The circle defines ritual space, a magical environment in which the Deities are
welcomed and celebrated. The circle defines the ritual area, holds in personal power and shuts out distracting energies. In
truth a SPHERE of energy is actually created. The circle marks the ring where the sphere touches the Earth (or floor) and
continues on through the floor/Earth to form the other half, below, as above. Some kind of markings are sometimes used to
show where the circle bisects the earth, either using stones, chalk, cord, flowers or other objects. A traditional circle
is 9 feet in diameter although any comfortable size is fine. The cardinal points can be marked with lit candles or assigned
ritual tools to each point. You can cast the circle with a tool or your own body (facing each direction) or the simplest tool
of all, your index finger. There are many individual ways to do this. The suggested methods below are simply suggestions.
Starhawk's "Spiral Dance" and Silver Ravenwolf books will also have information. The basics are to move clockwise, starting
at magnetic north, calling the Guardians of the Four Directions as you face your way around the circle, thus casting it. Once
your sacred space is thus created, you can continue with your ritual, spell or other magical workings. Some people like to
start facing East. Always remember to open the circle, and to ground the energy when you are finished, by sending it back
into the Earth or out to the Universe.
1. Before casting your circle, remove furniture, animals or other things that you don't want
in your circle. Set up your altar beforehand, also and have everything you need to hand. Once the circle is cast, neither
you (nor anyone else) step over to the outside of the circle until your ritual is completed and you have opened the circle.
2. You can use a compass to locate magnetic north, holding your wand out from your body, focus
your mind. Visualize the tip of the wand (or whatever tool you are using) creating a circle of light and energy (like a laser),
as you walk three times clockwise around the area. The circumference of the circle drawn by the tip will be the edge of your
circle. In your mind project out white light from the want to create the circle of energy and visualize it to be perfect geometrically.
3. Walk the circle a second time (clockwise) and say out loud in your own words that you cast
the circle to protect you from all energies that may come to do you harm, and that you draw to you only the energies and forces
that are right for you and the work you intend to do.
4. Walk the circle a third time (clockwise) and say you create sacred space and "So Mote It
Be."
5. Invoke the Four Directions, energies of the Elements, and powers that reside in them using
the Athame, wand, sword or index finger to draw and invoking pentagram as you face each direction. You can write your own
spell or use one in a book.
6. Continue your ritual or magical working.
7. When you are finished, to open the circle, hold the wand over the circumference of the circle,
beginning at magnetic north, and walk once around the circle counterclockwise and say something to the effect that you are
sending the circle into the Universe to do what you asked and that the circle is open but not unbroken.
You can also return the energies back to the Universe, and to the Earth to heal
Her body and so on.
Sources: "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham; "Power
of the Witch" by Laurie Cabot.
Another suggested way:
"A circle is a magical working space. It acts like a shield, so that you can work
without your personal shields in a larger space. I once developed, with an inquirer, the analogy that shields are like a suit
of armor, while a circle is like a defended room. My circles consist of these elements (always moving clockwise): a circle
around the area in which I plan to work, drawn three times (once for each face of the Goddess) with a
blade or a wand or my own body
sprinkling the circumference with salt water
spreading the smoke of incense around the circle
carrying a candle around the circle
invoking the elements, each at their own Watchtower,
invoking the Goddess and lighting Her candle
invoking the God and lighting His candle"
A stumbling block for new people in their practice is getting hung up on a few
points.I'll address those here,I think they are important:
1)"My altar is against a wall,and I can't move it,so I really can't cast a circle around it".Yes
you can.As Grayeagle noted above,the Circle is more like a sphere,or two"domes",one above you,one below,they are joined at
floor or ground level.Now it stands to reason that if your sphere is below the ground,a wall isn't much of an obstacle.The
Circle emanates from the place where your energy is directed to go around you,above and below you,a wall is a minor detail.
When you cast a Circle,you are entering a place between the world you can see and the world
you can't see with your eyes.You have to let your logical mind take a back seat here.If you can't do that,you'll have a very
difficult time doing magic of any kind.
2)"This book says I have to use a Circle that's either 5 or 9 ft across,and I don't have room
for that".
Again,you don'thave to have"physical room"for it.You're working with energy here,it can go
where you direct it to go.Indoors,I don't like using a huge Circle.I keep it close in.Outdoors I have a defined space,but
even then I don't always cast right on the line I have marked,sometimes I bring it in closer to me.
3)And this one is very important.You are creating Sacred Space when you cast a circle.There's
not room for anger,bad feelings,stress,or anything else we would consider "negative".Casting a Circle under these conditions
may interfere with your success in even doing it,and if you manage to,it will totally cloud your working,and may bring in
energy you don't want there.Or the Goddess(and/or Gods) may send you a little notice by tripping you(and yes this has happened
to me,I literally fell over nothing a couple of times,it was like someone jerked a throw rug from under me),or sending you
another distraction.Pay attention to that if it happens.
A cleansing of yourself before you attempt this can help if this is a problem.A bath of salt
and herbs can be a good way to do this,as is smudging yourself with Sage or another purifiying incense.A shower will do if
you don't have a tub,you can pour a warm infusion of herbs over you as a final rinse before you step out of the shower.
4)"I don't have a robe or any other type of ceremonial clothing".
So what?Sure it's nice to have those things,but if you don't,clean comfortable(and do see that
they are clean and comfortable)clothes are fine.You could buy a specific thing to wear just for circle use,if you so desire(I
had a long lavender colored nightgown that I loved that I used for this,it has since worn out and had to be tossed,I'm looking
for another one similar to that,it could have been worn as a dress,it was very comfy).And watch long and flowing sleeves,skirts
etc,around candles,fires etc.
(The following ritual is designed for a coven to use but can be altered for the
solitary practitioner. Any comments in brackets are my own.)
Casting the Circle.
The tools are on the altar in the north, with the sword or athame laid on the ground before
it. At least one candle (preferably three) is on the altar, and one each at the East, South and West points of the perimeter.
Incense is burning in the censer on the altar. A bowl of water and a bowl of salt are also on the altar.
The High Priestess and High Priest kneel before the altar. The rest of the coven stands outside
the Northeast of the Circle.
The High Priestess puts the bowl of water on the Pentacle, and the tip of her athame in it
and says
`I exorcise thee, O Creature of Water, that thou cast out from thee all the impurities and
uncleanness of the spirits of the world of phantasm, in the names of Cernunnos and Aradia.' (Or whichever God and Goddess
names are being used.)
She holds up the bowl of water before her. The High Priest puts the bowl of salt on the pentacle,
and the tip of his athame in it and says
`Blessings be upon this Creature of Salt; let all malignity and hindrance be cast forth thencefrom,
and let all good enter therein. Wherefore I bless thee and invoke thee, that thou mayest aid me in the names of Cernunnos
and Aradia.'
(If this is solitary, replace the bowl of water then commence with the bowl of
salt.)
The salt is then poured into the bowl of water and the bowl is replaced on the altar. The High
Priest leaves the Circle to join the rest of the coven in the Northeast. The HPS casts the circle with the sword, preceding
deosil from North to North. As she passes the North-East she raises the sword above the heads of the coven to create a doorway.
(If you are solitary, there is no need to leave a doorway)
As she casts the circle she says `I conjure thee, O Circle of Power that thou beest a meeting
place of Love and Joy and Truth; a shield against all wickedness and evil; a boundary between the world of men and the realms
of the Mighty Ones; a rampart and protection that shall preserve and contain the power that we (I) shall raise within thee.
Wherefore I bless thee and consecrate thee in the names of Cernunnos and Aradia.'
The HPS admits the HP and each then admits a member of the Coven in turn.
(I am being looser on the coven aspects as many of you are solitaries. This ritual
is just to give you an example of a Wiccan Circle Casting. This is the Circle casting completed. From here on, perform your
ritual as you would normally.)
From "The Witches' Goddess" by Janet & Stewart Farrar.
