Although many
commentators believe that the use of a
ritual circle by witches is a modern Gardnerian concept, there are
actually much older references. As early as the 17th century we find
woodcut illustrations depicting Witches gathered in a ritual/magickal
circle. One such example, drawn by the Italian Demonologist Guazzo in
appears in his book
Compendium
Maleficarum. Here
Guazzo
depicts
several
witches
gathered in a circle
traced upon the
ground. Outside of
the circle appears a
horned
figure,
possibly evoked to
appear by
the
witches. It is
interesting to note
that Guazzo also
mentions that witches
work with
elemental
spirits of earth, air,
fire, and water. In
occult lore the Elementals are known
as Gnomes, Sylphs, Salamanders, and
Undines.
The Witches' circle,
or Circle of the Arts, is in effect a
microcosm of the Witches' magickal
Universe. The ritual/magickal circle is traced upon
the ground, traditionally 9 to 18
feet in diameter. Properly cast, it becomes a place between the
Physical and Spiritual World.
Wiccans/Witches often refer to the ritual/magickal circle as the
world between the worlds, and as sacred space. Once established the
circle serves to contain the
magickal and metaphysical energies raised within
its sphere, condensing them enough
to accomplish the desired magickal effect. The threshold of the
circle, through which the
celebrants enter and exit,
is located at various points pertaining to the inner symbolism
contained in each
tradition. Many
traditions use the
north or the east
quarter. In the
ancient Mystery
Traditions
the north-east point of
the circle served as
the doorway.
The north is the
realm of the power
of the gods, and the
east is the realm of
enlightenment. To
enter and exit at the
northeast point was
to symbolically meet
with the gods in
power and enlightenment. When a
circle is established according to the mystical
associations unique to each
Tradition, it becomes a grotto for initiation and spiritual
rebirth, the sacred womb of the Mother Goddess.
The circle is first
marked out physically so that
a vehicle exists
wherein the elemental spirits can
be invoked. A space
is marked out to separate the
mundane from the
sacred. The elements are then evoked
at each of the four quarters of the circle
according to their
correspondence. Traditionally, the
element of earth is assigned to the north. Elemental Air is placed at
the east, fire at the south and water at the west quarter. Depending
upon the climatic conditions of the region in
which any tradition abides, these
elemental associations may
vary.
The ritual or
magickal circle should be
visualized as a sphere
of energy rather than a wall
of energy enclosing
the area. The sphere serves to seal
not only the circumference but also the top and bottom of the sacred
space that one has established. Traditionally, beings known as the
Watchers are evoked to each of the four quarters of circle to magickally
guard the sacred area against the
intrusion of any forces not in harmony with the ritual itself.
The Watchers also bear witness to the rites and can exert a great deal
of influence over the nature of the work at hand.
Movement within the ritual circle is always
performed in a clockwise manner when creating sacred space or magickal
workings. When dissolving the
circle or negating magickal energy,
the movements are always
counterclockwise (note that
in the Southern Hemisphere this is reversed). Wiccans refer to
this as deosil (sunwise) and widdershins (or tuathal, against the
shadows). According to the Mystery
Teachings, however, the
clockwise movement within the circle is symbolic of the lunar/ feminine
energies emerging from the
left-hand-side, and displacing the solar/masculine
energies associated with the
right-hand-side. It is the moon rising to claim the Heavens as
the sun departs to the Underworld. Since Wicca is a
matrifocal and lunar sect, it is
only natural to find this
association. The solar associations of movement within the circle stem
from the Indo-European influences that usurped the
matrifocal concepts particularly in
central Europe. Once established the ritual circle serves to
accumulate energy. The participants within its sphere are emerged in
the energies being drawn to, or raised within, the sacred sphere. Being
attendant within the circle allows one to become aligned with the
frequency or vibrational rate of
the current of energy present within the circle. In
ancient times it was held that the
power of a witch arose from an unbroken participation in the rituals
of the year. Such
participation aligned one with the natural flow of earth's
energy. Becoming attuned with Nature freed one's psychic abilities
and made available certain insights
that helped one to develop
magickal powers.
