Casting a Circle
The why, the how, and the importance of circling casting in magic
What is Circle casting?
When people talk about casting a circle, they are most often talking about casting a circle of protection. This is something to help keep you protected when you are in your most vulnerable state, for instance during a particularly taxing ritual or spell. I often describe this as a dome of protection, as large as you need it, to keep you safe. It can also work as a way to contain your own magic, to make sure your energy and magic can be focused on the thing you need it to focus on.
How to cast a circle:
There are plenty of ways to cast a circle, but this is the way I have always done it
Make sure you cleanse yourself and your space. Just think, if you are about to but a dome of protection over you, where your energy can’t get out, and bad energy can’t get in, you want to make sure the energy of the space is right before you start.
Draw a line. This can be mentally or physically, but draw a line around the space you want to protect. This could be directly around your altar, around the room you are in, or around your whole house. When drawing your line, do some clockwise to attract the energy of protection.
Speak your intention clearly. When casting your circle, make sure you are clear with what you are protecting from. Are you protecting from all outside energy, or simply negative energy? Are you protecting from fairfolk coming into your circle? Make sure you are thorough with your intention.
If working with a deity, call upon them. This is an optional step, but for the same reason you would want to be thorough with who you don’t want around, you also want to be thorough about who you do want around. If you are doing some rituals or spells, you may find you want to call upon certain deities or spirit guides, but that is wholly up to you.
Now, go on with what you were doing. That would be rituals, spells, or well… Living your life. There are many people who simply put up protection circles on their home so they have protection in their home at all times, others only put up circles when they are working on rituals they feel need it (Some believe that having a circle up all the time can be draining for your spiritual health, or can effect some divination readings, since energies aren’t supposed to be able to come into your circle)
When you are ready, make sure you close your circle. Thank those that helped you in your work, and thank those who respected your circle. When closing your circle, go backwards from the direction you cast, so in our case that is counterclockwise. Make sure to bless those who helped you with their travels.
Why do we cast circles?
A circle is a psychic or physical representation of protection, which is very important when opening yourself up during spells. When we are doing rituals or spells or meditations, it opens us up to receiving energy, but we can’t always control what energy is coming our way, that circle is there to only let through the energy you want to interact with during your work. Now, not all spells or rituals needs a circle cast, but it never hurts to do one if it feels right. This is just an option for you to keep you feeling safe and comfortable, especially when you don’t want to be worried about such things.
This is surely not the only way to cast a circle, and depending on your craft, who you commune with in the spirit world, etc, you may find other ways to cast a circle work better for you, but this is again a suggestion and starting off point for you to be able to find your own footing.
