Quarter calls and circle casting

[Dr_Sir]

So with my reading into witchcraft continues I have naturally stumbled across circle casting. I found out about quarter calls but the information is still a little hard to grasp, could anyone explain it to me?

[Lord_of_Nightmares]

I do not understand the specific question, can you elaborate?

[Dr_Sir]

I do not understand the specific question, can you elaborate?

What is a quater call and how does it work, whats its purpose?

same for a circle

[Ethereal Moon Rose]

Hi Dr

I just did a quick search and came across this http://everythingunderthemoon.net/forum ... rs#p208641

Might be worth a read

As for the purpose of a cirlce- it's to create a sacred space and a world between worlds. It's used to protect you from any nasties that may be attracted to your energies whilst meditating and/or spell work, ect.

[Dr_Sir]

Thanks EMR, that answers a lot of my questions ^_^

[Ethereal Moon Rose]

Happy to help!!

[Becks]

In my experience casting a circle and calling the "quarters" or "elements" was done like this: face the direction and put our arms up/hands out to the direction and sat something like the following, "Spirits of the North, direction of the ancestors, of the cold, of the bones...the night..(pretty much any association you make with this direction and correspondences...some people associated gnomes...then we said be here now blessed be" the you turn CLOCKWISE/DEOSIL to East and repeat....south and repeat....the element of aether same deal. Closing the circle was starting with aether and ending at North moving counter-clockwise/widdershins. Thanking all of the elements in turn and releasing them.

Please note. This is not the only way for it to be done. You don't have to start in the North or do it this way. It's simply one way.

[SpiritTalker]

I always have thought of the quarters as a square within a circle. A ritual circle is building an imaginary temple and the corners anchor it and provide a link to the substance of creation, the elements themselves. We call the essence of forms of matter - vapor, plasma, fluids and solids - to be present as air, fire, water & earth.

The circle/sphere keeps conflicting energies away while at the same time holding the energy you might raise inside, like a "clean-room", until you have instructed it with your spell intent.

[Jenny Crow]

Calling the Quarters is about calling the elements and the elementals that reside in each of those quarters. They are called upon to lend us their power, witness our rites and to protect us. These quarters are also referred to as the Four Corners or the Watchtowers.

Their are four quarters (obviously) - the north quarter, the east quarter, the south quarter and the west quarter. In most circles, Earth is in the North; Air is in the east; in the south quarter is Fire and in the west is Water. In the north quarter live the Gnomes; in the east quarter live the Sylphs; in the south are the salamanders and Undines live in the west. These have sometimes been changed by some groups, however.

You'll find diferences between the traditions, for example in Ceremonial Magic they often the four Archangels to guard each quarter. When calling the Quarters some people start in the East and others start in the North.

If you go here, you will find an explanation of all this: paganpath.com/study/library/trads/167-watchtowers.

[SpiritTalker]

I had wondered what are the quarters/elements protecting us from? Then, in one of my earliest circle castings, I learned that they protect us from our own folly. I had raised power and flung the cone, but forgotten to tell it a destination; after all, I was just practicing, but with live ammo.

At the exact moment I let go the energy, the north quarter votive candle exploded and I dove under a table for cover. Picture me, just a pair of startled eyes peering over the edge of the table. Since the energy I had raised had no place to go, i believe that North/Earth grounded it.

Naturally I examined the candle. It was a new votive, and had not burned or dripped down. The wick was nicely centered and had not touched the glass. The glass itself was cracked in several places, but not shattered. It had made a lot of cracking noise and I expected shards.

I learn more from my mistakes than successes.

[Firebird]

Wow that was a close call Glad you weren't hurt.
My favorite invoking was as I faced east held up my hands and said "powers of East of air breath and wind!" And SWOOSH!...a giant gust picked up our elder members lawn chair and blew it right into the direction of east!
One newbee commented, "ok...now I'm convinced"
Bb, Firebird

[SpiritTalker]

Hurt?! Y-y-you think I might have been hurt?(squeak) um, er, well...haha. Hm?
I think your lawn chair would have convinced me too. You just needed Ito provide more seating.

[Firebird]

Hahaha! Indeed!