CIRCLE CASTING

Everyone has their own way of casting a circle. You really have to do what works for you, but I will give you a few examples to get you started. Before you cast your circle, fix your altar, have everything you need ready, once the circle is cast you really don't want to have to leave it to look for something you need for your spell. Make sure you only have what you need within your circle. Keep unwanted items out of it, such as pets you don't want kitty helping you!

Once you have everything ready, relax and take a few deep cleansing breaths. Feel the power being drawn up into your body, beginning at your feet visualize it as a white light building around you, project this energy down through your dominant hand. (you can use your hand to cast the circle, or an athame or a sword, your choice!!)

Many people do not have a large space in which to cast their circle. This isn't a problem, even a small closet would do. You just need some private space, blessing it will make it your own sacred space. If you are fortunate enough to have a large room, walk your circle clockwise twice, although some recommend three times. The first time project your energy around the circle visualize a wall of energy surrounding you. The second time lightly sprinkle salt around the perimeter of the circle, as you do this say your own personal chant, calling on your deities for protection and to allow no evil within the circle. What you are doing here is creating sacred space.

Once your circle is cast, take a few minutes to relax and meditate on whatever ritual or magick you intend to do. Remember it takes practice and patience. Sometimes writing down everything you need beforehand is a really good idea, it didn't take me long to find that one out!
 
 

So far now you have:

1. Prepared your alter and the spell you wish to cast.
2. You have the right phase of the moon for the work you want to do.
3. You have taken your ritual bath in salt to cleanse you of all negativity that has gathered during the day.
4. Now you are ready to cast your circle.
5. Ground and center first.
6. Feel the buildup of energy within you.
7. Using your projective hand (or using a knife or athame in that hand) point it towards the floor beginning in the east (or north) and visualize in your mind a white or blue light coming from the the tips of your fingers (or athame)
8. As you walk the circle three times chant:
 

At times you may have to leave the circle. This is fine, but when you pass through the circle the power dissipates. To prevent this from happening it is traditional to cut a doorway. To do this face northeast, hold your athame point downward toward the ground. See and sense the circle. Pierce its wall of energy with your athame and trace an archway tall enough for you to walk through moving counter-clockwise along the circle for about 3 feet. Move the point of the athame up at the arch's center and down the other side until it is near the ground. As you are doing this visualize that area of the circle energy being sucked back  into the athame. This creates a void, allowing passage in and out of the circle. You are now free to walk outside.

Once back inside, close the door by placing the athame at the lower North-Eastern part of the doorway. With your athame trace the circle's perimeter clockwise  as if re-drawing that portion of the circle. It is done!

There are times when NOT casting a circle is a good idea. When you want to cast a spell that will include the rest of your family in it, you may not want to cast the circle, instead do the spell without it and let the effects touch your family!! This is especially good when doing a luck or money spell, then all in your family will benefit from it!!