Casting the Circle

Anon


Needs:

  • Altar
  • 2 Altar Candles
  • Water Bowl
  • Salt Dish
  • Pentacle
  • Censer
  • Athame
  • Bell
  • Presence Lamp
  • 4 Quarter Candles
  • Sword (optional)
  • Candle Snuffer (optional)

Let all be fit to enter into the presence of the Gods.

Start in the dark.

Ritual Leader waits until it feels like time to begin, then rises:

Lighting of the Candle

R:

I light this Candle (lights Presence Lamp)
in the name of that ancient presence,
which is, was, and ever shall be
male, female, all-knowing, all-powerful
and present everywhere.

And in the names of the four Mighty Ones,
the rulers of the elements,
may power and blessing descend
in this hour upon this place
and those gathered here.

R lights the two altar candles, the charcoal, and the four quarter candles from the Presence Lamp.

Exorcism of the Water

R kneels before the altar and places the Water Bowl upon the Pentacle.

R purifies the water by plunging the tip of his/her athame into the water, saying:

R:

I exorcise thee, O Creature of Water, that thou cast out from thee all the impurity and uncleanliness of the world of phantasm. In the names of Cernunnos and Cerridwen.

Blessing of the Salt

R sets the Water Bowl aside and in its place sets the Salt Dish upon the Pentacle. R touches salt with tip of athame, saying:

R:

Blessings be upon thee, O Creature of Salt; let all malignity and hindrance be cast forth from thee, and let all good enter within. Wherefore do I bless and consecrate thee, that thou mayest aid me. In the names of Cernunnos and Cerridwen.

Using the tip of the athame, R takes three measures of salt and puts it into the water, then stirs deosil three times with the athame, saying:

R:

But ever mind that as water and salt purifies the body, so the scourge purifies the soul. So mote it be!

Casting the Circle

R draws a circle, continuous from north deosil unto north with the Sword (or athame), saying:

R:

I conjure thee, O Circle of Power, that thou beest a boundary between the world of men and the realms of the Mighty Ones; a meeting place of love and joy and truth; a shield against all wickedness and evil; a rampart and protection that shall preserve and contain the power that we raise within thee. Wherefore do I bless thee, and consecrate thee, in the names of Cernunnos and Cerridwen.

(If others are without, a gate is opened, and they are now brought into the Circle with a kiss, and the Circle is resealed.)

Consecration of the Circle with the Four Elements

R takes up the consecrated water and asperges the Circle with his/her fingertips, from north deosil unto north; and then touches each person within with the water, being touched in turn by his/her working partner (or another of the opposite sex to R, if available). Water Bowl is returned to altar.

R then takes up the censer, and likewise censes the Circle from north unto north.

Lastly R takes around the Presence Lamp (or a candle lit from the Presence Lamp and returned to it).

Calling the Mighty Ones

All stand and salute the East. R stands in front of group facing East. Maiden stands at back of group with the Bell. M rings Bell.

With athame, R draws three deosil circles and then an invoking earth pentagram, saying:

R:

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, ye Lords of Air; I, N....., do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and guard the Circle!

All turn and face South. Ritual Leader and Maiden move to corresponding positions; others just turn in place. M rings Bell.

With athame, R draws three deosil circles and then an invoking earth pentagram, saying:

R:

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the South, ye Lords of Fire; I, N....., do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and guard the Circle!

Similarly, in West:

R:

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the West, ye Lords of Water; Lords of Death and Initiation; I, N....., do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and guard the Circle!

And in North:

R:

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the North, ye Lords of Earth; Boreas, thou Guardian of the Northern Portals; I, N....., do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and guard the Circle!

All turn back to the East and salute.

Now all turn to North again. M rings Bell. R says:

R:

Ye Mighty Ones,
Lords of the Watchtowers of the Universe,
Dread Lords of the outer spaces,
Thou powerful God, thou gentle Goddess,
We invite you to our meeting.
(pause)
O thou Loving Cerridwen.
O thou Mighty Cernunnos,
we gather (I stand) before you to ...." (state intent)

The Circle is now perfect.


Fast Forward
2019-05-28
Kindly Pagans, White Supremacists Hold Dueling Gatherings In Southern State Park


Keep the Faith
2019-05-27
Young black women are leaving Christianity and embracing African witchcraft

CBN News
2019-05-27
Atlanta Church Hires Psychic Medium to Minister to Congregation

The Week
2019-05-25
The princess of Norway and her shaman lover

Religion News Service
2019-05-24
Getting in on - and tossed out of - the Satanist Temple joke - Religion News Service

More Articles

Quote of the moment:
It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion. It is by the Coca-Cola that the thoughts acquire speed, the lips acquire stains, the stains become a warning. It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion.

This site has received hits since Aug 4, 2000

COPYLEFT:
The entire content of all public pages in The Pagan Library (graphics, text and HTML) are free information, released under the terms of the GPL. All copyrighted items mentioned are the property of their respective owners, and no form of ownership or endorsement is implied.

Last modified: August 19 2018 14:58:32