how do i cast a magick circle?

Question

im wiccan acalyte but learning from books and the internet but want a few opinions on how to do things before i do them

if all your going to do is take the p**s out of my belifes go bully someone else and try getting a life !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

also i have been studying wicca for 5 years and i know a lot of wiccans that are very close to me (thats all the details i can give on that one but a clever person will work it out ) but i just dont like to do stuff i see in a book in case it isnt safe im reading a book by silver ravenwolf at the moment that seems ok but i want more advice first (Play it safe if u know what i mean lol)

Answer 1

A few things to point out first of all which I hope you will take in the nature in which they are intended – to educate you.

First of all Wicca is a priesthood within it's own right, it has very specific beliefs, practices, doctrines and gods that make up what Wicca is, along with mysteries that are the basis of Wicca.
Wicca is oath-bound meaning that the inner-court teachings of Wicca, this includes the identities of the gods Wicca worship and the mysteries of Wicca, are only taught to those who have been initiated into a British Traditional Witchcraft coven, this means a coven that has direct lineage back to Gardner or linage running through the New Forest coven.
Without initiation into BTW you are not Wicca, you are only aware of the outer-court teachings of Wicca that are used as placeholders to educate people outside of Wicca of it's basic beliefs and practices.
For someone to claim they are Wicca when they are not it is disrespectful to Wicca as those who become part of the priesthood work very hard and put a lot of dedication and training into earning their title, it is also disrespectful in that it is misrepresenting yourself and thus spreading misinformation about who and what Wicca are.

Secondly it is spelled 'Magic' the 'K' was added by Aleister Crowley because of the mystical significance of the numbers 6, it is relating to numerology and ceremonial magic, if you are not aware of these things there is no reason for you to use this spelling.
It is 'I am Wicca', someone who is part of Wicca are 'of the Wicca', the word 'Wiccan' means something belonging to that of Wicca such as a 'Wiccan book' or 'Wiccan ritual'.

Thirdly Silver Ravenwolf is not at all a good resource on Wicca, in fact that is an understatement, what she writes about is not Wicca but a bastardisation set to make money from people like yourself. Ravenwolf not only claims what she writes about is Wicca when it is not she gets even the most very basic of information wrong, she encourages use of magic for things magic is not suitable for, believes mechanical magic works when of course it does not, and she is very anti-Christian.
Wicca gained a lot of attention, as such many authors came about to cash-in on the fad, rather than writing about Wicca where they would have to point out to people that Wicca is very formal and requires a lot of dedication to studying alone let alone becoming Wicca themselves these writers would instead claim you can be Wicca by casting spells and believing in a goddess and a god, which is not the case.
People interested in Wicca for the most part are interested because of the fad value, they are not interested in studying Wicca seriously and are not educated enough to know that books by the likes of Ravenwolf, Horne, Buckland and Cunningham are not accurate on information on Wicca, many also then refuse to study further because they feel more comfortable sticking with such writers who tell them they can be Wicca rather than study reliable sources that point out to them that they are in fact not Wicca but Neo-wicca (a spiritual path based on the outer-court teachings of Wicca).
Given your spelling, your choice in books and the fact you are asking how to cast a circle that you are more defiantly not Wicca. You also need to start studying Wicca seriously, there is no way that someone could be studying Wicca for five years and still not realise how unreliable the likes of Ravenwolf is or what Wicca actually is – if you want reliable information or have any questions feel free to send me a message and I will try to help you out if you would like, I used to help my old coven teach Wicca, own a large Wicca community online and used to co-run the largest Wicca organisation in the UK so I am well-informed.


As for the question itself…


Casting a circle depends on the use of the circle, it also differs from witch to witch and from tradition to tradition, for example someone who is Wicca will not cast a magical circle in the same way a Christian witch would cast a circle. I would highly recommend you study more before trying to use magic, magic will not work for you I can guarantee, it only comes after decades of study and practice – yes practice is good but it is worthless without the knowledge to back it up, it would be like going to football practice without knowing the rules of the game.

The basic method tends to be thus;

1) Prep the space making sure you have all you need.
2) Prepare yourself both in terms of making sure you are in the right frame or mind, cleansed and ready, also in terms of getting your robes or tools assembled.
3) Cleanse the space of any psychic/emotional energies.
4) Scribe the circle, i.e. cast the circle, to create sacred space, for protection from curious entities, and to help focus whatever you are doing.
5) Bless the circle with saltwater and incense. This is generally done to put good energy back in after you do the banishing.
6) Call the quarters - invite the energies of each element, and that appropriate guardains to be present. Depends on how you have learned or been taught, etc.
7) Call Lord and Lady or your own deities.
8)
9) Feast.
10) Thank and ask those entities invited to depart. In order, deities, and then quarters.
11) Take down the circle.

The above is a very basic construct of a typical Neo-wicca circle – no details because unless I know what you are in terms of beliefs, what you know, what you are wanting to know, what tradition you follow and so on it is impossible to say what to do, this is something you have to learn yourself, this is the very basics of Wicca you should already be aware of if you have been studying for so long.

Answer 2

The "circle" merely represents a "walling off" of personal space; creating a place where you leave the mundane world behind and can concentrate on your prayers and/or invocations.

It is also intended as a spiritual safeguard; an imaginary fortress that will allow positive forces in while protecting you--in deep and thus vulnerable meditation--from forces more dark in nature.

You may cast a circle using chalk (if the surface permits), or a rope or braid of the sort you can buy from a crafts or sewing store. There are specific dimensions for the circle, and depending on what Path you've chosen to follow, those dimensions should be clearly spelled on in the literature. Truth is, if you make it roomy enough to be comfortable, you'll be fine.

You can also "draw" the circle in an imaginary way; using the tip of a blade that has been used for nothing else (i.e. a new knife) that you have cleansed in salt water, simply "draw" the circle on the floor.

Should you use chalk, rope. braid or the blade, be sure you leave NO gaps in the circle. Close it fully. Here's a well written overview:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_circle_(Wicca)

The circle is all about you finding a space of your own, so don't sweat the details. Don't fret over the complex invocations of the angels of North, South, East and West, for example. That's a ritual warm-up more suited to High Magick than simple "Wiccan" practice.

~B

Answer 3

It will depend on the nature of your working, this goes without saying. The directions have different purposes, and so you'll want to use this to your benefit. Say that you are doing a working to bring friends into your life. You would start with East, for new beginnings, and cast your circle clockwise for positivity; I would not advise you do any workings until you have the understanding of the Rede, and the most important of these laws would be, 'and it harm NONE, do what ye will.' NONE includes yourself. The moment you use magick to harm, you are working darkness, and you need light to see! Remember the Threefold Law and you should be fine. What you do comes back to you times three, and should you work any negativity, you'll recieve it back times three, be assured. If you work only in the Light, then you will recieve only Light, even when it is guised as Dark. Everything that happens to you is something to learn from, and the bad things are really good if you see it from this perspective.
So to answer your question, I would advise you learn about the Elements and use them accordingly, they are of just as much use as the Lord and Lady, or any herbal mixture you can make. Sweep the area first, to clear the area's energies, then use incense to vibrationally 'cleanse' the area. You'll use the Tears of the Lady to give it the last boost of energy (water and earth combined), then you are ready to call in the elements, the Lord and Lady, and whomever else you think suits what working you are doing. I should also add, you should not just bring up circle to do workings. You bring up circle when you meditate, you bring up circle when you just want to feel close to our Divine Creator; for whatever reason suits you. Brightest Blessings, beginner. You can contact me if you'd like. I have been studying for 4 years and I took a Year and a Day class. I would like to help you on your path, Bright One. You really don't understand the scope of responsibility this belief system has to offer. I was helped, and now I seek to help. I am obligated to. I am an instrument of my Lord and Lady. You will be too. Are you ready for that?
Again, Brightest Blessings-In Love and Light, Melissa

Answer 4

The circle in Wicca is not properly called a "Magick Circle." There are a number of very important differences between the circle (or temple rite) in Wicca and a circle in Ceremonial Magick, and the two aren't usually compatible. As for how I feel: Reverent. It's about purifying the area in preparation for communion with the divine: nothing more and CERTAINLY nothing less.

Answer 5

I'm sorry, but a couple of things pinged me here, and make me wonder if you are actually serious and/or ready.

1) You've been studying Wicca for 5 years but don't know how to cast a circle?

2) You know a lot of Wiccans who are very close to you but you don't know how to cast a circle?

Answer 6

Before you take on anything as serious as casting a circle, you need to to some more reading. Two very good books are Wicca and Living Wicca, both by Scott Cunningham. I recommend both books because for the beginner, they are easy to understand and very straight forward.

Answer 7

There are tons of different ways, but I personally do it like this:
Sweep where the circle will be and say: Negative energy be gone!
Then use rocks to create a circle and put one on East, WEst, South, North. Then Open the circle by calling the elements in and offering something,(such as Candle(for fire)for South, water for west, incense East, etc...) then invoke the Gods/Goddesses/whatever else you want. That is how I do it.

Answer 8

I'm fascinated by numerology. I strongly believe that numbers reflect certain aptitudes and character tendencies, as an integral part of the cosmic plan. Each letter has a numeric value that provides a related cosmic vibration. The sum of the numbers in your birth date and the sum of value derived from the letters in the name provide an interrelation of vibrations. These numbers show a great deal about character, purpose in life, what motivates, and where talents may lie.

To find out more about your numerology you can head over to this site http://numerology.toptips.org and ask for your personalized report (for free)

Answer 9

Everything that I wanted to answer (and more!) is in Jadea's answer. It was excellent.

I would still like to agree that Ravenwolf is not a good source of information regarding Wicca. You may be interested in this site: http://www.ecauldron.com/opedtarnishedsilver.php

Answer 10

the main thing is that you know the precausions and why they are there. what you open you must be able to close. when casting a spell, make sure it doesn't come back x3. etc.
after that how you do it is up to you how you do it and what tools you use... there are no rules that it must be done in this particular way or with that particular tool, because it is all down to you and the power you have, and how you feel most comfortable accessing it.

Answer 11

Read more books before you actually try anything. Last time I checked Wiccans don't have acalytes.