Witches "cast a a circle" in order to create a sacred and protected space within which to do ritual, magick or other sacred work. The english word, sacred comes from the Middle English word meaning "to consecrate". So an object or space that is "sacred" is one that has been consecrated....that is, it has been devoted to, or set apart for, worship or religious use. You can consecrate a special area in or out of doors if you are lucky enough to have such a space that is a room or garden which you use solely for your wiccan practice, but whether you do or don't have such a permanent set-up, creating a circle is still a necessary part of ritual, magick, and other sacred work. Since many wiccans do not have a permanent location and set-up, they cleanse and consecrate, whatever space they will be using, and cast a circle wherever they have chosen, prior to beginning their ritual or spell. The magick circle is a protective sphere of energy that a wiccan creates to work in. It is created out of energy that you raise or pull in from the bounty of the universal energy "pool". Do not attempt to use your own personal energy or you will be completely exhausted afterwards!!! This sphere is not linear but completely three-dimensional. It goes not just around in a circle on the ground, but up over your head, and down into the floor or earth beneath you. Think of it like a magick bubble.
The magick circle not only protects those inside it, but also contains the magick or ritual energy. This prevents the energy from being scattered and diffused or diluted. Because the circle is round, it has no beginning and no ending point. The circle is symbolic of many things....the earth, the womb, the unending circle of the wheel of the year, and the eternalness of the dieties....to name just a few. If you are wondering when to cast a circle, do it every time you do a spell or ritual until you are experienced enough to get a feel for times it is safe and appropriate to do without one. Better to err on the side of caution since casting a circle will never be a "wrong" thing to do! However there are wrong times to cast a circle (or to do magick or ritual for that matter!) and that is when you are filled with negativity or fear, or you are sick or exhausted. If you can't cleanse away or work through the things afflicting you, wait to do ritual or magick another time.
There are a variety of ways wiccans cast a circle and a variety of ways they visualize the energy that forms the circle. One way is not more "correct" than another, but some may feel more comfortable or effective to you personally, than others. As always...try them out and choose what feels right for you. Some people use a ritual tool to cast the circle. An athame (pronounced ah-tham-ay) is probably the most commonly used, however other options are a wand, staff, sword, or crystal point. If you use a tool, use your "power hand" (the one you naturally would write with) to hold the tool. Or you can just use your index finger of that hand, and not use a tool. Some traditions have one start in the East to begin casting the circle. Celtic traditions usually say to start in the North. Either one is fine. You may wish to mark the perrimeter of the circumphrence of the area you will use to cast your circle with some kind of markers, especially if you are outside. You could use a stick to etch the circle's perrimeter in the dirt, or outline the circle space with rocks, or twigs. Indoors, you could use a length of cord, string or chalk on the ground. Some people use a round rug. In or out of doors you could mark the 4 directional points with something. Some people use a representation of each element associated with each direction (see our correspondences section for more info on this) for a marker in each of the 4 directions. You could also use candles or lanterns at each of the 4 directional points at the edges of your circle.
To begin, (after you have cleansed the circle space) extend your power hand and visualize positive energy pouring into you and through you, out through your out-stretched hand and out through your finger or tool, to begin forming the sphere. Beginning in the East or North, walk deosil (clockwise), around the circle's perrimeter three times, visualizing the energy streaming out to form the sphere as you go. Some people visualize a white or blue light as the energy. Some people "see" it in their minds as all colors of the rainbow. Some people "see" it as electricity or sparks. Some people think of it as being like the bubble that Glenda the "good witch of the north" arrived and departed in, in the Wizard of Oz movie! To "un-do", "take down", or "release" the circle, it is common to walk the perrimeter of the circle between one to three times in the same way, only doing it now deosil (counter-clockwise). Note: never move in a deosil (counter-clockwise direction) when you are in your circle until you are ready to release it. The exception to this is when doing serpentine dancing which weaves and moves every which way. Even so, the movements should not be deosil in their direction in any continueum. When ready to release your circle, picture the energy being released and dispersed harmlessly back into the universe. Some people chant particular things when casting or un-casting their circle. A common thing that is often said when releasing circle is, "the circle is now open, but as always, it remains unbroken." |
