Inside A Circle

If you’ve ever wondered what actually goes on inside a Wiccan ritual setting (a circle), this talk is for you. I will take you step-by-step through a simple ritual in my tradition, sharing with you the basics of Wiccan ritual practice.

Transcript

Merry Meet, And welcome to Inside A Circle. In this talk, We will be looking at what a circle is within the context of Wicca. What a circle is, And what goes on inside of one. Whenever I host a circle, Either online or in person, There are always several people present who are just there to find out what this is all about. They've taken a step of courage to actually go somewhere to find out for themselves what Wicca is and what Wiccans do when they gather together in a ritual setting. At the conclusion of things, The reactions are quite interesting to me, And they are almost always predictable. What I usually hear are comments such as, That was it? You mean, That's all it is? Or Wow! That was so peaceful and beautiful! What they're probably thinking in the background is, There wasn't anything dark or mysterious going on. I almost never know what their expectations are, But it's usually safe to guess that they're expecting something more visually spectacular to occur. It seems to be a bit of a surprise to them, Although not a disappointment, When Thunder doesn't clap on command, Or some type of vortex doesn't open as it usually does in a Hollywood production. Wicca and witchcraft used to have a much higher degree of secrecy about them than is present today. The secrecy stemmed largely from the fact that we were being persecuted, Openly and enthusiastically persecuted. Today, Persecution has been replaced largely with misunderstanding. Practitioners of the craft no longer fear for their lives or their safety, But it's still open season on us when it comes to judgment. Many of us simply do not care what others think of us. But, At the same time, We don't want to subject ourselves to unsolicited opinions or condemnation. Many covens still keep a strict rule of secrecy in place, Whereby any coven member who betrays the secrecy is regarded as an oath-breaker. Some Wiccan gatherings are somewhat selective about who outside the group is permitted to attend. In this example, Group practices aren't necessarily closed as much as they are guarded. When I host a circle, I do so with it being open for anyone to attend, And I do this very purposefully. This is mainly because I don't belong to or lead a coven, And also because if anyone wishes to join in and do so respectfully, I feel they should be welcome. Some will come once, Thank me at the conclusion, And I never see them again. Some return every time. So this talk is for those very people who simply want to know what goes on within a circle. I'm going to explain the basic flow of what happens, But please understand that many different Wiccan traditions exist, And because of this, No two will do or say things in the exact same way, In the same order, Or using the exact same verbiage. What I will be sharing with you is the way in which I conduct or lead a circle in an in-person setting. Generally speaking, I feel safe in saying that what you will hear will closely mirror that which you would experience if you were to attend a circle in person in your hometown or anywhere for that matter. But first, What is a circle? The simple definition is that a circle is a sacred space. It has also come to mean, At least in the Wiccan context, A gathering. A gathering of people within a sacred space, In order to perform a ritual or working. A circle can be cast for practicing alone or with a group. Some practitioners will choose to cast a circle before they meditate. A circle creates a boundary, So look at it as something along the lines of turning your phone completely off. An energetic circle is drawn around the practitioner or group. In doing so, It is commanding that all outside influences or forces are to remain outside the sacred space. The creation of a circle establishes a barrier between the mundane and spiritual realms. And within the circle, Practitioners will raise their energy collectively to empower their magic and the working. This is known as raising the cone of power, And this can be done through a variety of mediums, Chanting, Movement, Or drumming. This raising of energy is the one element of the practice that probably bears the closest similarity to what is portrayed in movies. The experience is felt more than it is seen, Yet it is inescapably powerful and moving. The best description I can think of would be what you might feel deep inside you, Especially the awe when you watch a video of a rocket taking off from a launch pad. Once a circle has been cast, It is expected that all in attendance will remain within the circle until the conclusion of the ritual or working, At which time the circle is opened or released. Exceptions are made, Of course, In the event of an emergency or someone experiencing an urgent need to step out. If such happens, The leader or priest or priestess will create an opening in the energetic field so that this can occur. In my tradition, Each participant is first welcomed. We will anoint one another by applying a drop of oil that has been infused with herbs to the person's forehead. Once we have done this, The circle is cast, Or, As some say, The temple is then erected. At an in-person setting, This boundary or the circle will be physically drawn out by one of the ritual leaders. This can be done with the hand, A wand, A staff, Or what is known as anathame. The athame closely resembles a knife or a dagger, And the sight of one will usually give newcomers a pause. The Athame is used to either direct energy or cut through it. It is never used to cut anything other than energy. It will not be pointed directly at you, And it will not come in contact with you in any way. And it is extremely unlikely that you would even be invited to handle it. But if the presence of an Athame is something that might be a trigger for you, Please mention this beforehand to one of the group leaders. Once everyone is within the circle, We start by what is known as calling the quarters, Or the directions. East, South, West, And north. The elements of earth, Air, Fire, And water. We then invite the Divine to come in and be with us during our rites by calling to the God and to the Goddess, Or the Lord and Lady. We also call out to our ancestors and any other spirits we wish to invite, Asking them to be present with us in our circle. What happens next is usually a ritual or working of some sort, All depending upon the purpose of the circle. A circle can be in celebration of a Sabbath, Such as Yule, Or an esbat, Such as the full moon. The readings that are shared, Or the workings that are done, Will typically correspond to this purpose. At the conclusion of the ritual or celebration, And before the circle is opened. What usually comes next is known as Cakes and Ale, Or the Feast. This is where food and drink is shared amongst the group in order to ground ourselves and replenish the body after having raised our energy to such a high level. Is called Cakes and Ale because that was what was traditionally served in the early days of Wiccan practice. But it can be anything. At my circles, I typically offer bread and fruit juice. After the feast, The elements, Deities, And spirits are thanked for being present during the rite, And the circle is opened, At which time the energy that was raised is returned to the earth. And that is the basic synopsis of how it works. Once again, All traditions vary somewhat. Some are quite formal, And others are more casual. And while the externals of practice might differ slightly from one place to another, The purpose or intention is generally the same. I attend circles hosted by traditions other than mine. When I do so, I feel very at home, And nothing that occurs is especially new to me. People from other traditions who attend my circles have remarked that they feel quite similarly. If you are not Wiccan and you are invited to a circle, Or going to one on your own by choice, What I've just shared is what you can basically expect to experience once you're there. Nothing will be expected of you. But the group you're visiting will be appreciative of the following. Don't judge. This applies not only to religious opinions, But to everything. It's no different than any other social setting in this regard. Wiccans come from all walks of life and all backgrounds. Be respectful. Be polite. Don't do anything you don't wish to do. For example, You might be asked if you would like to read something, Such as one of the invocations. If you don't wish to, Just politely decline, And nothing more will be said about it. Don't worry that you might do something wrong. At the conclusion of one of my in-person circles, The elements were dismissed clockwise instead of counterclockwise. The person who did that was me. All of us chuckled for a moment and went on with things. Aside from being rude or obnoxious, You really can't do anything wrong. Most of all, Relax and enjoy yourself. Circles are typically a celebration of something. Therefore, You will find that most who are in attendance are at least somewhat cheerful. You will not be judged. Go with the sole intention of experiencing what will unfold, And do so without expectations. It's quite likely that you will be pleasantly surprised. Until next time, The crow flies from me to thee. To send the message. Blessed Be.