The what, why, and how of casting an energetic circle before your ritual or spell.
So many spells and rituals start with the instruction: “First, cast a circle.”
A magical circle is a sphere of protection and energetic container that you build around yourself before your ritual. It keeps you safe from negative energy and helps you hold the magical energy you raise.
For a single magic worker or solitary witch, it’s around 5 or 6 feet in diameter, but for a group it would be larger (depending on the size of the group).
You can visually define your circle with something like a ring of candles or scarves, a round rug, or perhaps just symbolic items at the four cardinal points to represent the elements. But it’s also perfectly fine to cast a circle that exists exclusively in the ether.
To reiterate, a magic circle serves two main purposes.
First, a magical circle provides protection. When you cast a circle, you cast it with the intention that only positive and beneficent energies may enter or dwell within. This way, you need not worry about picking up any energies or currents that are not for your highest good or the highest good of your ritual or spell.
Second, a magical circle serves as a container for your personal energy as well as the energy you conjure. The circle clarifies and magnifies your power. Have you ever put a cell phone in a cereal bowl to amplify its sound? It’s a lot like that.
Or, you can imagine the energy you raise during your ritual is like making homemade soup in a cauldron, adding a little rosemary here and a little garlic there. The circle, of course, is your cauldron.
Below you’ll find step-by-step instructions on casting a circle simply and easily. You can start here. Once you’re familiar with the practice and the energetics of it, you can feel free to tweak it and make it your own.
Step 1: Find Your Spot
Find a flat, open space (indoors or out) where you can be safe and undisturbed.
Step 2: Determine the Cardinal Points
Identify the four cardinal directions using a compass (there’s probably one on your phone).
Step 3: Place Elemental Symbols
Place a simple representation of each of the four elements at each corresponding point around an imagined circle, about 5 or 6 feet in diameter: Earth/north, Air/east, Fire/south, Water/west.
Here are some ideas for items you might choose to represent the elements around your magic circle:
Earth: rock, crystal, potted plant, ceramic dish
Air: feather, incense with holder, sage bundle
Fire: candle, essential oil burner with tea light
Water: sea shell, chalice with water in it.
Step 4: Invoke the Elements
Stand facing east, in the center of the circle.
Relax and breathe consciously until you feel calm, centered, and present.
Envision the dawn. Conjure up the feeling of wind whipping around you. Say, “Spirits of Air, I call on you.”
Face south.
Envision crackling flames and the hot noonday sun. Say, “Spirits of Fire, I call on you.”
Face west.
Imagine you are at the ocean at sunset, standing in the waves. Say, “Spirits of Water, I call on you.”
Face north.
Imagine standing barefoot on soil in an ancient forest at midnight. Say, “Spirits of Earth, I call on you.”
Face east again.
Become very aware of your feet.
Imagine you are sending a column or roots of light from your tailbone, legs, and feet, deep into the core of the Earth.
Plug into the sphere of golden earth energy at the core of the earth. Much like electricity when you plug something into an outlet, imagine the earth energy easily and quickly moving up from the center of the earth and into your body. Breathe in this nourishing earth energy feeling it center you and steady you. Say, “Mother Earth, I call on you.”
Now, envision sending a trunk or column of light up from the crown of your head, out of the earth’s atmosphere and into the Infinite Cosmos. Imagine there is a giant, blindingly bright sun at the center of everything which symbolizes infinity and infinite power. Sense that light naturally and quickly moving down from the infinite sun and down into your body. Say, “Father Sky, I call on you.”
Within your magic circle, feel protected and contained on all sides, as well as from above and below. Feel gratitude for this Divine support and say, “The circle is cast. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Blessed be.”
Step 5: Work Your Magic
Now’s the time to sit or stand in the center of your magic circle and meditate, visualize, invoke divine support, or otherwise work your magic.
Step 6: Thank the Elements and Open the Circle
When you’re finished with your spiritual work, be sure to thank each element as well as the earth and cosmos. This is part of closing your magic circle, and releasing the energy it contains.
To do this, stand again.
Feel your gratitude for the support of the elements as well as the earth and cosmos.
Face north. Say, “Earth, you were here, and I thank you.”
Face west. Say, “Water, you were here, and I thank you.”
Face south. Say, “Fire, you were here, and I thank you.”
Face east. Say, “Air, you were here, and I thank you.”
Still facing east, say, “Mother Earth, you were here, and I thank you.”
Say, “Father Sky, you were here, and I thank you.”
Say, “Thank you, thank you, thank you. Blessed be. And so it is.”
After feeling your gratitude for a moment more, say “The circle is open, but never broken. The love of the Goddess is forever in my heart. Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again.”
Feel, sense, and imagine the energy you raised within your magic circle being released and swirling beautifully into the ether. Trust that your magic will do its work, and know in your heart that your magic is complete.
Do you have any questions about how to cast a circle? Feel free to chime in below!
And if you try this, be sure to come on back and let me know how it went.
Rochelle broter says
Does the feather have to be real
Tess Whitehurst says
No – it’s just a symbolic representation of the air element. Whatever feels powerful for the purpose will work.
Tracy says
You state that west is air and east is water. But then when you start the circle you say ‘face east and envisage and call air. The same for west you call for water. What way round should it be?
Tess Whitehurst says
Hey thanks for pointing that out! That was a typo and now it’s fixed. It’s always west/water, east/air. 🙂
Dee says
Years ago, I followed directions from a book. I cast a circle, that I considered to be magical. I had a really good experience. However, fairly recently, I cast a circle and I felt like it was not working, or that I didn’t do it right. Am I doing something wrong, inside, because it wasn’t the first time?
Could it be that I don’t expect my circle to be magical, like I did in the beginning, and that’s why it isn’t working? Do I need to expect or visualize something special? Any thoughts about what I need to do “internally”, to make my circle work?
I want to get it right!
Thanks!
Tess Whitehurst says
Hi Dee! Sort of like with exercise, some days magic feels really easy and fabulous, and other days it might be a bit more challenging to feel like you’re in the zone. Regular daily meditations and spending time in nature are the best things I’ve found for keeping me in a magical mindset. This post might also help: https://tesswhitehurst.com/5-secrets-to-working-magic-that-works/
von junzt says
I think it is your frame of mind more than your actual practice. Sometimes I play guitar and I feel like I am at the top of the world and I am really expressing myself. Other times I feel like I am going through the motions and playing the same old tired stuff. In a word: uninspired. It is the same way with Magick (for me). Your circle may ‘work’ just fine but you’re just not feeling it. The water element is often represented by cups, which represent emotion in Tarot readings. It would be interesting to flip through a deck of Tarot before or after a circle casting and see which cup comes up first. This may indicate your emotional state. Perhaps keep flipping until you get a cups card you like, such as the two of cups (Lord of Love) or the Queen of Cups (nurturing) then cast the circle again. These are just some ideas. You stated “it felt like it was not working” or “that I didn’t do it right.” The ‘felt” part is represented in the west, by water and the suit of cups (corresponding to hearts in playing cards) and the “didn’t do it right” part seems to me like you thought about the rite and doubted its efficacy. Thought corresponds to air in the east and the suit of swords in the Tarot. There are many correspondences in the world of Magick, and Tarot doesn’t have to be used of course. But feeling doubt and then analyzing what happened is a path fraught with the danger of disappointment (5 of cups). My idea is to give the spirit of air the correct token (like your favorite Tarot card in the suit of swords, maybe the Ace of Swords) or something that represents air or mind as a magical correspondence. Replace that feather. Use an herb that corresponds to air. Or the bones of a bird. Or a photo of a heron in flight. An owl is symbolic at so many levels-night, vision, wisdom, patience, hunting. Place offerings you deem significant for the spirits of the compass and ask them kindly for their help-don’t beg or plead it is demeaning to both parties. Ask an oracle like the Tarot for help. The compass spirits need fortifying so they may fortify your magic and keep you safe. Help them to help you.
Raven says
Hello! Thank you for taking the time to write this! As a beginner, its so very helpful.
I did want to point out though, that you started facing east, but used west/air. 😉
Thanks again.
Tess Whitehurst says
Oops! Thanks for letting me know. Fixed now. 🙂
Theresa says
This is so helpful to me as a newbie. Heartfelt thanks. Blessed be.
Tess Whitehurst says
So glad to hear, Theresa! Brightest blessings and happy circle casting.
Hyperia says
Hello! Is there a spesial reason why you start in the west to close The magickal circle instead of the east? If so, why do you do this?
Tess Whitehurst says
I personally like to end in the North both times, which is why I open the circle starting East and close it starting West. Also, East is about beginnings and West is about endings. Hope this sheds some light!
Dee says
That makes sense to me. Thanks
Tess Whitehurst says
Happy to hear it! Thanks for reading.
Haley says
This shed a lot of light. I am preparing a forgive and forget spell to help me move past some people who still cause me mental anguish. Would it be inappropriate to start in the west for this spell? My thoughts were this would help end this chapter in my life, and closing in the east to represent my new beginning.
Tess Whitehurst says
Hi Haley! I personally like to call Air (East) first for all spells and rituals regardless of intention, and then move on to Fire (South), Water (West), and Earth (North).
QueenBiig Jojo says
Yes it does
Greg says
I have just finished casting a spell tonight and it is my very first one to cast as well and I hope my wishes for my spell to come true and see the one I care be happy and healed. I’m very excited to see results in due time! 😄
Tess Whitehurst says
Congratulations! 🙂
Jonathan Wilson says
Did it work?
Jessica says
This last part when you say “The circle is open, but never broken. The love of the Goddess is forever in my heart. Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again.” is that closing the circle. If now how do you close the circle.
Tess Whitehurst says
It’s actually a part of opening the circle. Opening is the final step, not closing. Because when you open the circle, all the magic you generated during the ritual can be released into the ether and go where it is most needed to affect positive change.
Gwen says
The sun rises in the East and sets in the West.
Holly says
Because it reverses the steps. Like a zipper. You zip one way to open, one way to close.
Venom Velocity says
There isn’t a specific reason but I chose to start with air as I’m more connected with that element