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Circle casting and Closing
Circle Casting Meaning
The circle is the sacred space in which magick is worked, where Witches can meet with the Goddess and God. The word "circle" may be misleading, though, because actually what you are creating is a sphere that encompasses all participants and the altar. The magick circle defines the ritual area, holds in personal power and shuts out all distractions and negative energies. Within the circle you should feel safe and protected.... all members that are in the circle are there in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust. You can use objects on the ground to show the boundaries of the circle, such as stones, flowers, candles, stick incense, crystals or cord. It is formed with personal power which is felt and visualized as streaming from the body to form a bubble made of mist, or a circle of light. You can use the athame or hands to direct this power. The circle can be 9 feet in diameter. The cardinal points are often marked with lit candles, or the ritual tools assigned to each point. The altar stands in the center of the circle, facing North (direction of power). But not necessary. Do what feels right with you. Everyone will cast a circle differently... there are no set rules. Some people will walk the circle three times to create it others will just sit or stand quietly visualizing the circle growing.
Circle Casting
This is how I cast my circle during my solitary rituals.
I set up my altar with the appropiate tools needed. Make sure to have a lighter, candle snuffer and a heat proof dish.
If I am doing my ritual inside my house... I place items on my altar in each direction to represent the elements. Example: seashell for Water, feather for Air, etc...
If I am doing my ritual outside in my backyard I will use point candles for each direction. Place a green candle on the ground at the North point of the circle, yellow candle to the East, red candle to the South, and blue candle to the West. Or you can use white or purple candles at the points. Light the candles as you place them on the ground. Or if not using candles for each direction, place a red candle in the center of your altar.
I light the candles on the altar. Starting with the Goddess candle (white or silver), then the God candle (yellow or gold), then whatever else candle I may be using. Set the incense smoking.
I sit or sometimes stand facing my altar. I raise my hands above my head and move them in a circular motion as many times as I feel necessary (clockwise). As I'm doing this I see and feel the energy flowing out from my fingertips. Think of the energy that your body is generating. Feel the energy flowing within you. The energy will move with you as you release it. Sense your personal power creating a sphere of energy around the altar. When this is firmly established, invoke the four quarters and the rites can begin.
Circle Closing
I thank the Goddess and God and the elements for attending the rite.
I sit or stand again with my hands above my head and move them in a circular motion (clockwise), I visualize its power being sucked back into my fingertips down into my body. Sense the circle dissolving, shrinking; the outside world slowly regaining its dominance in the area. The circle is no more.
I always ground myself after I close my circle to get rid of any excess engery I have created. If I don't do this I feel nervous and get anxiety.
I stand and take two deep breaths to relax my body and mind. I bend at the knees and place my hands (palms down) onto the ground/floor. I visualize and feel the energy going down thru my hands and feet into the earth. Down from my head... down my spine.. into my hands and feet into the earth. When complete, I stand again and say:
"May the circle be open but unbroken, may a piece of the Goddess be forever in my heart, Merry Meet, and Merry Part, and Merry Meet again."
If I have used salt and water, I save the excess salt for future uses, but pour the water onto the bare Earth.
Offerings that are in the libation bowl I bury or scatter them around a tree in my yard along with the incense ashes.
I Quench the candles last. Do not blow them out. I Start with the quarter candles and any others that I might have used, then I put out the God taper and finally the Goddess candle.
I put away the ritual tools. My rite has ended!
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