Circle Casting Rituals

Sacred Circles are a must for any spell or ritual work. The purpose of a circle is to contain the energy you are raising until you chose to release it. It also works well at keeping negative energy out.

A circle is regarded as a space "between the worlds," neither in this world nor yet in the next. It is a place to commune with the deity and be at one with the gods. (Raymond Buckland)

The circle is constructed with personal power which is felt (and visualized) as a stream from the body through the Athame and out into the air. When completed, the circle is a sphere of energy which encompasses the entire work area. (Scott Cunningham).

There are several ways to cast a circle. You can write an all-purpose one or you can refine it to fit the specific work you are doing. There are circle calls for specific spellwork, rituals, healing etc.

Although referred to as a circle, what most Witches deal with is really a sphere, a 3-D circle. You want your energy to be protected from all points.

Some believe that a proper circle should be 9 feet across. But for those of us city dwellers with apartments, that's not always possible. As long as the circle is big enough to encompass your work area, you are good to go.

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 your are about to do.

There are several ways to do this. My personal favorite is the tree method. There are many variation, 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.

Once you are ready, it's time to cast the circle. Click here to see some sample circle castings. As always, feel free to modify them in any way.

Once a circle is cast, it is best not to open it until all work is done. But, life is not perfect and there will be times you need to exit the circle. To do this, you must create a door. A simple way is to take your athame, sword or wand and cut a doorway. Some Witches automatically create a door when casting a circle and then place their besom at the base of the door.

And remember that every circle must always be reopened and all energies must be grounded when you are finished. A good way to ground energy is to go back to the tree scenario. This time, instead of drawing up the energy, send all the extra magickal energy back into the Earth. Excess energy can also be stored in a tool for future use.

Sample Castings:

Apythia's circle cast

This is a mix and match of different circle castings I've come across. I first start with grounding and centering. Then I imagine a swirl of light (the color depends on the work I am about to do) starting at a center point below the Earth and working its way up the sides until it meets again at the top, forming a perfect sphere.

Once I feel that my circle is properly erected and enforced, I say the following:

Between the night
Hidden from sight
I conjure a circle of mystic light
By the earth that is her body
And by the air that is her breath
And by the fire of her bright star
And the waters of her womb,
The circle is cast
And we are between worlds
Beyond the bounds of time
Where night and day
Birth and death
Joy and sorrow
Meet as one.
Blessed be.

Airts circle cast

Black spirits and white, Red spirits and gray
Come ye, and come ye, come ye that may!
Around and around, throughout and about,
The good come in and the ill keep out.

Airts circle cast II

Black spirits and white, Red spirits and gray
Hearken to the runes I say
Four points of the circle, weave your spell
East South West North, your tale to tell
East is for the red bread of day
South is white for the noontide hour
In the west is twilight gray
And the north is black for that place for power
Three times round, the circle's cast
Great ones, spirits from the past,
Witness it and guard it fast.

- Silver Ravenwolf

Christopher Penczak Circle Casting

Penczak uses three steps to create his circle: one for protection, one to qualify energy and one for manifestation.

I create this circle to protect me for all forces coming to do harm.

I ask for only those energies coming in perfect love and perfect trust, in complete harmony with my magickal intentions, to create this circle.

I create a scared temple beyond time and space, between the worlds, where my magickal intentions will manifest. So mote it be.

Circle for Goddess Worship

By the strength of the witch's honor
Conjure the magick circle
Feminine steel, a powerful boon
I am safe within the Goddess' womb.
A sacred space a world apart
Where enchantment births and magic starts
With air and fire, water and earth
I circle round the mother's girth
The legions of life await my word.
The circle is cast.

- Silver Ravenwolf

Casting a god worship circle

Black and white, light and dark
In between the balance starts
Strong and powerful, safe place about
God's strong energy I circle out
With earth and air, this circle grows,
I activate, his spirit glows
With fire and water this circle bend
I conjure all his energies in.

- Silver Ravenwolf

Mental circle casting

I call air for speed
Fire to cleanse
Earth to manifest
Spirit to seal
[visualize circle]
as above, so below.
The circle is cast.

- Silver Ravenwolf

Permanent Protective Circle

Ground and center. Go around the house widderhsins with a bell, broom and charged salt water. Ring the bell to scare away negative energies. Sweep away unwanted forces with the broom or use a wand to wave them out. Sprinkle each entrance -- each window, door, mirror and major water outlets -- with salt water. Also sprinkle the corners of every room. If necesary, preform a banishing and/or salt water purification.

Now go around the house desoil, with salt water, athame and incense. Invoke a pentacle at each entrance with the athame then with the salt water. Concentrate on forming a deal of protection that cannot be broken. With the incense, charge each entrance and corner, inviting good forces to enter:

Salt and sea,
Of ill stay free.
Fire and air,
Draw all that is fair.
Around and around
The circle is bound.

Formally cast a circle in the room you will use for ritual. Chant and raise power to fill the house with protection. Thank the dieties, earth the power and open the circle.

- Starhawk

Silver's healing circle

This circle cast is one of Silver Ravenwolf's

I conjure thee o great circle of healing so that you will be for me a boundary between good health and dis-ease, a healing place of perfect love , trust, peace, joy, containing positive healing energies I will rise herein.

I call upon the angelic beings of the East, South, West and North to aid me in the construction and healing purpose of this circle and to help me dispel dis-ease from -----.

In the name of the Golden Lord and Silver Lady, thus I conjure thee, o great circle of healing.

This circle is cast.