Circles
Magical circles are widely thought to be solely for protection against
evil spirits who would hurt you while in ritual. This claim is not entirely true.
Magical circles are in fact not even circles they are more of a sphere than a circle.
They go above you and below. It is a place where you build up energies
that you will later release out into the world for what ever purposes you may have.
When a circle is devised you have created a place of power. When a circle is made
the Deities are not commanded to inter it but they are asked.
There are several different methods of bring in a circle anything from bringing in
the four elements to dancing it in.
In this section I am going to try to give you some ideas on how to prepare for your circle, bring in a circle,
how to make a door way through the circle and how to break down that circle.
Whether you believe in the Watchtowers or the elementals, the fae or just the
God and Goddess it is important to remember that when you create a circle for ritual that
you are respectful to you deities and the earth and do ask of them to join you.
You must also not forget to let them go when you get ready to break down the circle.
Remember as with all magik and practices there is no wrong way of doing it.
You MUST find your own way and your own path.
Preparation
Before you begin to cast you circle there are a few things you might want to do first.
(You don't want people or animals running in and ruining your ritual before you even begin)
Where to start
There is always the question of where do I start? Just any where I want or is there a specific place.
There are two main places people start when casting a circle either in the North or in the East
Some say that North is the beginning others say that the East is. I use East because that is where the sun rises therefore
it is my beginning and North represents death and the crone. You start where you feel it makes sense to you.
Casting a Circle
Through Visualization
Through dance
Through the Four Corners and candles
Through chant
Through the watchtowers
Through Visualization
This is my preferred method of casting so it will be the easiest for me to start out with.
(This way does take knowledge of you own energies and those around you, you will
probably want to start with a casting that has more of the physical in it.)
O.K. now that you are prepared, all of your things are right where they will need to be.
Sit or lay down in the middle of where you want your circle to be and relax.
Meditate on what you want to accomplish in this time.
Go into yourself and find the energy at your core.
Visualize yourself taking all of that energy and placing it in one spot
your Heart Chokra, now bring that energy up through you and into your
The Crown of your head. Think of a thin stream of light that pours out and up far enough for you to stand and still
have room left to raise your arms high. Now bring that light around everything that you are going t be using
and down below you into the earth until it is one big balloon of light circling you. Tie that off and let it just stay there.
Through dance
A few days before you actually do your ritual pick four of your favorite songs, songs that make you think of the elements for each direction. think about what kind of movements it should have and try out a couple before hand.
(this is also a great way for a group of friends to share creating a circle) Or one very earthy song such as those on
Native American drum tapes.
Got to each of the four directions and dance in that side with the corresponding song.
With one tape just dance the entire circle in dance completely around your circle three
times.
Have fun
Through the four corners and candles
Get four candles one black or green for the north one yellow or orange for the east
one red for the south and one blue for the west.
Set each candle at there corresponding directions.
Get another candle (white) and matches; Light the white candle
with a match and remember to realize the magik in the fire being sparked to life.
Go to the East where the candle is sitting and say something like:
To the east where all things begin,
I ask of you with your wind and your intelligence to come and help me
in my circle to watch over this ritual that I am about to perform. Light the candle and wait a few minutes till you think
it has come.
next to the South
To the south were fire and passion grow I ask of you to come and Help me in
my circle to watch over this ritual that I am about to perform. ect...
To the west were water and all things of emotion come
I ask of you to come and watch over this ritual I am about to perform.
To the North were earth and spirit join the end of all things.
I ask of you to come and watch over this ritual that I am about to perform..
Thank you all.
Through chant
There is a list of chants to use on my chants page. I recommend using both the
Goddess Chant and the God Chant (also referred to as Hoof and Horn)
You may use a bowl of salt a bowl of water incense and a candle or just a bowl of salt to bring in
the circle this way. (If you want to use all of the elements I recommend using the chant Air I am)
Start in the east and start walking around the circle deosil towards the south.
Sprinkle the salt completely around the area three times and
recite:
We all come from the goddess and to her we shall return,
Like a drop of rain falling to the ocean.
When you have circled the area three time chanting this then you will repeat it chanting:
Hoof and Horn Hoof and Horn
all that dies must be reborn.
Corn and grain Corn and grain
all that falls shall rise again.
When you have done this three times your circle is completed.
Through the watchtowers
Again start in the east.
Looking towards it. raise your hands and
say aloud.
Hail to the Guardians of the WatchTower of the East
I call upon you to watch over this circle (or rite)
(state your purposes)
Go to the South Hail to the guardians of the Watch Towers of the South
I call upon you to watch over this circle
(state your purposes)
WEST
Hail to the Guardians of the Watch Towers of the West
I call upon you to watch over this circle
(state your purposes)
North
Hail to the Guardians of the Watch Towers of the North
I call upon you to watch over this circle
(state your purposes)
Cutting a door
Now you have built your circle. Remember to cut a doorway in your circle so that if you have forgotten
something or need to leave you may without breaking it. This also lets you have people come into your circle as well.
Stand at a place where you would be most likely to leave or enter and start at the left side of the floor with your wand or
index finger, sword or bethame cut upwards and over then back down on your right. Now a door has been added you have no
worries that someone might break your circle.
Calling your Deities.
Calling upon your Deities is a very important thing to remember
Most of you have already done this in your casting of the circle but some of you have not so
Now is the time to do so after you have built your circle and it is safe for them to come in.
Breaking Down a Circle
Breaking down of the circle is probably even more important than building one.
You do not need a circle to do rituals or anything else related to neo-paganism.
Unless it is required in a specific spell. However you do have to remember to pull down your circle and release your
deities or whom ever you have asked to be there.
Believe me a friend forgot to release fire one time she was so tired and just went to bed.
Needless to say she woke in the middle of the night to her house being on fire.
She never made that mistake again and yes she had put out the candles and all other fire devices.
I have also heard of countless stories where a group of people forgot to thank the elements for their help and release them so
they decided to stay around and either a water pipe broke and flooded the house something caught on fire ext.
SO be extra careful and extra respectful.
TO BREAK DOWN A CIRCLE
IN breaking down a circle it is basically the same thing as building one only you go winndershins
(From North to West)
IN Visualization
You just thank your deities and release them then pull the energies back into your self backwards of what you put them out as.
Through dance
You do not need to dance out the circle, you may if you wish, or you may just
end your ritual thank and release your deities and be on your way
Through the Four Corners and candles
Release your deities and Begin putting out the candles
from the north say: Thank you North where the earth and spirit join for coming I release you
of this circle.
The same with West, South, and East.
Through chant
Thank who ever you brought in with the chanting while walking winndershins
(counter clock wise)
and you are on your merry way.
Through the watchtowers
Again as with the rest Thank you example.
Thank you Guardians of the Watch Tower of the North
for residing over this rite. I release you from this post.
extra West South East.
Above all be respectful and make sure you thank who ever you choose to watch over you and you rites.
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