Witches, Wiccans, and pagans alike know the power of working in the sacred circle. It not only protects them while they are doing their spellwork or rituals but amplifies the power of the forces they are working with by keeping it confined to the circle. The circle creates a high-energy environment for magic and allows you to invoke and invite entities you desire to work with and keep those you don’t want to interact with away.
In his book The Witch Book: The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Wicca, and Neo-Paganism, Raymond Buckland writes, “Witches refer to their ritual Circle as the place ‘between the worlds,’ neither of this world nor in the next. This is the place where all the rituals take place and where magic is performed, if needed. Circles have long been considered sacred, whether consecrated or not.” Buckland refers to the use of circles by a Roman ambassador who would draw a circle around himself with his staff for protection in battle. Babylonians drew a circle of flour around the beds of sick people to keep demons away. German Jews drew a circle around women in bed giving birth, and during the Middle Ages, many cultures built stone circles for rituals and magic, including the Druids.
Celebratory rituals, such as handfasting marriages, milestone recognitions, and coming-of-age rites, almost always happen inside the sacred circle, and it is always suggested to use the circle for protection when working with any kind of spirits and elementals or for keeping out other entities that might, during your spellwork, decide to pay an unwelcome visit and bring their negative mojo into your space.
Thus, the portable temple that a circle is can be a small space inside a small apartment or outdoors, where you can find a space big enough for a sacred circle. This should be a quiet place where you won’t be distracted or disturbed. A circle need only be big enough to fit you with your arms outstretched, so even a small corner of a room will suffice for solitary work. If you are working with a coven, obviously, you will need a lot more space to accommodate all members. Many Wiccans say that nine feet is the traditional size for a circle because nine is three times three, and it amplifies the effects of spells and rituals that take place within. This means nine feet in diameter, not circumference. The actual circumference would end up being twenty-seven feet. You can use a cord or string to measure this out with a phone app that measures distance or a good, oldfashioned, metal measuring device.
You can mark the boundaries of your circle in its entirety or just the four cardinal directions with four candles (green for North, yellow for East, red for South, and blue for West) or crystals. If doing the whole perimeter, you can use cord, candles, chalk, stones, or anything else to keep the circle intact. Some witches like to also draw out a pentagram within the circle for added magical power and protection.
Before you first use your circle, you want to cast it or charge it with positive energy. You can do this by standing in the center holding a white candle, some purification incense, or a clear quartz crystal. You can also stand with your arms outstretched if you don’t want to hold anything. Palms facing out, slowly “mark” your circle by pointing with one finger as you slowly turn. The finger will invisibly draw the circle for you. You can do this clockwise three times, then ask the goddess to bless the circle and keep it protected from negative energies. Use any words you want, but be sure to end it with “so mote it be.” When you feel the energy is right, close your circle by holding out both arms and turning counterclockwise or “widdershins” three times. Thank the goddess for her assistance and declare out loud that the circle is closed.
Your magic circle can include a pentagram, but this is not a required element of the circle.
Casting the sacred circle requires that you first cleanse yourself with sage or Moon water or a blessing of purification with a white candle, then cleanse the area you will work in. Vacuum, sweep, and do a cleansing over the space to free any residual negative energy. It’s all too easy to forget about removing any negative attachments from yourself or others that you might bring into the circle. Also, always be aware of accidentally stepping outside the circle. You want to remain inside at all times until you decide to close the circle. Think of those roller-coaster rides where the recorded voice instructs you to “keep your fingers and toes inside the barrier at all times.”
The circle represents the Cycle of Life, death, and rebirth and infinite and eternal nature. That is why it is such an important and powerful symbol for witches and Wiccans alike. Pagan and indigenous traditions, as well as more modern religions and cultures, dance in a circle to raise energy or celebrate together. Have you ever been to an Italian, Greek, or Jewish wedding? Chances are that you engaged in a circle dance, and if you’ve attended a Native American powwow, you’ve seen their sacred circle dances. Respect the circle and what it represents, and never, ever invite dark energies and demons to come inside.
When in the circle, use your finger or wand to “leave” the sacred space without being negatively affected by it. Create a door by waving your finger or wand from left to right while stating the reason you must leave the circle. Close the door on the other side. Do this to reenter the circle, but remember to close off the door once back inside while saying, “I now seal off this door to all negative and unwanted energies.” If you invite any guides or spirits into the circle, be sure to thank them for their help before releasing them from the circle.
If you are working with elemental magic, you will want to do a ritual lighting of the four cardinal candles mentioned earlier, calling upon the guardians of the North, South, East, and West to bless the circle and assist your magic. Do this while standing in the center and holding a white candle. Once you have done this, you can go ahead and do your spellwork or personal ritual. If you don’t have a white candle, you can use your athame or wand to point to each of the four cardinal candles as you bless them.
Will magic only work inside a sacred circle? Of course not, and many pagan traditions do not incorporate the circle, but for witches it is something handed down from the grimoires of traditional Western magic that has stood the test of time and kept its popularity among practitioners. This is because the idea of an aura or energy field is a universal one that people have been using to protect their own bodies as well as their environments, for thousands of years. The more formal circles can be saved for bigger rituals with a coven or group, and often, a proper casting takes more time than you have, so you may end up winging it by drawing an invisible circle with your finger. Again, no hard and fast rules, except that you open and close the circle properly to make sure anything invoked within the circle is dissipated.
Coven circles get the added benefit of collective energy, especially during rituals like raising the cone of power, where their combined intention works magic on a larger scale. Witches have described being inside a circle, whether one they drew themselves or a formal circle, as being electric and surreal, even inspiring altered states of consciousness and elevated awareness. Others say they feel grounded and centered, aware of forces far greater than they are. For many, their senses are heightened, and their mind is clear and sharp. The first few times you take part in a large group circle, you might even be a bit discombobulated by all the energy coming at you and feel the need to ask to step out for a while. Don’t be worried; you get used to the high energy of the inner circle soon and will then begin to understand the power at your fingertips.