| The Magick Circle |
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During our rituals and magical rites, you may have heard it is usual to ‘cast a circle’. There are as many ways to cast a circle as there are witches. The casting of the circle is probably the most commonly recognised Pagan ritual, it is also frequently done very badly. |
| To cast a circle badly, go out and buy almost any book on beginners Wicca, there is bound to be a section about circle casting: Follow the instructions to the letter, and take care to stumble over the words, as you are too nervous to remember properly. Remember to be very angry with yourself for this to introduce bad energy to the circle. Above all make sure you concentrate so hard that you forget why you are doing all this, and don’t visualise anything. Casting a circle well, like anything else, takes practice, preparation and a bit of background knowledge. So let’s get to it! Why do we cast a circle? There are very few Pagan temples, and very few Pagans who want temples, after all our religion is about connecting with our roots, nature, the land, it is not always easy to do this in the confines of four walls. It is because of this that Pagans have learned to take their temple with them everywhere. The circle is a ‘safe’ space within which we practise our ritual. It is, like all useful commodities, multi-functional. The circle is a barrier between your energy and that outside, it keeps out uninvited spirits (like fairies if you are outside). It also keeps your energy in, at least until you choose to release it, allowing you to raise a large amount of energy without it leaching away before you have a chance to do anything with it. When I cast I use the phrase ‘nought but love may enter, nought but love may leave’ I am therefore not just excluding nasties from elsewhere, but also putting a leash on myself, that I cannot send out ‘unloving’ energy. A circle capable of the above can officially be deemed a darn good circle, don’t worry if your early attempts fail in these departments. At the very least, your circle should be a place where you are comfortable and feel safe. The act of casting a circle brings you into a state of mind conducive to magical rite, and is a way of honouring your gods, spirits etc as you are creating a meeting place, where the barriers between your world and theirs is dissolved. The circle has been described as a place where the veil between the worlds is thin. All this and it is totally portable. Where do I cast my circle? Anywhere you like, within reason. Many Pagans keep an area for ritual purposes (a sacred space), it is a good to have a place to practice your rituals as it will always feel sacred (even if it is usually just a corner of your bedroom). However, the circle creates a sacred space anywhere, so you do not always need to retreat to your physical temple to practise a ritual. A circle can be cast for a number of reasons, it is a valuable psychic shield if you feel threatened, with practise you can learn to raise a bubble around yourself, while travelling alone on the train, or even while walking down the street. So how should I do it then? Firstly there is no ‘should’ about it, there are many methods you can use, and eventually you will evolve your own. Casting the circle can be a fancy affair with chanting and flowery words, usually accompanied by waving of cutlery, equally you can cast a circle in a way that would be totally undetectable to an onlooker. You need to find a way of firstly making your space feel safe and sacred, and secondly creating the bubble that contains/keeps out energy. Many paths consecrate the area with salt and blessed water before casting the circle; some sweep the area of negative energy with a broom. You can push out other energies by expanding your spirit body. You can sit quietly and let the peace and safety flow from you and all around you, you could walk the perimeter of the circle telling the world in general that this is your space now and it is free from malice. So how should your circle feel? The cave game, an exercise in security Before you try to cast a circle, you may find it useful to get a clearer idea of what you are looking for, to do this you are going to play a game, because its more fun this way. All you need is a spare afternoon or evening, and everything else, you can scrounge from around the house. Remember when you were a child, and you would make a den out of soft furnishings? A blanket over a table, making a tent out of your duvet? Well, there is your first step, make a den, a cave, a wendy house if you must! In a quiet area of the house, where you won’t be disturbed, gather together all the bean bags, cushions, blankets etc you can and make yourself a nest. It’s best if you have a roof, like a tent. Bring in some soft music, lighting (watch the candles though, tea lights in jars are safer), maybe some incense. Gather together a few books, maybe equipment for drawing or a musical instrument. Put together a picnic in case you feel peckish. Wear comfy clothes and set the heating so you don’t get cold. Now lock the door (and stick a Do not Disturb sign on it), turn down the lights and wallow. For an hour or so, let yourself relax in your new environment. This sort of set-up is particularly conducive to meditation as well. Once you have got used to this, pause and observe. Your space is totally isolated, but you have all you need. You are safe and comfortable, but unimpaired; you can still carry on with the activities you brought with you. The whole place is a little otherworldly, the lighting, the incense, the music, you probably haven’t had any human contact for a couple of hours. Soak up the atmosphere, let it penetrate your very bones, imprint it in your spirits memory. For this is it, once you have felt it, you can take it with you anywhere, and apply it to your ritual space. This is what your circle should feel like. BACK NEXT |