Chapter 5
If you have form’d a circle to go into,
go into it yourself and see how you would do.
William Blake
While I imagine that most people would visualize a natural Witch’s path to be a solitary one, that is not necessarily true. There are options, and sometimes there is just no substitute for working with a group. Yes, there are plenty of Witches who prefer to work in a solitary fashion, but there are also plenty of Witches who enjoy working with others.
Benefits to working with a magickal group include the opportunity to build friendships and to learn new techniques from the other members. When you work with a group, you get the chance to stretch your wings a bit, to share your own expertise and to experience different magickal styles and methods from the other individuals. In a group setting there is a sense of fellowship and companionship, and of course when you get several people all focusing on the same goal, the magickal power and positive change they can generate is phenomenal.
So now you are all fired up and enthusiastic about the idea. And I bet you are wondering what it really does take to find a good coven or circle. Is it sheer luck that you stumble across one, or does it take more than chance? Sure, we all have an idea in mind of the “perfect” group for ourselves: a place where we are accepted without question, where everyone not only gets along but enjoys each other’s company, a place where there is the atmosphere of learning, enjoyment, magick, and spiritual reverence. But how in the world do you locate such a coven, circle, or group? We can’t just flip open the phone book and find a handy listing. Where’s the fun in that? This presents us with yet another question to mull over: have you ever considered building your own magickal group?
What we have to do ... is to find a way to celebrate
our diversity and debate our differences
without fracturing our communities.
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Circle or Coven:
What’s the Difference?
If a circle is not the same as a coven, then what is it exactly? Well, frankly, a circle is not unlike a coven. However, they are subtly different. The terms “coven” and “circle” are sometimes used interchangeably, and just to keep things interesting, they can refer to two completely separate things. One is not better or more desirable than the other; they are simply different, and they each have their place within the magickal community.
Historically a coven is a group of twelve Witches that is led by a priest or priestess, bringing their number to thirteen. (To be fair, these days the number of members can vary widely.) A coven tends to be a formal affair, with a chain of command and ranks. The members may be all male, all female, or a mixture of both. Also, a coven can be a training or teaching group with students that learn and others who teach as they all work toward personal advancement and a degree or degrees within their own tradition. For example, you may meet folks from the Cabot, Georgian, Gardnerian, or Alexandrian traditions. (This is just a thumbnail sketch; explaining the dynamics of a coven could fill an entire book on its own.)
A circle, on the other hand, is a much less formal group. The members of a circle may not all practice the same flavor of the Craft (such as Eclectic, Celtic, Norse, Strega, or even a kitchen Witch). They can be a mixed group or all the same gender. Even so, any positive path is welcome in a circle. This way, they can all share information and ideas, and best of all, they learn from each other. In a circle, all of the members are considered equal to one another. How do they pull that off without dissension among the ranks, you may wonder? Well, a circle is about building a magickal family and about the bonds of friendship. Yes, some circle mates may have more experience than other members, but what keeps the group together is a the chance to study, learn, and to grow together in that spirit of friendship.
Now that you have an idea of what a circle is, what points should you keep in mind if you feel you would like the opportunity to work with a group of other Witches? To start, I would recommend that you keep working on your intuition and learning to sense psychic energy. This comes in very handy when you work with a group. Solid magickal development and personal power are also bonuses, which is exactly why we have been working on all those points so far. These traits are important because you have to have your personal power centered before you do group work. It is a very good idea to have a handle on your strengths and weaknesses and to know who you are, magickally speaking, before you jump in the magickal sandbox with all the other kids.
Here is a big secret I’m going to let you in on; consider it one of the “mysteries” of the Craft. Group work is not a crutch for individuals who feel they cannot perform magick on their own. No, indeed. Instead, group work is about being confident in your own magickal personality, style, and talents to the point that you are willing to combine your own skills with others. In turn, this gives you another opportunity for growth and personal advancement, should you wish it.
The endearing elegance of female friendship …
Samuel Johnson
Magickal Friends are Like Family
There is a special sort of psychic energy and vibe to a good circle, which is interesting since Witches tend to be very individual people. The personalities and backgrounds of the members of the circle vary widely; however, there is something about them that makes them all click together. The members of a circle all share the same wavelength, so to speak. Some will be outgoing and others will be more laid-back, yet they all bring something unique to the group, and their energies complement each other. In other words, they may all be singing their own tune, but together it somehow creates a fabulous multi-part harmony.
For example, in my circle, while we may share many things in common, such as herbalism and a love for gardening, we also bring our own unique experiences to the group’s energy. A few of us are more soft-spoken and serious, and a few are outgoing and funny. A few members of the group get really enthusiastic and excited at circle get-togethers and have a hard time settling down, and of course there is a person or two who you have to poke just to get them up and moving. Some ladies are casual and go with the flow, and others are more organized and serious.
Out of the ten of us, five are married. A few are happily divorced and living the single life, while another few are living in committed relationships. About half of the group have children. The ages of our children range from just-out-of-the-nest twenties to college-aged kids, high-school age, middle school, elementary, and brand-new babies.
We range in ages from our late forties to our twenties. All live within a forty-five-mile radius of each other. Some members live in the city, while others live across the river in the suburbs or even farther out in the country. Professionally we are also a diverse group. Half of the group have college degrees; a few of us went back to school to take continuing education classes. In this group we have an artist, a physical therapist, a couple of writers, a full-time new mom, and a graduate student who has just received her degree in forestry. Two other women work at different area colleges, one in the student development department of a large technical school and the other in the science department at a community college. We have a paralegal who is also an aromatherapist, a pharmacy technician, and one of the members works at a major university in cancer research and treatment. How’s that for variety?
So with this type of group, what do you suppose we could all have in common? Witchcraft and magick. We share a reverence for the natural world and an appreciation for nature. There is a bond of friendship and a sense of respect for each other’s experiences and magickal knowledge. We have fun, and we honestly enjoy each other’s company. And that is what makes for a successful circle.
Start with a Study Group
To start your own circle, keep it simple. I would begin with a few magickal friends. Try setting aside a convenient time, once a month, to get together and to then study together. Pick a topic ahead of time. Take turns hosting the study group, and each of you should take a turn at choosing your subject, which is an opportunity to share with the others what you know best. For example, if one of you is into crystals, they could bring along a few favorite books and personal notes or handouts and share this information with the others. Ironically, one of the best ways to learn more about a personal favorite topic is to offer to teach it. Then you get the chance to consider the information you have and how to present it so that your friends will enjoy learning about it. Or if you don’t feel like you are up to that, another good starting idea is to choose a magickal book to discuss.
You should each acquire a copy of the book, and then give each other a month to read and study it. Put together an informal book report, and then when you get together you can discuss it and share notes. This leads to a lively discussion on what you learned, how the information helped you, and, last but not least, whether the spells worked—that type of thing. What is interesting about this is that I have rarely met two people who took away the same information out of a book. Finding out what another person’s thoughts are can give you a perspective you hadn’t considered before, as well as give you plenty to discuss and to share.
Another option is to take a class together. Sign up for a class at the local magickal shop, or perhaps attend a free gardening lecture at a nursery. Most importantly of all, take your time and get to know each other. You are better off starting out with a core group of two or three friends before you dive into the dynamics of working with a large group of acquaintances. So don’t rush things, and see how things develop over time. You are much better off building that friendship and comfort level with each other gradually than tossing a bunch of strangers together and wondering why everyone is stiff and uncomfortable.
Usually, after a few months, someone has a friend who is interested in coming to your study get-togethers, and then you can all meet and see how you get along with the new person. Invite them as a guest and see how you all interact with each other. Some of these new people may wish to stay and continue working with your group, and others may only be curious. So give it time and see what happens. Then later, if everyone agrees, you can invite them to join. Before you know it, someone else has a friend or relative, and then your study group jumps from two or three to five or six.
A friend may well be reckoned
the masterpiece of Nature.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Next Step in Building a Circle
Once your study group has been together for a while, you may wish to try a simple ritual together. I know that was the case with my first study group, many years ago. We had all taken the time to get to know each other and to enjoy each other’s company. Then it was decided that it was time to test the magickal waters. So we all discussed the idea and then decided who would do what—in this case, call the quarters and cast a circle. I asked who would be comfortable with which elemental quarter, and since there were four of us, it fell into place nicely. Two of us had some group experience and the others had not—so we talked it out and came up with a working plan. We got the kids settled with a few videos, then we trooped off to the hostess’s backyard to see what was what.
It was a clear and pleasant summer night. Lots of stars sparkled down from above, and a waxing moon was about halfway up in the sky. However, the moment we stepped outside, every neighbor around started peeking out the windows. While it was embarrassing to be the center of the neighborhood’s attention, we were determined to stretch our wings a bit. So there we stood, attired in T-shirts and shorts: Crystal, our hostess, who was blithely ignoring her neighbors; myself; a nervous and shy Nimue; and tough and feisty Brigit, our newest member.
At first, we went to our chosen quarters, stood in a loose circle, and centered ourselves. Then I saw Brigit open her eyes and frown at the neighborhood contingent. I turned around and grimaced at the two male neighbors who were now standing right at the back fence, about ten feet away. They were leaning over the fence and leering.
“Well, hell,” Brigit grumbled.
“Oh, they always stare when I come out here at night,” Crystal admitted with a shrug.
“Can’t we do anything about that? We are Witches.” Brigit frowned and then narrowed her eyes in concentration. “Hey, Miss Psychic—can’t you fix that?” she challenged me with a conspirator’s grin.
We all started to chuckle, I believe a comment was made about toads, and then I had an idea. “Let me try a little something,” I murmured to them.
I asked everyone to join hands, and then I squeezed Brigit’s hand on my right and quietly asked her to lend me some energy, which she did without hesitation. (I was curious to see what would happen if I added someone else’s willing energy.) I reached out with my senses and felt the curiosity of the two men standing at the back fence. Then I tapped into their nervousness of what would happen if their wives happened to catch them staring at their pretty blond neighbor and her friends and turned it to my advantage.
I silently gave the nosey neighbors a little mental push to go back inside and to leave us alone. About twenty seconds later, both neighbors abruptly went inside. All the back porch lights clicked off, and we were left alone. We let go of each other’s hands and centered ourselves. (Yes, I know that psychic trick is walking the line. Bad Ellen. No cookie.) I had turned their curiosity against them and influenced those leering neighbors. At the time I believe I justified it by telling myself it was defensive and I was protecting the group.
Actually, looking back all those years ago, I realize that I was just showing off, which today makes me cringe. I never said I was perfect, especially when my temper is involved. It took me some time (years) to realize that just because I could mess with people’s heads didn’t mean that I should. Why do you suppose I am always so careful to warn others about the consequences of manipulation?
So back to the story. Now that we had a bit of privacy, we decided to begin to quietly call the quarters. I called the east, Nimue called the south, Crystal called the west, and then Brigit stepped up, tossed out her hands, and called the north. I could feel the push of her energy against my chest, and in unison the whole group took a step back, as if choreographed.
Whoa, Brigit definitely packed a punch. We joined hands again and had a chance to experience the energy that flowed around the circle from member to member. Sweat popped out on our brows, and I could feel the energy gather in the solar plexus area. Impressed with each other, we all grinned and then took a few moments and got used to the sensations. After a short time, we released the quarters, grounded the energy, and opened the circle. We sat on the grass talking for a while, and then when the six kids all came outside demanding Popsicles, we adjourned to the house to discuss our discovery and break out the snacks.
While my daughter, Brigit’s two kids, and Crystal’s young brood ran around making an unholy mess with Popsicles, the ladies sat down at the table, passed around the snacks we had all brought along, and shared what each of our impressions were during the quarter calling and how we each physically experienced our combined energy.
As a group, we had learned something new and had expanded upon the friendship that we were all building with each other. Together we could raise quite a bit of energy, and we started making plans for our next get-together so we could try a full ritual and cast a spell together.
Energy falls just short of being joy.
Mason Cooley
Sensing Energy in a Group Setting:
A Psychic Group Exercise
Remember the energy ball exercise from chapter 3? I mentioned that there was a way to practice this with a circle or coven, and here it is. This is a great exercise to work with your circle so you can all get to know each other and your personal energies better. This will help you identify who is a projective personality and who is receptive. Plus it will show you immediately what the group’s magickal talents are. First, make sure everyone has a pen and a sheet of paper so they can write down their impressions. Then have everyone in the group sit in a circle.
To begin, have one person build the energy ball and then pass it off and around the circle in a clockwise motion. Have the builder jot down a few keywords about what they envisioned and then tuck the paper out of sight. Clockwise, around the circle, from person to person, the energy ball is silently passed. Each individual should hold it for no more than ten seconds. Sense the energy ball and see what your intuition and instincts tell you. As they pass the energy ball to their neighbor, each person should quickly jot down what information they picked up, also putting the paper out of sight. Remember to keep the ball moving so the energy ball doesn’t fade.
After the energy ball works its way back around the circle, it is handed back to the builder. The builder should ground the energy ball back into the earth by turning their hands over and pressing their hands to the floor. Wait a moment, make sure everyone has their impressions written down, then have the builder tell the group what the energy ball was. Take turns going around the circle, comparing notes, and see how everyone did. I bet you’ll be surprised at the results.
When my circle did this for the first time, I was the builder. I built an energy ball full of swirling, green, heart-shaped ivy leaves. I imagined them tumbling over and over inside the energy ball. When we were done and the group compared notes, we all were quite amazed. Some of the circle’s impressions included green swirls, fluttering pink and loving hearts, falling autumn leaves, green leafy herbs, and finally butterflies.
All in all, the images made sense. Some people picked up on the color, which was green. Some correctly interpreted that it was a plant. Others felt the shapes (the heart) or sensed the movement (the swirling autumn leaves, the fluttering hearts, and the butterflies). A few picked up on my emotions and did not get any visual images at all. It all comes down to the magickal individual and how they will perceive and intuit the psychic information.
Continue the exercise and allow everyone a chance to be the builder. Yes, you will find that some folks may be spot-on when it comes to sensing whatever the energy ball is, and others will be better at loading the images into the energy ball for others to sense. And that’s to be expected. Some folks are better at projecting psychic images, and others are better at sensing or receiving those images.
Visionaries, Empaths, and Intuitives, Oh My!
Once you have finished, take a break and make sure that everyone grounds and centers. Compare your notes, and look at them carefully. The best part of this exercise is that it shows you how your circle mates distinguish or perceive psychic and magickal energy. Want a sure-fire way to find out what sort of magickal strengths are in your group? Then here’s your big chance.
So, did they see, intuit, or feel their answers in the energy ball exercise? Take a good look at their written responses. If they have described visual images most often, then they are visionary individuals. They are receiving the impressions from their third eye. These visionary types bring a sense of coordination to your circle. They can help plan and will be the ones who create the most visually pleasing altar setup. Visionaries like things to look attractive and balanced. They will be able to envision the magick that your circle performs. They are probably talented at seeing auras and magickal energy, and they are excellent at plotting out rituals, spells, and magick, since they can perfectly picture the positive changes that they are working toward.
Now, if they usually describe feelings and emotions in their notes, then they are more empathic. They are pulling in the information through their solar plexus, and their own emotions and those of the other circle members are also clueing them in. These folks are important additions to a circle’s group energy, since they are often concerned about how everyone is feeling. Is the group mood a happy one? Does everyone feel physically comfortable and at ease? If someone is emotionally upset, then the empaths of your group will be the first ones to offer a supportive hand to hold or to give a pat on the back or the all-important hug. These perceptive souls will be ultra-sensitive to the mood and tone of your rituals and magick, more so than the others. They will keep your group compassionate, friendly, kind, and loving.
Finally, if they “just know” and are often extremely accurate—as in word-for-word with what the builder wrote down—then they are using their intuition. This power comes from the crown chakra, and you will often hear them make comments like, “I just knew … ”or “It just popped into my head.” These intuitive folks are going to be insightful additions to your group. They will be the ones who keep communication and creativity flowing. They will help keep your circle organized and on track. The intuitive practitioner will make good decisions and will know right away without any fuss when the group’s energy is on track and when your magick has accomplished its goal. They are very practical and insightful people—so pay attention to them and see what you can learn together as a group.
If You Want to Build a Successful Circle,
Then Get Organized
Beltane day three years ago turned out quite differently than my circle had planned. Over the years, the study group had slowly expanded out to a solid working group of eight. Some members had left, and new people had joined, with two more women expressing an interest in joining, which brought us up to ten members. The circle meetings usually ended up at my house, since I had the largest and most private outdoor space. But I was getting tired of trying to get my teenagers to clear out for the evening, not to mention the cleaning beforehand and trying to keep the noise of up to ten women and their kids—who were all talking and laughing—down to a dull roar. Since my husband worked nights and was usually taking a nap before he went to work, this was a dicey prospect at best. Grumbling was ensuing at my house, my kids were complaining, and so was my husband. I was between the old rock and a hard place.
A few days before Beltane, I sat down with my circle mates and friends Nimue and Morgan and told them that something had to give. The family was annoyed, and I was tired of everyone getting together and looking at me to write and design the rituals. After writing all day, I didn’t want to be writing rituals for the group each and every time too. I wanted to relax and enjoy myself. Besides, we spent more time gabbing than we did focused on magick, and I knew I wasn’t the only one who wanted a change.
Nimue promised to help the group become more structured and organized, and hinted at a circle project that she had in the works. Morgan agreed to take on a more active leadership role within the group. I was happy that we were all thinking along the same lines and was ready step back and let someone else direct the evenings. So with relief, I looked forward to our next get-together, and Nimue, Morgan, and I figured out we would bring up the subject and try to get the ladies more organized starting on Beltane.
Beltane day dawned, and with it, plans to go to Brigit’s house for the celebration. Brigit had made her ritual plans and was ready to go. What she didn’t count on was having complications from a tooth extraction and an allergic reaction to a prescription. She called me in a panic that afternoon and explained her trip to the emergency room. Now that she had a new prescription, she was really loopy and out of it, not to mention swollen. She could barely talk. She couldn’t find the other ladies’ phone numbers. Could I make a few calls and let everyone know? I urged her to go to bed and to take care of herself. Promising to send her some healing energy, we rang off.
With only a few hours until everyone arrived at my house so we could carpool together, I started making phone calls. I called Mary first. I caught her while she was gardening and as we talked, I could hear her toddler son racing around the backyard.
“Change of plans,” I sighed and filled her in on what had been happening. I was totally frustrated. Would we ever get this group organized?
“May I make a suggestion?” Mary paused for a moment and then said, “Why don’t we get ourselves more organized starting tonight, and have a strictly business meeting?”
Now she had my attention. “What do you have in mind?” I asked. My mind reeled at the thought of a circle of Witches having a business meeting. “Do we have to wear suits and ties?” I teased her.
“Have everyone meet at your house as planned, only tell them to bring their appointment books and calendars, and we’ll plan out the rest of the year—in advance,” Mary wisely suggested.
Done. I made a few more phone calls. Ravyn had finals to cram for; Amber and Fiona, our two prospective members, lived the farthest out and also decided to stay home for the evening. Gillian was called into work at the last minute and couldn’t attend. I promised to call them the very next day and let them know what we decided about reorganization. I reached the other women, who each pounced on the idea, and Nimue announced mysteriously that she had something for us to see.
That evening, five of us sat around my kitchen table—Morgan, Nimue, Mary, Freya, and myself—each with our appointment books and calendars spread out in front of us, quietly making plans, taking notes, sorting out things, and having a business meeting. Mary, our professional, kept us on track. If she can run the research center of a major university, you know she could whip us into shape.
It was decided to take turns hosting the circles. Whoever was hostess would decide the theme and run the ritual for the evening, with a different circle member teaching a topic or giving a lecture. Generic ritual outlines were printed out and passed around. A contact sheet or “phone tree” was put together. As for potential lecture topics, Freya, our Norse Witch, offered to teach us more about the runes. Morgan volunteered to do a class on Reiki. Nimue proposed to lecture on the topic of faeries. Mary, also a Master Gardener, offered to teach the ladies about perennial and herb gardening. I suggested a lecture on the Major Arcana of the tarot, and on it went. Mary’s enthusiasm was contagious. Ideas were flying fast and furious around the table. Morgan lightly kicked me under the table and we shared a grin. There was hope for this circle yet!
Then our normally quiet Nimue pulled a large stack of file folders out of her bag and handed out some gorgeous, professional-looking folders that she had started. They were filled with notes, color illustrations, and rituals that she had collected from the group over the years, and she had made copies for everyone. She suggested that these would be great for our newest ladies to study and for all of us to have. She’d been working on this project for months. Then she pulled her last surprise out.
“I started an Internet group for us,” she shyly announced. “Here is the web address, and I’ve taken our emails and set us all up as members.” We all simply stared. Never underestimate those quiet ones. Nimue had blown us away again with an unexpected insight—or, in this case, a very clever idea. She’s sneaky that way.
She smiled and told us that if we wanted, we could go look at the egroup’s homepage now. So we all got up, gathered around my computer, and checked out the web page. Nimue explained that now we could post messages to the site and they would automatically go out to the whole group. She showed us the address book she started, a page for photos, a calendar for events, and ritual notes. How cool was that? While we all stood there checking out what she had done, Nimue said with a mischievous grin and nudge to Morgan that what we really needed was a logo. As we all went back to the kitchen, I was impressed with what we had so far.
“I feel so official, ” I teased them and gestured to the notes, calendars, folders, Internet stuff, and phone lists spread before us.
“Order is always better than chaos,” Freya spoke up in a solemn tone with a totally unserious grin as she made notes on a legal pad about the proposed lectures and dates for the year’s circle gatherings.
“So speaks the paralegal,” Mary chuckled at us all.
In retrospect, Beltane day was not quite the ritual we had all looked forward to; however, we had accomplished quite a bit. Morgan, our artist, agreed to design a logo for the group, which we later posted on our group’s web page. Then she went one better and made copies of the artwork that we could slip into the front of a three-ring binder. The binders we all filled with notes and the pretty file folders that Nimue made for us. Morgan also set up a private page to order T-shirts, coffee mugs, and even mouse pads with the group’s logo on them, thinking that it would be fun to all wear our circle T-shirts to the next festival we attended as a group.
The circle was in business, and everyone enjoyed the difference that preparing in advance and organization had made for our get-togethers. We all took turns planning and leading rituals and now shared in the responsibilities. The difference it made was simply amazing.
Dedicating the Group
Here is a lovely idea that was first suggested by the ladies in my circle: a ritual to dedicate the group. This will commemorate an officially chosen group name as it also celebrates your unity and the individual strengths and magick that you each bring to the circle. For this, you will all need to sit down and decide what the circle’s name will be. You will also each need to think ahead and decide what specialties you will contribute to your group’s knowledge and character. Do you have a knowledge of herbs, crystals, or tarot? Perhaps you contribute art, sewing talents, a skill in Reiki, or you are an adept at runes. On the other hand, maybe you bring to the circle organization skills—which is a talent that would benefit any group.
Setup and Supplies
The setup for this group dedication is uncomplicated but can turn out to be very attractive when everyone contributes a little something to the altar. For this I would use a central small table that you can place in the middle of your working circle. One of those circular decorative end tables works out well—you know, the ones that are about 30 inches across, made of wood, with three support legs, and are extremely plain and then covered with a tablecloth? Set that in the center of your working space and add a new, large white pillar candle to represent the group. Carve a sun and the group’s name on the side of the candle, and then place it in its holder. This candle is important to the ceremony and will be used for illumination. Also, you will need as many plain white tealights as you have members. Add a lighter to the table, so you can light the main pillar.
Everyone should bring a small symbol or item that can be used as a physical representation of the knowledge or skill that they are contributing to the circle. Then one by one, during the dedication, they will place their items on the center table, with a simple explanation of what it symbolizes. For example, if you bring organization to the group, try setting out a few pens and papers. If your specialty is the runes, then place a few runes on the altar. Perhaps you are knowledgeable about herbalism and plants; then you could place a small green potted plant or a bag of dried herbs on the altar. Or if you feel that you don’t have a specialty just yet, but that you bring enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, perhaps you could place your magickal notebook or even a photo of yourself. Use your imagination, and see what you come up with. I wish you much success and magick as your group grows together.
Ritual Outline
1. Set up the central table. Cover with a cloth, and place the large white pillar candle in a holder in the middle of the table. Arrange the unlit tealights all around the central pillar. (Keep them in easy reach.)
2. Have the members of the group bring their items and gather together in a loose circle around the central table.
3. Light the engraved pillar candle. Ground and center.
4. Call the quarters and cast a circle, as is your group’s preference.
5. One by one, going around the circle in a clockwise motion, place your items on the central table with a simple explanation of what each one represents. Say something like this: “I bring to this circle the knowledge of herbs (or runes, Reiki, etc.). I am happy to share this with my circle mates.” Or try “I bring enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. I am happy to share my energy with my circle mates.”
6. Once all the items have been placed upon the central table, then formally announce the chosen name for the group.
7. Pass the tealights around to each circle member. One at a time, light the individual candles from the large central pillar. As each person lights their individual candle from the pillar candle, they will say, “May the magick of our circle burn brightly within me.”
8. Once everyone has their tealight burning, repeat the following spell verse together: “Though the candle flames are many, they symbolize the one. May our bond of friendship grow and shine bright like the sun. With many voices together, we create a magickal harmony. We dedicate this group, now known as _________________________. And as we will it, so must it be!”
9. Finally, have everyone carefully set their tealights in a circle once again, about three inches away from and all around the pillar candle (just like they were arranged in the beginning). Make sure that you keep the other objects on the table safely away from the candle flames, as those tealights get hot. If necessary, move the personal items out of the way and arrange them on the floor around the table; better safe than sorry. Allow the tealights to burn until they go out on their own; keep an eye on them as you immediately proceed to step 10.
10. Release the quarters and open the circle. Snuff out the pillar and save for the next group ritual.
11. Break out the snacks.
12. Relax, and enjoy each other’s company.
13. Clean up.
Ever the Circle Continues . . .
I hope that these techniques will help you and your magickal group, be it coven or circle, grow in fellowship together. Group work brings its own challenges, but it also brings many joys. There is nothing like standing hand in hand with a close set of Witches and magick users, all working mutually in a spirit of trust and camaraderie. Those bonds of friendship will only grow stronger with time. You will be there to support each other in the tough days and to celebrate the good ones.
I have also noticed that when a circle works together on similar goals, things will begin to fall neatly into place within their own lives. Group magick is powerful, and it creates a sort of ripple effect. When a circle of Witches works magick together for positive purposes such as protection, job security, healing for a friend or relative, to create prosperity, or to bring opportunities and growth, their magick radiates out, not only touching the immediate environment and the folks who are standing in the circle, but flowing out further, into the house or garden where the ritual was performed. That positive force is unstoppable, and it will smoothly roll into the neighborhood and surrounding area, and then beyond even that.
Quality group magick changes everything it touches in subtle ways, and it forever transforms the group who originally cast the magick. As a group, they will then reap those benefits together. I have experienced it in my own circle and seen the magick at work within my own life and my circle mates’ lives. If you perform group magick with heart and compassion, you will see the benefits in your daily life as well, which is why we say, “In perfect love and perfect trust, ever the circle continues.”