“At lower than intermediate levels, I’d say it’s best to use circles as a focus of the magician more than a protection from outside enemies. It helps to set up the atmosphere and encourage a successful shift in the reality that will further one along the path.” —Bart. S, longtime esoteric practitioner
In magical and occult circles, it is normal for many people to draw a circle prior to a magical working or ritual. But is it necessary? This post has an interview with Bart S., whose full name is withheld for personal reasons. Bart lives and works in East Asia, and has a long history working formally and informally in esoteric organizations and groups. Bart’s perspective is from a largely Hermetic paradigm. It should be noted that two major currents of western magic, folk magic and astral magic, don’t require the the drawing of a circle before rituals or operations. The drawing of a circle largely comes from Solomonic magic, or western ritual magic. Despite the roots of the tradition, the act of drawing a circle has become somewhat mainstream in certain esoteric and magical circles. In the interview that follows, Bart discusses the greater implications of drawing a circle.
Mad Sage Astrology(MSA): Should a magician draw a protective circle before certain workings? Should a circle be used in astral magic talisman creation, ancestor rituals, and other types of rituals?
Bart S.(BS): This is the general question with different kinds of activities. It seems to be too open-ended, so I’ll circumscribe it in order to draw some concise comments around the topic. I’ll answer from a more Hermetic angle, and I won’t talk in terms of paganism or nature-based magickal practices. Of course with all these activities, whichever school or tradition you exercise will have the proscriptions for execution. Ancestor rituals aren’t included here. Note that I’ll be answering this for a high-beginner or lower-intermediate practitioner or a decently-read armchair enthusiast. I won’t bother with circle symbolism but try to keep it ‘functional’ more than theoretical. Obviously the question arises: protection from what? Any of the systems that use circles as part of a ritual explain their function, and sometimes it’s just to keep the members aligned physically—a practical measure for group workings, especially when things are in a heightened-state. It functions as a protection from any simple accident.
MSA: How about from the perspective of an individual? Can demons or spirits attack a person or get involved in a working if there isn’t a circle?
BS: So, I’ll consider the question from the viewpoint of the solo practitioner. Protection from demons or spirits set against your working? That depends on your system and cosmology, but we can at least center on the individual magician, body, mind, willpower, and spirit. In the early stages of building up the magical-self and the strengthening of the astral and etheric bodies, the circle of protection is useful. Like safety equipment for physical exercises or sports, its better for protecting against an accident. The same goes with cleanliness in surgery or safety in the laboratory, setting a controlled environment frees up the mind from either worrying or doubting. It lets the subconscious cracks drain energy and attention away from the act of focusing a person’s power and the precise attention needed for the work.
MSA: How about the advanced stage of magical practice?
BS: There is nothing wrong with using protective circles at an advanced stage when they might not be necessary, they won’t damage the talisman or slow down the process all that much. For deities and planets, when you have established a decent enough connection, the circle may not be always necessary depending on the purpose of the contact. Still, after years of approaching within a certain atmosphere, it might be strange or difficult to get the same results when suddenly trying a ritual with that one piece left out.
MSA: Do you think rituals involving the decans and lunar mansions might require a protective circle? How about talismans with planetary spirits?
BS: I’d say it depends on the purpose of the decan or lunar mansion rituals, but it also depends on the system one is a part of, and if its just to align or approach or contact them, then I’m sure a circle isn’t that necessary. For me, I would still use some kind of circle, just like I’d clean up my place a bit if I knew a friend was coming around for a visit.
Making a talisman is more work, and consecration in general is better done with more control and focus. This is all from a more traditional hermetic ritual magic praxis. Some pagan magic uses no circles. At lower than intermediate levels, I’d say it’s best to use circles as a focus of the magician more than a protection from outside enemies. It helps to set up the atmosphere and encourage a successful shift in the reality that will further one along the path. I’m not sure if this answers what your questions were aiming at but there might be something here that satisfies.
MSA: Thanks for agreeing to do this interview and sharing your perspective.
Bart S. has an extensive background in esoteric spirituality and divination. An expat in East Asia, he has founded and helped coordinate esoteric and divination focused groups on the Meetup app for over 6 years. He has more than ten years formal membership in esoteric organizations and has been a student of Hermetic, Western Mystery Traditions, and Neopagan systems since 1997. Additionally, Bart has studied tarot for over thirty years. He’s been consulting clients and teaching tarot for twenty years and eight years, respectively. Bart offers tarot consultations and classes on Airbnb. He can be reached on Airbnb experiences when he schedules tarot readings or by contacting Mad Sage Astrology.
Photo Credits
- A large shield sits in a hall. Photo by Midjourney. Prompt: an Athenian shield resting against an old stone altar. Username: @david.k9
- A spirit shaped like a dog watches a 3rd century man do a ritual. Photo by Midjourney. Prompt: a youthful man in blonde curly short hair wields a knife and sits at a simple ancient Roman altar while spirits that have human bodies and dog faces watch him. Username: @david.k9
David has studied traditional astrology since 2014. The Bay Area native completed Chris Brennan’s Introduction to Hellenistic Astrology course, and attended courses taught by Austin Coppock, Nina Gryphon, and Ryhan Butler. He is interested in exploring the less well known aspects of astrology, divination, and spirituality.