How to cast a circle

First of all, what is a magic circle?

A magic circle is a sacred space in which magical work is carried out. It serves a similar purpose to a church or a temple; it is a quiet space filled with appropriate energy – with, of course, in the case of a magic circle the added benefit of being portable! (There is nothing better for magical work and to stimulate the magical areas of your brain than to cast a circle in a quiet grove of trees or on the shores of a lonely beach..)

But it is certainly not necessary to cast a circle!

There is no magical law that says that circle casting is essential before a spell can be cast; and indeed many modern magicians (or those in a hurry!) skip this step altogether. However as a student of magic it is interesting to learn about the traditional rituals associated with magic, and indeed these can prove very effective to those who are drawn to the more ritualistic forms of magical expression.

So if you have time and are of an imaginative bent, the build up of anticipation as the circle is cast, and the subsequent quiet, almost sacred, atmosphere instilled in the imagination by the process is well worth it.

There are so many different ways to cast a circle, so feel free to adapt and to create your own versions – perhaps a super quick one for impromptu spells and a longer more involved one for special occasions... ?

Here we will simply touch upon the main elements of circle casting which generally appear in most magical traditions. We are keeping it very simple, assuming you are on your own, and calling upon the archetypes of Air, Fire, Earth and Water.

A more detailed spell casting process is very effective if you have a group of people working on a spell rather than just yourself. As you can imagine, this complicates the process though and group magical work is almost another creature entirely – so we will deal with this in another article!

We have chosen to use the archetypes of Air, Fire, Earth and Water as these are instantly recognisable and intuitively understandable to most students of magic. However other archetypes are often used, such as the God and the Goddess, Animal archetypes, elementals, various deities, spirits etc. Feel free to substitute your favourites! – and remember you are not literally calling up these things, invoking spirits for example, but calling up and embracing those same energies within yourself and the multiverses around you.

That said; the elements of a simple circle casting ritual are:

1) Decide how big your circle needs to be. You don’t want to feel cramped but on the other hand you want your sacred space to feel intimate and private. Larger ceremonies require larger circles of course!

2) Decide whether you would like to mark you circle out physically on the ground, perhaps with a ribbon or a chalk, or whether you can visualise it satisfactorily in your head. Picture a dome of white light rising out from you; visualise its size, its limits – picture how it fits into it surroundings. This is your safe place, filled with positive, creative energy. Know that no other types of energy can pass through your mental barrier – in a way, this is your very own Patronus or magical barrier!

3) Mark the four cardinal points (Earth, Air, Water, Fire) of your circle with an appropriate candle. Some people like to colour code their candles – Green for Earth, blue for water, red for fire, yellow for air etc. Usually the Earth candle is placed in the north quarter, the yellow candle in the East Quarter, the red candle in the south quarter, and the blue candle in the west quarter...Carry a white or black candle to light your cardinal points.

4) It is usual to enter the circle from the east ie begin by lighting your yellow/Air candle. Move clockwise as you light each candle, and it is customary to make a small invocation/speech to welcome each archetype into your circle. (Remember, this is simply a ritual to sharpen your own mental focus on the process of your spell, and to waken these archetypes within you to ensure maximum potency.) You do not have to invoke aloud but it is sometimes more effective.

Here is an example of a simple invocation to the elements of the four cardinal points:

When lighting the candle in the east/Yellow Candle-

“Guardians of the East, I call upon you

 to watch over these rites.

 Powers of knowledge and wisdom, guided by Air,

 I ask that you keep watch over me, protect, energise, and empower this circle,

With perfect love.”

When lighting the candle in the south/Red Candle-

“Guardians of the South, I call upon you

 to watch over these rites.

 Powers of energy and will, guided by Fire,

I ask that you keep watch over me, protect, energise, and empower this circle,

With perfect love.”

When lighting the candle in the west/Blue Candle-

“Guardians of the West, I call upon you

to watch over these rites.

Powers of passion and emotion, guided by Water,

I ask that you keep watch over me, protect, energise, and empower this circle,

With perfect love.”

When lighting the candle in the north/Green Candle-

“Guardians of the North, I call upon you

to watch over these rites.

Powers of endurance and strength, guided by Earth,

I ask that you keep watch over me, protect, energise, and empower this circle,

With perfect love.”

When all the candles are lit, declare the circle cast – “I declare the circle cast, so mote it be!” Or appropriate words to this effect...

5) You may leave you circle and come back to it later. Traditionally it will remain for twelve hours. Before you leave the circle, ritualistically cut your way out using your Athame or Wand, and close it after you. This symbolises the fact that your circle will still be intact when you return. Open your virtual magical “door” with your Athame/Wand in the same place when you return to your circle.

6)Remember, magic need never be dull! If you’re a poetic person who likes lots of ceremony, feel free to mix things up a bit– call upon “the weavers of the wind, the breezes that blow from the East, blessing us with wisdom and knowledge, so mote it be,” etc, etc. Just make sure you don’t spend so long on the ritual that you forget the actual magical point of the whole exercise!

Magical Tips For Circle Casting:

·         Don’t worry if you forget the words whilst casting your circle...Remember ritual is a tool to enhance your magical work, it is not the magic itself. Your spell will be just as effective if you improvise – in fact perhaps even more so – as the words will have come spontaneously from the heart.

·         Get everything ready beforehand! Nothing is more disruptive to magic than having to divert your attention to scrabbling around looking for equipment at the last minute.