STRIX CIRCLE CASTING by Estara Notes on the Circle Casting: This assumes a basic familiarity with the usual Wiccan conventions, such as the Charge of the Goddess and the Great Rite. Those who lack this familiarity can easily find it elsewhere, as there are now several (!) circle casting techniques in print. The format assumes a single priestess, so as to be usable by solitaries and those who do not have a "matched set" of priest and priestess. The tasks assigned the priestess can be given to a priest or divided between her and a priest as the group sees fit. Resources and inspirations for this method include, in no particular order: De-Anna Alba, Raven Grimassi, Doreen Valiente, Agrippa, Janet and Stewart Farrar, the Orphic hymns, Apollonius Sophistes, Ed Fitch, Empedocles, and my own training and personal work. STRIX CIRCLE CASTING 1. Bathe and dress in a chiton. In a group, all members should bathe at home. At the site, all members pour blessed water over their hands after dressing. 2. Drink a ritual tea, allowing this time to move you into a mild meditative state. Center yourself. 3. Proceed to the altar in an orderly fashion, led by the priestess. Special tools or decorations may be set out at this time. If concentration is held, the entire altar can be assembled now. 4. Priestess lights the center candle or Spirit cauldron (a flame-resistant bowl with a small amount of alcohol), saying: "We begin with you, Hestia. Let the light of the Divine fill our circle. Blessed be." Incense is lit, as are quarter candles if they are used. 5. Priestess rings a bell once over each corner of the altar, clockwise, and once in the center, then puts it down and says: "I call Earth to bind my spell; Air to speed its travel well; Bright as Fire it shall glow; Deep as Water it shall flow. Count the elements fourfold: In the fifth the spell shall hold. So mote it be." 6. Priestess touches her wand to the bowl of water. "Blessed be, creature of water." She touches the wand to the bowl of salt. "Blessed be, creature of earth." She puts down the wand and holds her hands over the two bowls. "Salt and water, inner and outer, body and soul, be cleansed. Cast out all imperfection by the grace of Apollo. So mote it be." She places three pinches of salt in the water, saying, "Blessed be, creature of magic." She stirs three times with her fingers or a bay asperger. 7. Priestess holds up the water for a moment, feeling the blessing of Apollo descend into it. She sprinkles herself, then the altar, then the coveners, moving clockwise. She takes up the incense and charges herself with a solar cross, then the altar, then each of the coveners, moving clockwise. 8. Priestess touches the tip of her athame to the Spirit flame. She moves to the Eastern quarter and casts the circle, saying, "In the sight of the Gods, I conjure this circle to be a place set apart, between the worlds." She sprinkles the boundary of the circle with water, saying, "In the sight of the Gods, I purify this circle and seal it. Hekas, este bebeloi." She charges the boundary with incense, saying, "In the sight of the Gods, I charge this circle as a vessel of power." These three tasks can be divided between three people, which will make it quicker. 9. Priestess, or whomever does the quarter calls, takes the bell to the Eastern quarter and rings it three times. "Eurus, Guardian and messenger of the East, we ask you to witness and protect this rite. Come join us now. So mote it be." This is repeated in the South for Notus, in the West for Zephyrus, and in the North for Boreas. The priestess takes the bell and rings it once in the center of the circle, saying, "The Gods of Heaven keep watch above us, and the Gods of Earth below. We are between the worlds." 10. An anointing oil is passed around the circle. Each covener may pray to their own patron while anointing. 11. Priestess assumes the star pose (legs apart and arms lifted) and invokes the Goddess(es) of the rite. When she feels the presence of the Goddess(es), she gives the Charge of the Goddess, followed by other messages if any are given. 12. Priest (or priestess) assumes the god pose (arms crossed on the chest) and invokes the God(s) of the rite. When he feels the presence of the God(s), he gives the Charge of the God, followed by other messages if any are given. 13. Ritual observances appropriate to the occasion are now held. Discussion of the occasion, ritual drama or dance, and journeying are suggested. 14. Magic, if any is worked, is done now; or it may be blended with the ritual observance if this is appropriate. 15. The Cone of Power. This may involve any combination of dance, drumming, chant, and controlled breathing. 16. The Great Rite (symbolic). The priestess lowers her athame into the chalice, saying, "It is the balance of Love and Strife that creates all things. In their union, there is Harmony." She holds up the chalice. "Let this sacred drink be filled with the essence of that harmony, that it may reawaken in us the spark of our own divinity. But first, we make libation to the Gods, who are first in all things. Sponde!" After the libation into the offering bowl, the cup is passed, and all drink once. (It may be passed again after the offering.) 17. Priestess holds up the cakes. "Blessings on this meal, which is as our own body--for without this, we would starve and die. Blessings on the grain, which as seed dwelled in the Earth and heard Her secrets. As it flowered and grew, it was initiated into the realm of all the elements. It was bathed in the light of the sun, moon, and stars, fed by divine light and blessed by the spirits of Nature. And so, through this grain, may we take in these blessings, and gain understanding of the mysteries hidden within." A cake is placed in the offering bowl, and the rest are passed around the circle. The priestess adds any other offerings into the bowl, and recites over it the Orphic hymn honoring all the gods. The rest may be done either now or after the circle is opened: she divides the total offering into two portions, burning one and burying the other. 18. The priestess thanks the gods with a closing prayer appropriate to the rite. 19. At each quarter, the bell is rung three times. "Boreas (Zephyrus, Notus, Eurus), Guardian and messenger of the North (West, South, East), we thank you for attending our rite, and bid you return in peace and friendship to your own realm. Hail and farewell. Blessed be." Priestess rings the bell once in the center of the circle. 20. With the athame, the priestess undraws the circle counterclockwise, drawing in the energy. She touches the edge of the blade to the Spirit flame to return it. 21. Priestess rings the bell over the altar corners counterclockwise to release control of the elements. The Spirit flame is allowed to go out on its own--but if a candle is being used, it is extinguished with thanks to Hestia. 22. "The circle is open but unbroken. May the love of the Gods go in our hearts. Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again. The rite is ended. Blessed Be." The coveners may now feast, socialize, and engage in other appropriate post-ritual activities.