Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard

176 Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard

light (which everyone should visualize together as

ultraviolet flames or lightning). This ring will contain

the energies raised in the Circle, until it is time for

them to be released. The wand or athamé should be

touched to the ground at the Eastern point

in the beginning, then raised to shoulder

level and pointed straight out to the edge

of the Circle, which will be inscribed in

air with its tip. When the person casting

has come full circle and returns to the East,

they once again touch the ground with the

tip of the wand or athamé, thus grounding the

Circle.

Once the Circle is cast, it must not be entered

or exited without cutting a gate. This is done with

a wand or athamé, starting at the ground and drawing

a line up, over the top, and down the other side to

make a doorway you can then walk through. Or you

may draw a line straight up from the ground to above

your head, and just zip it open and step through. Don’t

forget to close your door behind you!

Lesson 6: Calling the Quarters

The Magick Circle, like a clock face, is also a map of

Time and Space. As such, it has four points of the

compass: North, South, East, and West. Each of these

points has special associations, or correspondences,

which we call upon to remind us of where and when

we are (see 3.VI.4: “Directions & Elements”). Each

of the Directions is associated with one of the four

Elements: East=Air, South=Fire, West=Water, and

North=Earth. The words of the callings (which

may be in the form of chants and songs) are based

on these correspondences, so familiarize yourself

with them.

It is customary to have an object representing each

of the Elements on your altar. Many people just use

their magickal tools, which have their Elemental

associations. But you may also use a feather, bell, or

incense for Air; a candle for Fire; a cup of water or

seashell for Water; and a crystal, stone, geode, or bowl

of salt for Earth. In my tradition, we often set up small

altars at the outer edge of the Circle area, at each of

the four Quarters, which are then decorated with

appropriate symbols and colors. At nighttime rituals

these usually include votive candles in colored glass

holders—yellow for Air, red for Fire, blue for Water,

and green for Earth.

If there are enough people in the Circle, we ask a

different person to call each Quarter, but if the Circle

is very small (or solitary) one person can call all four.

Again, we always begin in the East, where the Sun

rises, and go deosil—except at Samhain and

Walpurgisnacht (May Eve), when we begin in the West

and go widdershins. We have special gestures, or

mudras, in which we hold our arms at each Quarter

to identify with the essence of each Element. For small

Circles, the person doing the calling stands in that

direction and faces outward. But for very large Circles,

the caller will stand opposite the direction, facing

across the Circle, so

everyone can see

and hear him.

East: The person

doing the calling faces

the East, arms raised

and held out like wings,

palms up and fingers

spread. Everyone else also

faces East with the same

gesture. The one calling will

say something like:

O soaring Eagle of the East, rider of the Winds

of Change, come to us from beyond the sunrise

and bring us inspiration! Hail and be welcome!

And everyone else echoes, “Hail and be welcome!”

At this time, incense and/or the yellow East candle

may be lit, and a bell may be rung.

South: Then everyone turns to the

South, holding hands above our

heads, fingertips and thumbtips

together in a peak, making a

triangle like a flame. The South

caller says something like:

O golden Lion of the burning

South, ruler of the flames and

lightning, come to our Circle

and bring us enlightenment!

Hail and be welcome!

The red South candle may be lit. If

you are outdoors and have a fire-pot or central

campfire, you may also light it now.

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