Casting and Banishing a Circle

Read through this and see what you like. Take out what you don't like and replace it with
something that you do. Magic that isn't personalized is useless.
Purify the space in any way that you feel appropriate. How will I know that the space is
purified? Whenever you feel that the area has the sort of atmosphere that you think you'll
need for the spell you're doing. Purified doesn't have to mean clean, pure and spiritually
sterile. Far from it! Most modern purification procedures are taken from ceremonial
magic, which you ought to know, if you have any sort of experience with it, is quite rigid,
sterile, and confined. Of course, if that's the sort of spell you need to do, go for it.
However, if you're going to be working with chaotic forces, or something like that, you'll
have a harder time drawing on them if your surroundings are too rigid. Likewise, none of
the fae with which I've had experience seem to like to be in a "Purified Kabalistic
Temple." How do I do all of this? Okay, so the Lesser Banishing Rite of the Pentagram, if
done right and with the right intent does nicely to "clear the slate," as it were, for you to
charge the area as needed. If you can use it, a little incense can give the area the desired
resonance, as can the right kind of music. Oh, yeah; about music: there are two things
that you ought to keep in mind. First, let's say that you're doing a love spell. choose a
song or tape or whatever that makes you feel romantic, and makes you think of love. If
there are any songs that remind you of fond memories of past (or present) relationships,
they'll do fine. Don't choose something that you don't like, or a sad song (unless the spell
is of less than kind intent), for that will taint the spell with its meaning. If you need any
ideas about good music, contact me and I'll tell you what I like to use. The second thing
to keep in mind is that the music shouldn't be too loud. Better that you have to break the
circle in the middle of your spell to turn the music down and then have to do the spell
over again than you find yourself competing with the music for sound! Overly loud music
usually causes the wrong kinds of disruption.
In case you haven't noticed yet, most of the stuff that is done to "purify" one's space and
to charge it with the right energies are really geared at putting you in the right frame of
mind. This probably implies that either: A. The magic happens within you, and thus, you
need yourself to be properly attuned to the spell. or B. Once your body(s) is(are) attuned
to the right frequencies, it(they)'ll start exuding the energies that will be most conductive
to the spell at hand. Either way, it seems to help.
Next, the actual circle. Using either your forefinger (usually what I do, and they're always
with you, unless you've lost them somehow.), a wand, or some other kind of projective
tool, trace a circular area around you. You can do this by either standing in the middle and
rotating, walking around the area with the tool pointing down (or up, if you wish), or by
physically tracing a circle on the ground. As you do so, imagine the circle in your mind's
eye. Some see it as a circle of light blue flame or light that is projected forth from their
finger/wand/whatever. Others like to use earth tones or white. Choose a color and stick to
it; don't change the color of the circle you cast for different sorts of spells. When you
visualize, really *project* your energies into it! You're trying to form a solid shape on the
Astral, so it ought to be done with conviction. And yes, when you're a big, powerful
Magus, you *can* probably do without the actual physical actions of tracing the circle
and can probably just will it to be there and have it appear around you. However, for now,
let's just stick with the basics, shall we? Although there are those who would disagree
with me, I don't think that it really matters which direction you face when you start and
finish the circle, nor will it ruin everything if your circle isn't perfectly round.
Once you have a circle around you, it should help to keep in the energies that you want
and keep out the energies that you don't. In theory, you should be able to do the spell now.
However, it is traditional to invite certain spirits and gods to watch your spell and help, if
they so desire. Again, any way in which you do this is just fine, but I would highly
recommend that you be, at all times, polite and courteous when dealing with anyone you
invite to your circle. If you, like me, believe that the spirits have a choice as to whether to
come or not, use the following analogy: YouUre throwing a party. A bunch of guests
show up. If you treat them well, they'll try to make the party better, if they can. They
might also bring friends next time. If youUre a bad host, either the guests are likely to
leave. If you consistently prove yourself to be in the habit of inviting guests to a
gathering and consistently abuse them, in one way or another, the guests you invite will
stop showing up. If you believe that they don't have a choice whether to come or not,
consider how obnoxious it would be if you had to show up to a ceremony held by a bunch
of little critters who were, in terms of evolution, lifespan and power, worms. Then
imagine them yelling at you, ordering you around and showing you not one ounce of
respect. . . .Yeah, I agree. Anyway, to call spirits to the circle, all you have to do is ask
them. Usually, I face each of the four directions individually and call at each one the
elementals usually associated with them. In case you hadn't picked it up elsewhere, East
is related to the Air, South to Fire, West to Water, and North to Earth. I don't think that it
matters to much which direction you face when you call whichever Elementals, but I
think that you ought to face a different direction for each one. I think that the associations
that are made with the various element to the cardinal directions are purely man-made,
but it doesn't seem to hurt. Contact me later and I'll tell you the really advanced evocation
of the elements. After you've invited in the elements, that's the time to invite in any other
spirits, totem, ancestors (specific or otherwise), or God-names. Again the way that you do
so is by saying a sort of prayer to said entities. When you do so, don't say them to
yourself. Call out to the spirits that you want to call. Some people make some sort of
gesture when they send out the call. While I have found this to help, again, it isn't
essential. If you still think that you need one, then draw a pentagram in the air in the
direction from which you'd like to call the spirit, while visualizing light, or flame, or
whatever of whatever color seems appropriate. If you only believe in one G/god, it might
be a good idea to to ask for hir help in the spell, and for protection and all that. If you
believe in more than one, or more than one manifestation of a "single" entity, you can,
and some would say should, ask for their/hir guidance, strength, etc. As with the
purification process, make sure that the gods that you invite/invoke for the spell are
appropriate. Ares tends to make love spells potent, but unpredictable, short, and often
violent in one way or another. It's just not such a hot idea to ask for help from Coyote
when you need help with studying for a test. Lastly, no offense to any Christians or Jews
reading this, but their God really doesn't seem to offer a lot of help when it comes to
weather magic, or anything that benefits the recipient more than is absolutely necessary.
Still, Ares can help you become more assertive (a quality that is essential to working our
arts), as well as being stronger in mind, body, and spirit. Coyote is great for getting
results if you don't care how you get them, and good ole' Yahweh is a great being to have
in your corner when the chips are low. Try it out; see for yourself what works.
Once you've invited everyone, work your spell. When that's done, tell all of the spirits
that you've called (individually or in groups, like "All spirits of Fire...all spirits of
Air...etc." if you can) that the spell is over. Offer them your thanks and blessings, and a
gift, if you like. Wine or juice poured outside specially for them is usually appreciated, as
is incense of the appropriate variety. Don't give the spirits left-over juice that you're
trying to get rid of, or offer them the food that you're feeding to your dog. Make it a nice
gift. Remember my rant about etiquette. It doesn't have to be anything major. Let your
intuition guide you. However, do not leave the circle yet. If you're going to leave the
spirits a gift, do it later. First, tell them that they can leave if they like. If you're into the
ceremonial style, tell them all to go away really fast. They call that a banishing. If you're
one of us down-to-earth Pagans, tell them nicely that they can leave if they like. I like to
tell them that they can stay if they like, or go if they must. However, sometimes it's wiser
to just ask them to leave peacefully. Ask yourself if you'd mind it if the given spirit starts
to hang around the area. Act accordingly. Finally, when it's just you and any spirits that
want to stay, if any, break the circle by either retracing it in the direction opposite of the
direction in which you originally drew it and feel the energy flowing through you into the
ground and see the circle diminishing in your mind etc. Or you could just wave your
hands in the air, tearing it apart ethereally.