Guest Author - Leslie Ravenwing
Example #1
Stand in front of your altar with your athame or wand raised above your head. Ground and center to relax and become focused. Say: I conjure ye, o circle of power, so that you can be for me a boundry between the worlds of men and the realm of the mighty spirits. A meeting place of trust, love, and joy, containing the power I raise herein."
Now go to the north side of the circle. Walk around the boundry 3 times with your athame or wand. Visualize a white energy or light coming from the tip to energize the circle and form a sphere of protection around you.
Return to the altar. Light the incense. Let the smoke fill your circle and visualize it cleansing the atmosphere. 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.
Go to the Eastern quarter of the circle. Raise your arms high in salute. Say:
Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtower of the East. By the air that is Her breath, send forth your light. Be here now.
Trace an invoking pentagram in the air (an invoking pentagram starts at the top point and moves to the bottom left point).
Now move to the South. Say:
Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtower of the South. By the fire that is Her spirit, send forth your flame. Be here now
Trace an invoking pentagram in the air.
Now move to the West. Say:
Hail to the guardians of the Watchtower of the West. By the waters of Her living womb, send forth your flow. Be here now
Trace an invoking pentagram in the air.
Now move to the North. Say:
Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North. By the Earth that is Her body, send forth your strength. Be here now.
Trace an invoking pentagram.
Return to the altar. Say:
Welcome all kind and wonderful spirits. The circle is cast. Let the ritual begin!
Now perform the ritual you came before the Gods to do. Here is one way to close the circle.
Take the athame or wand from the altar. Walk counterclockwise around near the boundry. Draw the circle's energy into the tool. When all is absorbed, return to the altar, ring the bell once or tap the altar and say:
Let the circle now be open. Thank you wonderful spirits, Mother and Father for attending my circle. May we all go in peace and love. Blessed Be!
Example #2
-Clean the space physically with your broom or even a vaccuum. Purify by burning incense. As you purify, visualize all the negative and disturbing energies leaving your sacred space.
-The altar should face the North (the direction of Earth, representing the Goddess) or East (the direction of the rising sun and represents the God). At each of the for Watchtowers, place some sort of mark or object. North is Earth (bowl of salt, a crystal, or bowl of soil). East is Air (incense, flowers or a feather). South is Fire (red or orange candle, obsidian stone). West is water (a bowl of water or shell).
-Take your athame or wand to the North. Trace the outline of the circle. Visualize energy extending out to the circle boundry. Do this 3 times. Say as you trace:
I cast this circle to protect me from outside influences. I charge this circle to draw in only loving and helping vibrations. I create sacred space.
-When you return to the North, face towards your circle's barrier. Raise your athame or wand. Say:
God, Goddess, and Guardians of the North. Powers of the Earth, I call you to attend my circle.
-Move to the East. Raise your wand or athame. Say:
God, Goddess, and Guardians of the East, I call you to attend my circle.
-Move to the South. Raise your wand or athame. Say:
God, Goddess, and Gaurdians of the South. Power of fire, I call you to attend my circle.
- Move to the West. Raise your wand or athame and say:
God, Goddess, and Gaurdians of the Wst. Powers of water, I call you to attend my circle.
-Return to the altar and proceed with ritual work.
Closing the Circle
I have 2 ways of closing the circle:
#1
Draw a banishing pentagram while standing in the center of the circle. Say
Guardians of the East, South, west, and North. Powers of Earth, Air,Fire and Water I thank you for joining in my circle and I ask for your blessings as you depart. May peace be between us now and forever. Blessed Be!
#2
Once the rite is ending, face North, hold the wand up and say:
Farewell, Spirit of the North. I give thanks for your presance here. Go in power and love.
Repeat this at each point. When done, take your athame and go to the North. Pierce the energy field of the circle and bring the power into the athame. When you return to the North, the circle is no more.
Yes, it is important to close the circle properly. The energy you raise during the ritual is trapped in this circle. When you release the circle, the energy is released into the universe. Never leave a circle un opened
