As with a shield, a circle is a protective barrier designed to keep out nasties and contain energies that you raise. And like a shield, you need to know why you’re casting the circle in order to properly erect it. But the circle is different in one very major respect - you are creating sacred space and temporarily moving it into another plane. Yes, outside the circle still looks like your room (or your yard or where ever you are), but a circle is space beyond that space in a time outside of that time.
So, why are you casting a circle? Sometimes you’re doing a specific ritual to raise a lot of power; other times it is cast for an Esbat or Sabbat. Are you seeking to commune with the Lady and/or the Lord? Are you doing spell work? Are you in a hurry or do you want it elaborate and ceremonial?
Circle casting rituals are found in every basic book about the craft. What I’m presenting here is the basic techniques. I’ll mention other additions that can be done because each of us needs to find what works best for the individual.
Lastly, the method discussed here is for solitary
use. Circle casting in a group setting is very different because
more than one person is involved, and there is usually a standard method
used.
PREPARATION:
Yes, you need to prepare beforehand. You
should have your altar already set up where you will need it. You
will also need to have everything you need within the circle so that you
aren’t breaking the circle to get something. Doing so weakens the
circle. So have your incense, tools, herbs, books, music, etc. within
easy access.
CLEANSING
Almost everything I’ve read and everyone who’s
talked to me on this subject has said you don’t need to cleanse the space
if you’re outdoors. I don’t believe that since the light and the
dark go hand in hand; where there is one there must be the other.
For that reason, even outdoors, I believe that the space should be cleansed.
What method you use for cleansing is up to you. Some use sea salt and water, sprinkling it out from the center going Widdershins (counter-clockwise) out three times round. Others use a besom (broom) and sweep from the center out, going Widdershins three times round. Some walk the circle with first with the besom, next with sea salt / water - aspurging as they go, followed by a walk around with smoldering incense that they fan about.
So, what do I do? Depends upon where I’m at. If I’m in the house for an Esbat or Sabbat, I cleanse by thoroughly cleaning the room which means dusting, mopping, and using lemon oil on the floor. And as I get ready to begin, I smudge the room with incense. I walk Deosil (clockwise) three times. The first time, I have the incense held waist level, fanning the smoke out against the walls, paying extra attention to door and window openings and corners. Next I hold it up and fan the smoke up towards the joining of the ceiling and wall. Then I hold it down low fanning smoke towards the joining of the wall and floor. When done, I bring the incense to the center for the next part.
The next part is what I do whether I’m inside or out, and whether I cense or not. Standing in the center of the space, I envision a ball of light growing inside the center of my being, forcing itself out and filling the space that the circle will be in until no more light can be held. I envision all darkness being banished in the face of the light, and I let the light fill all.
NOTE: If you have a permanent place for your rituals, you don’t necessarily need to cleanse each time since energy builds up after a while and the space will retain its sacredness from one ritual to the next.
CASTING THE CIRCLE:
Right now, I’m going to tell you to ignore the
rules that say to always begin in the East (or the North) as well as the
rules that say that Air is East, Fire is South, Water is West, and Earth
is North. The exception to this is if you are in a group setting.
In that case, do as the group does.
However, when you’re doing this yourself, begin at the place that feels right for you. As for the direction of the elements, perhaps the water you use is to the south. Maybe you’re down-under and things are reversed. You invoke Earth, Air, Fire and Water, not north, east, south and west.
(NOTE: To invoke means to call something to you . Evoke calls something from within. In Wicca, we believe that each of us carries within us the spark of the divine, and that we are part of the whole. Therefore, with the exception of a few rituals [Drawing Down the Moon / Sun], we technically evoke the divine and the elements. Still, the books say invocation so that’s what I’ll use.)
Anyway, back to the topic of erecting the circle.
After cleansing the space, walk the circle again with your power hand (usually
the right one) extended with your athame or the first two finger of your
hand pointed down and out to mark the circle. Visualize a blue-white
light coming out from the point (athame / fingertips) to the point on the
floor that the circle is being erected on. As you walk the circle,
continue visualizing the light rising up like a wall. As you come
back to the beginning, bring the point up and come into the center.
Visualize the wall curving above your head like a half-sphere. Bring
the point down and visualize the completion of the sphere. Say,
Now is time for the invocation. As with cleansing, the method used is up to you. I have listed on my Elements pages an invocation for each element. I will also be including other invocations in later lessons. Feel free to use whatever you wish, even if just saying "Hey, Air, come on down." If it works for you, don’t knock it.
Begin with what ever element you want, using the direction that feels right to you. There is no wrong method. The more comfortable you are with the process, the easier it will be. Once done, invoke the Lady and the Lord. Again, the choice of words use are up to you.
OPENING THE CIRCLE
So, you’ve cast your circle, done your work,
and now it’s time to take the circle down. Reverse the process.
Thank the Lady and the Lord, thank the elements, walk the circle widdershins
and visualize drawing the energy back into use (through the athame or your
fingertips), and ground the energy.
SAMPLE INVOCATION:
(This is one of the first rituals I did.)
Stand at the north point of the circle you just cast. Light a green candle.
After you say the words below, inscribe into the air with your athame or
two fingers a pentagram (star within a circle).
Move to the East, and light a yellow candle.
After saying the words below, inscribe a pentagram into the air.
Move to the South, and light a red candle.
After saying the words below, inscribe a pentagram into the air.
Move to the West, and light a blue candle.
After saying the words below, inscribe a pentagram into the air.
When done, move to North, and then into the center
to invoke the God/dess. Light a silver or white candle for the Goddess,
and a gold or deep yellow candle for the God. Then say the words
below.
And that’s all there is. So your homework
will be to practice and experiment with different methods of casting a
circle. Do an elaborate one, and a very simple one. In time,
you’ll know what works best for you.
© 2001 Mother
