Intentional Movement
Most often, we want people to know what we're doing when we move: we want to be clear that we are consecrating the Waters, or that we are opening the Gates. Sometimes our movements are meant to show others how to move, as well: the manner in which we approach the icon is meant to show others how to approach, or the direction we face when appeasing the Outdwellers is an example to others. If we are able to let people know what we are doing and why we are doing it through movement alone (without wasted or meaningless movement), this is "intentional movement."
The Importance of Intentional Movement
Public ritual is full of movement, from start to finish: the priest moves her hands over the Waters of Life to consecrate them, the congregation moves into the sacred space from outside the grove, and the individual walks to the fire to make sacrifice as well as to sing praise. All of these movements have an obvious purpose to both the person doing them and the congregation who watches them.
Walking in circles or making complicated movements with your body placement constantly changes the direction your voice is projecting. Spiraling to the center may have a lovely effect on your own trance work, but it leaves nearly everyone else in the circle distracted by the change in your voice, both in terms of volume and due to a slight Doppler effect. Fiddling with your fingers or shifting your weight from foot to foot will often remove the focus of your audience from your invocation and direct it to the "odd thing" you are doing.
Taking the time to not only work through your speaking parts, but also to consider the hand motions and body language is vital. Practice making sacrifices to a real fire, and listen to how the piece of silver you bought sounds when it strikes the bottom of your well. If you count on it to go correctly when you do it the first time, you're more than likely making a mistake. By practicing the movements, they will become more fluid, and will appear to come more naturally during ritual.
Walking in circles or making complicated movements with your body placement constantly changes the direction your voice is projecting. Spiraling to the center may have a lovely effect on your own trance work, but it leaves nearly everyone else in the circle distracted by the change in your voice, both in terms of volume and due to a slight Doppler effect.
Nothing appears more reverent in a ritual than someone acting carefully and deliberately.
