How To Cast A Circle

How to cast a circle, is one of the first things new Witches learn. It’s also the thing most new Witches wonder if they’re doing right. Casting a circle isn’t hard, it just takes practice. I am a big believer in casting circle the same way every time. The reason for this, is twofold.

First, you want to cast enough circles, that you become confident that you are doing it right. Also, with enough practice, you will get to the point where you no longer think about what you need to do, it becomes second nature. This allows you to concentrate on the purpose of the ritual, instead of concentrating on casting the circle.

The second reason I cast the same way every time, is because I know it works. I have known Witches who never cast a circle the same way twice. Once you are confident that your circle casting works every time, you can play with new ways to cast, but even then, I still cast as I was taught more than 30 years ago.

If I know my circle casting works, why would I try some new way of casting circle? Why use something that is new and untested, unless there’s a specific reason for it? Certainly, there will be times where casting circle needs to be done differently, but 99 out of 100 times, my normal circle casting will work just fine.

Sweeping the area.

Unless you have a place like a Ritual Room, that is only used for ritual, the first thing you’ll want to do, is cleanse the area where you will be casting circle. Traditionally, this is done with a Besom, which is nothing more than straw or twigs, wrapped onto a wooden handle or branch. If you don’t have a Besom, you can use anything to create a movement of air, including your hands.

I walk around the area, from the center outward, spiraling deocil, moving the Besom in a sweeping movement a few inches above the floor. This is not a physical cleaning, it is a spiritual cleaning. As I sweep, I mentally see the energy of the area being moved outward, away from where I’m going to cast the circle.

If I am in a room, as I get to the outer edges of the room, I visualize the energy being gathered up by the Besom, and then sweep it out through the door. Doorways are powerful boundaries in their own right. That’s why the Romans had a God of doorways.

If I want to be sure the space is well cleansed, or there is some particularly bad energy in the space, I will light a sage stick, and carry it as I sweep the space. This is not necessary, but works effectively.

Once you have finished sweeping the area where you plan to do ritual, you should feel a difference. The area should feel clean. If you have done a really good job, it may even feel antiseptic. This is fine. You will be refilling the area with energy, as you cast, and do ritual.

Casting the circle.

I use what is called a Duly Cast Circle, or a Triple Cast Circle. The first thing you have to understand, is that you are not creating Sacred Space. I have said many times, that the Universe is Sacred Space. I don’t care if you’re knee deep in shit, in a sewer, you’re still in Sacred Space. Casting circle just marks an area where you are going to do ritual. It builds the Temple for worship, just like building a church creates a space for Christians to worship.

I first cast the circle with energy. This can be done with an Athame, wand, sword, staff, or just a finger. The tool is unimportant. You use what you have available. I draw energy up from the ground, through my feet, up through my body, and direct it down through my arm, hand, and tool (if I’m using one), toward the ground where I want to draw the circle.

Most Witches I’ve talked to, say they can’t see energy, they only feel it. I see energy, and I’ve taught my students to see it. All it takes to see the energy, is a bit of imagination. In my mind’s eye, the energy coming out to draw the circle is a blue-white in color. I see the beam in my mind, and superimpose that image over what my eyes see. It takes some practice, but anyone can do it.

I see the beam of blue-white energy hit the ground, or floor, stay there. I then start to walk around the area I want to cast, watching the light shoot to the ground and stay there, almost like a rope. Normally, I start casting in the East, so wherever I want the eastern boundary of the circle, is where I begin this process.

I walk around the perimeter of the circle I’m casting, letting the energy hit the ground, forming the circle. I walk from East to South, South to West, West to North, and North to East again, Deocil around the circle. When I get back to the East, I simply overlap the energy at the point where I started casting, and the energy literally pops into a perfect circle.

I can overlap the starting point, because I can see the energy I am casting. How all these other Witches cast a proper circle, without being able to see the energy, I have no idea. Now the first circle is cast. There is a perfect circle of blue-white energy on the floor, with me inside. I can feel a difference once the circle pops into shape. I can’t describe the difference, but you’ll know it when you feel it. That is the sign of a good casting.

Triple casting the circle.

Now that the first circle is cast, I put a little incense onto the fire. This can be powered incense in a thurible, cone incense, or a stick of incense. Whatever works, or you have available. Starting at the East, I again walk deocil around the circle, using my free hand to create a breeze to push the incense out to the circle boundary.

I have been asked what incense is best to use for this. Honestly, it’s personal preference. Plain old frankincense, sandalwood, or sage works fine. Whatever works for you, or you have available. There are times, when a specific ritual may be aided by using a specific incense, but normally, I use something I have on hand. There’s really no point in buying a bunch of incense of different herbs or blends, that you may never use for years.

After censing the circle from the East, all the way around to the East again, I go to the altar, and put three measures of salt into a bowl of clean water. I use the flat blade of my Athame to do this. You can use anything that will move salt from the salt dish to the water, including your fingers, to put three pinches of salt into the water.

I then stir the salt into the water with the blade of my Athame (or my finger, if I used my fingers) deocil, three times. Again, this is a spiritual stirring, not a physical mixing. Three times around the bowl is all you need. Starting again in the East, I flick the salt and water at the boundary of the circle.

There are all sorts of specialized tools made for this, some people use a small brush, or a feather. I dip my fingers into the water and flick them at where I want the water to go. The walls of my ritual room are splattered with marks from about two feet down, and on the floor where I’ve done this over and over again. The sun has to be at a certain angle to really see the water marks. If I ever move, I’ll wash the walls and repaint the room.

Once you have finished sparging the circle all the way around with salt and water, your circle is Duly Cast. You should feel and hear the difference. Sounds you make in the circle should be hollow. Noise from outside the circle should be dampened, or gone. There is a highway right behind my backyard. When I cast circle in the backyard, I have had people remark on the fact that the noise from the highway is gone.

You are now in a place that is not a place, a time that is not a time. You are between the worlds. Your five senses will tell you that something has changed. You may not be able to tell exactly what, but you will feel the difference. When you can achieve this every time you cast circle, you will know that you have done it right, and that you can do it any time you wish.

Next, I will walk you through calling the Quarters, and invoking the Gods.

If this was helpful (or not) let me know below. Ask any questions you have, and I will do my best to answer them.