Book of Shadows Blessings

A few book of shadow blessings I found on a site http://www.spellcentral.com/

BOOK OF SHADOWS BLESSING

Preparation: At the time of the Full Moon, take your Book of Shadows (one that 
hasn't been written in yet) and some incense (pennyroyal, anise or rue) outside. 
Ritual: Under the light of the Full Moon, draw a pentagram on the first page and under this write the following information: date, time, place, your magical name (and sigil if you have one), the moon's phase and any other info you feel is important. Hold the book up to the Moon and say: 

"Here as the Full Moon shines upon me, 
Bless this Book I've made tonight. 
I humbly ask this of thee, 
Underneath your most sacred light.

BOOK BLESSING 2

Hearken as the Witch's word 
Calls the lady and the lord 
Moon above and earth below 
Sky's cool blue and sun's hot glow 
In this right and ready hour 
Fill these pages with thy power 
May no unprepared eye to see 
The secrets which trusted be 
To I who walk the hidden road 
To find the hearthstone's calm abode 
Guardians from the four directions 
Hear me and lend thy protection 
May these truths of Earth and skies 
Shaded be from prying eyes 
But to the witches whose map this be 
May the way be plain to see 
And through all the coming ages 
May we find home in these pages 
So mote it be! 

BOOK BLESSING 1

I will serve the Great Goddess, 
And give reverence to the Great God, 
I am a Pagan, A stone in the ancient circle, 
Standing firmly, Balanced on the earth, 
Yet open to the winds of heaven, 
And enduring through time, 
May the old gods witness my words

BOS BLESSING

For no one else's eyes to see, 
Except for those dear to me. 
Protect this book in your light, 
Through the day and through the night. 
Protect this book of which I speak. 
Protect this book to the highest peak.
  

Ritual for Drawing Down the Moon

Ritual For Drawing Down The Moon


To draw power into yourself, to channel wisdom from a higher source.

There are many versions of this goddess-focused ritual and it can be used to draw power into yourself and, if you wish, to channel wisdom from a higher source. You can use it either for a specific purpose or for increasing your spiritual awareness and it can be used by both men and women.

You may wish during this ritual to focus on a specific lunar goddess form in her full moon aspect. The most famous one still central to modern Wicca is Diana, Roman goddess of the Moon, the hunt and
fertility. Though, like her Greek counterpart, Artemis, she was worshipped originally as the maiden aspect of the Moon, in time she came to represent the full moon also.


Sometimes the Triple Lunar Goddess of modern Wicca is represented by the classical deities, Diana (the Greek Artemis), Selene and Hecate, being maiden, mother and wise woman or crone.


Isis, the Egyptian goddess who was both Moon Goddess and mother of the Sun, is also a potent focus.


If you are going to use a specific goddess form, study images of her in the days before the ritual or if you have a favourite statue hold it for a few minutes before bedtime. I have a wooden figure of the Moon Mother Goddess sold to me by a Moroccan guy who said she was a patroness of his village.
Whether that was a sales pitch or not, I still associate her with palm trees and a brilliant Moon in a cloudless sky. However, you may prefer to tune directly into the physical light of the silver Moon as a source of power.


You can carry out this ritual either alone or with a group. Though traditionally it is the High Priestess
who draws down the Moon into herself and then channels wisdom, each member can absorb the power in his or her own way and experience the connection between the individual divine spark and
the collective Divinity. The ritual I have given can easily be adapted for either a lone practitioner or a group. If there is no Moon visible because of adverse weather conditions, you can use mirrors and candles to draw down the power.


* Surround what is to be your circle with silver candles. In the centre, place a mirror flat on a table or the altar so that the Moon is reflected within it. Have a single, large, silver candle near the centre of the circle so it can also shine within the mirror. If you cannot position the mirror so that the Moon is seen within it, place additional silver candles close to create a light within it (before the ritual experiment with white candles that you can use around the home afterwards).


* If you are working in a group, each person in the ritual should stand in front of (but not too close to)their personal candle.


* Light the central candle and then take a lighted taper from it to the northernmost candle and light it, saying:


Thus do we light the circle of the Moon.


(If you are working in a group, pass the taper to the person standing at the candle, who will light it and say the words.)


* Continue in this way, re-lighting the taper if necessary from the central candle, until the entire circle of candles is alight.


* Now focus on the mirror and the light of the Moon or candle and say:


Goddess of the Moon, [name one or more], Silver Mother, come to full increase, enter now those who
seek your inspiration and healing light.


* Chant:
Come down, O Mother, fill the sky with thy orb, come now, come, come within.


This may develop into a song or a slow rhythmic circle dance around the mirror, as you whisper the words on the wind.
* Project the moonlight, actual or visualised, so that it fills the mirror and creates a brilliant sphere of light around, over and beyond the candles, so that you (or the group) are within the sphere of the
Moon.


* As the power builds, circle and chant:
Within the Moon, within the power, within the Moon, now at this hour, we are the Moon.


* At this point there is silence and stillness. Then, one by one if you are in a group, speak words of wisdom, inspired by the light.


* When this is done, sit quiet in the light of the Moon or candle.


* Working widdershins from the last candle to be lit, the candles can be extinguished slowly, saying at each one:


May the light remain within as the circle is uncast without.


* Leave the central candle burning as you write and burn wishes in it, written with a silver pen on dark paper.


* Finally, light a small, silver candle on a cake and if you are working in a group, wish everyone present a happy Moonday. It is said that the first birthday candles were lit on moon-shaped cakes on the festival of the lunar goddess Artemis and as they were blown out, wishes were sent to her that they might be answered.

Fairy's

Fairy Spells (Found http://www.mysticvoodoo.com/fairy-spells.htm)

Spells and Incantations of the Fae Race

Faeries and witches share the secrets of spells and incantations that can bring good fortune but also havoc. They can also be thwarted through the use of spells. Several seventeenth-century magical manuscripts contain spells to obtain power over fairies. Some were to call them up, some to dismiss them from places were treasure was to be found, and some to gain their help and advice.

An excellent way to gett a Fayrie, but for my selfe I call margarett Barrance but this will obtaine any one that is not allready bound. First gett a broad square christall or Venus glasse in length and breadth 3 inches, then lay that glasse or christall in the bloud of a white henne 3 wednesdayes or 3 fridayes: then take it out and wash it with holy aqua and fumigate it: then take 3 hazle stickes or wands of an yeare groth, pill them fayre and white, and make soe longe as you write the spiritts name, or fayries name, which you call 3 times, on every sticke being made flatt one side, then bury them under some hill whereas you suppose fayries haunt, the wednesday before you call her, and the friday followinge take them uppe and call hir at 8 or 3 or 10 of the clocke which be good plannets and howres for that turne: but when you call, be in cleane Life and turne thy face towards the east, and when you have her bind her to that stone or Glasse. An Ungt. to annoynt under the Eyelids and upon the Eyelidds evninge and morninge, but especially when you call, or finde your sight not perfect. (That is, an ointment to give sight of the fairies) pt. (precipitate?) sallet oyle and put it into a Viall glasse but first wash it with rose water, and marygold flower water, the flowers be gathered towards the east, wash it til the oyle come white, then put it into the glasse, ut supra. and thou put thereto the budds of holyhocke, the flowers of mary gold; the flowers or toppes of wild time the budds of younge hazle, and the time must be gatherred neare the side of a hill where fayries use to go oft, and the grasse of a fayrie throne, there, all these putt into the oyle, into the glasse, and sett it to dissolve 3 dayes in the sonne, and thou keep it for thy use; ut supra.

The Bodleian Library (MS. Ashmole 1406)

Faeries and Magic

Fairy lore abounds with magic. Humans have been fascinated by them, feared them, and been annoyed by their shenanigans. It is said that fairies can be petitioned for a variety of magical purposes and will often come to the sid of humans if they believe the petitioner is sincere and approaches them with honor and respect. Here is a list of fairies and their associated purposes:

Protection of your home: Fu dog, BeanTighe, elves, brownies, pixies, Kolbalds, Geancanach
Prosperity: Leprechauns, gnomes
Protection and healing of animals: elves, gnomes, Leprechauns (they especially love horses), zips, brown men, brownies, Twlwwyth Tegs, BeanTighe
Protection and healing of people: Beantighe, gnomes, elves, heaven dogs, chili, fu dog, Dinnshenchas, brownies
Lost Objects: Knockers, merfolk, gnomes, elves
Protection of enviornment: gnomes, elves, Merfolk, undines, Water guardians, dryads, sylphs
Love spells: Nymphs, Moerare
Fertlity: Moerare, Beantighe, gnomes

Candle Magic for Fairies

Magenta- This is a good candle to burn with other candles when you need a speedier result.
Yellow- Good for working with the air elemental fae- bringing quick changes, mental creativity and developing your mind.
White- calm and peace, spirit guidance, direction
Red- Use with Fire elementals, courage, sexual relations
Gold -Solar fae, money and prosperity, good luck
Black -good for binding spells.
Blue-ending depression, changes in your spiritual dealings light, use when working with water faerie and elementals, peace, healing.
Green- good luck, good when working with earth faerie such as leprechauns, gnomes and elves bringing balance, fertility, quick money
Orange- renewing confidence, changing your luck for the better
Pink- love, healing, emotional matters

http://www.efairies.com/fairy_lore.htm

Spell to See the Fairies

Fairies are most often seen on nights between Midsummer, or Litha, and June 29. The best way to see fairies is to gather fern seed on the night of Midsummer. On June 27, make a wreath of fairies? thimble, otherwise known as foxglove. Go to your favorite spot in the woods just before sunset. Make a ring of stones, and build a fire in the ring. When the Sun dips below the horizon, rub the fern seed on your eyelids. Keep your thoughts away from the drudgery of the work-a-day world. Fill your thoughts with the beauty of the plants and trees around you. Dance around the fire. Do you see them?
by Lily Gardner
Llewellyn's Spell-a-Day 06/27/04

Fairy Charm Spell

Fairies are respected and feared in Gaelic culture, accepted as a fact of life by a people acknowledging the mystic realm. Victorian visions of gossamer-winged lovelies are actually a romanticized version of the Sidhe, a fairy spirit-race believed by the Scotch/Irish to have powers to harm and confuse the vulnerable, and influence human fate. According to one charming Irish custom, when a child spills a drink at a picnic or outing, the adult refrains from scolding him or her, saying instead: ?Leave it to the fairies!? Fairy lore asserts that fairies abhor a miserly spirit. To appease fairies in your life, leave small gifts of food and drink in your garden, on your doorstep, or any outside place you sense might be a fairy ring or fairy tree.
by Karri Ann Allrich
Llewellyn's Spell-a-Day 06/21/04

Fairy Invitation Ritual

Color of the day: Blue
Incense of the day: Lavender

To invite fairy creatures into your yard, try showing them the way. Choose a smooth surface, like a patch of bare earth or a patio, and lay out a circle of fairy footprints, that is,make a stencil by cutting tiny footprint shapes in a piece of paper. Lay the paper on the ground, and sprinkle it with sugar or some powdered milk. Then move the paper along, and keep repeating until you have a full circle. Put a few flower petals in the center. As you work be sure to sing appropriate words, such as:

Little folk of flashing wing,
little folk of dancing feet,
hear my words to you and bring
blessings with you when we meet.

Fairies love music and flowers. They especially enjoy dancing in circles. Give them this simple hint, and see what happens.
By: Elizabeth Barrette

Llewellyn's Spell-a-Day 2004-03-27

Poppies
Said to invoke the faery into your dreams Make a dream pillow of fresh poppies to entice the fae to your dreams.

Primrose
When planted in a garden or hung dried on the front door, primroses will attract the company of Faeries. If you have them growing under your care, do not let them die! The Faery will be deeply offended by your carelessness. Primroses are great in container gardens. Tie a pink ribbon around your container of Primroses while chanting;

"Sacred roses, hear my cry
for your protection, this I tie"

Roses
Roses attract the Faery to a garden. Their sweet scent will lure elemental spirits to take up residence close by. Roses can be used in Faery love spells. When performing the spell, sprinkle rose petals under your feet and dance softly upon them while asking the Faery for their blessing on your magick.

Roses are loved by the fey so you can plant Roses in your garden to attract fairies. Wild Roses are best for this purpose and you need to say the following spell as you plant your baby Rose bush:

"I ask a fairy from the wild,
To come and tend this wee rose-child.
A babe of air she thrives today,
Root her soul in the Goddesses' good clay.
Fairies make this twig your bower,
By your magic shall time see her flower!"

Thyme
Wearing thyme will increase your ability to see the Sidhe. Sprinkle it
at the base of your door, and on window sills to invite the Faery to
enter your home.

Mistletoe
The most sacred herb of the Druids. Mistletoe is a magickal activator. In Faery spells, use a dash of Mistletoe taken on Summer Solstice to empower your workings with Faery magick.

Milkweed
Both Monarch butterflies and fairies like milkweed. If Milkweed is planted in a Witches garden, the fey will always be in the area. The silky tassels of the Milkweed pods can be added to a dream pillow to not only make it softer but also to make you dream of fairies. In the Autumn when the pods are bursting and the fluffy seeds are flying across the fields, a wish is granted for each seed that can be caught and then released again.

Lilac
The sweet scent is said to draw Fae spirits to your garden. Lilac and primroses for midsummers eve, will please the Fae.

Heather
Heather is said to ignite faery passions and open portals between their world and our own. Make an offering of Heather on "Beltane" eve to attract good fae to your garden.

Foxglove
The source of the modern heart drug Digitalis, Foxglove can have seriously dangerous results if taken internally. DO NOT INGEST!! Instead, plant Foxglove near your front door to invite the Faery in. Put a dried sprig of Foxglove in a talisman to keep you surrounded in Faery light.

Bluebells
Said to attract faeries to dance in your garden. On Beltane eve, make an ankle braclet of "Bluebells" and "jingle" bells to attract helpful fae folk to you.

Clover
A sacred faery plant, clovers of all kinds will attract them. Lay seven grains of wheat on a four-leafed clover to see the Faery.

Elderberry
Used to make Faery wine, these berries can be burned on a fire to invite the Good Folk to a gathering. Make a homemade brew of Elderberry Wine and you are sure to have some thirsty visitors. It is said that if a human drinks the wine, she will be able to see the Faery. If a human should drink Elderberry wine from the same goblet as a Faery being, he will be able to see them forever after.

Elecampagne
Also known as Elfswort. This root can be scattered around the home to attract the Sidhe. It can be added to any magick or spell to invoke Faery blessing.

Facebook group~Crescent Moon/Prism Cauldron-1st group ritual

I am doing a Beltane online chat ritual with Dylan right now.From the book Norse Magic by DJ Conway

Cast the circle
"I consecrate this circle in the name of the ancient gods

Here may they manifest and bless their child

This is time that is not a time a place that is not a place on a day that is not a day
I stand at the threshold between the worlds before the gates of asgard

place the chalice on the pentacle

"Great Goddess Freyja, bless this creature of water to your service.MAy we always remember the cauldron waters of rebirth
(hold your wand over the chalice while doing so)
hold dagger over salt: Great Goddess Freyja bless this creature of Earth to your service, MAy we always honor th blessed earth in its many forms and beings
Great Freyja be you adored
Sprinkle salt in water and sprinkle mixture around circle
Place incense on pentacle
Great God Freyr bless this creature of fire to your service
May we always remember the sacred fire that dances within the form of every creation
Great God Freyr bless this creature of air to your service
May we always listen to the spirit winds that bring us the voices of the ancient ones

go the east and say: I call upon you powers of air to witness this rite and to guard this circle

go to the south:I call upon you powers of fire to witness this rite and to guard this circle

go to the west: I call upon you powers of water to witness this rite and to guard
this circle

go to the north: I call upon you powers of earth to witness this right and to guard this circle

This circle is bound with power all around within I stand with protection at hand

I do call the goddess to be here with me she once alled the lady of MAy Greetings o Goddesss of things wild of trees of skies and of waters blessed be

I am the servant thou the Lady I am the hands to obey the weapon to use the body to serve

I was born to thy service and by thy will shall PI live to die at the time appointed

Let now thy great light come into me I am a cup to be filled that I may do what is needful Blessed be thy commands Let my ears hear them my hands and feet obey Blessed be ever thy will which moves me

Lovely Lady great Lord I present to you the guardians of this house the specials spirits I have invited into my home I honor them in this symbol of their being Great Freyr lovely Freyja bless thi guardians of this house And to your blessings I add my thanks for their portection blessed be
(hold up statue of god and goddess while saying this)

Place your drink in the chalice and say To the gods of Asgard! Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again!

Close the circle:
go the east and say: I call upon you powers of air to witness this rite hail and farewell

go to the south:I call upon you powers of fire to witness this rite hail and farewell

go to the west: I call upon you powers of water to witness this rite hail and farewell

go to the north: I call upon you powers of earth to witness this right hail and farewell

This circle is bound with power all around within I stand with protection at hand hail and farewell

I sum it up as follows "Isis and Ra, Freyr and Freyja and any and all highest spirit guides and guardians who were here with me this night hail and farewell

How To Hold a Handfasting Ceremony (Sample)

How To Hold a Handfasting Ceremony (Sample)

By Patti Wigington, About.com Guide
If you're planning on having a handfasting ceremony rather than a traditional wedding, you may want to work with your Pagan clergyperson on the writing of the vows. This is a sample ceremony that you can make adjustments to based upon your needs and your spiritual tradition. To avoid leaving a bunch of blank spaces, or the ever popular Bride's Name and Groom's Name, we're going to pretend this is a ceremony for a woman named Ivy and a man named Mark, being handfast by a High Priestess (HPs).
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 30 minutes
Here's How:

HPs: Friends, family, loved ones. We are all here today to see two people, Ivy and Mark, join hands and be bound together by their love, now and forever. Before we begin the ceremony, we will turn this place into sacred ground. As I cast the circle, please take a moment to visualize loving, positive energy for Ivy and Mark.

HPs casts the circle, either out loud or in silence.

HPs: The circle has been cast, and this is now a sacred space. We will now take a moment to consecrate the rings.

HPs consecrates the rings with the four elements, or by other method called for by the couple's tradition.

HPs: The circle itself is an infinite thing. It is magical and never-ending, never changing and yet always adaptable, a ring with no beginning and no conclusion. Like the circle, true love itself is infinite. It goes on, knowing no boundaries or restrictions. It flourishes and blooms in the light and in the dark, laying down no ultimatums, making no demands at all. Love, in its infinite form, is something that cannot be forced. It cannot be taken away. It is a gift we give to ourselves, and an honor we give to others from the bottom of our hearts and souls.

When two people come together and give one another this gift, this most sacred gift of all, it is certain the universe is sitting back and smiling upon us, laughing and showering us with every possible blessing.

Today is a day to celebrate the love of Mark and Ivy. They are two people who are the halves of a whole. Two souls, coming together to form one single being; two hearts, beating in a single rhythm. They are together as one, and so they will now light a candle of unity, to show the universe that they indeed are one light burning brightly in the darkness.

If the couple is lighting a unity candle, do this now.

HPs: Today, we ask that the infinite light of the divine shine upon this union. In that spirit, I offer a blessing to this ceremony.

Blessed be this marriage with the gifts from the east -- new beginnings that come each day with the rising sun, communication of the heart, mind, body and soul.

Blessed be this marriage with the gifts of the south -- the light of the heart, the heat of passion, and the warmth of a loving home.

Blessed be this marriage with the gifts of the west -- the rushing excitement of a raging river, the soft and pure cleansing of a rainstorm, and a commitment as deep as the ocean itself.

Blessed be this marriage with the gifts of the north -- a solid foundation on which to build your lives, abundance and growth of your home, and the stability to be found by holding one another at the end of the day.

Ivy, Mark, these four simple blessings will help you on your journey that begins today. However, they are only tools. They are tools which you must use together to create the light, the strength, the infinite energy now and forever of a love you both so richly deserve.

Now, I bid you look into one another's eyes and hearts. Mark, please place the ring on Ivy's finger. Do you promise to show Ivy your honor and fidelity, to share her laughter and joy, to support and stand by her in times of difficulty, to dream and hope together with her, and to spend each day loving her more than the day before?

Groom responds, hopefully in the affirmative!

HPs: Ivy, please give Mark the ring. Do you, Ivy, promise to show Mark your honor and fidelity, to share his hopes and dreams, to laugh with him and share endless days of joy, to stand side by side with him in times of trouble, and to spend each day loving him more than the day before?

Bride responds. If the couple has written vows they wish to speak to one another, now is the time to do this.

HPs: The vows of love have been spoken. I ask you now to cross your hands over each other, and take one another's hands.

HPS wraps the cord around the bride and grooms wrists, binding them together loosely and tying a knot.

HPs: Mark, Ivy, this cord ribbons symbolizes so much. It is your life, your love, and the eternal connection that the two of you have found with one another. The ties of this handfasting are not formed by these ribbons, or even by the knots connecting them. They are formed instead by your vows, by your pledge, your souls, and your two hearts, now bound together as one.

As one last bond, Mark, will you please kiss Ivy?

Couple kisses, HPs unwraps cord without untying knot.

HPs: Please turn to face your friends and family who love you. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Mark Jones!

And now, we will dismiss this sacred space. As I close the circle, please send all of your loving energy towards our newly handfast couple, so that they may begin their life together with all of your blessings and warm wishes.

HPS goes around the circle, dismissing the quarters.

HPs: The circle has been dismissed. Friends, please take a moment to congratulate Mark and Ivy!

Tips:

If you wish, ask friends and family members to call the quarters, with someone standing at each cardinal point to represent the four directions.

Suggested Reading

Handfasting History
How to Have a Magical Ceremony
Besom Weddings

Suggested Reading

Handfasting Favors for Your Guests
Back to Home Page

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How to Cast a Circle

How To Cast a Circle

By Patti Wigington, About.com Guide

In Wicca and Paganism, one of the facets common to nearly all traditions is the use of a circle as a sacred space. While other religions rely on the use of a building such as a church or temple to hold worship, Wiccans and Pagans can cast a circle pretty much any place they choose. This is particularly handy on those pleasant summer evenings when you decide to hold ritual out in the back yard under a tree instead of in your living room!
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: Varied
Here's How:

Start by determining how big your space needs to be. A ceremonial circle is a place in which positive energy and power are kept in, and negative energy kept out. The size of your circle will depend on how many people need to be inside it, and what the circle’s purpose is. If you’re hosting a small coven meeting for a few people, a nine-foot-diameter circle is sufficient. On the other hand, if it’s Beltane and you’ve got four dozen Pagans preparing to do a Spiral Dance, you’ll need a space significantly larger. A solitary practitioner can work easily in a three- to five-foot circle.

Figure out where your Circle should be cast. In some traditions, a Circle is physically marked on the ground, while in others it is merely visualized by each member of the group. If you have an indoor ritual space, you can mark the Circle on the carpet. Do whichever your tradition calls for. Once the Circle is designated, it is usually navigated by the High Priest or High Priestess, holding an athame, a candle, or a censer.

Which direction will your circle face? The circle is almost always oriented to the four cardinal points, with a candle or other marker placed at the north, east, south and west and the altar in the center with all the necessary tools for the ritual. Before entering the circle, participants are purified as well.

How do you actually cast the circle? Methods of casting the circle vary from one tradition to another. In some forms of Wicca, the God and Goddess are called upon to share the ritual. In others, the Hight Priest (HP) or High Priestess (HPs) will begin at the north and call upon the deities of the tradition from each direction. Usually this invocation includes a mention of the aspects associated with that direction – emotion, intellect, strength, etc. A sample ritual for casting a circle might take place like this:

Mark the circle upon the floor or the ground. Place a candle in each of the four quarters – green to the North to represent Earth, yellow in the East to represent Air, red or orange symbolizing Fire in the South, and blue to the West in association with Water. All necessary magical tools should already be in place upon the altar in the center. Let’s assume that the group, called Three Circles Coven, is led by a High Priestess.

The HPs enters the circle from the east and announces, “Let it be known that the circle is about to be cast. All who enter the Circle may do so in perfect love and perfect trust.” Other members of the group may wait outside the circle until the casting is complete. The HPs moves clockwise around the circle, carrying a lit candle (if it’s more practical, use a lighter instead). At each of the four cardinal points, she calls upon the Deities of her tradition (some may refer to these as Watchtowers, or Guardians).

As she lights the candle in the East from the one she carries, the HPs says:

Guardians of the East, I call upon you
to watch over the rites of Three Circles Coven.
Powers of knowledge and wisdom, guided by Air,
we ask that you keep watch over us
tonight within this circle.
Let all who enter the circle under your guidance
do so in perfect love and perfect trust.

The HPs moves to the South, and lights the red or orange candle, saying:

Guardians of the South, I call upon you
to watch over the rites of Three Circles Coven.
Powers of energy and will, guided by Fire,
we ask that you keep watch over us
tonight within this circle.
Let all who enter the circle under your guidance
do so in perfect love and perfect trust.

Next, she circles around to the West, where she lights the blue candle and says:

Guardians of the West, I call upon you
to watch over the rites of Three Circles Coven.
Powers of passion and emotion, guided by Water,
we ask that you keep watch over us
tonight within this circle.
Let all who enter the circle under your guidance
do so in perfect love and perfect trust.

Finally, the HPs goes to the last candle in the North. When lighting it, she says:

Guardians of the North, I call upon you
to watch over the rites of Three Circles Coven.
Powers of endurance and strength, guided by Earth,
we ask that you keep watch over us
tonight within this circle.
Let all who enter the circle under your guidance
do so in perfect love and perfect trust.

At this point, the HPs will announce that the circle is cast, and other members of the group can ritually enter the circle. Each person approaches the HPs, who will ask:

How do you enter the circle?

Each individual will respond:

In perfect love and perfect trust or In the light and love of the Goddess or whatever response is appropriate to your tradition.

Once all members are present within the circle, the circle is closed. At no time during ritual should anyone exit the circle without performing a ceremonial “cutting.” To do this, hold your athame in your hand and make a cutting motion across the line of the circle, first to your right and then to your left. You are essentially creating a “door” in the circle, which you may now walk through. When you return to the circle, enter it in the same place you exited, and “close” the doorway by reconnecting the line of the circle with the athame.

When the ceremony or rite has ended, the circle is usually cleared in the same manner in which it was cast, only in this case the HPs will dismiss the deities or Guardians and thank them for watching over the coven. In some traditions, the temple is cleared simply by having all members raise their athames in salute, thanking the God or Goddess, and kissing the blades of the athame.

If the above method of casting a circle seems boring or dull to you, that’s okay. It’s a basic framework for ritual, and you can make yours as elaborate as you like. If you’re a very poetic person who likes lots of ceremony, feel free to use creative license – call upon “the weavers of the wind, the breezes that blow from the East, blessing us with wisdom and knowledge, so mote it be,” etc, etc. If your tradition associates various deities with the directions, call upon those Gods or Goddesses in the ways that they expect you to do so.

Just make sure that you don’t spend so much time casting the Circle that you don’t have any time left for the rest of your ceremony!

Tips:

Have all your tools ready ahead of time -- this will save you from scrambling around during the middle of the ritual looking for things!

If you forget what you mean to say when casting the circle, improvise. Talking to your deities should come from the heart.

If you make a mistake, don't sweat it. The universe has a pretty good sense of humor, and we mortals are fallible.

What You Need:

Athame
Candles
Censer
Other tools of your tradition

Suggested Reading

Consecrate Your Magical Tools
Perform a Self-Dedication Ritual
Hold a Full Moon Esbat Rite

Suggested Reading

Drawing Down the Moon

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Casting a Circle - Spells and Charms
Perfect Love and Perfect Trust
Hold a Handfasting Ceremony (Sample)
Ritual to Increase Vitality - Spells and Charms
Casting a Circle - Wicca and Witchcraft

The Witch's Pyramid of Four Pillars

There are many tools used in Modern Witchcraft. According to some Wiccan systems, the first four are not physical, but rather are qualities which must be developed within the witch.

The "Four Pillars of the Witches Temple" are;

To Know (nescere)

-corresponds to Air

-represents the witch's reason/intellect/intuition/wisdom and other more mystical understandings...

Basically this has to do with the gaining of knowledge, whether it be from books, teachers, or from experience. This also includes anything having to do with organising said knowledge: remembering, analyzing, dissecting, logical reasoning, imagining, linking, and many more. This is shown in many kinds of knowledge needed to do ritual: from remembering the words to invocations, to knowing when to cast the circle, to knowing what incense to use, to remembering how it feels when one grounds correctly.

In witchcraft knowledge is power. No knowledge is ever wasted, and you may find that your fifth grade Creative Writing class taught you things useable for creating invocations, or that your Aunt Jean's gardening tips are helping you with your herb growing, or your Tai Chi class helped get the idea of centering across.

The admonitions "Know Thyself", "Know your Craft", "Learn" and "Apply you Learning" are all included in the pillar.

To Will (velle)

-corresponds to Fire

-represents the witch's Will/Discipline/her skills in the arts of magic and life.

This can be split into two categories: the mundane and the Magickal. The mundane is where a with tries to keep their life in good order, and to follow through on promises and commitments. The magickal version refers to the Will to see a spell or ritual to its completion, keeping the intent clear without letting onself get distracted.

Concentration, Discipline and Drive are definitely a part of this, as well as Enthusiasm for doing ritual in the first place.

Placing one's will in tandem with Divine Will is also incuded.

"Keep you thoughts and deeds in good order" and "Breathe and Eat correctly" belong here (though really just the act of living up to all the Goals could be listed inder "To Will")

To Dare (audere)

-corresponds to Water

-represents the witch's Emotions/Heart since the word courage derives from a word that means "heart"

"To Dar" encompasses the acts of facing fears, especially with regards to doing magick. Dare to experiment with what one has learned to gain more experience, like trying out that new astral travel technique or trance working. Dare to meet the Gods and interacte with them. Dare to deal with inner darkness.

This is not to say that one must never feel fear. Fear must be felt and examined before it can be dealt with. The more one tries to hide one's fear from one's self, the more power that fear will have over one's self. Facing the Shadow within can be more traumatic than facing the most awe-inspiring Deity. However, Starhawk mentions in her book The Spiral Dance, "Where there's fear, there's power." One's greatest fear can mask one's greatest strength.

It must be stated that any emotion or personal attribute brought into a magickal circle will be increased and strengthened. This explains the admonition at the gateway "Better to fall upon this knife/Than enter here in fear, or strife". Give strength to your courage.

To Keep [the] Silence (tacere)

-corresponds with Earth

"To Keep the Silence" is often interpreted as "To Keep Silent": that is, to keep secret knowledge of witchcraft, of membership and places of meetings etc., except in cases of voucher-for persons. "To Keep Silent" is probably a good general practice since it keeps the foolhardy from trying things that might be dangerous or from getting flack from less sympathetic neighbours. This is, however, not the whole story.

"Silence" represents the 'still point'... the silence within... The correspondence with Earth here also gives another hint of this interpretation, since in order to begin to work magick, we generally "ground" and "center" ourselves. It is difficult to keep clear one's intent if other extraneous thoughts keep flitting by and being distracting.

Listening to the Gods and Nature (and other people for that matter) is also intimated since one cannot hear unless there is silence first.

Again, "Keeping your thoughts in good order" as well as "Meditate" come under this heading

To Go (ire)

-corresponds to Spirit

Some traditions use the fifth Element of Spirit as embodying the power "To Go": to go forth, to journey, to make manifest, to evolove. Most traditions assign Spirit to the Gods, making spirit a combination of the other four elements in perfect balance.

Conclusion

If one sees each of these qualities written on a four-sided pyramid, "To Keep the Silence" would be on the base, with the other three (To Know, To Will, To Dare) rising from the base (ie. Earth, foundation) to meet at the top. All things begin and end in Silence.

All of these qualities must be developed to gain proficiency in magick. (Remember "Achieve Balance")

Sources:

The Way of the Goddess by Ly Warren-Clarke

Dalukah's Notes

The Spiral Dance by Starhawk