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Here is a summary of our class on Sunday. I hope everyone is enjoying it as much as I am;-)
Circle Casting
By Hunters_Moon12
It has been a week since our class on Sacred Space and I would like to know if anyone created a Sacred Space of their own? Where did you put it? If you didn’t create a physical sacred space, did you envision one in your mind’s eye? What does your sacred space look like?
Over the past week, were you able to make daily visits to your space? How did you find the space? Did you notice any change in the surrounding energy? Did you find yourself more serene after the third or fourth time of entering the same space? What experiences did you have in the space over the past week?
The craft is experiential which means that true understanding cannot come from reading �?only from doing.
I encourage you all to continue with this practice. For those who haven’t, I encourage you to simply open your minds to the possibility and see where it brings you from there. In a month’s time we will touch back on this subject once more and see what experiences are occurring; what feelings, energies or results we are all seeing and sensing.
Now as I said last week, today we will be discussing Casting a Circle. We will discuss the basics and a simple casting. Then at a later date we will discuss more advanced and ceremonial casting ideas.
To some, this may seem old hat, to others strange and to others basic, but I want us all to start at the beginning so that we may all have a good foundation of experience and understanding as we move forward into other areas of study and discussion. As I visit my beginnings I find my own foundation strengthens and so I thank you all for the opportunity to go back over the books, my BOS and my experiences to improve my own practice.
So, for today, I will focus primarily on solitary circle casting. To those who are part of a coven, solitary circle casting may seem foreign but it is a wonderful practice that you may enjoy to celebrate moments of your own or to simply stretch your own abilities independently. But as I have only been a solitary, it is the only way I know how so I will approach this subject from that angle.
Before casting a circle, a person must ground and center themselves. This relieves tension and gets the energy flowing between the chakras (if you do not know or understand the chakras, this will be a topic discussed at a later date).
To ground and center, stand upright with your feet slightly apart.
Relax and begin to breathe slowly and deeply.
With each breath, let it reach deeper and deeper into your body until a rhythm is found of in and out; in and out.
As you breathe out, begin to see the tension leave you as a muddy grey stream or cloud flowing out through your nostrils.
As you breathe in, visualize pure, golden, white light �?an energizing life force �?flow into your lungs.
Do this until you feel yourself relaxed (but not sleepy, if you’re snoring then you’re sleeping).
Once you are relaxed but not snoring, you are ready to cast a circle. I want us all to take a moment to do this. Read through those words again and let your anxiety and tension release. Relax. Breathe.
For those of you unfamiliar with breathing techniques, please note that we want diaphragm breathing rather than chest breathing. Diaphragm breathing is the type of breathing we all did as children (before we learned to stress). To learn to breathe this way, lie on your back with you right palm splayed out on your belly from the diaphragm to belly button and your left hand resting on your sternum. Take a normal breath. If your chest is moving, this is not the correct way to breathe (not relaxing, shallow and holds stress).
To diaphragm breathe you must breathe in and out in a regular pattern at the same speed breathing in as you breathe out. When you breathe like this, your belly will rise and fall but your chest will remain still. It may feel like you are not getting enough oxygen but in actuality this is deep breathing and you are receiving ample amounts. However, if you find yourself becoming disconcerted then resume ‘normal�?breathing for a while and return to this type of breathing after a moment. If you practice this daily for ten minutes you’ll find it a soothing technique that is easily mastered.
Now, the circle is formed with etheric energy that is drawn into the body and projected out through your finger, mind’s eye, athame, wand, etc. Etheric energy is the energy of the physical and is the easiest to see when trying to see an aura. You want to send the energy down the arm and hand out the tip of your finger in a focused stream of light. Etheric energy is generally a blue-grey (cigarette smoke) color but if you are using a chakra to project this energy then the color of the chakra could apply here as well but ultimately you decide what color you are projecting. Whatever works for you.
Here’s an exercise I want you to try�?
I want you to sit comfortably in a chair and take the tip of your finger from your non-dominant hand and run it up your dominant arm from the tip of your index finger to the sternum (or a specific chakra if you like) and then back again. Feel this line being traced back and forth. Do so first with open eyes, and then close your eyes. Feel this line. Feel this movement.
Now, stop using your hand and recreate the sensation of the line being drawn with your mind. Move the line up from the finger to the sternum and then back down to the finger. Do this a couple of times until you can definitely feel the movement without actually having to touch.
Do you feel it?
How did this feel?
Congratulate yourself, you have just moved energy up and down your arm with your mind.
Back to the lesson�?BR>
The circle is a portable temple that is traditionally nine feet in diameter. In my opinion, a circle can be cast anywhere and everywhere that you desire be it around just you and your altar, your bed, your kitchen table, a group of fifty pagans�? Or you can cast it inside your mind’s eye for an internal celebration This is sacred space and wherever you want it to be, you can create it.
In physical reality you can mark your circle with a rope, candles, salt, stones, flowers, crystals, etc. You can walk the circle with incense and then salt water to create a circle with all four elements �?incense representing air and fire, salt water representing earth and water. There are many ways to cast a circle each one as unique as the individual casting.
Here is an idea to start from�?BR>
Stand at the North (traditionally), ground and center, visualize the energy flowing down from the heavens. It is white light that is warm and tingly as it caresses your body. Let it flow over you, through you, and fill you up. The energy whirls around inside you, move it through your body and down your dominant arm until it shoots out your finger…your palm…your tool…in a blue-white fire that is a frosted shimmer of light (kind of like a sparkler in the dark). If you do not see the energy, feel it. If you do not feel it, then believe it to be there and after a few tries you will begin to feel or see it.
Begin walking slowly to the right (clockwise) and send a continuous stream of this energy in front of you to trace a complete circle. Simple words (but still my favorite) to say as you do this is are:
“I cast this circle once around
All within by magic bound.
A sacred space, a healing place,
Safe from harm by Spirit’s Grace.�?BR>
Stop when you have come full circle (time it with the words) and then lift your arms overhead in a V and see the heavenly light still pouring down onto, into and through you. See the circle of energy grow, throb and pulse with the light as it fills to create a dome overhead and below to encapsulate you inside. Often I see the light pouring over my circle bubble slowly like goo until it hits the one dimensional circle of flame I created and continues to pour down through the floor or ground to cover the lower half of the bubble. As soon as the bubble is complete it shimmers, snaps, pulses, hums.
At this point walk the circle and see if you can sense the boundaries either through your mind’s eye, or feeling the energy with your hands, or a temperature shift, whatever. Explore the circle. Keep notes on how it feels. Record how you feel but stay inside the circle. When you are done exploring, you need to close the circle.
To close, stand at the North but this time you are walking counterclockwise. I visualize with my hand out that I am opening a curtain but you can suck up the energy with a sword, wand, etc. Again whatever works for you.
A simple saying (but my favorite still) is:
“I part this circle, all is done,
Magic forged by Moon and Sun.
All who came here, thanks to thee
To go in peace, and Blessed Be!�?BR>
As I say the last two words I raise my hands and the curtain I parted in the circle explodes into a shower of sparks that drifts lazily to the floor or ground as the energy drains slowly from me back to Mother Earth. Ground yourself firmly to the floor. Feel the excess energy drain from you into the ground. Press your feet down firmly, lay your hands down if needed. Release any power remaining inside otherwise you’ll feel jittery and off kilter.
Then go eat or drink something to ground you physically. Often you’ll find yourself ravenous after doing this and go eat without realizing you are grounding your physical form.
Eat. Relax. Let yourself ‘come back�? You may need time to walk, sit or lie down until you feel calm and strong. Practice this regularly and you will have a solid and powerful circle.
A good exercise is to create a sacred space and circle in your mind’s eye, this still strengthens you circle casting abilities, improves visualization and gives you the benefit of portability and privacy as you an erect a temple and cast a circle anywhere and everywhere.
I want you to sit comfortably and relax your mind, your body. Breathe in. Breathe out. Let go of all the everyday stresses. Clear your mind of any thought, worries or complaints. Focus on a place that is a haven to you. Visualize the elements that make up this place. See it, hear it, smell it. Use all your senses to create this place.
Imagine this�?BR>
You are standing at the beach with the stars overhead. The sky is blue-black and swallows the world whole in silence. You can almost feel the velvety black with your fingers. The air is crisp and clean as a moon, full and heavy rises lazily about the watery horizon. Light glistens against the mirror of water while the moon climbs higher and higher. You walk through the tall grass while it sways in a gentle breeze, the feathers of green brush your calves while you walk wordlessly through the dark. To your right is a lopsided fence that teeters on collapsing but manages to remain upright. The wood is weathered, the paint chipped and peeling in shadow.
You aren’t interested in the fence though �?it is the ocean that is calling to you.
You slide down the sandy embankment towards the water’s edge. Water sprays your face and you can taste the salt on your tongue. The sand is still warm from a day of sunlight, the tiny grains pressing against your bare feet. The sand slips between your toes while waves roll in and over your legs. It is crisp! It is cool. The water breaks against your shins, the white foam bubbling on the shadowy shore.
Overhead you hear the cry of gulls as the roar and the rush of the ocean lulls the tension away. It has been a long day and you are grateful to be here. Your skin is cool as the wind caresses it with whispers of what lies beyond the horizon.
Stepping away from the waters edge, you move back towards higher ground. Slowly you lower yourself and sit comfortably while the water rushes in and out to the beat of Mother Earth.
Breathe deeply. Breathe slowly. You are here. You are here.
Do you hear it? Do you see it?
Stay as long as you like. Add what you will. This is your place. This is your sanctuary. When you are ready you can walk to a door that brings you home, the place can vaporize as you walk away�?BR>
When I am ready to leave I see myself and the image of this place separate until I am big enough to hold this place in my hand. It is encompassed like a marble and I can see the image of the ocean deep within the well of the marble. I place this marble upon a shelf to await my return. I have many marbles on this shelf in my mind �?many sanctuaries and havens.
When I return I pick up this marble from the shelf and hold it in the palm of my hand. I stare inside of it. I focus on the ocean. I focus on the image. The marble grows and glows. The image gets stronger, clearer. Then I am inside the marble and at my secret retreat.
This is a haven - a place of retreat. I go to a place like this and I add more detail, fill in more sounds, add smells, textures, everything. Each and every time I go there it is clearer, more vibrant.
Create your own be it on a mountain, or in the desert, on a beach or in the woods. See this place clearly. Visit it daily adding more detail each and every time. Pretty soon you will be able to close your eyes and you will be there.
Once you have created this place, I want you to sit in your retreat and cast a circle. Visualize the circle as it sparks and glows. See the circle trace its path and surround you. Keep doing this until you can hold the retreat and the circle in your mind’s eye. Then record how you feel before you go, and when you return.
I encourage you all to try casting a circle physically or in your mind a few times this week (especially if you haven’t cast a circle before) and record your feelings and sensations. We will discuss them at the next class and touch back on this and previous topics from time to time to review progress, ideas, etc.
Although we’ve only touched briefly on circle casting I hope this has given you some ideas and ways to cast your own circle as well as some tools to begin a regular practice of erecting your own sanctuary. Next week we will discuss the experiences over the week regarding circles and sacred space as well as discussing Samhain, it’s history, traditions, and ways to incorporate it into your everyday life.
If you have any questions please feel free to ask or email me at [email protected] .
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