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Casting the Circle

Needs: Altar, 2 Altar Candles, Water Bowl, Salt Dish, Pentacle, Censer, Athame, Bell; Presence Lamp; 4 Quarter Candles; Sword (optional), Candle Snuffer (optional)

Let all be fit to enter into the presence of the Gods.

Start in the dark.

Ritual Leader waits until it feels like time to begin, then rises:

LIGHTING OF THE CANDLE:

Ritual Leader:

I light this Candle (lights Presence Lamp)

in the name of that ancient presence,

which is, was, and ever shall be

male, female, all-knowing, all-powerful

and present everywhere.

And in the names of the four Mighty Ones,

the rulers of the elements,

may power and blessing descend

in this hour upon this place

and those gathered here.

Ritual Leader lights the two altar candles, the charcoal, and the four quarter candles from the Presence Lamp.

EXORCISM OF THE WATER:

Ritual Leader kneels before the altar and places the Water Bowl upon the Pentacle.

R purifies the water by plunging the tip of his/her athame into the water, saying:

Ritual Leader:

I exorcise thee, O Creature of Water, that thou cast out from thee all the impurity and uncleanliness of the world of phantasm. In the names of Cernunnos and Cerridwen.

BLESSING OF THE SALT:

Ritual Leader sets the Water Bowl aside and in its place sets the Salt Dish upon the Pentacle. R touches salt with tip of athame, saying:

Ritual Leader:

Blessings be upon thee, O Creature of Salt; let all malignity and hindrance be cast forth from thee, and let all good enter within. Wherefore do I bless and consecrate thee, that thou mayest aid me. In the names of Cernunnos and Cerridwen.

Using the tip of the athame, Ritual Leader takes three measures of salt and puts it into the water, then stirs deosil three times with the athame, saying:

Ritual Leader:

But ever mind that as water and salt purifies the body, so the scourge purifies the soul. So mote it be!

CASTING THE CIRCLE:

Ritual Leader draws a circle, continuous from north deosil unto north with the Sword (or athame), saying:

Ritual Leader:

I conjure thee, O Circle of Power, that thou beest a boundary between the world of men and the realms of the Mighty Ones; a meeting place of love and joy and truth; a shield against all wickedness and evil; a rampart and protection that shall preserve and contain the power that we raise within thee. Wherefore do I bless thee, and consecrate thee, in the names of Cernunnos and Cerridwen.

(If others are without, a gate is opened, and they are now brought into the Circle with a kiss, and the Circle is resealed.)

CONSECRATION OF THE CIRCLE WITH THE FOUR ELEMENTS:

Ritual Leader takes up the consecrated water and asperges the Circle with his/her fingertips, from north deosil unto north; and then touches each person within with the water, being touched in turn by his/her working partner (or another of the opposite sex to R, if available). Water Bowl is returned to altar.

Ritual Leader then takes up the censer, and likewise censes the Circle from north unto north.

Lastly Ritual Leader takes around the Presence Lamp (or a candle lit from the Presence Lamp and returned to it).

CALLING THE MIGHTY ONES:

All stand and salute the East. Ritual Leader stands in front of group facing East. Maiden stands at back of group with the Bell. M rings Bell.

With athame, Ritual Leader draws three deosil circles and then an invoking earth pentagram, saying:

Ritual Leader:

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, ye Lords of Air; I, N....., do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and guard the Circle!

All turn and face South. Ritual Leader and Maiden move to corresponding positions; others just turn in place. M rings Bell.

With athame, Ritual Leader draws three deosil circles and then an invoking earth pentagram, saying:

Ritual Leader:

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the South, ye Lords of Fire; I, N....., do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and guard the Circle!

Similarly, in West:

Ritual Leader:

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the West, ye Lords of Water; Lords of Death and Initiation; I, N....., do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and guard the Circle!

And in North:

Ritual Leader:

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the North, ye Lords of Earth; Boreas, thou Guardian of the Northern Portals; I, N....., do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and guard the Circle!

All turn back to the East and salute.

Now all turn to North again. M rings Bell. Ritual Leader says:

Ritual Leader:

Ye Mighty Ones,

Lords of the Watchtowers of the Universe,

Dread Lords of the outer spaces,

Thou powerful God, thou gentle Goddess,

We invite you to our meeting.

(pause)

O thou Loving Cerridwen.

O thou Mighty Cernunnos,

we gather (I stand) before you to ...." (state intent)

The Circle is now perfect.

NOTES

Adapted from Farrars' Eight Sabbats for Witches, but published all over the place in several versions.

'Lighting of Candle' added by Khaled, Sekhet & Random.

'Exorcism of Water' & 'Blessing of Salt' closely follow those of the Key of Solomon, Book 2, Chapt. V.