#casting a circle

[harvestmoss]

Magic Circles and Sacred Geometry

Where do they come from? Why have we associated the circle with protective qualities? I decided to dive into this topic and research a bit about it. Here are my findings.

The use of Magic circles goes back at least as far as the PGM materials (~100 BCE to 400 CE). The creation of a circle was probably taken for granted and covered by phrases such as “do the usual”. However, we have a depiction of a magic circle  in the PGM, the ouroboros, which is depicted as a creature/snake eating its own tail, forming a circle that encapsulates a spell written within the circle of the creature. The ouroboros is also featured in later grimoires such as the 18th century Clavis Inferni.

According to Stephen Skinner (Author, lecturer, and publisher of books on Solomonic and Graeco-Egyptian magic; Classical feng shui), the study of sacred geometry has its roots in the study of nature, and the mathematical principles at work therein. Many forms observed in nature can be related to geometry; for example, the chambered nautilus grows at a constant rate and so its shell forms a logarithmic spiral to accommodate that growth without changing shape. Also, honeybees construct hexagonal cells to hold their honey. These and other correspondences are sometimes interpreted in terms of sacred geometry and considered to be further proof of the natural significance of geometric forms.

Many of the shapes are regarded as “perfect” because they demonstrate precise mathematical harmony. They may display exact symmetry, align with Fibonacci progressions, or correspond to the golden ratio. With the golden ratio specifically, it is widely viewed in both scientific and spiritual contexts as a fundamental pattern underlying the development of life in nature. Because of this, the term “sacred” often carries a dual significance: the mathematics itself is seen as sacred due to its precision and “perfectionism”, and the fact that these patterns appear to generate or reflect the structure of life.

The circle and the sphere are among the most universally recognized forms in sacred geometry. They appear across religions, societies, and cultures, consistently symbolizing totality, cyclical patterns, and possibility. This shape is constantly present in our environment. We encounter circles and spheres in the moon, in the fruit we eat, and even in the basic structural form of atoms themselves, which serve as the foundational units of all matter and life. The circle is also present in the seed of life, fruit of life, and flower of life, etc, as these symbols are made up of circles.

Two distinct but perhaps interrelated aspects of circles seem to be emerging. First, they may be used to create a sacred space (being that the circle is a sacred geometric shape). Circles thus appear prominently in rituals for keeping away demonic and other malevolent forces. An account recorded on Crete explicitly draws this connection: 

“Demons fear the circle.” - (Phrangaki 1949: 43).

 The theme of instituting a sacred boundary is replicated, for example, when ordinary houses are built: The prayers call for the stability of the structure, as well as for the protection of its occupants 

“From all harm and evil influence; from being overcome by night-time fear; from arrows shot by day; from the thing which moves in the night; and from the midday demon.” - (Evkhologion to Mega 1980: 494).

Secondly, where it does not serve an apotropaic purpose (meaning “to ward off”, a type of protective magic), but instead a symbol of eternity (that it has no angles, corners, or ends, the circle is a continuous shape with no beginning or end), like the symbol of the wedding ring being the most prominent one. Or movement to the right (clockwise), which forms an auspiciousness. During the funeral vigil, nothing may be passed over the body, only around it. Should somebody, or something, pass directly over the body, this disrupts the journey of the soul on its path towards heaven and the deceased may turn into a vampire. 

“It appears that the principle of on-going right-handed movement… ensures not only the health of the living community but also the safe passage of the soul into the other world” - (ibid.: 236).

The action of circling figures frequently and prominently in Greek ritual precisely because it is both an image of the proper flow of life and a means of protecting human welfare, and this is what rituals promote. To be centered in a circle, brings one closer to the divine, the divine who created these sacred geometric shapes.

Hope you enjoyed the read, it's good to know why we do certain rituals in witchcraft, and to be informed on a slightly deeper level why these elements are apart of witchcraft!

[cosmos-within]

Casting A Circle

Cleanse the area:

- Sweep the area clear of debris and energy

- Cleanse tools and items you will be using

Create circle with items:

- Use sticks, rocks, salt, rope, twigs, flowers, a circle rug, or visualize a circle

- Place any items inside the circle you need

- Walk around the circle 3x starting from E towards the S and ending at E to seal the circle (visualize circle being sealed)

I have decided to do this since the sun and moon rise in the east and set towards the west. I also place my mini altar facing east when I cast a spell that needs a circle.

Enter the circle

- Light the candles or set up anything you need for the spell with intention

If you say things for the directions (N,S, E, W), Elements, or dieties, you can do that now.

Call for protection:

Cosmos, Universe thank you for granting me the energy to use for this circle.

Thank you for the energy to manifest my intentions.

I ask you to charge this circle with positive energy

I ask you to protect this circle from negative energy

Cosmos, Universe thank you for granting me the energy to use for this circle.

*You can use whatever words you use personally.*

Perform action/ritual

Close Circle

- Thank the universe

- Ground yourself

- Dissipate energy/give back energy

- Deconstruct circle (visualize shield coming down)

Clean up

This is how I have done it, but I believe other people have slight variations on how they cast a circle.

[brattysammy]

As we enter Scorpio season and begin to look more inwards, I thought I’d share how I like to cast my circles 🕯️🌖

I begin with west: I call upon the element of water🜄, as I take a sip of my tea, activating my sense of taste.

I follow with south: I call upon the element of fire🜂, as a light my candle, activating my sense of sight.

I continue with east: I call upon the element of air🜁, as I burn some herbs and stone pine, activating my sense of smell.

I finish with north: I call upon the element of earth🜃, as I ground myself holding a rock in my hand, activating my sense of touch.

Lastly, I call upon spirit ◯ (प्राण), as I hum the mantra Oṃ ॐ, activating my sense of hearing, and filling the space with vibrations from within me.

A circle has been cast ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖦹°‧⋆˖⁺‧☽◯☾‧⁺˖⋆

[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.

[starwitch777]

Cleansing Space and Circle Casting

A ritual to cleanse your space of all negative energy and create a sacred circle of protection before spell casting, performing rituals or communicating with spirits. You can cleanse your space just before casting the circle both in the same ritual. It’s efficient and easy and you know the space and energy within your sacred circle is cleansed and fizzing with magic. Think of this as a bubble of protection you put around yourself before you go on to do further magic making, you wouldn’t want to “trap” negative energy inside it. This ritual is compatible with any other rituals, spells, and spreads and is easy to customize to many deities/pantheons/belief systems that you may work with.

Materials:

Your favorite incense stick

Black candle

Matches/lighter

The Ritual:

Light your candle and then use this to burn your incense stick with your non-dominant hand.

Take your incense and follow the diagram to create the sign of the pentagram lightly over your body.

Start at your forehead and glide down to your left hip as you say “Earth,” imagine the smell of rich soil grounding you.

Come back up to your right shoulder as you pronounce the first syllable of water “wa—” imagine the feeling of water cleansing your skin.

Pop on over to your left shoulder on the second syllable of water “—ter.”

Down to your right hip as you say “fire” imagine a powerful warmth filling and energizing you from your heart space

Then sweep back up to your forehead to complete the five-pointed star as you say “air” and imagine a gust of wind sweeping into you, clearing your mind.

Lastly sweep a big circle anti-clockwise, completing the pentagram as you say, “Energy of the Ether” (you can customize this to any word choice to better serve your belief system).

Come down to your heart as you start to draw the left half of an infinity symbol on its side and say “protect me.”

Draw the right half of the infinity symbol as you say, “for an infinity.”

Now walk around your space (a 7 ft circle is the tradition, but if you’re in a small space you can just turn around on the spot) clockwise drawing it with your incense as you say “cleanse and make sacred this space for my magical workings. Banish all negative energy and allow only positive energies through this circle to aid.”

You are done!

[bookishblogging]

🌻 Sigils 101 🌻

Your friendly neighborhood witch is BACK with another rendition of beginner witch tips! This blog is beginning to turn into a digital book of shadows lmao 😅 I am starting to become obsessed with this little witch tip series and even if the posts get little to no attention I am refreshing my knowledge in the process so it’s a win win :)) 

What Are Sigils?!

Sigils are often described as a tool to help you in your craft, they can protect your or your space, be used in a spell to amplify your intention, and are a form of manifesting! Sigils are a form of symbolism that’s functional, this is where a lot of practitioners would say the mundane meets the magickal. 

How To Make A Sigil

There are multiple ways to create a sigil, and you can even create your own! I am gonna outline a few different ways that you could go about it, but feel free to take some creative liberty here

Write down your intention

 These should be in present tense (”I am..” “I will..) 

After you have written down your intention, cross out all vowels and repeating letters

Create a symbol (here’s where you have some variation in what you can do) 

You can create a symbol out of the letters you have remaining

OR you can number the letters and use a grid to create your symbol 

Here is an example of both of the methods I just talked about: 

I apologize for my messy handwriting </3

I personally prefer the second method just because the sigil is usually easier to recreate. Note that you don’t ever wanna post your completed sigils online because someone could easily take it and use it against you! NOTE: Don’t use sigils created by other people! You don’t know the true intention behind them, and if you use a random sigil you found online, that could end up biting you in the ass!

Charging/Activating A Sigil

So you’ve created your sigil...now what?

You can use this on a spell candle, a deity candle, a spell jar, outline your door with the sigil, whatever you want! Personally I like to create sigils with the intent to protect my house and then I write them in cleaner on the floor/mirror/etc and by mopping it up, I am breaking the sigil, in turn letting all the intention out into the universe. 

You can charge and activate a sigil in a multitude of ways, here is a list of ways to do so

Sigil magick is very simple and EASY to do! 

A big point many practitioners will harp on is that you need to forget the meaning of your sigil for it to actually work. While I do believe this is true, it’s not as hard as it sounds. You just need to forget the ORIGINAL meaning/phrase you have associated with your sigil. Like I created a sigil for good grades and when I put it on my assignments, I know it’s for good grades, but I forgot my original sentence I wrote when creating it. 

CITATIONS/SOURCES/OTHER RESOURCES 

Remember it’s always important to cross reference your information, for this post I used multiple sources I knew have been vetted by much more experienced witches than I am- but still! You need to make sure what you’re reading is credible

Charging/Activating Sigils

Practical Magick- Sigils

Sigil Magick: How To Create Symbols That Manifest Your Destiny 

Simple Spells: A Guide to Creating Your Own Sigils

Bookishblogging’s Warding Post

[dreamweaverai]

The Summoning

Beneath the moon's veiled gaze, a coven of sorceresses weaves their incantations. Their white cloaks flutter like ghostly wings, and Circe, born from smoke and starlight, dances at the threshold of realms—where magic ignites and mortal boundaries dissolve. 🌙✨

[hecatedeipnon]

⭕️ Casting a circle

is a common practice in many forms of modern witchcraft and is often done as a way to create sacred space for rituals and spells. It is a way of creating a protective barrier around the area in which you will be working and can help to focus your energy and intention!

Here’s how:

📍 Choose a location: Find a location that is quiet, private, and free from distractions. You may also want to consider the energy of the location and whether it feels supportive and calming to you.

🗡Gather your supplies: You will need a few supplies to cast a circle, including a tool for marking the perimeter (such as a wand, athame, or staff), a candle, and incense. You may also want to have other altar tools or altar items with you, such as crystals, herbs, or a chalice of water.

🌍 Ground and center: Before you begin the process of casting a circle, it is important to ground and center yourself. This helps to connect you to the earth and to your own inner wisdom, and can help you to focus your energy and intention. This will also prevent you from depleting your energy since you will be pulling from the earth rather than just yourself. To ground and center, take a few deep breaths and focus on your breath. Imagine roots growing from the soles of your feet, down into the earth.

🔔Cleanse the space: Before you start to cast the circle, you may want to cleanse the space of any negative energies or distractions. You can do this by smudging with sage, using a bell or chime, or sprinkling salt or water.

⭕️ Mark the perimeter: Once the space is cleansed, it is time to mark the perimeter of the circle. You can do this by walking around the space, using your tool to draw an invisible line in the air. As you walk, you can recite a simple statement, such as "I consecrate this space and cast this circle to hold the energy of this ritual."

🕯 Light the candle and incense: After marking the perimeter, light the candle and incense and place them at opposite points of the circle. The candle represents the element of fire, while the incense represents the element of air.

🔥 🌍 🌊 💨 Invoke the elements: The next step is to invoke the elements, which are the four natural forces that make up the physical world: earth, air, fire, and water. To invoke the elements, you can recite a simple statement or prayer, or use an element altar tool (such as a pentacle for earth, a wand for air, a candle for fire, or a chalice for water).

📞 Invoke any deities or spirits: If you are working with specific deities or spirits, you may want to invite them into the circle at this point. You can do this by calling upon them by name and asking them to join you in the circle.

🙆‍♀️Close the circle: When you are finished with your ritual or spell, it is important to close the circle. This helps to release any energy you have raised and to protect the space from outside influences. To close the circle, simply walk around the perimeter again and state your intention to close the circle. Extinguish the candle and incense, and thank any deities or spirits you may have invited into the circle.

Casting a circle is a simple but powerful way to create sacred space and to focus your energy and intention for spell work.