Do you know "How to cast?"

Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 323 Location: USA

How many of you have read books on how to cast? Have you found one that is right for you? Have you tried it?

If you have could you please share as to what you said and your experience.

If you have not; then do not worry. You will learn Very Happy

Brightest Blessings!

Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 109

I havn't tried to cast a circle and I dont think I will until I know how to do it properly, I would like to learn though.

Brightest Blessings xx
Neit

Posted: October 19, 2006, 5:31pm

I 1st visualise the circle but then I also make a physical circle out of salt and in each quarter I put something symbolising north,south,east and west.

Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 323 Location: USA

Just to let you all know I have cast a circle, I have envisioned a circle, and others I use sage or salt. I have done the huge long drawn out casting only a few times. Rolling Eyes

I have found that ones with either a few words or just actions are enough for me. It is good to know how to do them all though Wink

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Brightest Blessings!

Joined: 27 Aug 2006 Posts: 8

I use either my athame or wand (or finger) to cast the circle. As I'm casting I visualise a white light forming the circle as I go around. Once the circle is cast I "seal" (not the best word) it with quarter candles. Before casting a circle I smudge the area to cleanse it.

Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 323 Location: USA

Since posting this I may use incense to protect my circle, but that is about all. I feel more comfortable doing the simplistic of things and still get the same results; just not so drawn out. Plus, I feel more into it when I have things done this way. I do feel though that I may have to read up on it again since it has been 2 years. I do not call quarters either Wink

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Do you think it is necessary to call quarters? Or just protect your circle? Do you always call upon your God/Goddess every time? Or do you use different Gods and Goddesses? How do you expel your energy afterward?

So many things about Circle Casting. Will have to go and write a topic about this; unless someone already has one and would like to share Wink

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Brightest Blessings!

Joined: 09 Sep 2008 Posts: 5

Before casting a circle I have my altar set up with the altar candles, incense burner,in the east of the altar; pentacle in the north of the altar; chalice in the west; athame in the east of the altar; and fire candle and wand in the south of the altar; and a small cauldron in the west of the altar. The cauldron representing water and the incense burner represening air are element carriers along with a bowl of small stones which is placed in the north representing earth and the fire candle which represents fire, of course. These element carriers are there so the elementals have a place to stay when you call them to you circle. The elementals for Earth are usually visualized as gnomes in the North; for Air sylphs in the East, for Fire salamanders in the South; for Water merpeople in the West. Some practitioners also have specifically coloured Quarter candles placed around the circle.

When casting the circle I start in the North and walk deosil and visualize a light coming from the point of my athame that 'makes' the circle as I say certain words. Actually, it is not just a flat, round circle, it's more of an egg that surrounds me to protect me and to hold the energy that I raise within it. I walk around again and sprinkle the circle with charged water and again with fire (candle) and again with the incense (air) each time saying certain words.

Some practitioners don't call on the Quarters, and that is their choice, but by doing so you make a stronger, more magical circle, to my mind.
When calling the Quarters it's important to be able to visualize what and who you are calling on. Also, invoking pentagrams are drawn in the air with the athame for each direction.

For a Full Moon ceremony the Goddess and the God are invited to the circle - after all, how can you honour the Goddess on the full moon if she is not present? If you have a patron Goddess or a special goddess you work with, then you would invite her along with your chosen god or else you can call on the Lord and Lady.

For Seasonal Rituals you could call the goddess associated with that ceremony and/or season, depending on which tradition you follow and the mythos that tradition follows. For example, for Imbolg the Celtic tradition would evoke Brigid, as it is her festival.

For spell work the goddess can always be called on to help you with the work you are doing, if you wish. If you are doing a spell for wisdom you may want to call on Thoth who could also help you if you are writing. A lovely healing Goddess would be Brighid who is also Goddess of inspiration and also manual skill.

When the rite is finished it is important to thank the Lord and Lady and say farewell, and it's very important to thank and say farewell to the Quarters and make the banishing pentagrams at each Quarter as you do so. Last but not least the circle must be banished.

Anyway, I have rambled on, hope I haven't bored you all.

Raina

Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 323 Location: USA

Thank you so much for that. I believe I needed a real good refresher course. After reading your post I just remembered. I don't think I have ever done the Pentagram at the corners before though. And when it is time to banish the circle aren't you supposed to go the quarters individually and thank them for being there? and then they leave?

I do have to admit I am going to have to get back into this. I feel so rusty just reading this post Crying or Very sad

. Pretty bad, huh? Time to recharge thy self!!!!

Brightest Blessings!

Joined: 09 Sep 2008 Posts: 5

Yes, you stand at each Quarter to call and stand at each Quarter to thank and say to farewell (or dismiss/banish). Some practitioers start in the North, as with casting the circle, but for some reason I always start in the East, then move around to South, then around to West and finally to North.

It's wise to remember that you are dealing with real energies when calling the Quarters. To some, it's not only the elementals you are calling but also the ancient Spirits who 'were' before time. To the Italian tradition of Stregheria they are known as the Grigori (or Watchers) who are guardians of the portals between the material world and the spirit worlds. At each Quarter a Grigori keeps watch (hence the term calling the Watchtowers). They have the power to allow or deny a spell or working from passing into the astral dimension where magic takes root. Some say the power of the Witch is linked to their rapport with the Watchers.

The invoking pentagram in my tradition is also different for each Quarter. When you first start there is a lot to learn but with practice it all falls together.

Raina

Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 323 Location: USA

Thank you.

I would love to know more about the Italian tradition of Stregheria. My grandmother had some teachings from this tradition. I do not remember what she called this lady (I wrote it down somewhere), but she was into this Tradition along with some others. I only got 2 of her BOS that she had. My brother got the others and my Aunt still has the main ones. I used to talk to my grandmother ALOT!! I miss her. So, if you wouldn't mind I would love to hear about what you can share with us on this lovely tradition.

Brightest Blessings!