Hello there, I am very new to Spellcasting and I am so much interested to learn basic Spells. I have a few questions here hoping that you can give me a realistic explanation...
1. What is a Spell Circle, and what does the shape inside the circle mean? I have heard about a Spell Binding Circle shaped in STAR form, but some says Spell Circles are often appears to be the same with the flag of Israel just like when casting a Fuuzetsu...
2. Why only 5 Elements? Most of the thread I saw here says we have Spirit, Water, Earth, Fire, and Wind... I remember that Lightning is one of the Elements which is almost as powerful as Flames... Please explain why THUNDER/LIGHTNING is not an element.
Spell circle should be no different than the spell binding circle. After all, the only difference is that one is for binding spells and the other is not (name implication) So, different people use circles for different reasons; energy raising, protecting (safe-zone for spell casting), summoning, binding, etc. But generally they are done the same way. Your circle with a star is just a pentagram/pentacle. The star is probably included, but not limited to, being used for a representation of having invoked the five elements. It could also be for protection, but as I said the reasons vary.
General concept and belief is of five elements. What these elements are varies person-to-person and belief-to-belief. The common belief is that the elements are Fire, Earth, Water, Air, and Spirit. But others may believe in Fire, Air, Metal, Light, and Darkness. It depends on what the individual person believes, and possibly the origins of the beliefs as well. This does not mean that you have to be limited to five elements. So, if you decide to include more, be careful with how many you include. You don't want any practices to get ridiculously drawn out and complex over a simple matter of the elements.
First of all it's not a 'spell circle' , you 'draw a circle around you ( and it's really NOT a circle either its a 'bubble' around you that is 'sacred' space for you to do the magic) there are no shapes inside of it. The only thing in the middle of 'some' circles are pentagrams ( the five pointed star) THAT is a magical symbol used for many things.
Advanced practitioners 'may' use the symbol in the circle BUT you are 'nowhere' near being advanced ..study ....
There are 'only' five elements, Earth, Air (not wind), Fire, Water and Spirit. Thunder is the 'sound' that is created when after lightning 'parts' the air for a strike the 'air' rushing back in to 'fill' the space left by the lightning 'creates' the thunderclap. Lightning itself is NOT an element it is merely the reaction between earth and air or air to air when the particles are charged properly to let the 'static' electricity between them 'discharge'. Clouds passing could be 'positive' and the earth below 'negative' just like in batteries. When the charge is 'sufficient' the lightning bolt discharges the 'extra' electricity in the area creating the bolt. If you want to be 'technical' then you could suppose the lightning is a 'part' of fire........
Bubble or circle depends on how you cast/draw the circle. Even though the circle is still drawn, there are still many ritualistic/spell-like forms is which a circle is cast; therefore, it can be a spell and can rightly be called a "Spell Circle." As for there being no shapes, I would like to know how that is being that, the pentagram, hexagram, triangle, the circle or bubble it self, and whatever else people may use with the circle are all technically shapes. Symbols they may be, but shapes they still are.
If it's so "advanced" then why are there newer practitioners who are using pentagrams to cast around themselves for protection? Because it's not so much of only being advanced. Yes, there are advanced uses of the circle, but there are also some that are as much a beginner practice as casting/drawing your first basic circle.
As I said before, the beliefs of the elements vary from person to person and so on. Just because you believe that the five elements are only Earth, Air, Fire, Spirit, and Water (in no specific order) and that lightning is not an element, does not give you the right to force it upon another by telling them that you are right and what others and their beliefs on different elements are wrong. That's not right and it's definitely not okay. Feel free to explain in a polite manner why you feel there are only the five elements you named, just don't go telling people those are the " 'only' " elements, especially when (as I said) other people, beliefs, and even religions will state otherwise whether using some to all of the elements you named or not.
Uh ms vanity it 'is' a bubble around because you are creating 'sacred space' around you. This line represent 'where' the bubble around you intersects with the ground. Within this 'bubble' is the sacred space where you will work the magic. Spell circle smell circle 'semantics' ! You do NOT use the shapes 'within' the circle you use them 'about' you ,THAT is the protection they enable ! I am NOT forcing anything I anyone as much as YOU are forcing YOUR beliefs upon ME. You can 'contradict' me at any time I am NOT stopping you. As your profile 'states' your a novice and I have been practicing for over a decade I think I would have a 'little' more insight than you do, tho AGAIN that's MY opinion......
Actually the ranking system is not really accurate on this site and cannot be used to judge someone , I know some that have been practicing for many years and still get ranked beginner due to someone disagreeing with them on this forums.
I was taught by an accually really good teacher who i respect very much to use the pentagram ever since my first spell circle for protection. I do not believe it is advanced to use a pentagram. And thirteen years can not be used as justification for being right, only logic and reasoning. And of course everyone is right to say that the ranking system is abit scewed.
Thank you so much guys, specially Vanitys_Fire, my hypothesis is almost the same with your answer... I hope there is someone out there who can explain the difference between the usage of pentagram and hexagram... I know they are not similar.
