The Circle - A Primer

Friday, August 08, 2003

I should note, that I love dragons, and parts of my circle casting incorporate this love to it.  I like to think that dragons are very noble and majestic creatures that need to be handled with care; because noble or not, they’re still dangerous when ticked off!  In general, I have a very eclectic ways of casting my circles. This is what I did when I cast my first circle, which was for my Self-Dedication ritual.  It changes now and then to fit my needs, but I’ve always liked this one.  I can’t remember where I found the original words for this, but somewhere I found a Dragon Circle casting, and liked it, so after a few changes, I came up with this one. They (my circles) will vary on the reason, my mood and the time of day that I do them.  But in general, they are indoors, and I mark the circle with candles in elemental/directional colors.

1. 1 Green candle at the North (Earth)
2. 1 Yellow candle at the East (Air)
3. 1 Red candle at the South (Fire)
4. 1 Blue candle at the West (Water)
5. Altar is prepared with tools set up according to elemental associations (ex. Wand – East, Athamé – South… etc)

Before I cast my circle, I usually like to take a bubble bath to relax, but since my son was born, it’s more like a relaxing shower. 

  When I’m ready, I light my candles and begin to slowly walk clockwise around the perimeter of my circle.  I visualize a white light flowing from whichever tool I’m using (usually, my fingers) to mark the perimeter of the circle.  While I’m walking the circle, I say softly:

I conjure thee, O Circle of Power, that thou beist a boundary between the world of men and the realms of the gods, a guardian and a protection to preserve and contain the power that I shall raise within.  Now, do I bless and consecrate thee with love.

After this, I take up the burning incense and starting from the East, I walk clockwise around the circle, visualizing a yellow light following me.  When I have returned to the East, I set the incense down and say:

Mighty Dragon, Guardian of the realms of the East and Inspiration, Your tongue is a sharp sword, cutting with the knowledge of the arcane.  Your spirit flows as graceful as a swift in flight.  Purify me with Truth! Blessed Be!

  I take a candle next, starting from the south and walk again around the circle, visualizing a red light following after me.  When I return to the South, I set the candle down and say:

Mighty Dragon, Guardian of the realms of the South and Passion, Your breath is aflame with the fires of inspiration and passion.  Your spirit is searing and fervent.  Purify me with Love! Blessed Be!

In the West, I take the water, and walking the circle clockwise, sprinkle it as I visualize a blue light following me.  When I return to the West, I set the water down and say:

Mighty Dragon, Guardian of the realms of the West and Emotion, Your coils are the cleansing healing waves that nurture the soul.  Your spirit lunges, leaps and splashes like a Talbot at play.  Purify me with Pulsing Tides! Blessed Be!

  From the North, I take the salt and while I walk clockwise around the circle, sprinkling the salt, I visualize a greenish brown light following me.  When I return to the North, I put the salt down and say:

Mighty Dragon, Guardian of the realms of the North and Prosperity, Your talons run like roots into the earth, giving you infinite strength.  Your spirit is substantial, hard and pure like pure crystal.  Purify me with persistent wisdom!  Blessed Be!

  Now, I finally return to the center, and facing the altar, I raise my casting tool (my hand) to the sky, while visualizing the lights of my circle turning a deep violet color.  As I raise my hand, the walls of my circle come up forming a dome over my head, and go down, completing a perfect sphere.  I then say:

The Circle is cast.  I am between the worlds, beyond the bounds of time.  Where night and day, birth and death, joy and sorrow, meet as One.  So Mote it Be!

  Now I will welcome the Lord and Lady (which how I always refer to them – out of courtesy mind you!)  I will usually just say some spontaneous words that pop into my head at them moment, and that works well for me.  But when I do a Circle to honor an Esbat, I will welcome the Lady with a reading of The Charge of the Goddess.  I won’t put that in here, because I’m sure everyone has either read a version, or has their own version that they prefer to use.

  After this it really depends on the purpose of the Circle.  Usually, people will have a statement of purpose, which is pretty self-explanatory. 

  When I take down my Circle, I first thank the Lord and Lady for attending, and then facing the North, I say:

Mighty Dragon, Guardian of the realms of the North and prosperity, I thank thee for attending.  Stay if you will, but go if you must, Hail and Farewell!

Then facing the West, I say:

Mighty Dragon, Guardian of the realms of the West and emotion, I thank thee for attending.  Stay if you will, but go if you must, Hail and Farewell!

  Facing South, next, I say:

Mighty Dragon, Guardian of the realms of the South and passion, I thank thee for attending.  Stay if you will, but go if you must, Hail and Farewell!

  And facing East, I say:

Mighty Dragon, Guardian of the realms of the East and inspiration, I thank thee for attending.  Stay if you will, but go if you must, Hail and Farewell!

Finally, I walk counter-clockwise around the circle, while visualizing the light going back into the tool (my finger here again), and through my body, and finally into the earth.  I then say:

By the Earth that is Her Body, by the Air that is Her breath, by the Fire of Her bright spirit, by the Living Waters of Her womb, may the peace of the Goddess be in my heart.  By His hoof and His horn, Blessed Be!  The Circle is Open, but never Broken!

  Another example of something that I found ages ago, and found that worked for me.  I hope that this is what was meant by creating our own Circle Casting… this is what I’ve been using, and it works very well for me.

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