A Post Script

I've seen a lot of debate over my previous post, both on here & on Facebook (where I also posted it). It wasn't me who was saying that how you cast a circle & where you place the elements is wrong. It was the author of the book I was reading. I agree with it, because it makes sense to me and it works for me when I changed the way I do things. I wasn't telling you that the way you do things is wrong. If you have a particular way of doing things, go with it.

I think Mike Nichols was just letting us know that when things were changed years ago (as Paganism grew more popular) to keep things secret, people forgot to change things back when they were teaching/mentoring newbies to the Craft. That would also include authors who still write methods that haven't been put back and they haven't clued in to it. It's like when I post spells/workings on here, I will deliberately leave something out or switch it up, as a means to protect the integrity of the spell/working. I think a lot of Pagans out there who post in cyberspace do that, 'cuz sometimes things don't make a lot of sense 'til I look at it again & realize that something has been omitted, or changed.

Also, for the record, I am not Wiccan. I have had people think that I am, but no, I do not subscribe to that particular path. I have too many issues with it & with Gardner & Sanders.

Creating A Faery Circle

Creating a Faery Ring

This is best done outdoors where Faeries can be found, whether under a tree, near water or in your garden. After you have set up your altar, you then create a faery ring. To do this, you tie a loop on each end of your 9 ft cord (that is if you have one, if not, use a 9ft length of string) Slip the point of your athame through the loop & stick it into the ground where the center of the Circle is to be. Put the index finger of your power hand through the loop opposite end of the cord & gently stretch it out. Holding the cord, walk deosil around in a circle, digging your heel to mark the outline of the circle. Then walk deosil around the circle, laying flowers or herbs on top of the circle outline. You now have created a Faery Ring.

Creating a Faery Magick Circle

The Faery Magick Circle protect you from harmful energies when doing magick. It acts as a vortex of light, bridging the mortal & faery worlds. Each time you do magick, you create the magick circle. First, sprinkle water from your cup deosil all around the inside of the Faery Ring to purify the area. Then hold your athame (or wand) in your power hand with the point outward, face in the direction of North of your Faery Ring & slowly spin in a deosil circle. As you do this, imagine a blue-white light shooting out of its tip. Trace a deosil circle of light with you athame over the Faery Ring you have created. You are basically drawing a double circle. Next, face the altar & say"

"I consecrate this Circle of power
To the generous & helpful Faeries
Of Earth, Air, Fire & Water.
May the bless this circle with thier presence.
So be it! Blessed Be!"

~"Faery Magick" by Sirona Knight
Pgs 102-103

Samhain Chant

Fire red, summer’s dead
Yet it shall return.
Clear and bright, in the night,
Burn, fire, burn!

Chorus:
Dance the ring, luck to bring,
When the year’s a-turning.
Chant the rhyme at Hallows-time,
When the fire’s burning.

Fire glow, vision show
Of the heart’s desire,
When the spell’s chanted well
Of the witching fire.

Chorus:
Dance the ring, luck to bring,
When the year’s a-turning.
Chant the rhyme at Hallows-time,
When the fire’s burning.

Fire spark, when nights are dark
Makes our winter’s mirth.
Red leaves fall, earth takes all,
Brings them to rebirth.

Chorus:
Dance the ring, luck to bring,
When the year’s a-turning.
Chant the rhyme at Hallows-time,
When the fire’s burning.

Fire fair, earth and air,
And the heaven’s rain,
All blessed be, and so may we,
at Hallows-tide again.

Chorus:
Dance the ring, luck to bring,
When the year’s a-turning.
Chant the rhyme at Hallows-time,
When the fire’s burning.

Doreen Valiente
“Witchcraft For Tomorrow” p. 193

Casting A Solitary Circle

I hope this helps you if you are new to the Craft or want a little different take on a basic ritual.

Casting the Circle: Place white or appropriately colored candles at the compass points, the altar may be at the center of the circle. A small white or beeswax candle, two larger candles, the censer with unlit incense, the Athamé, a dish of salt, a goblet of water, small cakes or cookies for "cakes and ale," a goblet of wine, an offering dish and any items for work to be done within the cast circle.

Take a short moment, eyes closed, to become "At peace" before standing before the altar.

Light the small candle and walk toward the east. Light the yellow or white candle from the small candle, saying

"Here I call forth the powers of air from the east, that I may be like the air, unfettered and pure."

Take a moment to remember the air visualization, and to contemplate the meaning of the east, air and freedom before continuing onward.

Light the red or white candle to the south with the small candle saying.

"Here I call forth the powers of fire from the south, that I may be like fire, enduring all hardships to become strengthened."

Recall your own "trials by fire" and contemplate the possibility of more, the meaning of the words spoken is thought on, and the caster continues.

Light the blue or white candle to the west, saying,

"Here I call forth the powers of water, that I may be like water, supporting and protecting all that I encounter,"

Contemplate the water visualization and the meaning of the west in your life.

Move on to the North, lighting the green or white candle, saying

"Here I call forth the power of Earth, that I may be like earth, grounded at all times."

Here ground and think before moving to the east to say.

"Welcome Air, Fire, Water, Earth, shine your light and lend your strength to this my circle to night/day."

Still moving clockwise, return to the altar, and light the incense saying.

"Negative forces begone, you are not welcome here."

Breathe deeply of the incense and banish away negative forces within before circling clockwise thrice with the censer, visualizing hate, jealousy and the like fleeing from the smoke.

Returns to the altar, pick up the Athamé and pick up a measure of salt with its tip. Inserting the tip of the blade into the water saying.

"As man to woman so blade to chalice, I purify this water with love, light and power."

Walk around the circle, sprinkling the salted water about the circle thrice. Returning to the altar, raise the Athamé to the sky and visualize a beam of blue light filling it, walk once around the circle, using the Athamé and its light to "cut" a space between the worlds.

This done, move to the altar and light the two candles.

"Lord and Lady, I invite you to this my worship, that you may look upon my devotions and celebrations and be heartened and strengthened by them."

Turn toward the west and announce.

"Now is my circle cast, unbreakable and without harm. Thus is sacred space decreed, and no act goes unnoticed. So mote it be."

Closing the circle: Thank the Gods for their attentions, snuff their candles. Dismiss individually each element and thank it for lending its strength, Walk around the circle, drawing the blue light back into the Athamé, breathe deep, and take some of the power back. A closing statement usually follows, ending in,

"The Circle is open, but ever unbroken...So mote it be."

A Spell to Release Anger

This is a spell I found in my BOS for releasing anger. Anger can be caused from many things: any type of abuse to anger towards another who hurt you.

For this ritual, you will need some quiet time, a red candle, a black or a white candle, paper and writing implements, a container in which to burn paper, and matches. Any other symbols, magickal gear, or acoutrements you wish to bring to the ritual are yours to choose; I'm just presenting the bare bones.

Once you have gathered your stuff and set up your quiet space, you will want to call in a circle to protect yourself, and to protect others from the energies you plan to release.

Face the east, and call upon the air to help you express your rage clearly, to help you focus mentally while you release your emotions safely within the circle.

Face the south, and call upon fire to help your rage burn up and out of you, burning away the past and the trauma that has enraged you.

Face the west, and call upon the water to help your emotions flow freely within the circle, cleansing your spirit and restoring yourself.

Face the north, and call upon the earth to allow you to safely ground your rage, and to sustain and support your through the releasing process.

As you call in the directions, visualize a circle of white light forming around your working space, shielding you and protecting you with the elements you've called in.

(I have sometimes found that it also helps to call upon the archangels to further strengthen the circle--Raphael for east, Michael for south, Gabriel for west, and Uriel for north--if your beliefs trend that way.)

Then when you feel the circle is secure, call upon the Higher Powers in whatever form you relate to them to work with you and shield you through the course of the ritual.

Now, light the red candle. By its light, begin to write or draw what it is that is enraging you, whether it be some form of emotional abuse that trashed your worth as a person, sexual abuse that made you into an object, physical abuse that broke your body's connection with your mind, or whatever. Focus on making the issues clear to yourself and the Higher Powers that you've called in. Focus on how the actions made *you* feel, not on the other person's guilt or motivations, or on revenge on the other person. (You can do this part ahead of time, if you want. Blame may be necessary for some folks, but until you release the rage within, I feel that you cannot assess blame remembered and felt out of your abusive relationship, being rationally and safely.)

Next, hold the paper between your hands, focus your awareness on the red candle, and begin to chant, shout, scream, or make whatever sounds help you to feel the rage come up and leave you. Send the rage into the red candle. Focus your rage on the red candle, watching the flames burn brighter and hotter as the force of your anger fuels them. When you feel that you've released the red rage as much as you can, light the papers on which you've drawn or written your problem and drop them into the container so they can burn out. (Do remember to put something under the container to protect the surface it rests on--I did this ritual a couple of months ago and almost caught my thumb on fire.)

After the papers have begun to burn down, light the black or white candle. (The choice of color depends on how you wish to focus on restoring yourself--black represents the energy of transformation and white represents an energy of peace and purification.) Focus on what you'd like to replace the rage with--peace, self-esteem, happiness, or whatever. Let the energy of the new emotions fill you up. Write or draw on a new piece of paper those things that you want to find in yourself and your life now that you've released the poisonous rage that was holding you back. You could even take the ashes from the burnt paper and write the name of the emotion on a new piece of paper to help you focus. Feel the healing begin.

When you are comfortably calm again, release the energy of the circle. Visualize it sinking back into the earth as you thank the elements at each direction for watching over you. Thank the Higher Powers for their insight and help. Let the candles burn completely out.

Casting a Ritual Circle

Casting circle requires that we reenact creation. It takes the tools on the altar and empowers them as the elements of creation - earth air fire water and spirit. Combining them creates the womb of life (water/chalice and salt/earth) and the spark of creation (blade/will and air/consciousness). The element of Spirit may be our Gods or it may be our own divine spark. Together they create the circle of life and our sacred space.

Light the incense and say:
Blessed be thou creature of Air.

Fill chalice with water or red wine, hold up to sky and say:
Blessed Be thou creature of Water.

Pick up dish of salt and hold up to sky and say:
Blessed Be thou creature of Earth.

Pick up athame with right hand (two fingers extended) and say:
Blessed Be thou creature of Fire.

With athame mix three blades/pinches of salt into the chalice. With left hand pick up chalice (feminine principle). Stir with athame (masuline principle) and say:

Salt and Water, Inner and Outer, Body and Soul, Be cleansed!
Cast out all that is harmful! Take in all that is good and healing!
By the Powers of the Triple Goddess! By the Powers of the Dual God!
So Mote it be.

Using the athame sprinkle the altar and the tools with the blessed water saying:

May this athame be purified.
May these tools and this altar be purified and consecrated.

Take up the chalice. Visualize energy and thoughts as a stream pouring from your third eye into the water. When there are no more, picture the blessed water transforming the water into an intense blue. The blue glows. When the blue radiance is bright, sip of the water and feel the radiance within you. This is now the pure Waters of Life.

Blessed Be!

Optional: You may use the salt water to purify those entering into the in the circle. Sprinkle some on their crown chakra...

Be purified for this ritual.

TRACING THE CIRCLE
Now that you have the tools of creation you may use them to create your sacred space - a place of balance between our world and the divine world.

Pick up the athame and trace the circle clockwise. This is your sacred area. Visualize energy - your will - running out of your hand and through the tip of the athame creating a protective sphere of energy.

As you stop at each Watchtower you invoke the corresponding elemental guardian. Use your energy as a silent call to the powers of that element (Guardians or Elementals) to protect and watch over you.

ELEMENTAL INVOCATIONS
Face East. Raise Athame to the sky, trace an East invoking pentagram with athame…

Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East
Powers of Air, I invoke you and call you.
Rising sun of hope, come!
By the air that is Her breath, send forth Your light!
Be with me now!

Trace circle in air to the South, trace a South invoking pentagram with athame…

Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South
Powers of Fire, I invoke you and call you.
Flaming ones, Spark of life, come!
By the fire that is Her spirit, send forth Your flame
Be with me now!

Trace circle in air to the West, trace a West invoking pentagram with athame…

Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West
Powers of Water, I invoke you and call you.
Whelming waves, water of life, come!
By the waters of the Living Womb, send forth Your flow
Be with me now!

Trace circle in air to the North, trace a North invoking pentagram with athame…

Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North
Powers of Earth, Cornerstone of all power I invoke and call you.
Fertile field, towering mountain come!
By the earth that is Her body, send forth Your strength
Be with me now!

(Complete the circle)

PURIFICATION OF THE WATCHTOWERS
Place the athame on the altar. Pick up the chalice trace circle again draw invoking pentagram at each Power

With salt and water I purify the east/south/west/north

CHARGING OF THE WATCHOTERS
Place chalice on altar and pick up incense. Trace circle a last time. Draw invoking pentagrams at each Power

With fire and air I charge the east/south/west/north

Place incense on altar.

INVOKING THE GOD AND GODDESS
The universe is a balanced place. Of Birth and Death, of Male anf Female. The circle is complete when both potentials are present. We see this as calling in the Divine which used the elements of creation to give birth and at the same time was creator of the elements.

Approach the main altar and pickup up the athame in right hand and the Wand in left hand.

Great Eternal Mother,
Source of all Life,
Earth and Center of the Universes,
Hear the voice of one who loves you.

Be with me, Wise Mother
Teach me Your secret wisdom
Hold me in Your star swept arms
Infuse me with the power of Your all-loving spirit
I die, I am born with You, and I die
The cycle never ceases, and so I am fulfilled

Join me in this Circle. Guide my heart and mind to union with You
I call You Mother of All, be with me now!


Gentle Dummuzi,
God of Life and Sacrifice
who dies each year that we might be nourished,
Son and lover of the Mother,
Hear the voice of one who loves You.

Be with me Eternal Father
Teach me Your compassion.
Protector and warrior; keep me safe from harm
Send us the grain from the fields and the rain from the clouds
Infuse me with the power of Your all-loving spirit and so I am fulfilled.

Guard me in this Circle. Guide my heart and mind to union with You.
I call You Gentle God, be with me now!
Blessed Be

Light the candle in the cauldron (this represents the prescence of spirit)

I am between worlds and between time.
Where life and Death,Day and Night, Joy and Sorrow
Meet as One.
The circle is cast,
The fire is lit,
The ritual is begun.

ENDING THE RITUAL/CLOSING THE CIRCLE

Thank the Lord and Lady: Approach the altar and state the following:

Lady and Lord,source of all, I thank you
For Your presence,
For Your circle,
For light and love,
For this night of change.
I ask Your blessing as You depart.
Blessed Be!

Extinguish the spirit candle.

Dismiss the Watchtowers: Go to each direction and state the following while taking down Circle

Hail and farewell Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East ,South, West, North
Powers of Air, Fire, Water, Earth, I thank you for joining this Circle
I ask Your blessings as you depart
May there be peace between us, now and forever. Blessed Be!

Opening circle: Gather all participants together, grasp hands and state the following

The circle is open, but unbroken
May the peace of the Goddess
Go in my(our) heart(s)
Merry meet, merry met, and merry meet again!
Blessed Be.