Before heading out to the beach with twelve co-religionists to set up a blazing cauldron at midnight, take to heart these simple guidelines:

  • Time rituals for dusk, night, or early morning in accordance with the tide chart in your local newspaper. Hordes of curious onlookers will only be distruptive to your work.
  • Dress comfortably and seasonally appropriate. Bring a jacket or cloak if it is chilly. Remember, wearing a heavy headdress and flowing robes will bring more than your share of odd looks.
  • Only bring the barest essentials of equipment: a lighter if you plan to light a fire, a flashlight if it is dark, and some food. The beach itself will likely provide basic supplies for sea magick (sand, shells, water, driftwood), so there’s no reason to bring any of those.
  • Take the time to commune with the water before beginning. It is almost always worthwhile to have firsthand experiences with the forces of the sea so long as you have a healthy respect for its power.
  • When you are finished, clean up any mess you have made. Put out any fires with seawater instead of burying them in the sand so others will not step on them unknowingly. Leave the area you used cleaner than it was when you found it.