Casting A Circle
Below are a few examples of casting a circle. All wording can be mixed and matched and tailored to your liking. There are many variations to these rituals. Below are some examples.
Example 1 Wiccan/Pagan example of casting a circle with a simple prayer:
Casting Circle:
Officiant: In many religions when a sacred ceremony such as a wedding, is not held inside a spiritual building such as a church or temple, it is customary to create a scared space in which to hold the ceremony. So, we will begin by creating a sacred circle in which to hold this beautiful ceremony.
The circle itself is an infinite thing. It is magical and never-ending, never changing and yet always adaptable, a ring with no beginning and no end. Like the circle, true love itself is infinite. It goes on, knowing no boundaries or restrictions. It flourishes and blooms in the light and in the dark, laying down no ultimatums, making no demands at all. Love, in its infinite form, is something that cannot be forced. It cannot be taken away. It is a gift we give to ourselves, and an honor we give to others from the bottom of our hearts and souls.
When two people come together and give one another this gift, this most sacred gift of all, it is certain the universe is sitting back and smiling upon us, laughing and showering us with every possible blessing.
Let us now pause to establish ourselves in the consciousness of the Divine (or the Spirits or the Gods and Godesses) as we pray.
We acknowledge Thy Presence and Thy power Blessed Spirt(s). We pray that Thy blessing will encircle the marriage of _____ and ___. Surround them and us with your love as we witnesses this sacred ceremony.
We give thanks that these two souls have been drawn together by divine appointment and will be held together by the power of divine love. We rejoice that through this mystical union, these two, now become one, will experience soul satisfaction and fulfillment, and that your blessing, Dear Gods and Goddesses, are upon them and that your love is expressing through them now and always. And so it is.
Casting Circle:
Officiant: In many religions when a sacred ceremony such as a wedding, is not held inside a spiritual building such as a church or temple, it is customary to create a scared space in which to hold the ceremony. So, we will begin by creating a sacred circle in which to hold this beautiful ceremony.
The circle itself is an infinite thing. It is magical and never-ending, never changing and yet always adaptable, a ring with no beginning and no end. Like the circle, true love itself is infinite. It goes on, knowing no boundaries or restrictions. It flourishes and blooms in the light and in the dark, laying down no ultimatums, making no demands at all. Love, in its infinite form, is something that cannot be forced. It cannot be taken away. It is a gift we give to ourselves, and an honor we give to others from the bottom of our hearts and souls.
When two people come together and give one another this gift, this most sacred gift of all, it is certain the universe is sitting back and smiling upon us, laughing and showering us with every possible blessing.
Let us now pause to establish ourselves in the consciousness of the Divine (or the Spirits or the Gods and Godesses) as we pray.
We acknowledge Thy Presence and Thy power Blessed Spirt(s). We pray that Thy blessing will encircle the marriage of _____ and ___. Surround them and us with your love as we witnesses this sacred ceremony.
We give thanks that these two souls have been drawn together by divine appointment and will be held together by the power of divine love. We rejoice that through this mystical union, these two, now become one, will experience soul satisfaction and fulfillment, and that your blessing, Dear Gods and Goddesses, are upon them and that your love is expressing through them now and always. And so it is.
*************************************************************************************************************************************************Example 2. Casting a circle by calling in the quarters.
This first part is optional: If you like the couple, a friend or even the Officiant can create a sacred ceremony circle before the guests arrive by smudging incense or sage (air and fire) around the outside of the circle. Then this person can sprinkle water mixed with salt (Earth and water) around the same perimeter.
The next part can be done at the beginning of the ceremony as part of the greeting. Officiant may first explain the sacred circle and the all the quarters:
Officiant: In many religions it is customary to create a scared space in which to hold the ceremony. In times past it was believed that the human soul shared characteristics with all things divine. It is this belief which assigned virtues to the cardinal directions, East, South, West and North. So, we will begin by calling in the quarters to bless this space in which to hold this beautiful ceremony.
(You may choose to have a candle lit in each direction if you like-this is optional)
Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, The spirt of the Air, I call upon you to witness these scared rites and guard this circle.
Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, the spirits of Fire, I call upon you to witness these scared rites and guard this circle.
Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, the spirt of water, I call upon you to witness these scared rites and guard this circle.
Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, the spirit of earth, I call upon you to witness these scared rites and guard this circle.
*Replace Guardians of the Watchtowers with Divine Spirits or Gods and Goddesses
If you light candles for each direction:
East/Air- a yellow candle
South/Fire- a red candle
West/Water- a blue candle
North/Earth- a green candle
You may also simply choose to have a table at the front of your ceremony space that has a candle for each direction and a something that represents that element. I have performed a wedding where each bride’s maid walked down the aisle with an element and then placed it on the table before they took their place. For instance, One carried a bowl with sage for air, another carried a challis/wine glass of water, another carried a decretive bowl with soil for earth, and another carried a red candle for fire.
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This first part is optional: If you like the couple, a friend or even the Officiant can create a sacred ceremony circle before the guests arrive by smudging incense or sage (air and fire) around the outside of the circle. Then this person can sprinkle water mixed with salt (Earth and water) around the same perimeter.
The next part can be done at the beginning of the ceremony as part of the greeting. Officiant may first explain the sacred circle and the all the quarters:
Officiant: In many religions it is customary to create a scared space in which to hold the ceremony. In times past it was believed that the human soul shared characteristics with all things divine. It is this belief which assigned virtues to the cardinal directions, East, South, West and North. So, we will begin by calling in the quarters to bless this space in which to hold this beautiful ceremony.
(You may choose to have a candle lit in each direction if you like-this is optional)
Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, The spirt of the Air, I call upon you to witness these scared rites and guard this circle.
Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, the spirits of Fire, I call upon you to witness these scared rites and guard this circle.
Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, the spirt of water, I call upon you to witness these scared rites and guard this circle.
Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, the spirit of earth, I call upon you to witness these scared rites and guard this circle.
*Replace Guardians of the Watchtowers with Divine Spirits or Gods and Goddesses
If you light candles for each direction:
East/Air- a yellow candle
South/Fire- a red candle
West/Water- a blue candle
North/Earth- a green candle
You may also simply choose to have a table at the front of your ceremony space that has a candle for each direction and a something that represents that element. I have performed a wedding where each bride’s maid walked down the aisle with an element and then placed it on the table before they took their place. For instance, One carried a bowl with sage for air, another carried a challis/wine glass of water, another carried a decretive bowl with soil for earth, and another carried a red candle for fire.
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Example 3 Wiccan/Pagan creating a sacred space, casting a circle, calling quarters with archangels
Creating a sacred space
Officiant: In many religions it is customary to create a scared space in which to hold the ceremony. So, we will begin by calling in the quarters to bless this space in which to hold this beautiful ceremony.
In times past it was believed that the human soul shared characteristics with all things divine.
It is this belief which assigned virtues to the cardinal directions; East, South, West and North It is in this tradition that I offer this blessing of the directions and their assigned archangels upon this ceremony space
Hail, angelic guardian of the east
Thy name is Raphael
Healer, protector, nourisher
Angel of love, joy and laughter
I call thee forth to guard and protect this sacred space.
Hail, angelic guardian of the south
Michael is thy name
He who brings balance into our world
Angel of justice, strength and protection
I call thee forth to guard and protect this sacred space
Hail, angelic guardian of the west
Gabriel is thy name
She who brings transformation
Angel of resurrection, mercy and peace
I call thee forth to guard and protect this sacred space
Hail, angelic guardian of the north
Ariel is thy name
He who is the bringer of dreams
Angel of nature and instruction
I call thee forth to guard and protect this sacred space.
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Closing the circle:
At the end of your ceremony the Officiant can close the circle by saying:
Or As we leave this space may the circle be open yet forever unbroken and may the love of the Gods and Goddesses’ (or the Divine Spirits) be forever in your heart. And so it is.
Creating a sacred space
Officiant: In many religions it is customary to create a scared space in which to hold the ceremony. So, we will begin by calling in the quarters to bless this space in which to hold this beautiful ceremony.
In times past it was believed that the human soul shared characteristics with all things divine.
It is this belief which assigned virtues to the cardinal directions; East, South, West and North It is in this tradition that I offer this blessing of the directions and their assigned archangels upon this ceremony space
Hail, angelic guardian of the east
Thy name is Raphael
Healer, protector, nourisher
Angel of love, joy and laughter
I call thee forth to guard and protect this sacred space.
Hail, angelic guardian of the south
Michael is thy name
He who brings balance into our world
Angel of justice, strength and protection
I call thee forth to guard and protect this sacred space
Hail, angelic guardian of the west
Gabriel is thy name
She who brings transformation
Angel of resurrection, mercy and peace
I call thee forth to guard and protect this sacred space
Hail, angelic guardian of the north
Ariel is thy name
He who is the bringer of dreams
Angel of nature and instruction
I call thee forth to guard and protect this sacred space.
*************************************************************************************************************************************
Closing the circle:
At the end of your ceremony the Officiant can close the circle by saying:
Or As we leave this space may the circle be open yet forever unbroken and may the love of the Gods and Goddesses’ (or the Divine Spirits) be forever in your heart. And so it is.
