starwind123 
Keeper of the Sacred Arts
Posts: 153
(1/14/04 2:25 pm)
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Casting the circle
a lot of you have seen this posted elsewhere but for those who have not... some thoughts on the how to
The basics of casting a circle .... an introduction
The circle is any defined space ... in which you hold a rite...
The basic elements most often are
The quarters as they are called.. N, E, S, W...
or Earth, Air, Fire, Water...
These elelementals. .. represent a great many things...
for circle casting you invite the representatives of these elements to join you..for the rites power and your own protection
I use the Archangels most often myself... but there are many other ways...
The circle itself.. by tradition is 9 feet around.. but I have found that unless im outdoors I don't often have that much room to work with..so any defined space is fine
Cleansing
Both yourself ... the body by water and the spirit of negative vibes
A hot bath with herbs like Lavender or sage ... is cleansing to the body and sets the mind in the right frame .. soft lights ... a little meditation..
whatever soothes and helps you focus
Donning robes or special clothes further sets the mind in motion that you are moving out of the mundane ... but street clothes or none ..( skyclad ) works just as well .. find a way that you feel most comfortable in.....
Then assemble all the elements you plan to use
Things like
4 candles for the elements.. brown or green.. earth
white or gray.. air....red or orange.. fire.. blue or green water
A dish of salt .. a container of water.. a spring of a plant...a means to make fire..like incense sticks .. there's is all of them at once, but water.. in one place..
likewise.. clear crystal.. as they are made of water.. which becomes rock, which has trapped air and was made of fires pressure.. so it's all of them at once ..
there are many many possibilities... that you have some representative..is all that matters....to give the mind a focal point
The more of symbols you use, the easier it is to
work in the manner your need to work .. as it helps focus the mind
Now.. go barefoot if you can .. it works better.. and then
ground and center as its called..what this means.. to anchor yourself with the Earth..as its from the Earth one draws power for the rite.. ( and yes this works inside too.. as the building is sitting on the earth..but just feels better to draw it directly...
Focus on your energy ... feel it connect with the EArth
meditate on i t.. once you feel your.." grounded" then
Clean the space.. literally.. you intend to work. .. both mundane.. sweep it or vacuum.. then again... in a metaphysical sense...smuge it with herbs.. or take a
besom ( a broom like the kind people use to make wall hangings.. )and sweep without touching the ground... and sweep all negative vibes away chant while doing so.. or drop into a meditative state .. but focus on it...make it work for you
Then
Assemble your items in their respective areas...
let your intuition guide you on the placement of things .. there is no set formula Feng Shui .. the placement of things .. is a matter of what is right .. to you
You are cleansed.......the space is cleansed..
all the elements of color and symbol are ready..
Then the circle must be built.. you are building two things
One ... a barrier to keep the world out .. and Two .. what you raise in...!
The simplest way to do this .. is with salt... walking deosil.. follow your right hand as a clock moves...starting at whichever element calls to you..or is called for by the rite and slowly surround the space with tiny amounts of salt .. as you reach each elements space ... call on the warders of that element ...and invite them to join you and protect you...
When you reach the point you began .. Having made sure you have everything you need before you close it together.. and then .. complete the circle
If you must leave it after that .. you have to open and close the way behind you..like a door... or you break your own protections...
So now .. you have called the elements .. you have placed the circles boundaries.....Now the rite begins..
Invite the Gods to hear and witness...
Speak the words you came to say.. make the prayers you came to make...
The reason most rites tend to have a beat to them.. is they are
A: easier to remember and
B: you can get into the sing song feeling of them
which makes them more focused and therefore more powerful..
and C just to add its traditional to do so..
They don't rhyme just because all rite writers are poets.. 
But they don't HAVE to rhyme .. a heart full of passion and desire with honest intent is all you really need ... your will matters ... not the words you use ... you could stand there an speak gibberish .. as long as your intent in your heart is clear.. as that is what speaks .. we speak with our mouths to make it easier for us... the Gods read the souls intent
Breathe in and pull the power from the Earth itself... as you breath out to speak the words .. expel that power charged with your intentions..feel the words as tangible things..
Breathe.. focus .. release the will over and over with each phase you speak...If you are working with a group .. most often one person.. is the focus and they release it out to effect changes ... normally the high preist/ess ... like a channel you send this power to them and they in turn gather it from all and send it out much larger and stronger than any one person could do alone...
This is the " cone of power" that I'm sure you have heard of
Once your aim is done ... the rites said .. your prayers made Then its time to take down what you have built...
Thank The Gods for their time and their help....
Walking widdershins now .. follow your left hand ... reverse what you did to set it up... sweep the salt away .. stop at each element and thank its representative for their protection and attendance.....
When you reach the last ... then ground out yourself..
you do this by focusing and letting the power fill you one last time.....and then let it return from whence it came ... and your rite is done....
The very last thing to do .. is eat something as the taking in of food..completes the grounding process back to normal time and place..
There are many many variations on this..
but this is the basics for almost all rites for many pagan paths..
May it serve you well
Blessings on your coming
Blessings on your going
Blessings on all your house |
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