book of Shadows

~A Ritual~

~Casting the Circle~

What you will need:

An item to represent Earth such as an animal statue, some living plant, a dish of dirt, a dish of salt or perhaps a pentacle

An item to represent Air such as a bird statue, some incense/oil or  an athame

An item to represent Fire such as a candle, a statue of a phoenix ( the bird of fire ) or a wand preferably made from Willow or Birch wood

An item to represent Water such as  a dish or bowl of water, a statue of a water dwelling creature or a chalice.

Something to represent the God and Goddess (if you believe in both or choose to worship both) like an orange/gold candle for the God and a silver/white candle for the Goddess. Or an animal statue or picture such as an owl or dolphin for the Goddess and a wolf or eagle for the God. (use your imagination) 

Also an athame, wand or your magical finger will do. (your magical finger is your index finger on the hand you write with)

Some salted water or rose oil

How to do the ritual:

Start by sprinkling some salted water or rose oil around the space where you are going to create a circle. (where your altar is) This is to cleanse and purify the space. 

Then take your athame, wand or magical finger and draw in the air a circle going clockwise around your body where your circle will be, as you do this say "I cast this circle for protection so mote it be."

Then you may wish to invite the God and Goddess or if you are about to do a special ritual which you need to invite specific deities (Gods and Goddesses) then do so now. Turn to your God and Goddess symbols, if it is a candle then light it now. Say as you do this "Oh might God/Goddess be with me tonight to aid me in my spell/ritual work. I ask you and seek you, never demand you. Blessed Be and I welcome you with outstretched hands." You then open your arms out as if to hug the God and Goddess. Perhaps meditate for a while if you wish on invoking the Goddess and Gods. If you are inviting special deities then add their names in the place of God and Goddess at the start.

Then you can invite the elements to join you in your circle. By saying something like this. (turning to your fire representative) "I invite you fire spirits of the Northern/Southern watchtower. I ask you to join me and aid my spell/ritual work. Salamanders be with me tonight in my circle." (North if in Southern hemisphere, South if in Northern hemisphere and meditate or imagine Salamanders which are small fire colored lizards running around in your circle) Keep chanting or saying in your head the above invocation over and over.

Turn to your earth representative. "I invite you earth spirits of the Northern/Southern watchtower. I ask you to join me and aid my spell/ritual work. Gnomes be with me tonight in my circle." (South if in Southern hemisphere, North if in Northern hemisphere and meditate or imagine Gnomes which are small men wearing brightly colored clothes moving around in your circle) Keep chanting or saying in your head the above invocation over and over.

Turn to your water representative. "I invite you water spirits of the Western/Eastern watchtower. I ask you to join me and aid my spell/ritual work. Mermaids/Mermen be with me tonight in my circle." (East if in Southern hemisphere, West if in Northern hemisphere and meditate or imagine Mermaids or Mermen swimming around in your circle) Keep chanting or saying in your head the above invocation over and over.

Turn to your air representative. "I invite you air spirits of the Western/Eastern watchtower. I ask you to join me and aid my spell/ritual work. Sylphs be with me tonight in my circle." (West if in Southern hemisphere, East if in Northern hemisphere and meditate or imagine Gnomes which are small men wearing brightly colored clothes moving around in your circle) Keep chanting or saying in your head the above invocation over and over.

Then you are ready to build up the energy to create the circle. Use what ever method you have been taught or have created to build up energy. Imagine it as a bright blue light all around you in a protective circle and one that nothing evil can get through. When you have done so you can do your spell work or ritual work. When you finish take your athame, wand or magical finger and cut through the circle. (imagine yourself actually cutting a split in the blue energy) Say "This circle is always open but never broken. Merry meet, merry part and merry meet again." Then leave the circle respectively.

I wrote this myself and that is because I am a Solitary (lone) Witch. If you wish to adjust anything to suit your needs or make it more personal then do so. And check out my energy raising in my Book of Shadows.

By Bronwyn~   * Berkana Golden Owl *