How to Open a Wiccan Circle

Exiting a Magic Circle after One is Finished Working a Spell

Oct 3, 2008

The circle is a bubble of protected and consecrated space in which a Wiccan or group of Wiccans can carry out a rite or magic spell without being bothered or hampered by surrounding spiritual influences. Once the intended rite or spell has been carried out, the circle must be opened up for the participant/s to exit safely. To simply walk through such a circle does no physical harm, but it lacks finesse and, in some circles, is believed to cause cumulative psychic trauma that can become debilitating over time.

Procedure and Components

To open the circle you will need an athame, a ritual knife or sword. Considering an athame was required to create or close the circle to begin with, you should have one. With the athame in hand, go to the eastern edge of the circle. Draw a pentacle in the air with your athame. To do this hold your athame forward and slightly to the right at shoulder height, bring it diagonally down to your left at hip height, then diagonally up to head height, then diagonally down to your right at hip height, then diagonally up to your left at shoulder height, then straight across to the right where your ritual blade first started. With this done hold your athame in both hands upright before you, slightly tipped forward. Speak the words loudly and clearly “Masters of the East, Masters of Air, we/I thank you for baring witness and guarding our/my Circle, and we/I ask for your blessing as you return whence you came. Love and Light”.

Return to the center of the circle, and then walk to the southern edge of the circle. Repeat the sign of the pentacle and say “Masters of the South, Masters of Fire, we/I thank you for baring witness and guarding our/my Circle, and we/I ask for your blessing as you return whence you came. Love and Light”.

Return to the center of the circle, and then walk to the western edge of the circle. Repeat the sign of the pentacle and say “Masters of the West, Masters of Water, we/I thank you for baring witness and guarding our/my Circle, and we/I ask for your blessing as you return whence you came. Love and Light”.

Return to the center of the circle, and then walk to the northern edge of the circle. Repeat the sign of the pentacle and say “Masters of the North, Masters of Earth, we/I thank you for baring witness and guarding our/my Circle, and we/I ask for your blessing as you return whence you came. Love and Light”.

Go to the center of the circle. With your athame in both hands, raise it up to the sky, and then touch the tip to the earth. Wrap up the athame or put it in its sheath. Raise your arms wide and say “This, my/our circle, is now open but not broken. May my/your/our heart/s be filled with the love of life and the peace of the light”.

The copyright of the article How to Open a Wiccan Circle in Pagan/Wiccan Practice is owned by John R Albers. Permission to republish How to Open a Wiccan Circle in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Dec 11, 2008 1:11 AM

Guest :

Hello.

Thank you for the information written here. I have been taught that after Casting the Circle, Calling the Corners, Invoking the Deity(s), performing the Rituals/Spells, that one is then to thank the Deity(s), close the Corners, thanking the Lords and Ladies, and hence Closing the Circle before exiting, but never opening it before exiting. What is written here is different. As a Sole Practitioner, I am learning through what I read and the courses I take; would you please clarify this more for me?

After bidding farewell and thanks to the Corners, am I to open the Circle to exit, and then Close it? If so, I have not come upon the ritual to do this - not even in Gardnerian writings to-date.

Thank you. Any guidance is much appreciated.

Blessed Be.

Llevin