Casting circles

Air, Earth, Fire & water

Elements

There are many variations on casting circles, the one example I give here can be extended & the words changed to suit your own personal taste.

A circle is cast to prevent outside influence gaining access to you while you are doing a ritual. The only thing that can enter is what you invite.

You can cast a circle for any type of magic or meditation you like, they aren’t just for the sabbats. They can be cast outside or indoors. You’ll need your consecrated athame see:

Consecrating tools

if you haven’t already got an athame, or it isn’t consecrated, use your index and pointer finger. You can consecrate tools within a circle if you wish.

Optional items..... Salt, incense, water, candle.

Begin by doing a very short meditation, to calm and relax your self.

When you feel ready, begin.

You can sweep the area first to cleanse it, or just begin by calling the quarters (north, east, south and west).

Just a quick note, some witches start in the east, others in the north, again, this will become natural to you. I prefer the North.

If you have consecrated your athame, use this, if not, use your pointer and index finger.

Facing north, point your consecrated athame or your pointer and index finger up and call to the spirits, guardians (gnomes), and the element of earth. Salt is often placed at this entrance to represent the earth.

Ask for guidance, protection and knowledge to be provided for your ritual,

“as I will, so mote it be“.

Then move doesil (clockwise) to the east, use athame or fingers pointed up to call to the guardians, spirits (sylphs), and the element of air. Incense is often place at this entrance to represent air.

Ask for guidance, protection and knowledge to be provided for your ritual.

“As I will, so mote it be“.

Again, move doesil to the south, use athame or fingers pointed up to call to the guardians, spirits (salamanders) and the element of fire.

A candle is placed at this entrance to represent fire.

Ask for guidance, protection and knowledge to be provided for your ritual.

“As I will, so mote it be“.

Move doesil to the west, use athame or fingers pointed up to call to the guardians, spirits (nymphs) and the element of water. A cup with water is often placed at this entrance to represent water.

Ask for guidance, protection and knowledge to be provided for your ritual.

“As I will, so mote it be“.

Once this has been done, walk doesil using your fingers or athame to draw a circle of creation above your circle.

Your circle can now be used for working magic, consecrating tools or celebrating particular deities (gods/goddesses).

When your workings are finished, a grounding is necessary, this is food and drink of some sort to restore any loss of energy you may have experienced during your ritual, scatter some of the food and pour some drink onto the ground as an offering to the god/goddess and spirits/guardians that have attended your ritual.

Within the circle a mantra is often performed, it passes unused energy from one person to another and also gives you a great feeling of peace; an example follows, it is repeated until you feel the time comes to stop.

“I am here, I am now, I am loved, I am healed”.

Closing the circle

Start in the north point your athame or fingers up and say a few simple words of thanks to the guardians and spirits of Earth.

“May you go in peace and love”.

Move doesil to face the east, again point your athame or fingers up and say a few simple words of thanks to the guardians & spirits of air.

“May you go in peace and love”

Move doesil to face south, point your athame or fingers up and say a few simple words of thanks to the guardians & spirits of fire.

“May you go in peace and love”

Move doesil to face west, point your athame or fingers up and say a few simple words of thanks to the guardians and spirits of water.

“May you go in peace and love”

End back at the North.

It is often a practice of tracing the circle with your athame or fingers to withdraw the energy created back into your tool.

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