I've explained working rituals but I would like to go a little deeper into explaining the how of a ritual. Not the how to do it but how it actually works. I've had many students become discouraged because they felt their rituals didn't have the same power. That is the beginning of their problem, belief.
You must have faith! If you go half hearted into a ritual expecting it to fail then it will fail. The God and Goddess don't take lightly to those who don't take them seriously. When you preform a ritual you are putting your own energies into it. That is why I say it is best to not preform a ritual if you are preoccupied with something else. Those emotions and focus of your energies can have effects on your rituals. When you are preparing to do a ritual you must center and ground yourself. I suggest meditation, try to focus on your ritual, the way you want it to go, and most importantly focus on what you want the outcome to be. See that outcome happening exactly how you want it to be. Give it form and give it life. Prepare everything in your ritual area with this outcome in mind. Use only the best quality items you can afford. When you begin your ritual see a light building around you like a mist rising off a lake. See it swirling about your body, becoming thicker, and faster. Pour all of your energy into this mist, imagine it become brighter as all your energies fill it and give it strength. Then as you direct the energies see it flow from you into the universe. See the outcome you wish happening and focus the energies on making it happen. You must be completely focused on the ritual.
For solitars this is easier to learn. When working in a group everyone must focus on the same outcome. Groups must work together on many exercises to learn to be able to focus their energies together. I suggest several practices in meditating together. A group can be both a blessing and a bane on rituals! If a group is good together and can keep each other centered then it adds to the amount of energy used. The larger amount of energy can increase the ritual strength and increase the outcome. But in the same sense if they aren't used to working together and can't come together for a central purpose then the ritual will fail.
Rituals only work if the proper energies and focus are reached.
Blessed be,
Lady Alice