A circle is a temporary sacred space that you create for a ritual and take down afterward. It marks the boundary between ordinary life and the work at hand, it holds the energy you raise, and it keeps distractions out. Casting one is the basic ritual skill of Wicca and of much modern witchcraft.
When you need a circle
Cast a circle for formal rituals, sabbats, esbats, and any working that needs deep concentration. You do not need one for everyday magick such as stirring an intention into your tea or lighting a candle on your altar. Many witches cast a full circle a dozen times a year and use a quick mental version the rest of the time.
Before you begin
- Tidy the room and turn off your phone.
- Gather everything you will need, including matches, water, and something to eat afterward. Once the circle is cast, you should not need to leave it.
- Work out where east, south, west, and north are.
- Decide on the size. Tradition says nine feet across. In practice, the circle is as big as the space you have.
Casting the circle, step by step
- Cleanse the space. Sweep the floor, ring a bell, or carry incense around the room. See cleansing and protection.
- Ground and center. Stand still, breathe slowly, and settle yourself. See grounding and centering.
- Cast the circle. Begin in the east. Point with your athame, your wand, or your finger, and walk slowly clockwise around the edge of your space. As you walk, picture a line of light flowing from your hand and forming a ring, then a sphere that surrounds you above and below. Walk the round once or three times. When you return to the east, say: "The circle is cast. I stand in a place between the worlds."
- Call the quarters. Face each direction in turn and welcome its element. In the east: "Spirits of the east, powers of Air, I welcome you to this circle." Then turn to the south for Fire, the west for Water, and the north for Earth. You may light a candle at each point.
- Welcome the divine. If you honor the Goddess and the God, or other deities, invite them now in your own words. If you do not, simply stand at the center for a moment.
- Do the work. This is the heart of the ritual: a seasonal celebration, a spell, a meditation, or a divination.
- Share a simple feast. Eat and drink a little. This part is traditionally called cakes and ale. It gives thanks, and it begins to ground you. Set a portion aside as an offering.
- Close the circle. Thank any deities you invited. Then thank and release each quarter in reverse order: north, west, south, east. Finally walk the circle once counterclockwise, drawing the light back into your hand or letting it sink into the ground. Say: "The circle is open, but unbroken."
- Ground again. Touch the floor, finish your food, and put your tools away.
Which way is clockwise?
The circle is cast in the direction of the sun's apparent movement across the sky, which is called deosil. In the Northern Hemisphere that is clockwise. In the Southern Hemisphere the sun moves counterclockwise through the northern sky, so many witches there cast counterclockwise and close clockwise. Traditions also differ on whether to begin in the east or the north. Choose one way and be consistent.
A one-minute circle
When there is no time or privacy for the full form, this is enough.
- Stand or sit still and take three slow breaths.
- Picture a point of light at your center. Let it grow until it forms a sphere around you.
- Silently greet the four directions in turn.
- Do your work.
- When you finish, thank the directions, and let the sphere shrink back into your center or sink into the earth.
Common questions
What if I have to leave the circle? Use your hand or athame to trace a doorway in the boundary, step through, and close it behind you. Do the same on your return.
What if a pet or a child wanders in? Animals and small children pass through a circle without harm. Carry on.
Do I have to say those exact words? No. The words here are examples. Your own words, spoken with attention, work better than a script that you do not feel.
Do I need to mark the circle on the floor? You can mark it with a cord, stones, or flowers if it helps you, but it is not necessary. The circle is made by your attention.
What happens if I forget to close it? Nothing dramatic, although you may feel unsettled or tired. Close it when you remember, and ground yourself well.