Help with Research

[AineDanu]

Hello, my name is AineDanu, and I am in a witch course. The class has a few question that I need a variety of answers for and so I was hoping if I post them here I may get a few peoples views.

Question one:

When doing magick why do you or do you not raise a circle? Do you believe that a circle is necessary to do magick?

Question two:
If you do raise a circle - When do you do so? For what activities?

Question three:

Generally how do you raise your circle? It does not have to be a detailed answer.

Thank you for anyone who helps me - I am supposed to get six points of view and I do not have that many people to ask.

[Starannon]

These are good questions, and I doubt I'll be of much help, but at least you'll have one point of view:) I do not personally find it necessary to cast a circle. I am one of few people that I myself know who will say that:shhhh: To me, the magic/energy is something that requires only one tool...the person whose intent it is. Now don't get me wrong...I'm not faulting the casting of circles. In groups, I find them wondrous to participate in. They are great aids to focusing. But I have gotten to the point in my own practice where most everything is internalized. I don't feel a need anymore for many "outer trappings" because my beliefs and practices are so ingrained within myself that my "self" is really all I find necessary. Okay, I'm starting to ramble now, so I'll just leave it at that. Hope I've helped some.

[Sage Rainsong]

Many people do not believe in casting a circle. To thoes that do there are many different meanings. First of all many people view it as sort of a protective bubble. Not that there are all sorts of evil forces around but lets say you are doing a ritual in the middle of a city. The chaotic energy may not be good for the ritual. Also it is seen as a space between worlds. It is a way of mentally seperating the mundane and the spiritual worlds. Many people who cast circles may say something like, We are in a time that is not a time and in a soace that is not a space." or something similar. Third it can be seen as a container of sorts. In a typical wiccan ritual, one is calling in energy, focusing it and then sending it off into the universe. It may be helpful to think of it as a cauldron. Hope this helps!

[Zephyrstorm]

Hello, my name is AineDanu, and I am in a witch course. The class has a few question that I need a variety of answers for and so I was hoping if I post them here I may get a few peoples views.

Question one:

When doing magick why do you or do you not raise a circle? Do you believe that a circle is necessary to do magick?

It depends on the magic. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Magick can be done without the circle quite easily, but it's smart to have some safeguards for some kinds of spellcraft and rituals.



Question two:
If you do raise a circle - When do you do so? For what activities?


Circles for me are for Sabbats, for times when it's absolutely necessary that I not be distracted. Drawing Down the Moon requires a Circle, for example.
Most of the time though, I don't use them.



Question three:

Generally how do you raise your circle? It does not have to be a detailed answer.


I mark the boundary, prepare it physically then cleanse it, establish the boundary magically, then ask the Elements to enter and assist me.



Thank you for anyone who helps me - I am supposed to get six points of view and I do not have that many people to ask.

Good luck, :) Those are good questions. And I'm positive there are as many answers as people.

[Tabbykitty]

Question one:

When doing magick why do you or do you not raise a circle? Do you believe that a circle is necessary to do magick?

No, not for everything. Certain simple spells may be done with everyday materials without the need of circles.

Casting a circle helps to focus both the attention of the caster and the energies involved on what you want to do. It also protects the caster because quite a lot of magickal workings beyond simple candle and knot spells do tend to attract the attention of passing spirits.

Now, a lot of these spirits are just curious and are content to just watch. However, personally I don't like to take the chance that they will not interfere somehow. Thus the circle keeps out unwanted interference.




Question two:
If you do raise a circle - When do you do so? For what activities?


Actually I would even cast a circle for divination. Simply because it is very easy for entities and other stuff out there to distort the result. If knowing the correct answers matter enough then casting a circle before asking anything helps to minimise the likelihood of errors.

Some activities where i usually cast a circle for include:
1. creation of a magickally charged item that usually requires more than just a few lines of incantation.

2. summoning and banishment

3. healing. I work with the ancestors a lot and casting a circle for me brings them together.

well, some people might think I'm just fussy and uber paranoid but after going through a whole lot of crap..... the one thing I have learned is that one can't be too careful when it comes to magick.


Question three:

Generally how do you raise your circle? It does not have to be a detailed answer.


That's one question I cannot answer.

Besides different traditions have different ways of casting a circle. What matters is knowing why you are doing what you are doing at certain junctures of your ritual or spell. Why certain words are said or certain objects used or actions done. It has to mean exactly what you want it to mean without room for ambiguity. Because in quite a lot of circumstanes, ambiguity can result in some unforseen results when your spell or ritual takes effect.

[AineDanu]

Starannon,
You were a great help. The truth is I agree with you. So far I have not found it to be necessary. In truth I have only done one circle ceremony. I would love to be involved in a few more just to feel the energy and have the experience. As for the assignment - I was supposed to get different peoples points of view and so your answer is perfect:) Thank you for taking the time to answer my post.

With love and hugs,
AineDanu

[AineDanu]

Sage Rainsong,
Thank you for giving that point of view. This is really going to help my assignment (and my own knowledge). Thank you for taking the time to answer my post. I appreciate it very much.

With love and hugs,
AineDanu

[AineDanu]

Zephyrstorm,
Thank you for your answers and explanations that will really help me with the last two questions. I was really afraid I was not going to be able to complete this asignment so I thank you very much for offering your assistance.

With love and hugs,
AineDanu

[AineDanu]

Wow Tabby,
You said a lot there that I had not considered. Thank you for posting your ways. I am glad that I got so many different answers for each of you has helped me with not only my homework but with better defining my own thoughts on the subject.

Thanks again for your time and effort.
With love and hugs
AineDanu

[RainInanna]

One. A circle contains the energy until I'm ready to disperse it, it provides a designated sacred space clear from all other vibrations in which to do ritual, and is a mental key to put me in the mood for magic and the sacred. It is a place that is not a place and a time that is not a time, an area between the worlds where we bring ideas from our mind and first introduce them to the universe.

The circle is not necessary but it is helpful for the aforementioned reasons.

Two. Anytime, for any reason. I tend to cast a circle whether I'm doing an elaborate ritual, casting cards for a reading, or just want to sit quietly and read.

Three. I ground, center, and raise energy through my chakras to the solar plexus and through my finger or athame, usually clockwise, from east to east. Once the circle is drawn on the horizontal, I visualize it expanding into three dimensions, forming a sphere around me. Usually I mentally clear the energy, though sometimes I clear the air by doing an LBRP prior to casting.

[AineDanu]

Thank you RainInanna,
All of these different methods really help with my assignment. I am so glad that I "accidentally" found MysticWicks.

Thank you again for your time and effort.
With love and hugs,
AineDanu

[Djinn]

When doing magick why do you or do you not raise a circle? Do you believe that a circle is necessary to do magick?

When I'm doing magic by myself, I don't raise a circle. I just don't feel like I need one. Same with holidays--when I'm alone I keep it simple. But when I'm working with a group I like to work in circle.

If you do raise a circle - When do you do so? For what activities?

I like it for ritual in groups, sabbats, stuff like that. A circle pulls the energies in, makes everything more focused. The more people you have in a group the harder it is to get them all going in the same direction, and a circle helps with that.


Generally how do you raise your circle? It does not have to be a detailed answer.


Scribe the circle with an athame or chalk or a torch...pick something appropriate. After that I call the quarters, then purify the space with salt water or incense or both. And that's all. I don't have an elaborate procedure for casting a circle. This is a pretty general casting that I picked up somewhere and have used ever since.

[AineDanu]

Thank you Djinn,
Everyones answers have helped me greatly and I am very grateful to you for taking the time to answer my questions.

With love and hugs,
AineDanu