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1a.: Re: Circles. From: gaia_d

2.: Blessed Be Your Yule. From: Blackbird

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1a.: Re: Circles.

Posted by: "gaia_d" Gaia_D@yahoo.com gaia_d

Mon Dec 20, 2010 9:19 am (PST)

ON CASTING CIRCLE –

© 2008 By Gaia_d@yahoo.com <mailto:Gaia_d@yahoo.com> – Please
don't reproduce without permission.

Actually, there are *many* "right" ways to cast a Circle, depending upon
the work to be done, its purpose, the people to be included, where and
when it is to be done, , etc, etc.

I am one of those who feels that if you understand what Circles are and
how they function, you'll probably want to cast them more, rather than
less â€`â€` but i admit that's my personal prejudice and your
mileage may vary.

A. So WHY Cast Circles?

When we work magick, we go "between the worlds" so our magick filters
out to all the worlds, eventually manifesting on the physical plane.

Within a sacred Circle (and it's really more like a "bubble" or a
permeable, protective sphere, all around), we can go forwards and
backwards in time; we can send energy or healing back to ourselves in a
previous situation; or we can send it forward to a spaceâ€`time
that we know is likely to be challenging.

Pagan Priestess, author and visionary Starhawk wrote this about Wicca,
which i think is basic and essential to understand a number of Wiccan
principles and practices â€`â€` beginnning with why we cast
circle:

"The mythology and cosmology of Witchcraft are rooted in the

Paleolithic Shaman's insight that all things are swirls of energy,
vortices

of moving forces, currents in an everâ€`changing sea. Underlying
the

appearance of separateness, of fixed objects within a linear stream of
time,

reality is a field of energies that congeal, temporarily, into forms.

In time, all "fixed" things dissolve, only to coalesce into new forms,
new

vehicles.

This view of the universe as an interplay of moving forces â€`â€`
which,

incidentally, corresponds to an amazing degree with the views of

modern physics â€`â€` is a product of a very special mode of
perception.

Ordinary waking consciousness sees the world as fixed: it focuses on one

thing at a time, isolating it from its surroundings, much like viewing a
dark

forest with a narrow flashlightbeam that illuminates a loe leaf or a

solitary stone.

Extraordinary consciousness, the other mode of perception that is

broad, holistic, and undifferentiated, sees patterns and relationships
rather

than fixed objects. It is the mode of starlight: dim and silvery,
revealing

the play of woven branches and the dance of shadows, sensing pathways as

space in the whole.

The magickal and psychic aspects of the Craft are concerned with
awakening

this starlight vision, and training it to be a useful tool. Magic(k) is
not

a supernatural affair; it is, in Dion Fortune's words, "the art of
changing

consciousness at will" â€`â€` of switching the flashlight on and
off, of picking

out details, of seeing by the stars."

(Starhawk, "The Spiral Dance" 10th Anniversary Ed, pp 32â€`33)

Thus, when we cast circle, it signals to our deep mind that we are about
to go into this "Starlight" mode â€`â€` "altered"
spaceâ€`time. After a while, each step of casting circle becomes
like a ballet, signaling to the deep mind that a change in consciousness
is taking place â€`â€` as well as actually

facilitating that change.

This is a major purpose for the Circle: it makes a clear, distinct
demarcation between everyday consciousness (and the world that is
perceived by it); and the World of Shadow visions, of interplaying
forces and energies that are more easily accessed and influenced through
the

"Starlight Vision".

2. In good ritual, one lets down the normal psychological ego
boundaries that normally exist to hold our personalities â€` and
individuality â€` safely intact. When we cast Circle, we
effectively tell ourselves that it is safe to drop those boundaries, and
allow ourselves to safely "merge" with the Numinous, the Divine, to
experience That Realm directly, immanently, without fear of losing
ourselves in or to it.

A wellâ€`cast Circle becomes a safe, protected, energized and
controlled space, in which to effect that "altered/ altared"
conscousness â€`â€` to "touch" what psychologists and theologians
have called the "Dynamic Ground of all Being" â€` the Numinous, the
Realms of the Sacred â€`â€` safely, and return enriched by the
experience, rather than psychically blasted, frightened, confused or
otherwise troubled by that powerful experience.

3. All over Europe, there are stones called "Omphalos" (navel) stones
which symbolize the navel of Mother Earth. (See, for example:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omphalos
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omphalos> ) â€`

When we cast circle, we become the "center" of the universe, a kind of
Omphalos of/for Goddess, a "navel" which connects us with Her; a "pivot"
point, from which the Sacred Circle spreads out in all directions.

4. To boil water, you have to put it into a pot to contain and control
it; similarly, we create a "container" to hold, contain, control
and RAISE the energies in a Circle.

Thus, we cast circle to create a specially purified, energized, charged,
and protected / protective area of spaceâ€`time, into which we can
invite the Gods, do ritual and work magick.

B. How To Cast Circle:

There are many different ways to actually cast the circle, depending
upon the tradition, the purpose and "mood" of the Circle, the work that
will be done within it; the number and kinds of participants and their
level of experience and knoweldge; personal preference, etc. Other
things that might also be taken into consideration include the season,
astronomical/ astrological conditions, physical conditions, etc.

The Circle may be outlined or marked out before the Ritual begins, with
herbs, flowers, small fruits or vegetables, colored yarn, or whatever
else is appropriate to the theme and purpose of the Circle.

To cast, you literally "sketch" out a circle around your working area
(the traditional space for a coven or working group is about 6â€`9
feet in diameter; an individual will usually need less space) by
tracing your athame, sword, finger, or whatever (i've also used,
variously, a flower, a shaft of wheat, a magickal staff, a Hawaiian
ceremonial cane cutter, and several other items, depending upon the
"theme" of the ritual).

While tracing the Circle (again, remember that it is actually a sphere
all around you), imagine with all your senses, an electric blue energy
shooting down from above and up from below into you, then combining, to
flow down your arm, into the tool you're using to cast, and out
â€`â€` to flare up and create a protective blue light all around
the circle. (That's how i was taught to visualize it, others may
differ).

Many practitioners memorize a brief poem or statement to say while
casting the circle â€`â€` this is especially helpful if there are
others participating in the circle. For an example, you might say:

"I conjure thee, O Magick Circle,

to be a Shield and Protection,

Between the world of men,

and the Realms of the Mighty Ones;

a meeting place of Love and Joy and Truth;

a Container to hold the Energies

that we shall raise within Thee:

Wherefore i do bless Thee and consecrate Thee

In the Name of the Goddess and God â€`â€`

(or, alternately, "The Lady and Her Consort, the Horned One", or your
Patron Deities)."

You may light quarter candles (when the Quarters are "called"/ evoked)
at each of the Quarters – This is especially effective if the circle
is occurring at night.

The order for casting, movement and work in the circle is "Deosil" or
"clockwise" for positive, growth-oriented work; and "Widdershins" or
"counterâ€`clockwise" for banishing, releasing, or diminishment of
any kind.

Therefore, to cast the circle, you would call the Quarters in the
following order: starting with either North or East, then South, then
West, then North, and (if you include them) Center, Above and Below. To
release the Circle, you would go in the opposite order,(ie, beginning
with Center, North or West).

Once the Circle is cast, everyone should move in a clockwise, "Deosil"
manner, to keep the energies flowing properly. If anyone needs to leave
the Circle, they should draw a "doorway" and then close it up after they
have exited the Circle; then when they return, they should open another
"doorway", step through, and then close it back up again. To fail to do
this, tends to dissipate the energy within the Circle and can ruin any
ritual.

C. Regarding Altars

[Please NOTE: "Altar" is spelled with an "a" to differentiate it from
"alter" meaning to change] The permanent altar that is always up is
called a "Shrine"; an Altar is technically that which is only built for
a specific ritual or circle.

NOTE About the Quarters:

I have heard some (especially beginners) refer to the Quarters as
"Corners" â€`â€` I'm not sure where this came from, but it should
be fairly obvious that a Circle has no "corners". They are called
"Quarters" partly to reference the idea of the "Four Quarters of the
Earth"....

In most rituals, the altar will be in the Center, North, or East
quarter(s). The rationale for this (besides convenience) is that the
North is the direction of Mystery (the sun never shines there) and the
East is the direction of new beginnings.

I have also done very large, formal rituals (for groups of 50 to 500+)
that have had an altar at each of the Quarters, which is especially
appropriate for large groups.

It's a nice idea to set up the altars to correspond to the elements, as
well as the theme of the Ritual: For example, if it's a Beltaine Sabbat
Ritual, you might consider having a bouquet of flowers or a
miniâ€`Maypole decorated with flowes and colored ribbons, at each
of the Quarters:

Yellow for Eastâ€`Air, Red for Southâ€`Fire, Blue for
Westâ€`Water, Green or Brown for Northâ€`Earth, and white for
Centerâ€`Spirit.

D. Callling The Quarters:

Here is a basic set of "Quarter Calls" (aka "Evocations") which can
be adapted to just about any ritual purpose:

GENERAL Quarter EVOCATIONS

(Everyone repeat the last line, "Be here now," each time.)

EAST:

All hail the powers of Air!

O Eastern guardians of the dawning light,

Lend us your powers on this ____ night. [Use Full Moon, Sabbat, or
whatever]

Now bless our ____ circle.

[Use "Full Moon", "Sabbat",or the actual name of the Sabbat, such as
"Beltane"]

Guardians of the East â€`Be here now!

SOUTH:

All hail the powers of Fire!

O Southern guardians of the warming light,

Lend us your powers on this __ night.

Now bless our ___ circle.

Guardians of the South â€`Be here now!

WEST:

All hail the powers of Water!

O Western guardians of the liquid light,

Lend us your powers on this ____ night.

Now bless our ___ circle.

Guardians of the West â€` Be here now!

NORTH:

All hail the powers of Earth!

O strong, deep guardians of the Northern lights,

Lend us your powers on this ___ night.

Now bless our ___ circle.

Guardians of the North – Be here now!

CENTER:

All hail the powers of Center!

Eternal powers of the Inner light,

Open us to your Sacred powers on this __ night.

Now bless our ___ circle.

Guardians of the Center – Be here now!

ALWAYS remember to deliberately, formally ground out the energies,
following any ritual or magickal work, and to formally "open" or
"release" the Circle when the ritual is finished.

[I dunno where this came from, but i hear many people talk about
"breaking" the Circle when they open it â€`â€` Please, the Circle
is NEVER "broken"; it is "opened" or "released" but NEVER 'broken'!]

Ungrounded, excess energy can degenerate into nervious tension, which
can cause headaches, sleeplessness, even sickness â€`â€` so
always remember to properly Ground.

To release the Quarters formally, you might say something like:

All hail the powers of North! (then West, South, East)

We thank you for being in our Circle

And lending us the Powers of Earth (Water, Fire, Air)

Go if you must, Stay if you will â€`

Hail and Farewell!

â€`â€` or whatever you wish.

Remember to thank and release whatever Deit(ies) you've evoked. Then,
formally "open" or release the Circle. You might say something like:

"The Circle is open, but unbroken

May the Peace of the Goddess go in our hearts â€`â€` "

â€`â€` or whatever.

I hope that's helpful â€`â€` Please don't hesitate to ask any
questions!

Blessings â€`â€`

~Gaia

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2.: Blessed Be Your Yule.

Posted by: "Blackbird" blackbird_61@yahoo.com blackbird_61

Mon Dec 20, 2010 9:46 pm (PST)

Merry be Your Christmas,

Blessed Be your Yule.

However you Celebrate Mid Winters Eve, may the Lady Smile on you.
Blessings, BB.

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