If a circle is aimed at containing energy raised during a working - do you always cast a circle when you do a working?
Just wondering as one working I did that didn't work at all was done without a circle.

Ed

I think it depends on what you believe. Not having the circle gave you some doubt, hence...

A circle is completely unnecessary in any witchcraft working, it is copied from old ceremonial magic rituals and so on. No tool or formula is necessary for results.

I usually cast a Circle when Im working, but it really depends on what im doing!
But the Circle is far more than just for Containing Energy!
I generally consider it in 4 ways, Containment (as you said), Protection (to keep away anything you dont want involved in the Ritual), Bridge (between the Worlds, existing on several planes at once), Symbolism (representing the Stone Circles of old, the turning of the Year / Day, Passage of Life, etc).

I do always cast some form of circle when I'm working, it's just the way I do things... it comes down to personal preference at the end of the day.

We have a set format within the coven for circle casting, which I adapted for use working alone as well... well, I say adapted, what that means is doing the whole thing by myself

But on those occasions where I'm not doing the full circle cast, I will still visualise a sphere of protection/containment around my working space. It makes sense to me that when I'm opening myself up to work magic that I protect myself at the same time from any negative influences that may be lurking.

I tend to view it in the same ways as CornishShaman has already said, it serves more than one purpose - as well as the reasons already given, the act of casting the circle in itself has the effect of preparing you for your ritual and helping you get into the right mindset.

What CS and Stormbringer said (with the addition that i like sitting in a circle. It feels good so i always do it even for short insignificant workings.

so do I I call it my poncing and I enjoy it immensely on occasion. BUT and its a big but, it shouldn't be necessary.

As I said on the other post, a witch should be able to cast on the hoof and surly if your protections are concrete you carry them with you.

I'd be more likely to cast circle when I'm honouring my gods or my ancestors than I would for witchcraft purposes.

But then thats just me

Don't do circles.

I've previously worked in various other shapes - such as a Ve (it's a particular shape used by some pre-Christian Heathen sacred spaces) but only for public performances, where those leading the performance wanted it because most of those attending were used to the idea of activity taking place within a contained shape, and because some of us had experiences some adverse activity by something malign, and we wanted to ensure we didn't give it another "in" through one of the naive attendees.

But, in my own stuff, no. If I was not on my own territory I'd ask permission from the local wights before doing something, anyway. As we did with the public performances. It's no guarantee of safety - as Jape indicates, that's down to the operator to ensure.

Eagledance, like all magic, a circle will do whatever you intend it to. So if you cast it with the intention of holding in energy it will. If you cast it with the intention of keeping out nasties, it will. If you cast it with the intention of just having something to ponce around in, that's what you'll get

It will do whatever you intend it to do...?

Hmm. Confidence is a virtue eh

The thing about a circle is it's like the stick or straight line. Some cultures get to the centre of things with a circle, some with a line - both are very much alike.

For instance the honfour or ritual space in Vodoun is the post in the centre of an open-sided room, similar to brands of South American shamanism - spirits enter from below or above, they meet in the middle where you are.

With a circle every way you look at it, you're in the middle, yet it has no depth (like a straight line) - draw the symbol for the sun (also the centre of a Western natal chart) - imagine that's you in the middle; now if you look at it from above, below, left or right, it's still a perfect circle and you're still in the middle of it - centre of the universe.

Raising energy is questionable. Only you can raise the energy within that space, or call it into the space, or use it to step through the worlds. Tools are only toys if the master cannot wield them - and none of us can on a bad day

I doubt the spell faltered because you cast the circle wrong, I'm sure the circle was cast wrong because you faltered. Tiredness, mental drifts, the day before or ahead - everything can pull on your concentration and energy levels. Sleep well, eat well, try again.

Always work in a Reiki circle during healing as personally I believe it keeps out any negative energies, something you don't want during a healing session. But apart from that, in magickal workings I don't cast a circle unless it's something really major.

Yup.

An addendum: circles are a means of making concrete sense of things. In this mannr, they are useful initially; and latterly as a natural shape within which to work.

Just a note, Im sure its obvious to everyone, but when i talk about a Circle, I actually mean a Sphere (or Ball, if you prefer)!

I usually do cast a circle but more just because i like the feel of it. I feel still and calm and peaceful and in a house with 5 other people that becomes necessary when doing any kind of working lol.

What he said

Totally not needed, and I very very rarely use one. When I do, its usually because Im trying to hold something in, rather than keep something out.

Just noticed Els made mention of that... heh.

No but a belief that perception shapes reality is

[
No but a belief that perception shapes reality is

[/quote]

Of course:)

winks: See Shrodingers infamous alive nad yet dead cat:d

gilgamesh

Nope i dont do circles, though i do think i have a protective bubble around me anyway. but the mozzies still manage to get in.

I like the idea of thought projected spheric areas forming a circle where it intersects the ground, the simplest of forms. It sets the boundaries and defines a specific region that I can associate with.

Of course jokingly I have recommended other shapes - upon one request as to how an individual could encompass their altar that was squeezed to the edge of room, instead of a circle I suggested using a "pyramid of power", because then it would be guaranteed to get into all the corners - I was taken quite seriously too which left me feeling a tad guilty

Used for group ritual (generally because group rituals include wiccans and a ritual format that meets their expectations). For my own work.... never. Actually, that's not entirely true. If I am creating a defense against something attacking a specific area or people then I may use a circle. But that is more as a device to give me the chance to see what is doing the attacking so that I can work out the best way to respond directly to that attack. That kind of scenario is rather rare though.

BB

Mike

I never cast a circle these days, though did when practising Druidry or Craft.

As I see it now we are surrounded by circles, the circle of the sky and the horizon, beyond that the circle of the stars.

Your honour, strength, skill, luck and friends (corporeal and not) are what keep you safe.

I know what you mean and I work in the same way. The "circle" is merely the line where the sphere passes through the Earth. I do not believe that they are required as has already been mentioned. They are a tool like anything else used in ritual magic. Having said that the very act of summoning the sphere often drops me into the headspace needed for workings. As to carrying your protection with you, the sphere is an easy way to do this. With it in mind its instantly there when required, similar to most "shielding 101" techniques.