Working the Circle

After the Ablutions (the blessing of the participants), then you can call in the elements, or rather, we call in the Guardians of the elements. You see, the elements, or elementals, in their natural state, can be difficult to control by a novice, or even a long time initiate at times. So for our own safety, we call upon the Guardians of the Watchtowers of each direction to which we have assigned an element in our tradition. So, for example, we would call (starting in the east) the "Guardian of the Watchtower of the East, the power of Water." (Our tradition differs with many published books regarding the placement of the elements in the directions, but there is no ONE right way to do this!) We will also list some of the attributes we wish to share, or say a few words regarding the rite or the magick we are about to do. We ask that they come at our command, and we end with "So mote it be", a phrase which means "so it must be."

Go around to each of the directions in the circle, the east, south, west and lastly north, and call upon the Guardian of the element you have assigned to that direction, according to the system you have decided to use. When you have finished, return to the center of the circle, or to the place where you have set up your altar.

Calling for the presence of the Lord and Lady is different than the elements. We "command" the elements to come, but we invite the Lady and the Lord, or the Goddess and God. They are actually always with us, within us, and so we are actually evoking from inside of ourselves their presence so that we can feel them manifesting in the circle. This can be a very powerful and strong feeling, and the more strongly you can evoke these energies, I believe the faster your spiritual growth can progress. To invite the Gods and Goddesses, we will sometimes use poetry, sometimes read something beautiful and reverent or just close our eyes and say the words from our hearts. The last method is the one I prefer for private worship and for my group's inner circles, but for Sabbats I will often use poetry or read something. That way all who attend can participate and call upon the Lord and Lady also in their own ways, privately.

Now that the God and Goddess are present, this is the time that you would do the work, or the purpose for which the circle was intended. Magick, healing, psychic readings, private meditations, inner work with the Goddess, creating something, channeling poetry or songs; whatever your purpose for the circle will be done at this time. You are only limited by your own imagination!

After the work is finished, you will need to ground and center, to start to bring yourself out of the "altered state" of the circle and back into the mundane state of regular day to day living. This is best accomplished by sharing what is commonly called "Cakes and Ale" or "Cakes and Wine". This is where you will bless and consecrate the wine (or beverage) and the cakes (or food) that you are going to eat and share with all the participants. Before you eat, however, many use this time to perform the Great Rite symbolically.

The Great Rite is the union of female and male that is sacred to all life, and is the basis for all life. This is done symbolically in the circle by using the symbols of the athame to represent the male, and the chalice to represent the female. Wine (or some beverage) is poured into the chalice, then both are held up for all to see, with the two people preforming this rite (usually the High Priestess and the High Priest) facing each other in front of the altar. The athame is plunged into the chalice, but gently, and this symbolizes the sacred union. There are many, many different words that can be said at this point, and most will be along these lines:

"As the athame is to the male
So the chalice is to the female
And joined together, they are one
For the greatest magick is Love."

After this is done, the cakes are also blessed, and the wine and cakes are passed out to all participants. Many people will say as they pass them out "May you never hunger" or "May you never thirst" which comes from the book by Robert Heinlein called "Stranger in a Strange Land". These are used by many groups, and are wonderful for the message they convey. Other groups may simply say "Blessed Be". Use what you prefer, or create your own special blessing. This is also a time for sharing, and bonding, for telling stories, for laughter, and for answering any questions that might arise. Don't be fooled into cutting this time short, this is an important part of the ritual too, and should be enjoyed to the fullest.

Now that the work is finished, you are properly on your way to being grounded, it is time to thank the Lord and Lady and give them leave to depart. This is done respectfully, and often with a wish that they aid us and guide us in the work we are doing, or in the coming season. Remember we don't command them, we simply invite them.

To dismiss the Watchtowers is next before the circle can be opened and completed, and this is done in the same manner as they were previously called. Some groups will start in the North and go widdershins (counterclockwise) to do this, and some groups will still start in the east and end in the east as they did for casting the circle. Use either way, whatever feels right and comfortable for you. Please do be sure, however, to thank the elements and to send them safely on their way. Failure to do that can sometimes result in "accidents" happening for a few days around the house, depending on how well you called them in. Our group also adds a "harm ye none on your way" to the end of our dismissal, and end this with "So Mote it Be".

To dissipate the energy of the circle, to take it down, or open it, is to visualize the energy that you put down, either being expanded out and into the earth to be absorbed and used by the earth, or as being taken back into your tool (staff or athame) and being absorbed or stored there. Both are valid, and are used by different groups. We send the energy out to the outer edge of our "covenstead" to protect our members as they drive home, and then to dissipate naturally into the earth from whence we called it forth.

At this point, you have started in the east and ended in the east and taken up or opened the circle, and the rite is ended. Many people will use the traditional:

"The circle is open, but never broken,
Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!"

Circle etiquitte is pretty elementary, and usually just plain common sense and consideration. Unfortunately, some people leave that at the door when they come to circle, or so it would seem. So here are a few do's and don't's:

• DO bring something to every circle you are invited to, such as a dish for feast, or some wine, or soda. Or ask the hostess what she would like you to bring.
  
  
• DO stay and help clean up afterwards! Your host or hostess are not your servants, and they were kind enough to invite you into their home, be kind enough not to leave it messy. Pick up, and wash if necessary, dishes, or glassware you have used. If you borrowed a robe or a tool (such as a chalice or athame) make sure it gets properly put away where it belongs.
  
  
• Show proper respect for other people's belongings, especially their altars and tools. Touch nothing without permission.
  
  
• DONT be late! If you are running late and it's unavoidable, at least call to let them know you are late and just how late you think you will be. Many times I have waited rituals for people who had decided at the last minute they weren't going to attend. If you do find that you can't come and you had commited to coming, the courtesy of a phone call is always appreciated.
  
  
• DONT bring guests without permission!
  
  
• DONT put anything on the altar unless you ask first!
  
  
• DO make sure you say Thank You to your hosts!
  
  

A word now about children... they are our future, and they should certainly be invited to attend outer court Esbats and Sabbats, when they are old enough to know what is going on and to behave accordingly! If you do bring your children to circles, please do not expect everyone else to keep an eye on them. They are your responsibility, and your problem. Before anyone gets put off by my attitude, please be aware that I am a mother, and a grandmother, and my children have always attended any circles that they were allowed and asked to attend. AND they behaved themselves. Children can either be the most wonderful addition to a circle, or the most disruptive. You as the parent have the obligation to see that they know what is going on beforehand and will be comfortable with it. If they are disruptive, and won't behave, and are bothering other people, then please ask for a door to be cut in the circle and take them out, and go with them to supervise them. If the circle is not appropriate for children, and they are old enough to be left to their own devices for the time, maybe they could watch a movie that would be appropriate for them, or have some kind of activity planned for them.

Some groups with lots of young children take turns in supervising activities for them that are Wiccan related, while the other adults have their circle. I have also done circles exclusively for the children, and they have been some of the most fun too! In one we "pretended" we were each of the elements in turn and acted as we thought that element might act. In another, each child had a percussion type instrument, like maracas, cymbols, drums, etc, and we had our own "cone of power" through chanting nursery rhymes and drumming. These directed activities will be more meaningful for your child than a ritual aimed at adults, and are a wonderful way to introduce the "sacred circle" to them, before you expect them to be able to sit or stand still for any length of time. These work for very young children as well as for older ones.

In closing, I would just like to emphasize again, that these are the practices that our coven chooses, and in no way mean that you can't do/see/feel something very different! The strength of Wicca, in my opinion, lies in it's diversity, and in the ability of the practitioners to adapt to whatever circumstances they need and abilities they have. So use this information in whatever way is useful to you, and don't use whatever doesn't feel right to you. Most importantly to me, though, is that you ENJOY your circle! Remember that things can and will go wrong, people will forget what to say, and the Goddess will not strike you with lightening for it. (grin)

Blessed be!