Ritual Design

Although there are virtually an infinite number of ways to perform ritual, all of them have essentially 12 basic steps that are followed. Although sometimes some are combined, these elements will generally be included in most Wiccan, and many Neo-Pagan rituals in some way shape or form.

Altar Design: Before starting a ritual, it is necessary to set up your altar or devotional area with the elements that you want present. These may be representations of the God and Goddess, magickal tools, etc. Also involves setting up the ritual area, for example setting up luminary candles if you plan on using them. I also include personal preparation as well. Before you begin a ritual, I recommend a ritual bath, which is simply a bath (or in some cases even a shower), with a ritual intent in mind. Burn incense in the bathroom, or use bath salts charged for the purpose of your ritual. When you are done, pull the plug on the drain, and visualize all negativity flowing off your body into the water and disappearing down the drain.
Create Sacred Space: Here, you are going to sanctify the area you are going to hold the ritual in. In many rituals I have seen/participated in, this is done by walking around the circumference of the circle with holy water (water charged with salt and blessed) and incense. This serves to define the area of the ritual as separate and distinct from the surrounding mundane world.
Cast the Circle: In this step, you are going to define the area of the circle, often this is done by walking around the circle with your wand, staff, athame, sword, or even you finger outstretched, visualizing energy flowing from the tool to the ground, "drawing" the boundary of the circle. This serves to take the sanctified area, and remove it from the physical plane. "This is a place which is not a place, in a time which is not a time."
Calling Quarters: Here, we call in the spirits and representatives of each of the four elements (usually Air, Fire, Water, and Earth) at each of the four cardinal directions. Personally, after I call one of the quarters, I draw a pentacle in the air at that circle. For me, it helps to cement the circle about me.
Invoke the God/Goddess: Once the circle is cast, and the Elements are present, we invoke the God and Goddess and ask them to be present. If you have a patron Goddess or God, you can invoke them, likewise if there is a certain goddess or god you want to use for whatever reason. Otherwise, you can invoke "Diety", "Spirit", "The Lord and the Lady" (my personal favorite).
Perform Rite: Here's where you do whatever it is you are going to do. Whether it be a reenactment of a seasonal motiff, magick, or just communion with the Gods.
Raise Energy: Especially if you have been doing magick, you will want to raise energy and use the circle to form a "cone of power" that will allow you to direct your magickal intent. Energy may be raised through chanting, dancing, drumming, sex, or a variey of ways too numerous to list
Cakes and Ale: This portion serves two purposes. First, it allows you to release some of the energy you have built up over the course of the ritual. Secondly, it allows you to partake of the blessings of the Goddess and God. What is more like the ideal family than to eat together.
Thank God/Goddess: At this point, the working is completed. We thank the Goddess and God for their presence and their help. If they wish to depart now, we bid them fairwell. I usually close this part with "Stay if you will, go if you must. Hail, and farewell".
Close Quarters: Once the God and Goddess are thanked, we thank the elements for their presence. I close the quarters the opposite way I opened them, and use the same "Stay if you will...." line.
Release Circle: Here, the Priest/Priestess takes the wand/staff/athame/sword/finger, and walks the circle counterclockwise, visualize drawing the energy back up into the tool.
Grounding: Once we have finished working with all of these universal energies, it is important to root ourselves back in the physical reality....typically, one places his or her hands on the ground and lets the energy flow from them back to the earth. I find it also a good practice to eat or drink something light, in order to center my body back in this place. If you don't for some reason, nothing bad will happen. I've found that either you are dead exhausted for the next couple days or you are bouncing off the walls - one extreme or the other, until your body gets fully centered back here.

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