Circle

A circle has no beginning or end, and is used by witches as the primary form of enclosing a space.

So why should we want to enclose a space?

To keep something in, and to keep some things out is the simple answer to this, but it also marks a larger defined amount of personal or combined group space to work within.

You have around you personal space, the size of which will depend upon your culture and where you live. You are generally less comfortable, if someone you do not know and respect well, gets within your space.

Take a person from Texas in the USA, when they meet you they stand approaching two arm lengths or even more from you and stretch out their arm to shake hands with you at a great distance, possibly even having to lean in to achieve it, while a person from any of the major cities for example London, will approach you with their elbow clamped to their side to shake hands close up. Some continentals will come even closer kissing you on both cheeks.

Later you will discover about auras, that occupy some of the space around us, but for now lets just consider it our own personal space.

Just about all churches of all type have a boundary and within it consecrated space. historically you may also think of stone circles, and castle and walled towns.

When as a solitary witch or a coven we want to perform some act of worship or magic, it is normal to do so within our own space. as we do not in most cases have a permanent structure such as a church, or stone circle, we create this space when we need it and close it down when we don't.

The physical circle

We create this physical space by drawing or marking a circle, and then consecrating or clearing it in some way.

Some traditions have a standard sized circle but most have a convenient size for working or to hold the number of people.

A circle can just be drawn in the air with a hand or a tools such as a sword, wand or ceremonial knife. It can also be marked by dropping something like salt, or marked out with a rope.

On of my favorite way is to use sash cord, you can get from builders merchants, it used to be used in the older sash windows that slid up and down with counter balancing weights. It is heavy enough to stay where it is put and does not get tangled too much, and is neither heavy or take up to much space when not required. If you search around you will still find some suppliers who stock it with the various lengths all still hitched together meaning you can get a very long length if you want.

Indoors you could use a ball or string, twine or wool, but outside something heavier is required or it will blow away. For many years the water witches have used sash cord, as explained above.

Today many Water Witches now use power extension leads as the plug when put in the socket at the other end they form a complete electrical contact around the full circle. Larger circles can be made using extension cable reels or by joining several extension leads together. The wire circles being a little like older iron circles that some traditional's made from old horse shoes, are also thought to have superior properties and make a more definite edge to the circle. There are a lot of theories as to why this is, most connected with magnetic effects and radio waves. Some stone circles appear to create a detectable magnetic or electrical field and many have stones containing iron.

Interestingly we know that in ancient times, sites were chosen on lay lines, and stones and earth works or large scale landscaping was done to control the effects of the energy within the ley lines, as well as round storage rooms underground that were stone lined to store it. The nearest energy we understand and can measure on ley lines is magnetic variations. Most churches, healing wells etc are placed over older places of worship and are therefore sitting on ley lines.

Having created by some means a circle, next we have to clear or sanctify it. This traditionally was done by brushing with a twig broom, with the broom always going in one direction. Some traditions sprinkle salt lightly over the space, or water that was made special in a previous session. Many Religions have a form of consecrated or holly water that is used to purify space or people.

When working outside or with a formal circle we put water to the west, or sunset position, air to the east or sunrise, fire to the south (or north) and earth or stone to the remaining point on the circle. These are known as the elements and we already mentioned them briefly before, and they will become important as you move further into the craft.

Initially I would suggest that you have a defined boundary to the circle that you can see, although later if you wish you will find you will be able to sense the edge of the circle. If you cant see it initially you will find that you are either very restricted in your movement or worrying about where the edge of the circle is, rather than what you should be thinking about.

When using candles great care has to be taken, so that they cannot fall over or catch anything else on fire. I use largish stainless steal serving dishes to put each of my element containers in, so that any spillages or candles falling over is never a problem. Some covens use metal caldrons or large plastic caldrons with metal containers inside.

The emotional or visualized circle

When a witch creates a circle with her hand only, or having created physical circle to convert the physical circle to a magic circle, we need to use energy from our own body.

The first stage is to prepare ourselves by relaxing and thinking just about the circle we are going to create. Allowing all the rest of the world to drift away.

We then move to the starting point at the northern point on the circle, putting out the hand we write with, using either the index finger or palm, and walking the circle in a clockwise direction, and both saying something and most importantly visualizing an actual boundary appearing. different people choose different boundaries, I usually choose a bright green box hedge about 18 inches high, while another person I know visualizes a 8ft high solid stone wall. Visualization is something you will get to understand better over time.

Some traditions go around the circle three times, instead of the visualization.

So what is it we say,

Here we get considerable differences between traditions, however they all basically say that we are declaring this our sacred space, and bind and purify the space. Some traditions have quite flowery or poetic language, while some call upon elements and all sorts of powers to enforce the circle.

Just about all traditions refer to the elements by name, their compass position, and the circle being a place of perfect love and trust. You command or demand that the circle be formed, and that all forces against your objectives should stay outside.

Most traditions will eventually go to a point on the circle and bang the ground and say something like "as above, so below the circle is sealed". This in effect converts the circle from a single line to a ball shaped force field sitting half in the ground.

Its not what you say exactly that is important, but your absolute desire to create the space and to declare it as your space.

Leaving the circle temporarily.

If you or another member wishes to leave or enter the circle, you should do so by creating a temporary opening and closing it behind you. In most traditions this involves either sweeping away a part of the circle line and rejoining it, or visualizing a curtain set that is separated, and pulled back after. Similarly in my case I can visualize the hedge being separated slightly to allow someone to enter or leave. For me it would be more difficult to visualize holes in stone walls.

Many traditions welcome people to the circle with some form of purifying step such as sprinkling with water, together with a verbal greeting.

Now the circle is exists.

Its your space, nothing will leave or enter without your invitation. It is now up to you to decide what to invite into your circle, and what energy to draw and direct.

So who can we invite along to our little party in the circle?

Again traditions vary, those having some background from the north American Indians will invite spirits of animals like the bear, eagle, wolf, lion, salmon etc. Some with links to Celtic regions will have a long list of Celtic entities, those with a history connected with Greece, roman or Egyptian history will have their own lists. Most traditions will include the spirits of the four elements and the directions.

Now these are not all separate gods or beings, but many are faces, or aspects of the the single god. Some, perhaps mostly Wiccans, refer simply to this whole lot collectively as the lord and lady, and this could include all the very many faces. However you would not normally invite this as such to normal workings, only to a grand rite or a very special coven meet, which we will cover much later.

You will see that while you can command the formation of a circle you can only invite entities to join you. The entities have the choice as to if they do or not. So thinking towards the future, we invite only those entities that we feel are relevant or will be interested in our projects, as to invite them and this to prove not the case, they may not come another time. Should this occur them perhaps our magic may not be as powerful as we had hoped.

Before you say this all seems a bit far fetched, you will find that some of us have a far higher success rate than others, and you will feel the difference within the circle when some specific witches are with you, and when they offer specific invitations you will be able to feel the change that occurs. You will also find that often the more experienced the witch, the more they treat the spirits that they invite as honored guests.

The spirits you have invited in effect if co-operative to your venture become a part of your coven, can on occasions become visible to you, and talk with you. Any power raising you do will include their help and it may be that you might involver them in the delivery of spells. They will never enter your body without an invitation, but some times within rituals they may be invited to, which is a very pleasant experience.

Some groups, for example the Fire Angels and Fryske, make demons or entities appear to their own designs, but these never harm anyone, and are used as a means of delivering spells usually.

Now this may all start to sound a bit frightening, it is not in practice, and like most things the more you get used to it the more 'normal; it appears. For most of you starting out, you will just sense a small change when you create the space and entities are with you, and that is all.

Ending the session

The end is the reverse of the opening, thank any entities that have been with you and either offer them the option to depart, or to stay depending on what is to happen next, and then dissolve the circle.

To dissolve the circle you walk the opposite way around, visualizing the return to normal and saying something like, "let this secret space be closed until such time as I command it come forth again". In effect what you are doing is collecting back up the energy you laid down and you will be able to use it again.

If you had any marker then you can collect it up.

Working within the circle

Once you have a circle, life for the magician or witch is simpler, whatever you are doing stays within the circle unless you let it out and all negative energies or powers are kept outside.

Later you will find out more of the detail as to rituals and if a Wiccan calling down the moon and much more, and at this time we will be using the circle as a container and we will talk then about a cone of power. This is energy that we build up, some from ourselves and some from other sources that we are going to use to power our spells. Independent people from respected magazines have photographed this energy coming out of the top of a coven within a circle.

Who can create a circle

All witches are priests or priestesses, so any witch can.

Where traditions vary is in their belief as to when you will be able to create a circle. Many say that you have to be consecrated as a witch first, even if only self consecrated, however the question then arises how do you get a circle to get consecrated in, and if it is not within a circle, then is it not just a statement or oath.

A small number of traditions feel that circles should/can only be cast by formally enrolled witches.

So where do I stand.

I believe that anyone can create a circle, but the circles you create are more reliable, stronger and more easily detectable, as you gain experience and skills in magical working. I can tell the difference in a circle I am in that is cast by different people.

Preparation

You are effectively going to your church, you should be and feel clean. If possible take a shower before and have clean clothes on, which carry no traffic or smoking pollution. You don't need to be dressed up, but comfortable, warm enough but not too hot.

Some covens perform skyclad, that means without any clothes on and I will cover this when we also will be looking at robes, however to start with unless you are a member of one of these traditions, you will feel far more comfortable in loose clothing.

Practical

You will need, a length of something, wool, string, extension lead, several containers, one containing water, one a candle that you can light, one containing something to represent earth, perhaps a stone, and one to contain something to represent air, often a feather. If you cannot find these there is an alternative, to use four candles, for now any 4 candles will do, but later you will find you are looking at candles in a lot more detail.

You also need a piece of paper and a pencil or pen and to think about exactly what it is you want to say when you create the circle, and any entities you want to invite and what you want to say to them.

You also need a cushion, pillow, stool or chair you can sit on.

You need to choose a quiet place and time when you will not be disturbed, to be dressed in something comfortable, and warm enough in.

When everything is right,

Put down your circle marker, and put whatever you are to sit on in the center. Put your four element markers around, the exact compass directions is not that important at this time, but as a guide the top of maps are to the North so if you have seen a map or town plan including the property you are in this may help. Other wise use the concept that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west and is about south around mid day.

Make sure that any candles you are using cannot catch anything on fire or fall over and cause damage before you light them.

Sit in it and just relax, try not to think about anything specific, although I accept that this will be the most difficult part.

When you feel ready, go to the northern point and invoke the circle as we have described above.

If you invite any entities, you need to tell them why they have been invited. To see your first circle and to help you to create in future even stronger circles would be a reasonable reason for the first time.

Go back to the center of your circle, sit and relax and see if you can now sense the difference, is it more relaxed, feel more secure, and possibly you may feel a bit warmer. Don't expect too much from the first experience.

Write it up in your book of shadows.

What if it don't work.

In 90% or more cases you will have been able to sense the difference. If not then you can try again, and if you still have a problem, don't worry about it, but work out when there is a full moon and try again on the night of the full moon, or a couple of days after, having taken a shower immediately before the session.

We should be now down to only around 1 in a hundred, or five hundred or something, who has a problem. Ultimately everyone can create a circle and sense the difference. Some just need to relax a little more or become more sensitive by allowing themselves to sit quietly a little longer first.