Circle casting is typically considered one of the basics of magickal practice. Not every Witch casts a circle and those that do don’t cast a circle for everything they do. There may be occasion in your practice where you may feel that you need to cast a circle. Do so when you feel the need. Though there are many opinions out there on when to cast a circle or not trust your instincts and always go with what feels right for you.
Here is my method for when I’m doing a large working that I feel requires a circle. The words are not my own. They are snippets I have gathered from books and the internet and strung together for my own purposes. This post is intended as a guide for you to take and make any changes to that will make it work for your purposes.
You don’t need a lot of supplies for my way of casting a circle; just some incense, a fire candle, a bowl of water, and a bowl of salt. You can add things like a bell, a wand, or an athame or you can use nothing at all. It’s all up to you.
Anything in italics is to be said out loud.
To begin…
Take a deep breath in and close your eyes. Feel the earth beneath your feet, feel the air all around you. Feel the fire in the candles and in your heart. Feel the water that flows through your veins... “Blessed Be.”
{Draw invoking pentagram over incense, light it.}
“I do bless thee o’ element of air to make thee fit and pure for these our rites…Blessed Be.”
{Draw invoking pentagram over fire candle, light it.}
“I do bless thee o’ element of fire to make thee fit and pure for these our rites…Blessed Be.”
{Draw invoking pentagram over water.}
“I do bless thee o’ element of water to make thee fit and pure for these our rites…Blessed Be.”
{Draw invoking pentagram over salt.}
“I do bless thee o’ element of earth to make thee fit and pure for these our rites…Blessed Be.”
If you like you can visualize a white or gold light infusing each elemental representation as you draw the invoking pentagram. You can place each item at its cardinal point or on an altar.
{Raise arms above head.}
“I call on earth to bind our spell, air to speed its passage well, bright as fire shall it glow, and deep as ocean’s tide shall flow. Count the elements fourfold, for in the fifth the spell shall hold…Blessed Be.”
Now for the actual casting of the circle. Stand at each cardinal point as you address its guardians. Point your index finger, wand, or athame at the ground as you say the words and visualize the power of the earth flowing up through your body and out through your finger or tool of choice. Continue to point your finger at the ground and see the energy spread along to the next cardinal point as you move.
Hail to the guardians
Of the watchtower of the east
I call the power of air for
(creativity, communication, wisdom, inspiration).
Hail to the guardians
Of the watchtower of the south
I call the power of fire for
(transformation, protection, passion, courage).
Hail to the guardians
Of the watchtower of the west
I call the power of water for
(healing, intuition, love, divination).
Hail to the guardians
Of the watchtower of the north
I call the power of earth for
(stability, nourishment, growth, money matters).
I then walk around the circle two more times in silence while visualizing the energy forming a circle that extends up into a dome and down inot the ground so that I am incased in a bubble of energy. After walking the circle I move to the center of the circle to say the next verse to seal the circle.
As above
So below
The circle is cast
We are between the worlds,
Beyond the bounds of time,
Where night and day,
Birth and death,
Joy and sorrow,
Meet as one.
This is when I usually invoke a specific goddess or just call on the Goddess. Then I do my working.
To take the circle down just reverse your steps; thanking as well as releasing the elements and guardians as you go. Many witches say something like, “the circle is open but never broken,” at the end and then ground the energy. Do what feels right to you.