How to Cast a Circle

With the rising visibility of Witchcraft, the idea of casting a circle has become part of our popular consciousness. The idea is to define and create a sacred space that is protected from unwanted influences and charged with magical energy. Casting a circle before performing a spell is a great way to focus your attention and get into the right state of mind. Many pagan holiday celebrations and other rituals also begin with some form of circle casting. It can be a fun and useful exercise to do with a group or by yourself.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Select an area large enough for you and anyone else who will be helping you cast a circle to move around in. Also choose a time and place in which you are unlikely to be disturbed.

2. Ritually cleanse the area by burning sage or another purifying incense and spreading the smoke throughout the space. An alternative if you don't have these items or are sensitive to smoke is to lightly sprinkle water over the area. While you are doing the cleansing, visualize any old energy patterns that are present being cleared away.

3. Start to cast a circle in the east of your space. If you can't figure out which direction is east, make your best guess. The eastern direction is generally associated with the element of air, the power of the mind and spirits related to these ideas. Facing and pointing east with your knife, wand or finger, visualize these qualities. Make an invitation to these spirits to enter your circle in any way that feels appropriate to you.

4. Walk clockwise a quarter of the way around your circle, drawing an invisible line as you go with your ahthame, knife, wand or finger. Visualize this line as a wall of energy that you are creating around the circle, keeping any negative forces out and any magical energy in (for now). You should arrive next at the southern point of your circle.

5. Continue to cast a circle by facing and pointing south and calling to the powers of this direction, which are generally associated with fire and the participants' will or desire. Continue drawing your circle as you walk around the circumference to the west.

6. Call to the powers of the west, which are often associated with the element water and the emotions. Continue drawing your circle as you walk around the circle to the north.

7. Call the powers of the north, which are often associated with the element earth, mysterious or unknown forces, and the physical body and world. Continue drawing the circle as you continue around the east where you started.

8. Finish casting your circle by inviting any other guests that you would like to attend, such as personal deities, and declaring that the circle is protected from unwanted influences. Continue with whatever you would like to do inside the circle. When you are finished, Thank the spirits involved and walk around the circle in the reverse direction, visualizing the boundaries expanding, opening or dissolving.

Tips & Warnings

• If more than one person is participating, there are several ways to share responsibilities. Different people can call the spirits in each direction. Alternately, one person can cast the whole circle, or several can walk around the perimeter together, holding hands if they like. A large group can even construct an actual circle out of people.
• There are many ways to call the spirits. A verbal invocation works well, although a piece of music, dance or other creative action related to the qualities of the direction could be just as effective in some situations.
• Once the circle is cast, don't walk through the barrier casually. Though it's probably fine in an emergency (and many people report children and pets walking through with no problem) the usual etiquette is to draw a door with one's finger or other instrument before walking through.

[Trinity999]

on 9/28/2008 This is a Circle casting and Quarter evocation mixed into one. While I know there are various traditions... I would caution against this mixture. When calling an element, you need a place for the element to be contained in. It would be like pouring water into a glass thats got holes in it! Cast the circle first, call in the Elements after.