#cast a circle

[sageinthesticks]

[how-to-witchcraft]

Before the Spell - The Magic Circle

Magic Circle

Complexity: ★☆☆☆☆

Use: giving you a cleansed, purified, and protected space in which to do whatever magical working you want to. This isn't necessary to do magic, but it can be quite a potentcy-increasing component and very helpful for focusing your energy. Some practitioners never cast a circle, and they do just fine. Others cast one before any and every spell they do. Still others only cast a circle when they need the extra oomph, or if it's a holiday, or something otherwise important.

The magic circle is representative of the divine, of all and nothing, of the beginning and the ending, of life and death, and of connecting with all of the above. It is said that when the practitioner stands in the very center of the circle they are the most connected.

Some practitioners will get a custom rug or a large blanket to put on the floor, or if they have stone or wood floors, will paint, draw in chalk, or draw in salt on the floor a circle that surrounds the primary workspace. This gives them a visual reminder to cast the circle for some people, and for others, they ritualistically imbue the more permanent circle with spellcraft and intent to make it a constant magical circle, so they don't have to recast the circle every time.

Ingredients (choose 1) :

Your forefinger (optional)

Salt (optional)

Chalk (optional)

Wand (optional)

Staff (optional)

Ritual Knife/Dagger/Blade (optional)

Wand or thin tower-shaped crystal (optional; satin spar is an amazing one, clear quartz is pretty great, anything that corresponds with the primary working you're about to do is very good.)

Take your index finger on your dominant hand, or one of the tools listed in the ingredients section. Start on the direction you are going to be facing, and walk either clockwise (Adding energy to a working, invoking, creation) or counterclockwise (breaking up and banishing negative energy, releasing something), depending on the correspondence for your intended working. While you're walking, point your finger or the object towards the ground. Complete a circle large enough for you to move freely that encompasses your altar, tools, and anything else you may be working with. This is called casting a circle.

While you are casting your circle, visualize energy, a stream of color corresponding with the working you're about to do, and a stream of white alongside it for protection, cleansing, and purification of the area. Visualize this coming from the tip of your finger or the object that you're using, and going into the ground to form the circle. If you cannot visualize, say aloud what you are doing, what colors and directions you're using, and why/their correspondences.

When you've finished, if you worship any deities or work with any entities, and you would like their help in your working, now would be the time to invoke them. If you work with the universe itself, now would be the time to call upon its aid. If you prefer to call the quarters/elements, this would also be the time to do that.

[bookishblogging]

Casting A Circle ⭐️

Howdy! Your friendly neighborhood witch here, back with another beginner witch post! You may or may not have heard of the term “casting a circle”- what this means is to basically create a barrier to temporarily protect yourself from negative/unwanted energy. This is pretty similar to other types of protection, so take a look at my protection post if you’re interested :)) 

You may want to cast a circle for a number of reasons, but I mainly think of casting a circle as temporary! You may want to do this to protect yourself and your space while you are doing spell-work, while you’re focusing on yourself (ex: grounding, meditation, etc), divination, the list is endless. While you CAN cast a circle whenever you feel the need, you don’t NEED to cast a circle in order to do something ie: cast a spell, commune with your deities, etc. 

How To Prepare 

There are many ways to cast a circle, so take this with a grain of salt. Witchcraft is all up to interpretation.  

Find the area that you want to cast your circle 

CLEAN 

Both physically and metaphysically...you want your space clean. If you need help thinking about how to spiritually clean your space, head on over to my cleansing post

Set Up

Get everything you are gonna want after you cast your circle, and put it in the center of the “circle”

You don’t wanna leave the circle after you cast it so make sure to grab any supplies for spells, divination, etc- just whatever you plan on doing while you have your circle cast 

Now it’s time to actually cast the circle! There are many ways to do this, so I’m gonna outline a few. 

The Elements 

You can cast a circle by invoking the elements and placing them at the four cardinal directions (Earth = North, Air = East, Fire = South, Water = West)

For fire 🔥: You can use whatever candles you would like, or electric candles if live in a dorm/can’t have an open flame (if you’re casting this circle outside, PLEASE be aware of any burn bans in your area!). If you’re doing a spell, you can even choose a candle with a certain color correspondence to the spell you’re doing! 

For water 💧: I recommend using some sort of charged water, ie: sun or moon water. I’ve seen some people using diluted essential oils with correlation to whatever they are doing in the circle, so you can be creative with it! 

For earth 🌎: You can use quite literally anything that represents the earth here. Crystals, salt, dirt, herbs, anything. 

For air 💨: Incense or steam work well. I live in a dorm so I can’t use incense (I also hate the scent so I never use it) SO what I do to get around that is just using my essential oil diffuser...it’s not exactly steam but it gets the job done. 

You will be placing these items with intent at their specific spots, and basically that’s all there is to it when casting a circle with the elements

To actually finish creating your circle, start in the East (by your air representation) and walk clockwise completely around the circle. You can do this a few times (don’t get dizzy lol) until you can “envision” a circle 

When you’re done and ready to break your circle, do the same as above but walk counterclockwise the same number of times you walked around the circle to create it

Salt

Another method to cast a circle is by using good-old fashioned salt :) 

Use salt (or something similar, eggshells, herbs, etc) to create a circle, clockwise. When you are creating this physical circle, imagine the metaphysical properties of the circle (protection, safety, etc) 

When you’re done, break the circle physically, and then clean and dispose of your salt 

Use A Cord

Similar to the salt method, you can use a cord/rope/string or something similar to create a large circle, and give it a good knot tying the two ends together. Whenever you do this, be sure to envision the circle protecting you and serving its intended purpose. 

DO A COMBO

Similar to both methods above, you can also just make a circle out of whatever floats your boat. Rocks, leaves, branches, dirt, WHATEVER as long as it’s practical, safe, and you are putting intention behind your casting. 

I usually do this (i like the rocks) and then I invoke the elements by putting their item of representation in their respective places and INVOKING THEM 

“I call upon the elements of the East, guardians of the wind, protect this circle! I call upon the elements of the South, guardians of fire, protect this circle! I call upon the elements of the West, guardians of water, protect this circle! I call upon the elements of the North, guardians of the earth, protect this circle!” 

Doesn't have to be that exact phrasing but something along those lines

I then like to walk around the circle and be like “yo, the circle is created” 

If you’re invoking guardians/elements/etc, be sure to thank them for their protection while you are breaking your circle. 

After I break the circle i am like “yo, the circle is broken” and then go about my merry day. 

I hope this helped you get a grasp on casting a circle! Again, there are many ways to do this so be sure to check out these other resources to see what fits your practice best! 

Simple Circle Casting

Advanced Circle Casting 

Circle Casting 101

If you have any questions feel free to DM me! Remember you are loved, you are important, and you are going to do great things. Have a great day! 💕

[villagewitchery]

Quick life update: I have found my forever home.

With this final move, I feel a bittersweet nostalgia of all the other worship rooms I have created in previous homes.

In last night's full moon I contemplated the versions of me that have been left behind, the energy I have built and released in those room, and the growth I have experienced on new and full moons.

I am blessed to have a set space to continue to build my practice, and to finally, set my forever roots.

I hope to honor all other versions of me. I hope to call upon the energies I have set free. And above all, not get caught up on the differences and naunces of the past.

Blessed be, love ones.

[spirits-child]

Invocar un círculo de protección

(Spanish translation of this post regarding learning to cast a circle )

Entonces como ya dije anteriormente, estaré traduciendo mis propios posts de información a mi idioma natal (el Español) para personas que también lo hablen y quieran información en este idioma. Sin más problema empecemos. 

¿Qué es un círculo? ¿Porqué es importante invocarlo? 

Voy a usar el verbo de invocar pero también se podría usar el verbo de crear porque realmente lo que se hace es crear un círculo. Entonces, qué es? Básicamente es una barrera energética que construyes a tu alrededor antes de hacer un ritual, leer el tarot, meditar, etc.  Porque lo creamos? Para protegernos de energías negativas o entidades que no queremos con nosotros 

Forma fácil de crearlos

Okay entonces para los que no saben, soy un menor de edad y no tengo nada de dinero así que todas estas formas son con tu propio cuerpo y materiales que realmente es casi imposible que no tengas en tu casa. Además se debe recalcar que hay muchísimas formas de hacerlo, estas son mis preferencias. 

Opción 

♥︎ se debe considerar que carajos se va a usar porque el círculo debe ir alrededor de estos elementos, también revisa que tengas todo porque es insoportable tener que estar yendo y viniendo además de que te tomara un resto de tiempo innecesario. 

My lista de suplementos:

Mi celular para representar el elemento del fuego y que de paso sirva de brújula, una planta o una hoja para el elemento de la tierra, un vaso o botella de agua para el elemento de la tierra y por ultimo un ventilador o abanico (que se puede hacer fácil de papel) para el elemento del aire. 

♥︎Se limpia el espacio porque los lugares sucios nunca son divertidos.

♥︎Para crearlo visualizas energía a tu alrededor y trazas el circulo con dirección de las manijas del reloj tres veces para poder, concentración y protección y luego se llama a los cuatro elementos.

- Mira hacia el Norte y di: Invito al elemento de la Tierra a proteger y potenciar este círculo sagrado. " 

 - Luego mira hacia el Este y di "Invito al elemento Aire a proteger y potenciar este círculo sagrado". 

 - Mira hacia el Sur y di: Invito al elemento Fuego a proteger y potenciar este círculo sagrado. 

- Mira a Occidente y di: invito al elemento Agua a proteger y potenciar este círculo sagrado ”.

♥︎Si quieres tomate un tiempo para imaginar cómo se crea el circulo, cantale a las deidades que sigues (yo lo hago con Apolo) o invita entidades que quieres contigo durante el ritual. Esto se hace de igual manera que con los elementos, ejemplo: Invito a Apolo, dios de la poesía, a unirse a este círculo sagrado. 

♥︎Haz lo que sea que quieras hacer y ahora tenemos que cerrar el círculo. Esto se hace diciéndole hasta luego a las entidades que trajiste al circulo y trazando este en sentido contra reloj. 

Y así de fácil es, bueno espero que haya alguien hispano hablante en tumblr que aprecie esto y no sé, tengan cuidado, buena suerte también. 

[pointlessomensmermaid]

[snufkinwitchcraft]

✨casting a circle✨

learning how to cast a circle is one of the simplest and most useful things a witch can learn. it's used to hold the energy to a specific place for more efficiency, protection, and some witches do it every time they're about to cast a spell.

although it might seem difficult, it's really easy.

how to:

cleanse the area with incense or sage. spread the smoke in a circular motion.

push some salt with your wand/athame in cleansed water, and stir it with it.

with your fingers, sprinkle the water in a circular motion, just as you did with the smoke.

if you want to lay down crystals or other stuff, now it's the time to do it!

pick up your wand, and start by pointing east, and say:

“please, element of air, protect me while i'm working”

point south, and say:

“please, element of fire, protect me while i'm working”

point west, and say:

“please, element of water, protect me while I'm working”

point north, and say:

“please, element of earth, protect me while i'm working”

while facing east, point your wand to the sky, and say:

“please, element of spirit, protect me while i'm working”

after doing your work, it's time to close the circle. never leave a circle open, since it's a portal of energy!

close the circle by doing the same thing, but backwards.

point your wand west, and say:

“element of water, thanks for protecting me”

point south, and say:

“element of fire, thanks for protecting me”

point east, and say:

“element of air, thanks for protecting me”

point north, and say:

“element of earth, thanks for protecting me”

facing east, point your wand to the sky and while lowering to your knees, say:

“element of spirit, thanks for protecting me”

and that's it! you've successfully casted and closed a circle. i'm very proud of you. tomorrow, a post about beltane will be waiting for you! don't miss it. that's it! i love you all.

✨blessed be✨

 ―lumi🌙

[theenchantedwren]

Minute Magic

Busy, overwhelmed, on a tight budget? Use Minute Magic!

You've had a day! You're tired, frustrated, and more. You really need your sleep. Cast a circle around you in your bedroom before closing your eyes. I usually say, "By the corners of this space, I set my circle in this place. North, East, South, and West, circle protect me as I rest. Circle protect me as I sleep. Circle protect me, so let it be." I sit in the middle of my bed, point to each direction as I say them, and circle my finger around with each line, ending back at North. Then, I lay down and list off every blessing I can think of as I drift off to sleep...