Casting a circle is important when casting spells for the following reasons:
to create a safe container for your energy
to banishing negative energies and low vibrations from the sacred space
to increase the power of your spells keeping energy within the circle
as a meeting place between worlds to call in deities and your energy support team
to protect you from outside energies during casting
*When casting spells or performing rituals always consider the Wiccan Rede
Space Preparation
To prepare your sacred space you need to cleanse the area by burning incense, smudging (see what is smudging), using rose water and any other methods that resonate with you for cleansing your sacred space, objects and the area.
When smudging it is useful to fan the smoke into all the corners as this is where stale energies linger. Sprinkling salt in the corners of rooms can be useful for soaking up negative energies.
Once you have cleansed your space and have everything you need for the spell and will not be interrupted you can start.
Grounding
It is important to ground, centre and protect your energy before doing any spiritual work and this is also the case with spell work.
There are many ways of grounding and many videos on YouTube you can follow to ground your energy. I have included a free grounding meditation herethat you can use if this resonates with you.
The general process of grounding is to visualise your firm and solid connection to the earth. This is usually visualised as roots or cords going underground to the centre of the earth and then energy rising back up through each chakra (energy centre) in the body.
You can also imagine this energy rising from the top of your head up into the universe connecting with source sending back down divine white light to protect you, so that you are held and protected from both above and below.
Grounding methods are a personal preference and the main thing is that you do some form of grounding to protect your energy.
Casting
When casting you can use a wand, an athame (ceremonial dagger) or even your finger.
Starting facing north you point outwards, focused on where you want the edge of your circle to be (usually about 6 foot). Then start walking in a clockwise direction (deosil) imagining bluish white energy (being channeled from above and below through you) coming out of your wand/athame/finger to the edge you are focusing on.
As you move around the space clockwise 3 times you visualise that you are drawing and forming a sphere all around (with the bluish white energy), above and below you. You can also mark the circle physically with objects, salt or crystals if you wanted to.
When you have finished the circle and return to the front you can say something like the following (but say your own version and what resonates with you):
“I cast this circle in perfect love and perfect trust as a meeting place between worlds and as a safe container for my energy.”
I tend to also say something along the lines of:
“Any negative energies, entities or low vibrational beings are cast out of this circle and cannot re-enter. All energy cords that are not for my highest good are severed, any ill wishes or psychic attacks are reflected back to the sender. Only love and light and high vibrations for the highest good of all can now enter this circle”.
At this point I will call in the elements, my guides and support team or any specific deities I am invoking with in the spell.
Call in the Elements
To call in the elements you can face each direction in turn starting north (using certain herbs and objects that correspond if you wish) and saying something similar to below (again make it your own and what resonates with you):
In the North: “Element of earth I call upon you to protect this sacred space and give roots to my magick”
In the East: Say, “Element of air, I call upon you to protect this sacred space, activate my magick and support its flight.”
In the South: Say, “Element of fire, I call upon you to protect this sacred space and energise my magick with fiery passion.”
In the West: Say, “Element of water, I call upon you to protect this sacred space and purify my magick. May I always feel my intuition and your calm waters.”
Closing
To close your circle you firstly dismiss any deities and spirits you called in thanking them for their assistance saying something like:
“Angels, thank you for your energy, your protection and assistance in this spell you are now dismissed from this ritual”
Then you dismiss each element in turn starting from the west moving anti clockwise dismissing West, South, East and then North saying something like:
“Element of … , thank you for your energy and protection, I now dismiss you from this ritual”
Then you close the circle by imagining that the sphere you created is being sucked back in to your wand/athame/finger through you and back down into mother earth. Starting at the West and moving anticlockwise (widdershins) 3 times finishing at North and saying something like:
“The circle is now open, may it never be broken”
Ground any excess energy you may be holding by pressing your forehead to the floor sending it back to mother earth or walking barefoot outside.
