Pagan Snapshots: Circle Casting
first offered in approximately 1994
by Jeffrey Pierce
Begin by making sure you won't be disturbed during this exercise. Turn the ringer off on the telephone, send the kids to the neighbors, etc.
Read over the material carefully, making sure that you understand each portion. If you feel that you should alter the intent for the ritual, please do so. Gather together the items that you will be using for the ritual and double-check to make sure you have everything. If you can, use sea salt for the salt in the ritual. If you don't have easy access to some, rock salt or even table salt will work. If it's possible, four of the candles should be yellow, red, blue, and green, but once again, it's not necessary. If your candles are all the same color, simply skip over the part of the ritual that directs specific candle colors to specific directions. While the first four candles can be votive candles (if that's what you have), it's important that the other candle is a tall candle (even if it is a small one, such as used on a birthday cake). You may also want something to catch the candle wax with, as it is difficult to remove from carpets and floors. If you don't have a candle snuffer, use a small cup made of a non-flammable material.
You'll Need:
Five Candles
Matches
Bowl or cauldron
Water
Salt
Candle snuffer
Cleansing
Begin by cleaning the area your ritual will be held in, just as if you were cleaning house. Once it is clean, take a broom and sweep the area. The bristles of the broom do not have to touch the floor. What is important is that you visualize that you are sweeping old energy away, leaving the area a blank, neutral slate.
Setup
Normally the candle would go in the south as it is associated with Fire. The salt goes in the north as it is associated with Earth (and the water takes its place in the West). However, we'll be using the cauldron (which always sits in the center of the altar) in the ritual and need the candle out of the way.
Begin your set-up by placing the cauldron (or bowl) in the center of the ritual area. Place the single candle to the north of the cauldron. It's actually easier to find North than you might think. Almost everyone knows what side of their home the sun rises on. That's East. Face East and turn to your left. You're facing North. (If you have a small table that you would like to use as an altar, feel free to place it in the center of the circle and place the altar, candle, etc. on top of it).
In the same manner, set the four candles at the perimeter of your Circle in the four directions. If you have colored candles, place yellow in the East (Air), red in the South (Fire), blue in the West (Water), and green in the North (Earth). These are traditional British correspondences, but don't worry about that at the moment. For now, it's important to simply begin associating the directions, colors, and elements together.
Fill the cauldron (or bowl) about half full with water. Place the salt to the North near the candles, a container of water to the West, and place the matches within easy reach.
Intent
Although the spoken part of this section is generally used to address other practitioners, it can also be used to address the spirit world and the energy that was present in the rite.
Once the Circle is set-up, sit quietly for a moment and close your eyes. Let your thoughts still and clear your mind. When your mind has settled down, you're ready to begin.
Face the center of the Circle. With a clear, steady voice, say:
"My intent for this Circle is to enter into a world of magick and mystery, in which I will grow and learn."
Raising Energy
As you become more and more familiar with raising energy, there are additional techniques that can be used. For starters, you can begin to visualize the energy joining with the Circle while you call the Quarters. In more advanced work, you actually channel the enegy through your body, amplifying it and bonding it to the rite.
In addition symbols (such as Runes and Sigils) can be used to further amplify the energy. Tools can be used to intensify it and further direct and natural items (stones, crystals, herbs) can further heighten the energy's effects.
Turn to the East and say:
"Hail East, home of Elemental Air. I ask that you come an witness this rite and add your energy to this Circle. Teach me to listen to your spirit winds that I may grow and learn from the wisdom I hear."
Visualize Air joining with your Circle, coming in from the East and forming a boundary around your ritual area as it moves clockwise around your magickal space. Light the eastern candle and move to the south of the Circle.
Facing South, say:
"Hail South, home of Elemental Fire. I ask that you come an witness this rite and add your energy to this Circle. Inspire me with your energy as I learn that magick is like your flames, a wonderful tool to be carefully tended."
Visualize Fire joining with your Circle, coming in from the South and forming a boundary around your ritual area as it moves clockwise around your magickal space. Light the southern candle and move to the west of the Circle.
Facing West, say:
"Hail West, home of Elemental Water. I ask that you come an witness this rite and add your energy to this Circle. Teach me the secrets that you hold in your depths as I learn to build resources as deep as your deepest waters."
Visualize Water joining with your Circle, coming in from the West and forming a boundary around your ritual area as it moves clockwise around your magickal space. Light the western candle and move to the north of the Circle.
Facing North, say:
"Hail North, home of Elemental Earth. I ask that you come an witness this rite and add your energy to this Circle. Teach me of your rhythms and cycles and help me build a foundation as sturdy as your mountain stones."
Visualize Earth joining with your Circle, coming in from the North and forming a boundary around your ritual area as it moves clockwise around your magickal space. Light the northern candle and move to face the altar and the center of the Circle.
Facing the altar and North, say:
"The Circle is cast. I stand between the worlds, beyond the bounds of time, where death and life, light and darkness, and all of existence join as one."
Applying Energy
The intent of this Circle was to "...enter into a world of magick and mystery, in which I will grow and learn." To acheive this end, we connect ourselves with the energy of the four elements, with spirit, with the world, and we ask for benevolent guidance, both physical and spiritual, along our path.
Had the intent for this Circle been different, this portion of the rite would have differed. All spellwork (including this specific rite), takes place in this portion of the ritual.
Taking the candle from the altar, move to the eastern candle (yellow), and light the candle you're holding from its flame. As you do so, say:
"The flame of the East, the power of Air joins with my candle and with me as I begin my magickal journey."
Moving to the southern candle (red), dip your lit candle into the southern candle's flame and say:
"The flame of the South, the power of Fire joins with my candle and with me as I begin my magickal journey."
Continuing to the western candle (blue), dip your lit candle into the western candle's flame and say:
"The flame of the West, the power of Water joins with my candle and with me as I begin my magickal journey."
Moving to the northern candle (green), dip your lit candle into the northern candle's flame and say:
"The flame of the North, the power of Earth joins with my candle and with me as I begin my magickal journey."
Take your lit candle back to the center of the altar. Holding it, say:
"Lord and Lady, I ask you to guide me along my path as I grow in magick, wisdom, and knowledge."
Hold the candle over the water filled cauldron so that the wax drips into the water. Watch for a few moments as you do so, visualizing what you are hoping to learn and acheive on your magickal path. When several drips of wax have fallen into the cauldron. Set the candle down and say:
"The wax is my hope for my magickal path, the cauldron the world and the water spirit. May the three join as one."
Taking the container of water, hold it aloft as an offering to the spirit world before pouring it into the cauldron. As you do so, say:
"This water is the power of spirit. May I learn it's ways and keep it well."
Taking a bit of salt, hold it aloft above the cauldron. Sprinkle it into the cauldron and say:
"Water and salt, the essence of life. May I be filled with laughter and joy, my lessons pleasant and my path filled with wonder and life."
Take the index finger of your dominant hand (the hand you write with) and stir the water in the cauldron clockwise. As you do so, say three times:
"As I speak, so shall it be."
With your moistened finger draw a quartered circle on your forehead. As you do so say,
"May those who would teach me with kindness and love be drawn to the mark I draw on my brow."
Grounding Energy
Take the cauldron in both hands and hold it aloft. As you do so, say:
"Thank you, spirits, for carrying my words to those beings of light who would aid me in my quest. Thank you, Lady, for you presence and nurturing spirit. Thank you, Lord, for protecting me on my path."
Sit the cauldron down in its place on the altar. Take your tall magickal candle and hold it above the cauldron. Say:
"May this flame never be extinguished, but burn forever in spirit."
Slowly lower the candle, flame first into the cauldron, merging the fire and water. When the flame goes out set the candle back on the altar. Taking the candle snuffer in hand, turn to the northern (green) candle. Say:
"Thank you, Earth, for your presence, your energy, and your magick. May you be blessed three times three what you gave to this rite. Blessed be."
Using the candle snuffer, extinguish the green candle. As the candle goes out, visualize the element fading back to the direction it came from. Turn counter-clockwise to the western (blue) candle. Say:
"Thank you, Water, for your presence, your energy, and your magick. May you be blessed three times three what you gave to this rite. Blessed be."
Using the candle snuffer, extinguish the blue candle. As the candle goes out, visualize the element fading back to the direction it came from. Turn counter-clockwise to the southern (red) candle. Say:
"Thank you, Fire, for your presence, your energy, and your magick. May you be blessed three times three what you gave to this rite. Blessed be."
Using the candle snuffer, extinguish the red candle. As the candle goes out, visualize the element fading back to the direction it came from. Turn counter-clockwise to the eastern (yellow) candle. Say:
"Thank you, Air, for your presence, your energy, and your magick. May you be blessed three times three what you gave to this rite. Blessed be."
Using the candle snuffer, extinguish the yellow candle. As the candle goes out, visualize the element fading back to the direction it came from.
Grounding Energy
Turn to the center of your Circle space and say:
"Thank you spirits, for your presence in this rite. I believe in this rite and in the path that lays before me. Blessed be."
Giving Thanks
Say:
"The Circle is open but never broken. Merry do we meet, merry do we part, to merry meet again."
Take a few moments to walk around barefoot, making fists with your toes in the carpet. After a few moments begin to put away your ritual gear. Take the cooled wax that you dripped into the cauldron's water and put it somewhere safe to save. You may decide to either leave it in the shape it cooled in or shape it into something different.
At some point in your magickal practice you may want to use this wax in a rite, or perhaps use it in crafting an amulet or ritual tool. It will have special significance, especially for those of you that are using this as your first ritual.