casting a circle

[Elaine]

this may be a silly question, but I'm a little confused....I'm doing some studying with this outline I found....and it has me confused....it is talking about casting a circle and then it says to name one method for opening the circle after you cast it.....am I missing something....or are they just talking about starting the ritual after you have casted the circle?? or do you open the circle after you cast it....this is the first I've seen this...Please help....I feel silly but I'm really confused!!! Thanks a bunch.....Elaine:)

[Emy]

I am not quite sure I know how you mean...
You cast a circle before doing your magickal workings, rituals or whatever... and then when you are done you open the circle, thank the god/dess etc. But maybe you are talking about making sort of a door in the circle, say you need something outside the circle once you've cast it and you are not done with your rituals...?

I am not sure I helped you here, perhaps you could be a little more specific in your question?

Blessings

[Elaine]

see that's the problem...I tried:)

-You cast a circle before doing your magickal workings, rituals or whatever... and then when you are done you open the circle, thank the god/dess etc. -

I think that's it....yeah!!! when you're done you open the circle...it's that....what is that....is that just the starting of the actual ritual part after you cast the circle or does it have something to do with the circle specifically.....?????

I'm trying to be as clear as I can with this question...problem is this is just an outline I'm going through that I got off some website or something....so I can only be specific to a point considering I'm confused!!:) I hope this is better....thanks Emy...I hope this is better....

[Emy]

Oki I think I know what you mean now :)

Well, right before you start your workings you cast the circle (clockwise, starting at north), and then you do all that is to be done within the circle, calling elements, spellworkings, rituals or whatever you are there for, perhaps only a meditation, then after you've had your cakes and ale (if you'll have that) and all is done, you start opening the circle by moving anticlockwise (starting at north), you draw back the energy into you athame, wand, hand or finger (depending on what you used when you casted it...) and as you do this (or just before you do this) you thank the god/dess, elements, yourself etc.

So you could say I guess, that you end your ritual with opening the circle. :) After opening you are done (except for putting the stuff you used in the ritual away, like tools etc.)!

So am I any help here? And also perhaps we should move this thread to magic and rituals... :)

B*B

[Elaine]

I'm never really good at figuring out exactly where to post my questions...whenever I ask something someone always says we should move it:D sorry:)

If I'm still confused here, I apologise...but casting the circle is at the beginning...before you do everything and then opening the circle is the end of it....is it the same thing as closing the circle....?? Maybe I should re-read all of this when I don't have this headache!! please let me know if I'm right or wrong here...I'm sorry to be such a pain, but I really feel like I'm getting somewhere with my studying lately and it's bothering me that I can't figure this out!! Thanks for your help....

[Lavender]

When you're casting a circle, you are, in a sense, creating the circle. Imagine a physical circle forming all around you. Going clockwise. As you're going around, you're forming the "walls" of the circle. Like an enclosure...or a sphere.

When you're done your rituals, you open the circle, like opening a door to let everyone go home. Or gathering up your circle walls. Going counterclockwise.

I have also seen rituals where the circle is cast & then open to let guests join. It's like creating a doorway in your circle or sphere.

[Elaine]

ohhhhhhhh....I see...thanks Wildchild that's what I thought ...it makes sense:) thanks again Emy....:D