Circle Casting

A popular American movie,The Craft, featured a ritual they called invoking the spirit as one of the climactic and most powerful things a witch could do. In Wicca we don't "invoke the spirit" we cast a circle and call the corners. The ritual showcased in the movie however, is almost identical to the one shown on film.

The movie got me wondering why the ritual was showcased as so powerful and symbolic, and as I got to thinking I realized why. The circle is a strong representation of female energy, or the goddess, It was once also thought to be the rudimentary shape of our universe. So to ancient people creating a circle was to create a world within a world. In modern witchcraft, we use the circle in basically everything. It is a symbol of equality, partnership, and the inherent belief that all men are equal.

Creating a circle is a natural and simple process that comes quite easily to people it is just like pretending. A circle is a safe haven and a place of protection so we never leave its bounds during ritual. In Wicca, the circle is used in ritual to keep out negative energy, as well as a conduit to direct energy into the universe.

You may simply use your hand, and some salt, other people like to use nothing but their minds, and still others like to decorate the bounds of a circle with objects related to ritual. I like to use rose petals.

Stand at the northern most point where you would like your circle to begin and draw the boundaries of it by either laying down an object or imagining a purple flame leaving your fingertips walk clockwise around the circle three times allowing the energy to form a protective sphere around the area where you would like to perform your ritual. You are now on sacred ground do not leave your circle until you have taken it down!

Invoking the Watchtowers

Invoking the Watchtowers can be simple a simple process of inviting energy or it can take hours making sure you perform the proper hand gestures and light the right incenses. Either way, the process is just as powerful. The guardians of the watchtowers are nature spirits that guard the four cardinal directions of the earth. They are powerful sources of energy in rituals and I suggest summoning them every time you face a difficult task.

Elements

The ancient Greek philosophers believed that the entire universe could be broken down into the four basic elements of earth, air fire and water. A fifth element which represented deity is called by many names. For this lesson's the element's name will be Akasha.

Now we all know that scientifically the elements don't make up everything, the table of elements does. But we use these four things as representatives of everything and they have their own personal correspondent situations.

In order to create your own world you must invoke the other building blocks, which is why we Invoke the Elements after we cast the circle.

There are as many ways to invoke the elements, and most witches prefer to command them into place with words. I prefer to get my proverbial hands dirty so to speak and invite the elements with visualization.

After casting the circle stand in the northern corner and imagine that you plunge your hand into soil feeling the earthy loam and bringing its presence into you. Then say Earth as loud as possible.

Walk clockwise to the eastern corner of the circle, and breathe in as deeply as possible. Imagine your body is turning into the beautiful essence of air, light and free. Then say air as soft as possible.

Walk to the southern tip of the corner and clench your muscles imagining that your entire body is burning in a huge flame, protecting you, warming you, and lighting the area. Then shout with as much passion as possible fire.

Walk to the western corner of the circle and imagine that your body is softening into the smooth waves of the ocean carrying you peacefully, imagine that the essence of water is surrounding you. Then let the word water flow from your tongue slowly.

As you move to the center of the circle imagine that the energies of the elements surround you creating a surge of energy bursting forth from your body creating life to your intention, beautiful, and strong imagine that a purple flame is engulfing the circle and scream as loud as you can in your mind akasha.

Note when I want to use a specific god or Goddess in a ritual I use their name in place of akasha.

Your circle is cast you are ready to perform a ritual.