Casting The Circle

Once you have setup your altar and ritual space, it is time to begin casting.

Start by lighting your candles representing your quarters (if you are using any). Begin with the North and work your way around the circle deosil (clockwise), next light the altar candles, first the God candle and then the Goddess.

Now set the incense smoking, if you are using a small charcoal briquette to burn a powdered incense on this might take a bit, preferably use a small self lighting charcoal disk. Stick or cone incense is much simpler.

Lift your athame, touch its blade to the water in the chalice (if you do not have an athame simply use the index finger of your projecting (dominant) hand.) Say:

I consecrate and cleanse this water, that it may be purified and fit to dwell within this circle.
In the name of the Mother Goddess and Father God I consecrate this water.
Visualize your athame blasting away all negativity from the water with a brilliant blue-white light.

Next, touch the blade of your athame to the salt (again if you do not have an athame simply use the index finger of your projecting (dominant) hand.) Say:

I consecrate and cleanse this salt, that it may be purified and fit to dwell within this circle.
In the name of the Mother Goddess and Father God I consecrate this water.
Visualize your athame blasting away all negativity from the salt with a brilliant blue-white light.

Now go to the North edge of the circle.
Hold your athame point outward at waist level.
Walk the circle's perimeter deosil (clockwise), your feet just on the inside of the circle (careful not to kick anything over or drag your robe through the candles). Charge the circle with your words and energy, visualizing energy flowing from the blade of your athame. See the energy forming a brilliant bluish-white sphere above you and extending into the ground beneath you. The circle is unhindered by objects such as walls and furniture, it goes right through them.
As you do this say:

Here is the boundary of the circle, naught but love shall enter. Naught but love shall emerge. Charge this by your powers Lord and Lady.

When you arrive back at the North place your athame back on the altar and pick up the bowl of salt.

Sprinkle the salt around the edge of the circle, starting at the North and working deosil. As you do so visualize green or brown energy flowing around the area of the circle, cleansing and purifying it with the power of Earth.

Return to the altar and set the salt down, picking up the incense (in the censer if needed). Walk around the circle deosil with the smoking incense, allowing the smoke to permeate the circle. Visualize the circle being permeated with yellow energy (the color of the sky at dawn), cleansing and purifying it with the power of Air.

Now pick up the Southern point candle, or one of the altar candles if you are not using candles at your quarters (the God candle would be preferable as a substitute, as Fire is a masculine element). Walk deosil around the circle from the North, carrying the candle. Visualize the light from the candle as a red energy, cleansing and purifying the circle with the power of Fire.

Finally, pick up the chalice of water, walk the circle deosil, sprinkling the water around the edge of the circle. Visualize blue energy filling the circle, cleansing and purifying it with the power of Water.

Return to the altar, pick up the wand.

Go to the North edge of the circle. Hold the wand aloft and say:

I call upon you Spirit of Earth, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I have form and strength, we are kith and kin.
When you feel the presence of the Spirit of Earth, lower the wand.

Go to the East edge of the circle. Hold the wand aloft and say:

I call upon you Spirit of Air, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I breathe and think, we are kith and kin.
When you feel the presence of the Spirit of Air, lower the wand.

Go to the South edge of the circle. Hold the wand aloft and say:

I call upon you Spirit of Fire, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I consume life to live, we are kith and kin.
When you feel the presence of the Spirit of Fire, lower the wand.

Go to the West edge of the circle. Hold the wand aloft and say:

I call upon you Spirit of Water, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I feel and my heart beats, we are kith and kin.
When you feel the presence of the Spirit of Water, lower the wand.

The Circle is now cast, and the ritual or magick may begin.