is at this point that knights traditionally slept with their weapon at their side. You may wish to place your magickal weapon under your pillow, or on an impromptu altar at your bedside.
Pay particular attention to any dreams you have this night, as they will offer enlightenment on this knighthood and weapon dedication. Your subconscious will likely continue the meditation you consciously began, and accordingly will communicate same in the dreaming state.
Upon completion of these meditations (or upon waking in the morning), you may wish to journal on what you learned and/or make notes in your Book of Shadows.
