Basic Circle Casting

Circle casting is a technique used to create secure, sacred spaces for spell casting and rituals. This is an example of how I’d typically cast a circle.

Casting Instructions for ‘Basic Circle Casting’

Light either the sage, rosemary, or dragons blood incense, based on what you have available to you. Wave the smoke over your person, imagining all dark energy (anger, frustration, worry, sadness, etc.) leaving your body and dissolving into the air. Do this until you feel that all of the negative energy is gone.
Wave the smoke over the area around you, imagining it wipe away all memory of negative energy and cleaning the space. Do this until you feel that the energy is gone, and then proceed to the eastern most quarter of your work area. Cleanse this quarter in the same way and move to the southern, western, and northern corners of your area, removing all unclean energy.
When you have finished, place the yellow candle (or white tea light) in the easternmost portion of your area. Set the red candle in the southern area, the blue candle in the western part, the green candle in the northern area, and the purple candle in the very center of your workspace. (If you dont have the colored candles available for you, use the white tea lights instead.)
Take your lighter and your wand, athame, or pointer finger, point to the east, light the candle, and recite the following: I call upon the Guardian of the East, Element of Air, of knowledge, inspiration, and humor, to come forth and join me in this circle. Air all hail, and blessed be. Draw a pentacle with your finger/wand/athame to salute the element. Envision it and your circle being joined by its qualities.
Now point to the south and light the candle, calling out: I call upon the Guardian of the South, Element of Fire, of passion, enthusiasm, and boldness, to come forth and join me in this circle. Fire all hail, and blessed be. Salute Fire along with your wand/athame/index finger and picture it and its attributes joining your circle.
Point to the west of your area, ignite its own candle, and recite: I call upon the Guardian of the West, Element of Water, of healing, love, and kindness, to come forth and join me in this circle. All hail, Water, and blessed be. Salute Water and envision it and its attributes joining your circle.
Now aim your finger/wand/athame at the northern quarter of your workspace. Start to recite the following: I call upon the Guardian of the North, Element of Earth, of power, perseverance, and prosperity, to come forth and join me in this circle. All hail, Earth, and blessed be. Salute the component and picture it coming to join you at the circle, granting you all of its qualities.
Now bring your attention into the center of your circle and light the candle. Recite:
I call upon the Guardian of the middle, Element of Spirit, of itself, divination and the divine, to come forth and join me in this circle. All hail, Spirit, and blessed be. Salute the component Spirit and feel it coming from within you, further strengthening your circle.
It is optional to sprinkle salt around the borders of your circle for extra protection, purification, and grounding, but only do so if you’re indoors. (Salt can kill plants.) Always make certain to sweep up afterwards.
Now, your circle is cast, and you’re ready to work inside of it. Be sure not to leave the circle for any reason until you are finished and have taken it down.
Bear in mind that a whole lot of this is taste. Not all traditions utilize the Spirit element, some start the circle with Earth instead of Air, some alter the positioning of Spirit, some dont salute the elements, some use other objects as opposed to candles to symbolize the components, and a few use no objects in any way. It is up to you. This is the way I personally prefer to cast a circle and it is very Wiccan-based. This is only here to give an example and to, hopefully, give you inspiration in your own craft. Blessings on you, as always. :-RRB-

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