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A Basic Circle

Set up the altar facing North, the element of Earth. The altar faces this direction as Earth is very grounding. The altar consists of

- white altar cloth (can change for each ritual)
- God and Goddess candle
- a candle to represent Fire
- salt to represent Earth
- incense to represent Air
- water to represent Water (obviously)
- athame
- a pentacle
- chalice filled with wine, water or juice
- food offering, many use home-made cookies, fruits, nuts etc depending on ritual

Firstly place and light the quarter candles. It is not necessary to use a certain diameter of space, use however much is available. Then move to the altar and light the Fire candle and incense. Consecrate all the elements representations and then cleanse the space with them. Consecrating the elements you should place your athame in the salt and say

"Earth, seen here as salt, the Crystal of the Sea. I cast out from thee all that is impure, so that you may aid me in my rite." Then place the athame in the water and say
"Water, the Liquid of Life. I cast from thee all that is impure, so that you may aid me in my rite." Then pass the athame through the flame and say
"Fire, the Spark of Life. I cast out from thee all that is impure, so that you may aid me in my rite." Then pass the athame through the incense and say
"Air, the Breath of the Gods. I cast out from thee all that is impure, so that you may aid me in my rite."

Once that are all consecrated  place some salt in the water and stir three times with the athame saying
"Blessed is the combination of these two elements" Then  carry each element around the circle to cleanse it.

Starting at the North cast the circle by walking around clockwise three times. As you are casting the circle imagine a stream of pure white light marking the boundary and forming the circle. During the walk say
"I conjure thee O' circle of power so that you will be a boundary between worlds and time. So that thee may contain the power raised within. By the powers of Earth, Water, Fire and Air, and in the name of the Lord and Lady, So Mote It Be!"

Then, starting at North call the quarters.

"Come , Guardians of the North, home of the Earth and Gnomes. Please guard my circle and bless this rite."

"Come, Guardians of the East, home of the Air and Sylphs. Please guard my circle and bless this rite."

"Come, Guardians of the West, home of the Water and Undines. Please guard my rite and bless this rite."

"Come, Guardians of the South, home of the Fire and Salamanders. Please guard my circle and bless this rite."


Then move back to North to invite the Lord and Lady
"Welcome Lord and Lady of All. I invite you to witness and bless my rite, held in the realms of your eternal magick."

Then perform any celebrations, spells, meditations etc that the circle was cast for. Cakes and Ale is generally one of the favourite parts in the ritual for many Wiccans. Pick up your athame and hold it over the chalice, and then dip the athame into the chalice saying
"Chalice you are now that which is female, and athame you are now that which is male. Conjoined you are equally empowered and the source of life." Then place athame on the cookies and say
"Lady, bless this food so that partaking of it bestows joy, wisdom and strength upon oneself." Then eat and drink feeling the goodness of the libation flow through you. Remember to leave some offering for the Lord and Lady, leave it for later to take outside if you work indoors. Then thank the Lord and Lady for witnessing the rite, and bid them farewell.

Then starting at the West and moving to South East and then North dismiss all the elements and thank them for guarding the circle. Walk the circle anti-clockwise and visualize that that you are pulling the circle through the athame and into your hands and body. Then finally say
"The circle is open, but never broken. Blessed Be!"