As I think back on my video about casting a circle, I find myself wondering if I fully answered Catz’s question. You see, I focused specifically on the part of marking out the circle and cutting it away from “ordinary” space. I’ve found that some people also consider calling the quarters as well. I see them as separate acts that are part of a single cumulative process: creating magical space. Some witches I know also call this “constructing the temple.”
To me, this is what the whole opening phase (and I’ll get into the phases of ritual in a future video) of a rite is all about.
- We cleanse the space with incense, saltwater, sound, and other methods to make sure it’s cleared of negativity and chaotic energies.
- We then mark out the magical space and separate it. As I said in the video, this is what casting the circle is all about.
- We then fill that space. By calling the elements in. We ask the Divine to join us. In my work, I also invite the ancestors and land-wights (nature spirits) in.
A well-planned rite or liturgical structure works to make sure that each of those steps work together. It keeps the themes going and offers a sense of cohesiveness. It draws us into our time with the Divine and the work we will do in that magical space.
For those who missed it, here’s my video on casting a circle.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvQ42z40hk8]
I’m not sure whether I’ll do a video about the other components of creating magical space. Let me know if that’s something you’d find useful.