Circle Casting for the Hellenic Witch

After performing my last few rituals without casting a circle or having much buildup at all, I have begun to realize the importance of doing it--less I think for creating sacred space in the physical plane--as I believe all the world is automatically sacred space--but more for creating sacred space in your own mind, body and spirit--to give you a bit of a running start before making the leap into the sacred work. In that vein I offer here a Hellenic circle casting incorporating the Orphic Hymns. Enjoy!

 Casting the Circle:

• Gather all objects and implements necessary for the ritual or magic that is to be performed and lay them on the altar according to the plan shown in this book.
• With the besom, sweep an area large enough to lie down and stretch out in. Visualize all negativity being removed from the space, leaving the area you are to use for your circle clean, pure, and glowing. 
• Light the Hestia candle or lamp which is placed at the center of the altar

Daughter of Rhea, Venerable Guardian of the Unwearying Flame,
this supplicant come before you now is yours-
-a mystic much blessed and holy.
The Gods have fixed their dwelling place in you,
strong, stable basis of the mortal race,
many-formed, eternal, laughing, blessed, lovely Queen, ever Scarlet One.
Accept these rites,
accord to each of us our just desires, gentle health, and needful goodness.
Hail Hestia!

• Place elemental representations at each cardinal point of the circle. At north, a bowl of salt; at east, a censer with lit incense; at south, a lit red candle; and at west, a bowl of water.
• Turn to the east, to the incense, and touch the point of the athame to it,

By the power my beloved Theoi, the Spirits of Nature, my ancestors and myself, 

I bless this incense. Esto!

• Repeat this blessing for all four elemental representations, moving from one to another in a clockwise direction.
• Stand facing east, athame at waist level, point facing out. Turn to the right and create the circle by walking around its perimeter and saying:

Here is the boundary of this sacred circle.
Naught but light shall enter herein,
naught but light shall emerge from within.
By the power of my beloved Theoi, the Spirits of Nature,
My ancestors and myself, Esto!

• Having returned to the east point, take up the incense and cense the perimeter of the circle, walking deosil and returning the censor to its place.
• Turn to the south and walk the candle around the circle deosil, then the water, and finally the bowl of salt, sprinkling just a bit around the perimeter. Sense the purifying of the circle, sense the creation of energy and sacred space.
• Standing at the east point of the circle and facing east, hold your hands up to the heavens and say:

Hail and welcome spirits of Air,
Chief among you Zephyros,
sweet West Wind who grants rest to weary labor,
A scent of grass and gentle song,
Oh vernal Wind, You bring to the delighted ships,
Impelled by You through the profound Sea, 
perusing with prosperous Fate Their destined course,
Zephyrs, unseen, formed from Air with wings of light,
With blameless breath regard Your supplicant's prayer.
I call upon you now
and ask you to attend this circle,
to give to it of your light and will,
to witness, to protect, and to consecrate
the work done herein.
Charge it by your power I pray.
Esto!

• Turn to the south, hold your hands up to the heavens and say:

Hail and welcome spirits of fire
Chief among you the Primal Fire.
O Primal Fire, ascend to us and rule the sky.
Aethereal Fire, radiant heat that inspires life,
Light Bearer, Power of Stars, 
Cause now the blooming of the iris and the rose,
And to the grain be kind,
Hear our prayer of supplication,
And be thou ever innocent, serene, and gentle to our Land.
 call you now
and ask you to attend this circle,
to give to it of your light and will,
to witness, to protect, and to consecrate
the work done herein.
Charge it by your power I pray.
Esto!

• Turn to the west, hold your hands up to the heavens and say:

Hail and welcome spirits of water,
Chief among you Leucothea
Powerful Goddess in the mighty deeps,

the profound sea Your home,

Reveling in the waves.
Guardian of mankind who delivers ships from the fury of the storm 


when all is lost and strength is gone,


When tempests overwhelm the mariner with rushing waters,


Your heart is touched with pity,


And You hear the supplicant's prayer,


Sparing the lives of those who run upon the sea.
Be present Goddess, and bring prosperity to the ships, 

defend Your mystics upon the stormy oceans,


And conduct them safely to their destined end.
I call you now
and ask you to attend this circle,
to give to it of your light and will,
to witness, to protect, and to consecrate
the work done herein.
Charge it by your power I pray.
Esto!

• Turn to the north, hold your hands up to the heavens and say:

Hail and welcome spirits of Earth,
Chief among you Gaia
Source of Gods and Mortals,
All-Fertile, All-Destroying Mother of All,


Who brings forth the bounteous fruits and flowers,


All variety, Maiden who anchors the eternal world in our own,


Immortal, Blessed, crowned with every grace,


Deep bosomed Earth, sweet plains and fields fragrant grasses in the nurturing rains,


Around you fly the beauteous stars, eternal and divine,

Come, Blessed Goddess, and hear the prayers of Your child,


And make the increase of the fruits and grains your constant care,

with the fertile seasons Your handmaidens,

Draw near, and bless your supplicant.
I call you now
and ask you to attend this circle,
to give to it of your light and will,
to witness, to protect, and to consecrate
the work done herein.
Charge it by your power I pray.
Esto!

• Turn clockwise until you are standing facing the altar. Hold your hands up to the Heavens and say (You may replace this general invocation with one specific to the deities of the ritual):

I call to the Theoi, all the Goddesses and Gods!
Eos, Helios, and Silver Selene,
all the Powers of the shining sky.
Thetis, Triton, and Amphitrite Queen,
all the Powers of the salty seas,
Khloris, Ploutous, and the Horai of Time,
all the Powers of the growing world.
To the Khthonioi who rule below:
Hekate, Persephone, and the Lord of the Dead.
To the Titanes who stood with Order:
Themis, Leto, and Mother Rhea.
To the Apotheothenai whose deeds won divinity:
Heracles, Asklepios, and Beloved Ariadne.
And to the Olympians, the Greatest of all:
Royal Hera, Heaven’s Queen; Goddess of Sovereignty;
Protectress of Women and Blesser of Marriage,
Lord Poseidon, ruler of the seas,
Earthshaker, Horse Tender, Securer of Safe Voyage,
Rich-haired Demeter, Goddess of Grain; Nourishing, Bountiful;
Sender of Gifts and Bringer of Seasons,
Golden Aphrodite, Ruler of Night;
Shapely, Heavenly Goddess of love and fertility;
Mistress of passion and needful desire; Lover of laughter and festivity,
Brazen Ares, Spear-Wielding, Shield-Piercing Destroyer;
Bloody, Mighty, Courageous God of Battles,
Beautiful Artemis, Untamed Huntress, Queen of the Beasts, Warrior of the Wilds; Goddess of Girlhood and Leader of the Dance, Helper in Childbirth,
Shining Apollon, Leader of the Muses;
Far-shooting, Far-seeing God of Oracles;
Brilliant Healer and Protector of Youths,
Grey-Eyed Athene, Maiden of War and Wise counsel,
Defender of Cities; Weaver, Worker and Goddess of Industry,
Renowned Hephaistos, Master of Fire and Shaper of Metals,
Resourceful, Ingenious God of many Crafts,
Glorious Hermes, Divine Messenger and Guide of Souls,
Eloquent, Crafty, God of Travel and Trade;
Patron of Athletes;  Protector of Herds and Flocks,
Ivy-Crowned Dionysos, Lord of the Vine,
Frenzied and Howling, Twice-born Giver of ecstasy, release, and primal catharsis,
God of Indestructible life,
Beloved Hestia, Keeper of the Hearth, Mistress of the Flame of family and sacrifice; Sacred center of home and community—Receiver of offerings both first and last.
To all the Theoi, Great Goddesses and Gods, Deathless Blessed Ones.
Theoi, I call you now
and ask you to attend this circle,
to give to it of your light and will,
to witness, to protect, and to consecrate
the work done herein.
Charge it by your power I pray.
Esto!

• The circle is now cast, consecrated, empowered, and sealed.

Releasing the Circle:

• Once the rite is ended, face east, hold your hands up and say:

Hail and farewell spirits of air
and beloved Zephyros
I thank you for your presence here.
Go in power and in peace,
And know that you are always welcome here.

• Repeat this formula for each cardinal point, substituting the appropriate names and directions.
• Turn clockwise until you face the altar. Hold you hands up to the heavens and say:

Hail and farewell
Beloved Theoi all.
I thank you for your presence here.
Go in power and in peace,
And know that you are always welcome here.
Esto!

• Take up the athame. Stand at the east point and, holding the athame at waist level, pierce the wall of the circle with its blade. Move deosil around the circle visualizing its power being sucked back into the knife. Literally pull if back into the blade and handle.
• When you arrive at the east again, the circle is no more. Stand at the center of what was your circle and say:

May this circle be open
but never broken
Esto!

• Clap your hands. The circle is now open.