One of the most common questions I am asked is about casting circles (the
even more popular one would have to be the difference between Wicca and
Witchcraft....this one to be answered somewhere else..) There are many
reasons for casting a circle, depending on who you talk to. Casting a
circle is creating sacred space wherever you are, making that space separate
from the mundane. Some cast a circle to contain energy, some to keep
unwanted energy out. Some cast circles as way to get into a certain frame
of mind for what they plan on doing. A circle can be cast in many ways as
well. Some do it with great pomp and circumstance, really hauling out the
ceremonial magic, others simply acknowledge the elements and directions, and
some simply just create a line within their mind. Some people only cast
circles when working with groups and never when they are working by
themselves (which describes most Traditional Witches). What you choose to
do is up to you, as each of these ways is perfectly valid.

Any Wiccan book can give you the fancy version of casting a circle, I will
try to provide for you some simple ways of creating sacred space through
circle casting so that you can develop your own personal style. Most people
use the elements and directions in some way. They are : East/Air,
South/Fire, West/Water, and North/Earth. . You can also say above and
below, all of these bound by Spirit. Depending on where you live, you can
alter the correspondences to match. Living in New England, I find the ones
as I listed them to work the best

Circles are usually cast in a clockwise direction, following the elements
and directions in the order previously listed. Clockwise motion, also known
as deosil, is usually used most often because it is thought to be a
direction of increase. Counterclockwise, or widdershins, is a direction of
banishing, decreasing. Many traditions start with the East, for either
direction. Circles can be cast in any place that has suitable room for your
purposes. However, I discourage casting a circle anywhere near where you
sleep. This cannot be avoided for a lot of teens that practice Witchcraft
unbeknownst to their parents, but if another space is available, then use
it. Someone who cannot properly regain energy after being interrupted in
the middle of doing something within circle can have an energy problem. The
best place is a private place.

Now, if you like a visual circle, you'll need to collect a few things, at
least 4 -5 candles in holders (votives in glass are fine)---you can use all
one color, or have a special color for each direction/element. To get a bit
more fancy, you can have an object that represents the element at each
corner as well. If the surface provides, you can physically draw a circle
out with a wand or athame, or the blessed piece of chalk *grin*. Set up
the candles in each appropriate corner, and if you're going to have an
altar, or some place of focus, place a fifth candle here. Now, you are
going to evoke the direction and element...you can do this vocally or
mentally. Some people like to also invoke a deity that is associated with
that direction or element as well, so how you go about it depends on what
feels right to you. Here are a few examples for each direction:

"I call upon the guardian of the East and the element of Air to enter this
circle, and be witness t o and aid in my purpose here tonight--so mote it
be!"

"I call upon the spirit of the South, the element of Fire to become part of
this circle! Dhavata, goddess of the hearth fire, warm us with your wisdom
and insight this evening, light our path! So mote it be!"

"I call upon the direction of the West and the life-giving element of Water.
Bless us with your powers of rebirth and change! So mote it be!"

"I call upon the watchtowers of the North, direction of the mysterious and
unseen, place of Earth, from which all things come. Cernunnos, the Horned
One of the forest, bless us with your presence and preside over our circle
tonight! So mote it be!

Now, if I have gone to the lengths of casting a circle like this, I like to
call upon the fifth element, which is Spirit (the Divine) itself...that
spark of life that connects us all. Simply follow any of the guidelines
above for this. Another idea is to simply call the elements and directions,
then when you get to Spirit, invoke a deity, or multiple deities at this
point. If you Œre working in a large enough space, it would be good to
travel around your circle to each of the points as you say the incantations.
If you wish to draw a circle physically, I suggest after walking around the
circle and doing the fifth, walk around your circle three times, drawing
your circle out, and then decree that the circle is now closed, between the
worlds. You now do whatever your purpose was for casting the circle in the
first place. When finished, thank each of the elements, directions, and
deities for being a part of your proceedings, and open the circle. Not
very hard eh?