Creating a Ritual Circle
By Fred McNary
Magickal or religious work is enhanced by a setting—inside or out, constructed or natural. One might venture that a deity would be more attracted to a well laid out setting than a sloppy one; so to focus group energies as a harmonious whole we should adopt a simple, easy context. Circles have been used as such for many thousands of years. Over the centuries, energy builds up in a particular practice; thus, Circles are as powerful as they are simple.
A Circle seems to work best when cast with a gap, to be closed when the participants of the ceremony are inside. That gap should be at the East, long an accepted practice. The Gate of the East may have derived its special significance from sun's rising point—critical to solar oriented religions. The outer boundary of the Circle should be inviolate. While the Circle is up, no one should cross the line.
The oldest measurement we know is the Pyramidal or Sacred Yard— 2 feet, 8 41/64 inches. This was used in the construction of the Pyramids. Its full significance may be lost to us, but we can still recognize its effectiveness in defining the radius of our Circle. The easiest way to do that is with a simple tool.
Get a length of wood about 3/4" square—a good compromise between portability and stiffness. Use a rasp or coarse file to bevel one end. Don't bring it to a point, but leave just a small square at the end.
Carefully measure from the exact end of the wood to the first Sacred Yard, and carefully mark it. Do the same at two Sacred Yards. Using the edge of the rasp or a sharp knife (an athame will work well), make an exact groove at these two marks, just deep enough to be permanent. Drill a small hole (less than 1/16 inch) at each Yard mark to allow a small common nail to go through.
You will also need six stakes, like surveyor's stakes you'd find at a lumberyard. Get a box of the "Popsicle sticks" or the larger "craft sticks" from craft store. Buy about five pounds of garden sulfur at a garden supply store. Get a box of ice cream salt, also about 5 pounds. And you will need a compass and string.
Laying Out the Circle
Pick an area of ground that seems right. If you're unsure, have a sensitive coven member choose it. If it is grassy, mow it short. If there are weeds, pull them out. If it has rocks, remove them. Make sure that you have enough room to swing the 2-yard stick in a circle without hitting any obstructions.
Locate the magnetic north. Drive a stake in the ground deep enough to be steady. Extend your string from the stake toward the North, making sure that it follows the exact north line and extends farther than the length of the two-Yard measure. Drive a stake at that point. Repeat for East, South and West.
After staking out all four Gates, push the nail through the pole at the two-Yard point, and drive it lightly into the center stake. Starting at the North stake, push one of the Popsicle sticks in the ground at the exact end of the pole. Move over some six inches or less, and push another stick in the ground. Continue this until you reach a point that approaches the East Side of the circle. Leave a gap in the circle of sticks marking the opening into the Circle at what is now the East gate. Continue to swing the pole, pushing sticks in the ground all the way around the circle till you get back to the north stick.
Laying Out the Goddess Circle: Measure two Yards farther east from the eastern point on the edge of the circle. Drive another stake to mark the center of the Goddess Circle. Push the nail through the pole at the one-Yard mark, and drive it lightly into this last stake. Using this shorter radius, make a smaller circle as before but without any gap.
Liberally sprinkle sulfur then salt around the entire perimeter of the Goddess Circle, outside the sticks. Then remove the stake and sticks. Repeat around the main Circle, leaving the East Gate open. Once the celebrants are inside the main Circle, close the East Gate with the salt and sulfur. No one should cross the boundary of the Circle after it has been closed!
Only after the Circle has been closed do you invoke the Goddess. Never invite forces into the main circle! It usually causes great trouble.
In summoning the Goddess use whatever method you prefer. Don't forget to invoke the Elementals of Earth, Air, Fire and Water to participate. If you like, you may have a bowl of fertile earth, and one of potable water, incense to perfume the air, and candles or torches. Torches should have as little metal in them as possible. Never use alcohol in Circle. This attracts spirits best left out.
After any ceremony, thank the Goddess for attending. The elemental forces should be dismissed with your thanks, but tell them to: "Go back to your natural home harming none on the way."
Blessed Be! | 
