Everything Under the Moon

I've circle cast so many times..once you do it a number of times, it almost becomes second nature.
Traditionally witches cast clockwise. .. And traditionally they start facing North. (you can use a boline, Athame, finger, and visualize a positive light big enough to suit all your magickal needs. ( you, your altar, any herbs, oils, candles, ect you may need) during your Spell workings. Build up your energies il the cone of power is ready to be released..
The circle puts you in a suspended area between worlds and protects you. Make sure this area is saged, smudged, ect...
If you use elemental power, call upon them.
Being in the circle should make you feel safe, not frightened.
And the first few times you do it, you may stumble over your words... Don't worry! Everyone does. But practice makes perfect. Pretty soon, you will be adding new exciting wonderful things to your circle that aren't written in any books. Things that make you feel empowered..
Energetic.. You may even invite a loved one inside your circle. Always remember.. Perfect love and perfect trust. Don't let them enter the circle without it.

Have fun, it's not supposed to be scary.

I cast widdershins as I am in the Southern Hemisphere

I don't always cast a circle when I am at home because the area is already protected. My home is like one gigantic circle. So for small spells I don't always cast one. When working spells that require manipulation of lots of energy, I cast.

I follow the hermetic teachings of
As above, so below, &
As within, so without.

The circle is used to generate a microcosm of The universe. (the macrocosm)
The interface between the circle and the universe is my will.

Depending on what you are manifesting, you may use different types of circles. You may even draw them on the ground. You may add a triangle if you are practicing invocation/evocation.

It feels clunky at first, but eventually you get the hang of it.

Brightest blessings

Ahh... My apologies, as to this minor detail.
It depends on where you are on the earth .. To how you cast.
And when I'm outside, I not only make a circle with my wand/Athame or boline, I sometimes use salt and/or rocks/flowers/ branches/leaves ect.. Depending on the place or time of year or what's available.

So many options available!

Blessings!

Aw mama you forgot us southern hemi fairies!!!!



Chalk on a huge outdoor rock like you find in a river bed works well. It washes away in the rain.

I've also used rocks to form the circle. the nice thing about practicing in nature is you meet the spirits of the land who inhabit that place. They often live in rocks. I always take trash out of any natural place after I have used it as a sign that I am caring for their place.

Look after the land and the land looks after you.

Tracing in the sand on a beach works too. It's summer here so we can be outside happily.

Blessings

You are correct! I didn't put on my thinking cap on, because when I cast outside, there's no pavement for me to draw with chalk-rock...(oops)
My usual go to spot is near my beautiful Willow, or near the crossroads by my home. (some abandoned homes nearby) so I can (near 2-4am) cast without prying eyes.

When casting, it's best to only let fellow witches witness... If your a solitary. And if your going Skyclad, you must feel comfortable, so keep this in mind.
I suggest you do much research research before practicing .
Write all your questions down in your BOS about any and everything your curious about. Then research it. And put the answers in your BOS... .. Read it, and re read it.. Then if any more questions come up, do the same.
At that point, you may feel comfortable enough to cast circles.
And after a while you will either feel it's second nature, or you won't.

And remember, some witches don't cast circles, but do cast spells. There are several reasons for circle casting. A few are to protect the witch from other worldly things if you are drawing a large amount of energy. Another is to hold in your energy inside an area and creating a cone of power. .. Do some research on this, to see if you feel circle casting suits your needs.

I have done some pretty powerful spells, and I am a "safety lady" so almost always cast circles. I'm am also an Empath.. So it's a necessity for me.
Research, research, research!!!

Blessings

MD don't you also find that circle casting kind of banishes anything neggy too and leaves you feeling kind of cleared afterwards.

It's definitely worthwhile checking out the whole cone of power concept.

Some of my most powerful spells have been in circles. Be careful with the full moon, you can raise a lot of power. It's surprising the results you can achieve. It's also surprising the colossal stuff that can go awry with a poorly specified spell!

Once I was determined to 'remove negativity' from a house I was in. Certain people and things were literally removed a few days later in a manner I did not intend or want! WOOPS!

So don't just perform generic spells - specify. You can actually create chaos with sloppy spell casting ....

Blessings

Yup! I always always smudge and salt area before casting. .. A dash of Blessed water never hurt positive things either! I've been told that I over cleanse, but I think to myself, "is there any such thing when dealing with negative stuff??"
I've never felt threatened after casting either..
Must be doing something right!

May Hecate's torch guide you!