Circles
A magick circle is a place where a Witch does her magick. The reason we form a circle, rather than a triangle or square, is because all energy moves in a circular manner, a spiral. A circle also symbolizes infinity, for it has neither a beginning nor an ending. We also live within the eternal circle of life--the cycles of the seasons, the Moon, the Sun, the tides, and the heavens moving above us. Working within a circle helps our psyches attune to the natural rhythms of divine energy that animate and regulate the order of the natural world. In circles, everyone is equal. No one is above the others. The shape of the circle also places each individual within view of everyone else. This creates an immediate intimacy, connection, and sense of community. And finally, the physical shape of a circle facilitates the movement of energy. It distributes energy equally throughout the practitioners. There are several reasons for having a circle:
The circle becomes a container to hold your energy. As you raise energy, the circle will contain all the energy until you are ready to release it and direct it.
Some people believe the circle is also a way to keep out any negative energy; it's a form of protection. These people believe there are negative spirits and entities lurking about, and Witches don't want them coming in and messing with their magick.
When a Witch is first learning to do magick, having a circle helps keep the magick pure. If there is no circle, the magick becomes diluted with all the other energies in the air, and it loses some of it's effect.
Circles can alter your state of consciousness. When you cast a circle, you shift your consciousness from being distracted by ordinary, everyday matters to perceiving nonordinary reality, or the presence of divinity. When you are inside a circle, you can feel the magick all around you. This state of consciousness will help the spellwork done within the circle.
Finally, a circle becomes a Witches temple, a sacred space. When you believe this, it teaches you that the temple exists within each of us, and is everywhere around us.
Circles can be cast anywhere--your home, your garden, anywhere in nature, even your workplace. First, you would purify the yourself, the elements, and the space; cast the circle; and then invoke the quarters (some say elements, or guardians of the watchtowers). I'll explain each individually:
Purification
Naturally, you will want to purify yourself before entering a purified space. Make a purifying scrub of sea salt, rosemary, sage, lavender, and a few drops of eucalyptus oil. If you don't have all the ingredients, plain salt will work fine too. Take a bath and wash away all stress and thoughts from everyday life. Let the water cleanse your, body and soul. If you don't have time for a bath, simply meditating and clearing your mind will work fine too. If you still don't have time for that, know that it's not completely necessary to cleanse yourself. It just helps keep the sacred space as pure as possible.
When casting a circle, you'll need to have representations of each of the four elements. I like to put them at the edges of where my circle will be, and in the direction they represent: Air for North, Earth for East, Fire for South, and Water for West. Set them up where you want them and then purify them. To purify, draw the invoking pentagram either in it, or above it, with your finger or athame. Start at the top of the star, and move down to the lower left point, then up to the upper right point, across the upper left point, then down to the lower right point, and finally back up to the top of the star. As you do this, say something like:
"I purify and consecrate this creature of (air, earth, fire, water).
May all good enter herein in the names of the Goddess and God.
Of course you can personalize this all you want. Just make sure you're mentioning the fact that you're purifying and consecrating that element.
Once that is done, you can begin purifying the space in which you'll work you're magick. Make sure everything you will need is placed in your circle before you begin. You will start with the East, by picking up your salt, or whatever it is you're using to represent earth, and walk deosil around the outer shape of the circle. (Traditionally, a circle is nine feet in diameter, but you can may be limited in space or have to make it larger to accomodate more people, and that's fine too). As you walk, sprinkle salt on the ground and visualize mountains and grass growing up from your footsteps. Say:
With the powers of earth,
I purify and consecrate this circle.
I surround myself (or us) with the powers
Of fertility and creativity, Strength and nurturing.
Let the creatures of earth encircle me (or us) with power and patience.
Return the salt to the East or put it back on your altar.
Next, pick up the candle that represents fire and walk deosil around the circle with it beginning at the South. Envision the circle becoming ringed with fire as you walk around it. Say:
With the flaming powers of fire,
I purify and consecrate this sacred circle.
I surround myself (or us) with its powers of
Passion and determination, courage and energy.
Let the creatures of fire encircle me (or us) with will and enthusiasm.
Once you return to the South, put the candle back down or return it to your altar.
Repeat this process with the element of water. Begin at the West and sprinkle it as you walk deosil around the circle and visualizing streams and rivers flowing from your footsteps. Say:
I purify and consecrate this sacred circle
With the element of water. I surround myself (or us)
With its powers of love and compassion, dreaming and delighting.
Let the creatures of water encircle me (or us) with joy and feeling.
Once you return to the West, put the water back down or return it to your altar.
Finally, pick up the incense, or whatever you're using to represent air such as a feather or fan. As you walk deosil, imagine the circle filling with the incense, or wind if you're not using incense. As you walk deosil around the circle, say:
I purify and consecrate this sacred circle
With the element of air. I surround myself (our us)
With the powers of insight and inspiration, laughter and wonder.
Let the creatures of the air encircle me (or us) with clarity and imagination.
When you return to the North, place the incense (or whatever you have) back in it's place. If that's at your altar, put it back there.
Casting the Circle
Before casting your circle, you may want to lay down something to show the boundaries of your circle. If you're outdoors, you can spread salt or dirt. If you're on cement, you can even use chalk. If you're indoors, you can lay down a rope in the shape of your circle, or place lots of candles close together in the form of a circle. Be creative! This way you can more easily visualize your boundaries.
The easiest way to cast a circle is with a wand, athame, sword, or hand. Begin at the east and walk slowly deosil around the circle. As you walk, visualize a circle of blue and white flame, or light, flowing from the tip of your tool or hand. Feel the energy rising from the Earth and flowing through you to shape the circle in which you will work. Take your time.
Then, you can either read the following, or memorize it beforehand. Don't worry about mistakes, because there aren't any. As you walk, say:
"I conjure this circle as a sacred space,
A place between the worlds where the worlds meet.
I conjure this circle as a boundary and a protection
To preserve and to contain the energies that I (or we) shall raise herein.
Thrice do I conjure this circle as a safe space,
A sacred place where the Divine reside,
Where spirit and matter are one,
In perfect love and perfect trust.
As above, so below--this circle is sealed.
So mote it be!"
As I say, "as above, so below," I make sure I have returned to the east, and I trace my tool or hand, up above my head into the middle of the circle. This is the way I visualize the circle closing in above and below me to form a bubble. When I say, "this circle is sealed," I twist the tool, or my hand, in the air and bring it back down to my chest. I think of this as a way of cutting off the circle from my hand or tool and sealing it.
Invoking the Quarters
After the circle has been cast, I like to invoke the elements, or guardians of the watchtowers. Stand in the direction you're going to call, facing outward. You can use a tool or your hand to draw an invoking pentagram in the air. As you draw, visualize a flaming star of the color that corresponds to each direction: green or brown for north, red or orange for south, blue or aqua for west, yellow or lavender for east. See and feel the power of each element coming to you through the star portal as you speak. Start at the east, and move deosil, calling upon its spirits:
I call upon the east--bring stability,
Strength and balance here to me!
I invite you to this sacred circle.
Hail and welcome!
I call upon the South--let your fire glow!
Let desire and passion through me flow!
I invite you to this sacred circle.
Hail and welcome!
I call upon the West--let your healing rain,
Wash away negative feelings and pain!
I invite you to this sacred circle.
Hail and welcome!
I call upon the north--bring your winds here!
Blow away doubt, confusion, and fear.
I invite you to this sacred circle.
Hail and welcome!
When you have called each of the four directions, return to the north, turn back into the circle, and say:
The quarters are called and the circle's cast,
To raise the power and send it fast.
And when my sacred work is done,
Bless the magick that I've begun!
And you are done!
Walking the Circle
While you are in a circle, never walk widdershins (counterclockwise) unless you are releasing the circle at the end of the ritual or spellwork. Walking counterclockwise in a circle is an ancient belief that will bring bad luck and the break the power of the magick. This may or may not be true for you, depending on what you personally believe. There are exceptions to the rule, of course. When participating in the spiral dance, you do move widdershins. You also move widdershins when closing the circle.
Cutting a Door
Sometimes you will discover that you have left something out of your circle, or you need to leave it for one reason or another. You can't just walk out of your circle. This would destroy all the work you've made in purifying the space, and it would release any energy that may be already stored in it. If you feel the need to leave the circle, you can create a door to go through. Use a tool or your hand, and make a doorway in the air. Step out of it and close it again by reversing the action you made with your tool or hand. Get what you need, then cut the door again, turn, and close the door.
Closing the Circle
After your magick or ritual has been accomplished, you must thank and banish the elements to allow the energies to depart the circle.
Facing east, draw a banishing pentragram in the air with your tool or hand (start at the lower left point, then move to the top of the star, etc.). As you draw this, say farewell and thanks to each direction:
Ancient Spirits of the east (south/west/north)
Thank you for your presence, and your blessings
By the earth that unites us (by the fire that we are/by the water that flows through us/by the air that we share/)
I bid you hail and farewell
Blessed be!
Return to your altar and pick up a candle. Return to the east and carry it around walking widdershins. If you have candles placed around your circle, blow them out as you walk by. Say:
Fire seal the circle round
Let it fade beneath the ground
Let all things be as they were
Since the beginning of time.
When you have gone around three times, and all the flames are extinguished, say:
Our circle is open, but never broken
Merry meet and merry part and meery meet again!
Once you become more adept at casting circles, you can be more creative. Try making your own invocations and circle castings. Experiment, try new things. Personalizing your magick always makes it stronger. If you would rather call on gods or animals instead of elements, by all means, do so! Whatever makes you comfortable, is what you should do.
source: http://www.witchesgrimoire.com/bos/circles.htm
circles
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