Casting a circle is very important. I don't know of any Witch who practices magick or holds rituals outside of one. The purpose of the circle is two fold: mainly to keep the energy you are rising in until you choose to release it and to keep all the negative (or just impish) energy out.
There are about as many ways to cast a circle as there are Witches. Each Witch develops his or her own way to erect a circle.
Circle castings can be refined to fit the workings that will take place within them. While some Witches may used the same circle casting with every activity, I tend to tailor mine based on my purpose. For example, my healing circle cast is very different than my standard circle cast.
Visualization is extremely important in circle casting. You need to be able to "see" your circle. As you become more proficient, you will also begin to feel your circle. Your sacred space will feel different than the area outside of it.
A note about the term circle: What you really want to do is imagine a sphere - a circle that is going to protect you not only on this plane, but also from above and below and all points in between.
So what is a circle? A circle is a boundary between the mundane and the spiritual, a space between the worlds. It is something different for everyone.
Some say that a proper circle needs to have a diameter of 9 feet. That is not true. A circle needs to be big enough to contain the practitioner(s) and the altar/tools, etc., no more, no less. I've been in very small spaces and have cast a circle only big enough to contain me, and alternatively, I've cast circles around my entire apartment. I've been at rituals where a circle has literally contained hundreds of people. Don't get caught up in numbers. Cast a circle the size that suits your needs.
Everything about casting your circle is going to influence the type of circle it is. Because this is such an important part of ritual, it is important that you give some thought to what you are doing and why.
EXERCISE 1
Close your eyes and picture your circle. Don't think too hard. Let a picture pop into your mind. What does it look like? How did you create it? Why do you think it looks this way? Write a paragraph describing your circle.
Now that you have a picture of a circle in your mind, it is time cast a circle on this plane. The first step is to think what you car casting the circle for. Now it's time to move on to the mechanics.
Where will the energy come from when you cast it? Will it come from your center of power? Will it come from above and below? Will it come from the elements? Or will it come from any combination of these? What color will you seen the energy? Will that color change depending on your purpose? What does it look like? Is it dancing flames or fog or a solid shield or something totally different?
***
Before long, you won't even think about any of this, circle casting will become second nature and you will instinctively know just want to do to get the perfect circle for your needs.
The best way to get to that point is to practice. You don't have to do a ritual to practice casting a circle. You can do it at any time. Just remember to always open the circle afterward.
Before you begin to cast your circle, always make sure that you ground and center. The main goal is to connect yourself with the energy of the Earth and your surroundings. If you don't properly ground, you will be using your own energies and this can get very draining very fast. It also helps you mentally prepare for the work you are about to do.
There are several ways to do this. My personal favorite is the tree method. There are many variations, but the basic principle is this. Imagine yourself as a tree, your legs are the roots and they draw up the energy from the Earth into your legs and up your body. The energy then sprouts from the top of your head and your hands (your branches) as it flows down to the ground, completing the circle. It's best to really get the energy flowing before starting.
Centering involves aligning your body and Chakras (energy centers) and finding the central point in your body from which your energy flows. While some Witches say it always comes from the stomach that is not always true for everyone. Some witches feel the power in their heart, others in their hands. Again, never let anyone tell you "all witches do this". Go with what you feel and know is right for you. (For more information on Chakras and Chakra alignment, click here.)
Once you are ready, it's time to cast the circle. There are unlimited ways to cast a circle. I suggest you read as many as you can find and try them out. What works for you? What flows easiest for you? Can you alter a casting to make it work better for you? There is nothing wrong with using a casting someone else wrote. It is a great way to start out and get comfortable with casting a circle. In time, you might find yourself naturally adapting and altering castings so that they become your own. And don't be afraid to mix and match castings from different authors. One of my favorite circle castings is a hybrid of about four others. Here are some samples of circle casts to help you get started.
EXERCISE 2
Find or write three circle casts. What is it about these casts that appeal to you?
---
Before you cast a circle, you also need to know how to open a circle. Opening or releasing a circle is the reverse of casting a circle. This time you are going to send the energy back to where it came from and everything returns to its "normal" state. This is the last act in a ritual.
As most circles are cast deosil (or clockwise), most circles are opened widdershins (or counterclockwise). Circle openings tend to be a little less involved. Usually the energy is released: some walk widdershins around the circle doing the opposite of what they did to cast it. Some stand still and imagine the energy melting away back to its source. Do what works for you but make sure however you open your circle is complimentary to how you cast it. For example, if you use your athame to cast the circle, you will want to use your athame to open it.
Once all the energy has been returned and the circle is open, you will find that many Witches (especially in a group setting) will end it with the following or a variation of: The circle is open, but unbroken. Merry Met and Merry part till we merry met again.
EXERCISE 3
Practice casting and opening circles using the three castings you found. Write about your experiences. What did you see? Did you feel anything? Did you "know" your circle was there? Where you comfortable with this casting? If not, what didn't work? How could you change it to better suit your needs? How do these circles compare to the circle you pictured in your mind from Exercise 1?
---
Now you know how to cast and open a circle. It is important to remember that once a circle is cast, it should not be broken unless you open it. However, small children and animals may pass through the boundary of you circle at will without affecting the energy or integrity of the circle.
But what happens if, in the middle of your ritual, you realize you forgot something and you need to go get it. What do you do?
Don't panic. There is a way to leave your circle without breaking it. To do so, you will need to create a doorway.
Take your athame (or wand or hand) and face northeast. Hold the point down toward the ground. Feel your circle. Cut a doorway tall enough for you to fit through, moving counterclockwise. Visualize the athame sucking in the energy.
To reseal the circle once you return, retrace the doorway you've created clockwise. Visualize the energy flowing back out of the knife and remerging with the circle, once again creating a solid circle.
EXERCISE 4
Cast a circle. Practice creating and resealing a doorway. Write a paragraph on your experience.
EXERCISE 5
Create Astral Sacred Space for ritual.
For this exercise, you will need a white candle. Any size will do. Remember the perfect sacred space and altar you described in Lesson 1? We're going to make that sacred space a permanent astral ritual place. This ritual is an adaptation of one by Silver Ravenwolf.
Prepare your space on this plane and cast your circle. Close your eyes and picture your perfect space that exists on the astral plane because you will it to. Inside that space, case a circle.
Now on this plane, light your white candle. Now do the same in your astral ritual space. Feel the connection between the worlds. When finished, extinguish the candle on this plane and say, "Though the candle may be extinguished, the flame of my faith forever burns bright." Keep the flame in your astral space burning.
You now have an astral sacred space for use whenever you want. All you have to do is to close your eyes and you are there, with everything you need. This is really great for emergency situations when you might not have your tools with you or when a situation arises where you can't do a physical ritual. Some of my most powerful rituals have been done in my astral sacred space.
