"With joy and goodly gree," she replied and, hending in hand an iron knife whereon was inscribed the name of Allah in Hebrew characters she described a wide circle in the midst of the palace hall, and therein wrote in Kufic letters mysterious names and talismans. And she uttered words and muttered charms, some of which we understood and others we understood not." Witch and daughter of the king, Sitt al-Husal, A Thousand and One Arabian Nights.
The Native American equivalent is the medicine wheel. The first magick circle most folks hear about is King Arthur and the knights of the round table.
Purpose: The celebration of the holy days, esbats, rituals, and worship of the Lady and Lord are traditionally done within a magick circle. There was a time that Wiccans did have temples in the past and the magick circle was part of the temple. The Church destroyed our temples, so we practiced our religion in secret. To do that we had to develop a temporary temple - the magick circle. We of course, can and do build temples today!
History: The history of the magic circle is well established. From prehistory, the ancient stones circles that are scattered across Europe are our magick circles. Diodorus, the Sicilian (Greek Historian c. 20 BC) writing about Stonehenge called it a magnificent circular temple of Apollo; located in the center of Britain. Lucan (c.150) tells us the Celts (Wiccans) worshipped without temples (inside magick circles). Roman Poet, Tibullus (45 B.C.) wrote about our Goddess (Hecate) being worshiped from inside a magick circle. From the Arthur legends, Excaliber means from the magick circle. Chaucer and others medieval authors wrote that Witches meet in magick circles. Even a 15th century tapestry (now at the Cluny Museum in Paris) named The Lady and The Unicorn (also called Le Vue) displays a Witch inside of the magick circle with God/dess symbols and her familiars.
Why a magick circle? Because the world is round. I know what your thinking - the ancient folks thought the world was flat right? Wrong! The world being flat came into vogue with Christianity because the bible says the world is flat. And some magickal traditions developed the magick square as a result. The Greeks saw the shadow of the earth as it passed across the moon, ancient Greek and Egyptian mathematicians correctly calculated the circumference of the earth. Several ancient and classical writers identified the world as round. The Christians with New Testament in hand thought the world flat, but the Hebrew prophets knew better, Isaiah 40:22 "[It is] he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth."
Many of the Celts sacred sites were built on hill tops. They are high so the people were closer to the Gods. If casting a circle outdoors, it's traditional to do so on a hilltop.
The magickal folks are connected with the magick circle. One magickal kingdom is assigned for each of the four directions of north, south, east and west, the altar is placed in the center of he circle. The placing of the magickal kingdoms in a certain direction is based on their position in geographic relation to Britain. Many American Wiccans call these kingdoms elementals; so does the bible.
When the Celts arrived in Britain the northern regions were thick with forests. The Queen of the North, Mother Nature lived there, so the Earth Kingdom was placed north.
To the west of Britain was the Atlantic Ocean, thus the Water Kingdom was assigned to the west.
The Celts had traveled the world extensively and knew that the further south you went from Europe, the warmer it got. Warmth is from fire and Dragons breath fire. For this reason, south was given the Fire Kingdom.
It was known by the Celts that the fairies could control the winds as described in the Shakespearean play The Tempest. Many Wiccans in the past were considered to be of fairy relation and held the power to call upon the winds. In Britain, the prevailing winds blow from the east. Thus the Air Kingdom was assigned to the east.
Now that I live on the east coast of the U.S., the geography has changed. For example, water is now in the east. Many people may argue that I should change the elements around and I guess they are right, but I just can't. It's traditional!
Our altar is centered and facing east. Why the east? Because the sun and moon rise in the east. The ancient worshipers of Bel in Britain greeted the Sun God and faced their altars east. In fact, the bible (Ezekiel 8:16) says Pagan (Asiatic Wiccan) worshipers were with "their faces towards the east; they worshipped the sun toward the east." The Jewish tabernacle, the temple of Solomon, and Zerubbabel all faced east. Nearly all ancient temples were oriented to the east. Due to the Norse influence on Wicca a number of covens face their altars north. You can really face the altar in any direction if you want.
In Shakespeare's Macbeth (act I, scene III) the three Witches give the formula for casting a magick circle. "Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine, and thrice again, to make up nine. Peace, the charm's wound up." The Witch Medea, in Ovid's Metamorphoses, book 7 uses a ritual of 3 times 3 when casting her magick circle. She also invites the the Goddess, God, and several of the magickal folks to her circle. There is a mention of a magick circle in the King Arthur myths: Viviane, The Lady of the Lake, was very much in love with Merlin. She was determined to have Merlin remain in Avalon forever and thus be her lover forever. When the lovers had met in a secret place, Lady Viviane told Merlin her desires. Merlin agreed for he loved the Lady Viviane more so than any other. Lady Viviane said, I must be sure that this is also your desire. For one of the laws of magic says, you must not work an enchantment on another without their consent. Merlin said, I will prove that this is my desire by teaching you the enchantment myself. This enchantment will send me to Avalon forever. Lady Viviane was pleased and learned the enchantment from Merlin. Then she sat and laid Merlin's head in her lap and soothed him to sleep with her gentile voice. Once Merlin was asleep, she cast a magick circle by making nine times a ring and nine times an enchantment. Then once the magick circle was raised Lady Viviane cast the enchantment that Merlin had taught her, sending him to Avalon forever. From this day forth, Merlin was not seen by earthly man!
This basic pattern of nine times a ring and nine times an enchantment (3x3) is followed today by Old English Wicca.
The magick circle can be cast by one person as with Lady Viviane or more than one person as described in Macbeth. One person casts a circle by performing all the rings and enchantments themselves.
Circle Etiquette: Once the circle is cast don't walk across the boundary. This breaks the circle and it will have to be recast. Children, pets, and those charged with the God/dess can walk across the boundary without breaking it.
Minimum items needed to cast a magick circle: Salt, incense, knife or wand, lighter or matches, water, cup (grail), and pot (cauldron) can be placed upon the altar. Stones of any type can be placed on the border of the circle. Six candles; yellow placed in the east, green north, red south, and blue west. The gold and silver candle can be placed on the altar. Be sure to draw a circle big enough to hold all your tools, yourself and others if attending. You can use chalk to draw the circle line or place stones of various color to mark the boundary of the circle. These stones don't have to be huge or expensive. I use thirteen semiprecious stones. From history, our ancestors did erect large permanent stone circles like Stonehenge. If you can afford it you can also built yourself a stone circle too.
Casting the Magick Circle: Circle caster: move a dagger, sword, spear or wand over the circle's boundary. Start and end in the east (1st Circle) and speak the first enchantment, "I cast this circle round. Old Gods let your power abound. As we worship thee here upon this mound."
Priestess: Fill the grail (chalice) with salt water or you may place salt into water. Beginning in the east and moving clockwise around the circle's edge (2nd circle) sprinkle the salt water lightly around the edge of the circle. Anoint or sprinkle each person with the water1 as you come to them. While walking speak the second enchantment, "I purify this circle by water and salt and bless each creature herein that walks."
Priest: Light the incense and beginning in the east and moving clockwise along the edge of the circle (3rd. circle). Bathe each person with the smoke as you come to them. While walking speak the third enchantment: "I purify this circle by fire and air and blessing all here and there."
Inviting our familiars: An attendant walks once around the circle (4th ring) saying (4th enchantment): "This doorway is open between our world and the other. Be with us here, our magickal sisters and brothers." This enchantment invites the Witches and Wizards familiars to the circle. Magickal beings have manners and would never attend a Circle without being invited.
Inviting the magickal folks: Each attendant walks around the circle (rings 5-8) once. Each will stop at the appropriate direction and invite the magickal folks (enchantments 5-8).
The attendant facing east, says as lighting the yellow candle: "Fairies, Elves, and Sprites all; Folks of the air, wind, and breeze. I call you to this ring, here to eat, drink and sing."
The attendant facing south, says as lighting the red candle: "Dragons, Drakes, and Salamanders all; Icons of flame and fire. I call you to this ring, here to eat, drink and sing."
The attendant facing west, says as lighting the blue candle: "Mermaids, Mermen, and Nixes all; Folks of lake, sea and spring. I call you to this ring, here to eat, drink and sing."
The attendant facing north, says as lighting the green candle: "Gnomes, Dwarfs, and Wee Folk all; Folks of earth, tree, and stone. I call you to this ring, here to eat, drink and sing."
Inviting the LADY and LORD: The Priestess and Priest walk around the circle arm in arm (ninth ring). Returning to the altar the Priestess says: (ninth enchantment) "Triple Goddess, Maiden, Mother, and Crone. The Queen of Heaven upon the throne." (Light silver candle). Priest says: "Triple God, Hunter, Father, and Warrior. Lord of lightning and power." (Light the gold candle). Priest/ess together say: "We, your children call you here to this ring to eat, drink, and sing."
Now the circle is cast and you can perform spells, rituals, or celebrations within it. Our Goddess as Hecate in Shakespeare's Macbeth says, "O! well done (for casting the circle)! I commend your efforts and everyone shall share in the gains (of the spells cast). And now about the cauldron sing (celebrate the sabats or esbats), like elves and fairies in a ring (dancing) enchanting all that you put in (the circle)."
In Grimm's fairy tales The Little Folks Presents the magick circle has folks holding hands and dancing. They even open their circle and admit two passers by, so the other traditions who cut open a doorway to enter and exit the circle might have something.
Closing the magick circle: Go to each candle at the boundary of the circle (exception the east). While raising wand or hand and say: "Go in peace, my magickal friends, our rite is over, it now ends. Blessed Be." Then extinguish the candle. We do not dismiss the Lady and Lord for they are always with us.
Exception: don't use words to dismiss the magickal folks in the east, just extinguish the candle. Instead, give them a small offering of milk, cakes, or cookies. If outdoors the offering may be placed upon the ground, if indoors place the offering in a small bowl called the libation dish, then place it outside.
Put away the tools, the circle is now ended.
A number of Wiccans don't close the circle or dismiss the magickal folks. They simply put away the ritual tools, thus ending the circle.
1. According to Apuleius in his The Golden Ass, The Priests at Corinth, Greece sprinkled water on to persons when performing their rituals.
2. According to Apuleius in his The Golden Ass, The Priests at Corinth, Greece (about 150 AD) sprinkled water from a chalice when casting their magick circle.
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