Those familiar with my practice will know that I do not cast my circles in a traditional manner. In most pagan circles, the elements of earth, air, fire and water are evoked in connection with their respective directions, such as north, east, south and west. Since my practice blends witchcraft with druidry, my circles take on a more Celtic structure by evoking the land, the sea and the sky. Of course, the land is symbolic of earth, the sea represents water and the sky represents the air element. But what of fire? In the Ancient Ways, the fire exists within. It is the “fire in the belly”, so to speak. Another aspect to this is the mystical Welsh concept of NWYFRE, meaning “life force energy”. It is the invisible spark of life that animates all living things: human, animal and plant. Nwyfre is the constant energy that keeps us alive and present. It is an intangible, though at times tangible force that lives inside us.

During the casting of the circle in the Ancient Ways, when the land, sea and sky are evoked we do not link them to directions, but rather to animal spirits. The Land is evoked along with the “Great Stag who dwells in the forest”. Druids and Witches are both strongly linked to the forest. The blessings of the land and the stag relate to groundedness, practical matters and life on the earthly realm. Bringing these energies into our circle helps us to stay rooted “in the world, but not of it”. The Sea is evoked along with the “Salmon of Wisdom who dwells in the sacred waters”. The blessings of the sea and the salmon relate to adaptability, emotions and sensitivity. In our circles, these qualities are necessary to direct energy for magical workings, and to ensure unity among all who are present in the circle. The Sky is evoked along with the “Owl who dwells in the hidden realms and sees the unseen”. Druids and Witches move among the hidden realms through meditative and shamanic practices. The blessings of the sky and the owl relate to divine wisdom, the revealing of hidden things, and the powers of the moon and the night. We do not typically evoke the element of fire, as the fire exists within us. However, during certain rituals and ceremonies where fire is specifically acknowledged, the spirit of the dragon is evoked along with it. Dragon folklore often describes them as guardians of treasures. These “jewels” or “treasures” are symbolic of our own hidden strengths and abilities to influence the world around us.

There are many ways to cast a circle, and methods will vary according to tradition. There is much more to our circle-casting process in the Ancient Ways, this article only addresses the evocations. I share this to provide an alternative to the more traditional method that most are familiar with. For those who, like us, are called to Celtic-themed practices, it adds a different sort of mystical energy to circle casting that remains effective and meaningful.