Everything Under the Moon

Current living conditions prevent me from lighting candles and throwing salt around...how does one cast a circle otherwise?

Your circle can be purely energy and unseen by any except yourself. It can be done by visualization without you even moving or you can point your finger and 'draw' it as you turn in a circle.

Yup, visualisation's your best tool in situations like this. The Circle itself can be visualised, and you can use substitutes in ritual. Crystals for earth, a feather for air, an unlit candle, LED candle or red stone for fire, and... well, water doesn't usually cause any problems. If it does, use a sea shell.

Another question...do circles have to be cast for every spell? Because I'm still working on the just visualizing and my silly mind wanders when I try to focus on anything...not just magicks.

No, circles don't always have to be cast. If you feel safe where you are practicing there is no need for one. However, I suggest making sacred space by smudging/other techniques. Visualization gets easier with practice. I've been practicing witchcraft for about 9 months and I'm still learning how to visualize better!

From what I have learned, is that salt is needed to create a sacred space, but not in casting a circle.
I would just clean the area real good, if you can't use salt. I mean, you space should be clean anyway, but I would make it extra clean.

I've never used salt to clear my sacred space. However, it is very popular to use amongst us Witches I've been using my new besom to clear my space lately

I use see-hear-speak no evil hand gestures to purify (ref. Grimoire of Lady Sheba). We can just show the same welcoming light at quarters instead of placing 4 individual quarter candles. It’s OK to use battery candles or flashlight too. The purpose of showing a light is like turning on the porch light to welcome guests,

Must we use a circle for every spell? No, of course not, only if you want the benefits. There are multiple methods of prepping sacred space. In Wicca, Guide for Solitary Practitioners Cunningham mentions cleansing by broom-sweeping widdershins followed by projecting energy while walking deosil . No other equipment than the broom is required. Widdershins stirs stagnant energy to be swept away. Deosil reinforces.
You can embellish by starting the circle at north and air-draw an invoking pentagram , and when your project is done, end with a banishing & ground yourself.

Re: Casting a circle, sans candles, salt etc. etc.?
⁜→ Merridian, et al,

This is fairly easy.

Current living conditions prevent me from lighting candles and throwing salt around...how does one cast a circle otherwise?

(COMMENT)

You build a Travel Kit. This is similar to what mainstream priest carries.

It is every so easy to build.

• Start off with a dinner plate.
  Draw two concentric circles with a difference of a half-inch.
  Draw a 5-point star centered in the smaller circle. Points are 70º apart.
  Draw your personal Sigil on center within the pentagon.
  Take a glue stick and put a coat of glue in between the half-inch zone formed by the two concentric circles.

Then:

• Get a plain white towel.
  Consecrate the towel.
  Fold it as close as you can to the plate size.
  The star has point is down.
  There are five areas formed by the star. Draw or glue the drawing of your protection sigils.

That is a simple travel alter.

Most Respectfully,
R



Most Respectfully,
R

@RoccoR - Very useful idea . Could you touch on how the table top version substitutes for the act of full circle casting? As i see it, the altar & circle seem to have similar functions & each level becomes more intensely focused as it shrinks down, but that's just my opinion & not something I'd read (not in Wicca anywhere.) On YouTube I've seen designs as you describe made with liquid-chalk markers on Corelle plates (the chalk was erasable for those of us who need it.) I'm wondering why the emphasis here on the star pointing down? In simplified Wiccan practice (low magic) as you know, the point is upwards as an emphasis on spirit over matter (or so we're told). What is it's down-ward significance in this scenario?
Thanks -ST

Re: Casting a circle, sans candles, salt etc. etc.?
⁜→ SpiritTalker, et al,

This varies, depending on the character of ritual your mentor and guide has been teaching.

This activation ritual places your spirit replicant in the center of your altar. I see by the use of the phrase "table top" that you have (at least) heard of this (or seen something like this) before now.

@RoccoR - Very useful idea . Could you touch on how the table top version substitutes for the act of full circle casting? As i see it, the altar & circle seem to have similar functions & each level becomes more intensely focused as it shrinks down, but that's just my opinion & not something I'd read (not in Wicca anywhere.) On YouTube I've seen designs as you describe made with liquid-chalk markers on Corelle plates (the chalk was erasable for those of us who need it.) I'm wondering why the emphasis here on the star pointing down? In simplified Wiccan practice (low magic) as you know, the point is upwards as an emphasis on spirit over matter (or so we're told). What is it's down-ward significance in this scenario?

Thanks -ST

(PRELIMINARY NOTES)

Most circles used by a group or coven are established on flooring (after cleaning and cleansing) with, as you mentioned, chalk. They are generalized (for practice, meditation, and contemplation).

Over time, your altar is gradually improved. The supernatural does not care about size. Nor does the supernatural care about this concept of "intensely focused as it shrinks down." That is simply unimportant. King Solomon From the Book Ars Notoria (which is the simplest pattern to follow) used an entire Temple Structure and the Egyptians used the much bigger, Temple Structures at Karnak. Nearly All those that communicate with the supernatural (practitioners of the craft) do so with the aid of an instrument. Some are talisman in size and some are small tables in size.

The effectiveness of the practice is faith-based (if you do not believe nothing will develop). The ritual is to set the mind in such a condition as to open a corridor to the supernatural.

There are many ways to set you altar. I will give you just one. Not knowing your age, I will give you the safest one.

(PREPARATION)

Belief it or not, the supernatural does not care for "gold," but makes a better connection with "copper."

• Place a copper penny over you sigil in the center.
  Using a mortar and pestle [sometimes an old spoon and a flat rock will work (not slate)]
  Take a very small piece of a fingernail and grind it into a fine (the fine the better) powder.
  Place the powder on the penny.

Now the circle, the sigil identifying you, and your essence will be tied to the oration to the supernatural.

I have seen people use a very small drop of their blood, mix with granulated sugar, as an alternative essence. Some actually prefer it.

(ORNATE ALTAR)

Some practitioners have been known (mostly for safety) to use UV Black Light Pigment powers and a UV Black Light. The use the pigment to paint over the alter star setup.

I have seen some, that embellish the purification cloth with Sigils and Symbols.

Some practitioners draw a third circle, and in that new circles, inscribe the words: Oh Light of the World, Father of Immense Eternity, Giver of all Wisdom and Knowledge, and of all Spiritual Grace, hear my prayer.

I have even seen this inscribed using crushed vitamins:

• Vitamin A and the B vitamins thiamine, niacin, and riboflavin are strongly fluorescent.
  Try crushing a vitamin B-12 tablet and dissolving it in vinegar. The solution will glow bright yellow under a black light.

(OPENING ORATION)

Using a variation of Notory Art of King Solomon's which is opened with the Grimoire called the Ars Notoria. The Notary is an ancient book from which the modern-day Book of Shadows originates. As you know, King Solomon was noted for his widom, and as a follower of the Abrahamic Beliefs, his conduit to the supernatural was to the monotheistic source (of spirits and powers). Whatever diety you wish to contact, you will substitute in place of that of King Solomon.

• The Notory Art revealed by the Most High Creator to Solomon.
  In the Name of the Holy and undivided Trinity, beginneth this most Holy Art of
  Knowledge, revealed to Solomon, which the Most High Creator by his Holy Angels
  ministered to Solomon upon the Alter of the Temple; that thereby in short time he
  knew all Arts and Sciences, both Liberal and Mechanick, with all the Faculties and
  Properties thereof: He has suddenly infused into him, and also was filled with all
  wisdom, to utter the Sacred Mysteries of most Holy words.
  
  
  
  Alpha and Omega! Oh Almighty, the Beginning of all things, without
  Beginning, and without End: Graciously this day hear my Prayers; neither do thou
  render unto me according to my sins, nor after mine iniquities, O Lord, but
  according to thy mercy, which is greater then all things visible and invisible. Have
  mercy upon me, Oh Father, The Light of the Angels, The Glory of the Saints,
  The Spirits, Creator of all things, and Redeemer of all humane Frailties,
  who holdest the Heaven, Earth, and Sea, and all the whole World, in the palm
  of thy Hand: I humbly implore and beseech, that thou wilt mercifully with
  the Father, illustrate my Minde with the beams of thy holy Spirit, that I may
  be able to come and attain to the perfection of this most holy Art; and that I
  may be able to gain the knowledge of every Science, Art, and Wisdom; and of
  every Faculty of Memory, Intelligences, Understanding, and Intellect, by the
  Vertue and Power of thy most holy Spirit, and in thy Name. And thou, who in
  the Beginning hast created the Heaven and the Earth, and all things out of
  nothing; who reformest, and makest all things by thy own Spirit; complete,
  fulfil, restore, and implant a sound understanding in me, that I
  may glorify thee and all thy Works, in all my Thoughts, Words, and Deeds. O Father,
  confirm and grant this my Prayer, and increase my Understanding and
  Memory, and strengthen the same, to know and receive the Science, Memory, Eloquence,
  and Perseverance in all manner of Learning, who livest and reignest, World
  without end.
  Amen (meaning "so be it").

This oration is the prayer that asks The Creator, the source of the supernature, for the knowledge.

(COMMENT)

Now also, in the Ars Notoria, you will find several other orations and prayers. Most Practitioners in the western world, use the Robert Turner version which was translated into English in 1656. Remembering that Solomon believed in the Abrahamic ways, his orations relate to the source in that fashion. Whatever the "source" you believe in makes no difference (again if you believe).



Most Respectfully,
R

Oh. Well that was more than I expected . I think the oration combined with the penny on the altar would likely open the petitioner to an awakening experience (illumination) if it were spoken with faith. I'm just guessing the downward pointing star then is to anchor illumination into the earth-plane or personality (??) The telescoping effect was just my way of depicting macrocosm & microcosm.

Thank you for your reply.
ST

I typically cast a circle when I am...
-honoring/recognizing a moon phase (full, dark, etc.)
-honoring/recognizing a sabbat (solstice, equinox etc.)
-casting a spell that I've planned out, gathered ingredients for, etc. The circle will be used to contain the energy I raise until I cast it. I'm a fan of raising energy in the circle then sending it into some object to be carried on my person or into a piece of paper that I will burn at a later time. This has been effective for me.

Other witchy activities I do OUTSIDE the circle...
-pray
-connect with nature/the elements
-say thank you/show gratitude to the universe
-offer energy
-do yoga, workout, dance, sing, shower, etc.
-read tarot cards or scry (although sometimes I do this during a bigger ritual & in that case I will cast a circle)
-journal (could also occur within a circle if it's ~important~)

Also, I love love love casting subtle circles when I'm in public. I do this as a form of shielding if I'm feeling overstimulated (happens when I'm traveling). The type of visualization I use depends on the situation & is very intuition-driven. Examples:
-I pull energy up from the earth & create a crystal around me. In my mind it looks likes a rotating diamond with many beautiful facets. Negative or excessive energy glance off the sides of this diamond as it spins around me. Only loving & beautiful energies are allowed inside. This leaves me feeling pretty & charged up.
-I breathe in & out & weave my breath (energy from the air) into a suuuper subtle spiderweb. I sort of...fling? this around me, typically three times, & the energetic filaments sort of hang in the air around me. This makes me feel porous & like bad vibes can just sort of flow through me without harming me. It's very airy & calming.
-If I'm in a plane during takeoff, I pull energy from the sunlight & create a STRONG golden ring that expands around the plane. It is thick & glints in the sunlight. It feels very metallic & strong & keeps the plane safe during takeoff & landing!
-If I'm trying to go to sleep & having trouble, I pull energy from the moonlight & slowly expand it around my body, my room, & my house. It looks like a beautiful silver mist that shines out of every window. It makes me feel safe & enchanted.
-Quick circle to cast if you want to perform a ritual on the fly: put your palms together in prayer position as you ground yourself. Move you palms apart but keep your thumbs connected & your fingers connected (you are making a circle with your hands if that makes sense). I visualize crackling energy sparking between my fingers at this point & my hands feel warm. I see with my mind's eye a perfect circle appear within my fingers & as I move my hands apart the circle expands around me. I feel like I'm not inside a safe little pocket of energy that I have created. As the circle expands I feel it push away all unwanted energy like a broom pushing dust along the floor.

Note: I like to pull energy from natural sources around me, as you may have noticed. This keeps me from depleting my own energy reserves. I like to say thank you to nature/the universe frequently for this reason & often "offer up" energy when I am feeling excited or overcharged.

Anyway, I use those two visualizations often! Hope this helps.
xoxo GG