Casting a physical circle

[Rosana]

Do you mark physical boundaries of the circle? If so, how?

I do some kind of sanctyfing the space rather than casting a "formal" circle but I like to have a boundaries marked by stones or candles. Just for mood :hahugh:

[Mouse]

Always. An unbroken circle boundary, usually powdered chalk, salt, sulfur or sand. (or a mixture) For training usually flour will do because it's inexpensive and not as time consumeing as grinding up chalk. Salt can't be used in that quantity outside.

For serious workings it's dangerous to mark the circle with fire.

[arianrhods_daughter]

Yes, salt, drawn, or a hand plaited piece of rope that I have tied together, if very informal then I just mark the boundaries with quarter cups or my stones while in prayer or deeper level meditation. I never use salt outside as it hurts the earth

[Chesna]

Do you mark physical boundaries of the circle? If so, how?


Usually no..but for an Ostara ritual I did last year we marked the circle using rose petals..it was very pretty and neat....


Chesna

[DebLipp]

For most circles, I find that quarter candles are enough of a marking to allow you to visualize a circle running through them. Altar in the center, candle at each circle, and it's easy to see the "invisible" boundaries in between.

For certain circles where the boundaries are more serious, I generally use coarse salt. A rope can also be used. I have friends who use a rug that is permanently marked with the circle, and then rolled up afterwards.

[Tabbykitty]

I think marking physical boundaries for a circle depends on the following:

1. Type of path the caster is following. Indeed there are some paths that do not require physical markings and the circle, or the idea of the circle is formed through actions, chants or mantras.

2. Place of casting. It might not be necessary for a person to draw a physical circle if the caster is in a place that has been made sacred or set aside for rituals and magick, since the place has already been prepared. Circles are often cast for the purposes of clearing out a space and for making sure that no foreign entities or energies disrupt said ritual.

Marking out a circle physically just reinforces the ideas and meaning behind the markings and provides a measure of reassurance to the participants in the ritual. It is good especially when casting in a place filled with foreign energies or a place unfamilar to the participants.

3. The participants. Especially in groups where not all of the practicioners are on the same path. Marking out a circle physically serves as either an agreement between all participants or a reminder of what they have agreed upon beforehand and reminds them to carry out their agreed upon actions during the ritual.

4. Energy and vibration of certain objects and glyphs. Practicioners of certain paths believe that certain items, markings or glyphs project a certain type of energy or vibration. If the path places heavy emphasis on having an actual depiction of a certain type of circle, then it is entirely appropriate for the practicioner to actually draw it out somehow.

[cheddarsox]

Earth friendly circle materials....plain clay kitty litter, bird seed, baseball "chalk" (ask your local gravestone carving store for "dust" from carving.)Oyster shell, sold ground at feed stores for chickens, chicken grit (usually granite) also sold at feed stores.

These are all cheap, earth friendly, and safe to work with.

cheddar

[WitchCraftWeaver]

When I cast my first circle, I put down a circle of cotton rope. I just never took it up. But I do have candles to mark the Quarters. A friend actually took glass votive candle holders, the ones that are kind of round and only flat on the bottom, and put a special clay around them and made them into "mini cauldrons". They came complete with flames up the sides and logs under the bottom of the cauldron. I have one for each Quarter in the corresponding colors, i.e. Air=Yellow, Fire=Red, Water=Blue and Earth=Green. They are very cool looking.

[Acid09]

Drawing a circle in the ground marks an infanite number of points on a circle. It also marks the equator of a sphere. I mark out the cardinal directions because each marks another equator. North to south, visa versa, east to west, visa versa. Then depending on my intentions I may mark out any number of points that can signify any number of things - familiers, points in time and my life, dieties, portals, dimentions, separate steps to a ritual ect ect. All of which are pre-set to be in relation to the four cardinal directions signifying my micro-cosmic, sphere. I may also incorperate any number of additional geometric shapes. I work mostly with astral/trance elemental work but I have experiemented with other forms of magick.

[brymble]

i mark the circle boundary by pushing the dirty laundry out of the way!

actually i'll draw a circle with a stick or my athame if i'm outdoors, or cast a circle with cord, stones, or tea-lights. but then sometimes, i don't even bother with a circle at all. it depends on multiple factors (like whether the laundry's so dense i can't push it away, or if it's been sitting there so long it bites me when i try.)

did anyone read terry pratchet's lords and ladies? i was really stuck by the humble power of nanny ogg "casting a circle" by dragging her boot in the dirt.

[Cindlady2]

i mark the circle boundary by pushing the dirty laundry out of the way!

actually I'll draw a circle with a stick or my athame if I'm outdoors, or cast a circle with cord, stones, or tea-lights. but then sometimes, i don't even bother with a circle at all. it depends on multiple factors (like whether the laundry's so dense i can't push it away, or if it's been sitting there so long it bites me when i try.)

did anyone read terry pratchet's lords and ladies? i was really stuck by the humble power of nanny ogg "casting a circle" by dragging her boot in the dirt.

Yep, you do what you got to do sometimes!
Most of the time it's a "energy circle" marked with my athame. I feel for the most part that's all I need. Some people feel it better when they actually see the circle and that's OK too. If I"m doing something very complex or need stronger protection, I will make sure it's a physical circle.
Also in our groups we make sure we have a nice heavy one everyone can see!
We have a lot of klutzes in our group! LOL

And yup, I've done a few heel of the boot ones too! LOL:abadpoker

[omar]

Outside I sometimes trace a circle with my sword or spear or use stones, inside I used candles till I almost burnt the house down. No more candles.