Someone once wrote to me asking about how to cast a magic circle, which inspired me to create this page:

Ritual design is largely subject to your own personal interpretations. Exact methods for doing these procedures vary quite a bit. No matter what any book tells you... you can pretty much do things any way you please.. it's not a "you have to speak these words exactly" kind of thing. The methods presented here are based upon my own methods, but I attempted to leave them very open for your own modifications. My personal methods are largely based upon those presented by the books of Silver Ravenwolf, and Scott Cunningham, thus I must give them considerable credit.

Generally before religious ceremony, a Wiccan will go through 4 steps to prepare their workspace:

Technically steps 3 and 4 can be done in either order, or all as one step depending upon your interpretation or intent for the circle. It is considerably more difficult to visualize, thus do, all as one step. For the purpose of simplicity I will present the conjuring of the circle first, then the calling of the quarters. Later when you are more comfortable with circle casting, you may conduct more advanced studies of this basic structure.

The collective purpose of these four steps is to create a working space which is free of negative energies, and create a boundary keeping them out.

Purification of self

The purification of self is the first, and pretty much the simplest phase of preparing for a religious or magickal ceremony. This phase has two main purposes, getting yourself in the right frame of mind, and removing any negative energies from you. In a rush this step need only consist of a ground and center (I'm working on a page on grounding and centering techniques), but below is a list of several things I like to do when I have the time:

Purification of space:

The purification space is a process intended to rid the area of negativity, and make it suitable for use as "holy ground". This can be done in any one, or a combination of the following ways:

During the process you might wish to recite some words, or make some kind of chant about what you are doing, a recitation I like to use:

You may wish to adapt, or add to that. I often add something to the beginning about what tool I am using (i.e.: "with this smoke rising gently", or "With this salt and water blessed by me" etc..)

Casting a circle:

"Casting a circle" is a short, ritual act which is intended to protect your magickal or religious workspace. Wiccans don't erect permanent temples that often, thus we erect magical ones wherever we happen to be working. the "circle" is more of a magical bubble, surrounding your workspace, but it intersects the ground in a circle, thus it's name. The circle itself serves two main purposes. One is to act as a boundary, keeping negative energies out of the space you just spent your time cleansing. The other purpose of the circle is to act as somewhat of a container, which will hold the magickal energies you raise until their release in the form of a spell.

general method for casting a circle:

things you might need:

-athame (consecrated, non-cutting use knifee) or wand (athame preferred)
-items to mark the boundary of your circle,, such as a cord, or several stones (I don't use markers, but many like them).
-incense, either the one you selected for ppurifying, or the same kind you will use for the main ritual.
-illumination candles

1) mark the boundaries of the circle you will create, if you choose to do so.

2) create the circle. This is done by taking your athame (or wand) and usually starting at the north point, walk around the circle, clockwise in the northern hemisphere, drawing it by projecting natural energies through your tool to create a bubble of purplish-blue energy. For this creation, use the energies present around you in nature, combined with a very little of your own power. Casting a circle should not drain you, if it does, you are using too much of your own energies. This is a process of shaping what is already there, not building entirely from yourself. Some Wiccans walk around the circle once, some walk 3 times. It is your choice, I do once. Generally some kind of recitation or chant is made. This should be something about the protective nature of the circle. some examples from my various books:

"I conjure ye, O circle of power, so that you can be for me a boundary between the worlds of men, and the realms of mighty spirits. A meeting place of trust, love and joy, containing the power I will raise herein"

(Silver Ravenwolf's "To Stir a Magick Cauldron" p 102)

"Here is the boundary of the circle of stones.
Naught but love shall enter in,
Naught but love shall emerge from within.
Charge this by your powers, Old Ones."
(Scott Cunningham's "Wicca: a Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" p 118)

Tis done!

Calling the quarters

For the quarter calls, basically you face each direction in the compass (starting with either north or east proceeding clockwise till all are done), draw an invoking pentagram in the air (optional) as you recite a call appropriate to the element of that direction. East is Air, south is fire, west is water, and north is earth. Some also do the center, for spirit.

Here's a set I use fairly often:

Ancient guardians of the North watchtower
elemental powers of earth
Growth, Nurturing and Stability
I call thee, charge this circle

Ancient guardians of the East watchtower
elemental powers of Air
Intellect, Travel, and Communication
I call thee, charge this Circle

Ancient guardians of the South watchtower
elemental powers of Fire
Purification, Change and Passion
I call thee, charge this Circle

Ancient guardians of the West watchtower
elemental powers of Water
Healing, Emotion and Hidden Knowledge
I call thee, charge this Circle

The last line "I call thee, charge this Circle" can actually be replaced with other forms depending upon your intent. for example:

I call thee, guard this Circle -if you wish the elements to protect
I call thee, as witness to this rite -as observers (ie: initiation ceremonies)

You may also wish to substitute other attributes of the elements for the ones I have chosen

Once the circle has been cast, and the quarters have been called, you have a protected, cleansed and sanctified place in which you may call the Lord and Lady (God and Goddess).

This File Copyright 1997 by Matt Kettler, with other works cited. All persons may freely duplicate this file for educational purposes, provided credit for all authors is retained.

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