First- Start by determining how big your space needs to be. If you are solitary it usually doesn't need to be more than 3 feet, but if you wish to work with something bigger, that's ok too.
Next- Figure out where your Circle should be cast. Are you doing this in your room, outside, and if so where.
Then- Which direction will your circle face? The circle is almost always oriented to the four cardinal points.
Once you get the first three steps out of the way, get all your tools, and anything else you need together and place it within the boundary of where your circle will be. You want everything inside before you cast so you don't have to run all over the place like a chicken with it's head cut off.
Now you can actually cast your circle.
But how exactly is this done? For the purposes here, I'll describe a solitary circle casting as this is the internet and most of the people here are solitares. I will also include the calling of the quarters.
You can begin by marking the circle out if you want, whether by candles, or just keeping the image of how big you want your circle in your mind. There are many methods to this, but candles and visualization are usually the best if you are secretive about it all.
Go ahead and call your quarters, and if you chose to mark with candles, light them as you come to each quater (please note this is only one way to do this, that doesn't mean you have to do it this way), starting in the East.
"Guardians of the East, I call upon you
to watch over the rites of Three Circles Coven.
Powers of knowledge and wisdom, guided by Air,
we ask that you keep watch over us
tonight within this circle.
Let all who enter the circle under your guidance
do so in perfect love and perfect trust."
South:
"Guardians of the South, I call upon you
to watch over the rites of Three Circles Coven.
Powers of energy and will, guided by Fire,
we ask that you keep watch over us
tonight within this circle.
Let all who enter the circle under your guidance
do so in perfect love and perfect trust."
West:
"Guardians of the West, I call upon you
to watch over the rites of Three Circles Coven.
Powers of passion and emotion, guided by Water,
we ask that you keep watch over us
tonight within this circle.
Let all who enter the circle under your guidance
do so in perfect love and perfect trust."
North:
"Guardians of the North, I call upon you
to watch over the rites of Three Circles Coven.
Powers of endurance and strength, guided by Earth,
we ask that you keep watch over us
tonight within this circle.
Let all who enter the circle under your guidance
do so in perfect love and perfect trust."
Now take up your athame (your index and middle together if you don't have one) and stand in the northeast point of your circle. Visualize an electric blue energy just for the circle, moving it's way from your chest, down your arms, and through the athame and hovering just an inch or two above the ground. Walk sunwise (or clockwise as an alternative) and let this blue light flow through you and out to hover above the ground as you walk the area of your circle. Go all the way around, and make sure to overlap a bit at the starting point so that your circle is closed. From here raise the light to form a complete sphere around your area, as well as below it.
Then you can go about your ritual or spell.
This circle is for you to work without distraction, and within yet without, time and space itself. It helps you to focus your energy that you raise within it, and to direct it towards your goal.
To dismiss the circle, You need to dismiss elements and deities if you call them. Then you will start at the Northeast corner again. This time instead of sending out the electric blue light, you will be reabsorbing it. Draw the light up and through your athame back into you. Walk counter clockwise (also known as widdershins) around the circle until you once again, over lap. You can say something to the effect of "May the Circle be Open yet Remain unbroken"
