I have noticed one consistency in my study of the pagan "sects*" that use magick. Circle casting during spells/rituals/cleansings/etc. I vaguely, from what I read, understand that circle casting creates a "sacred" space. An almost spot light effect for the deity to hone in on you while you are doing your magickal workings. I might be wrong here, but I also understand a circle as a way to concentrate magickal workings to make the effects stronger - I could be wrong there though.
That is one purpose. One way to look at it (and there are many) is to think of it as a propane tank. If you just let the propane dissipate into the air as you produce it, you lose a lot of it. If you bottle it up in a tank then you can hold it while you are producing it and keep it safe and uncontaminated until you are ready to use it.
The circle can be used like that. You can hold the magical energies in place until you are ready to let it loose in one go.
Also as it is being stored, other energies and blessings can be placed on it as you are holding it. Either directly or as a side benefit of letting the powers of the divine in and letting it get charged by the workings in the circle.
Okay, now the reason I'm creating this post: For a pantheist like me, who feels everything is divine and there is no "deity" per se, and that my energy (magick) is pulled from the Universe and the environment around me, how is casting a circle effective? Would that not be counterproductive? Wouldn't casting a circle block the energy from coming to me from my surroundings?
When you create a circle, you are not isolating yourself from everything. You are casting a barrier to prevent anything you do not want from coming in and to allow that which you allow to come in. Think of it as a firewall for a computer. It protects you from the harmful things on the internet but does not cut you off from the internet.
So you cast a circle. In the circle you can isolate yourself from the negative thoughts of your neighbors, the negative energies of society (especially at this high stress part of the year). You have a clean slate in which to work. Now that you are encircled you can then let in the powers of the Divine, the powers of the elements, the powers of others that are willing and able to help you. You can do this because you invite them in.
I realize that not everything that pertains to the magickal community will pertain to me, but I'm just concerned that if I do not perform something that is so uh...consistently performed in the magickal community that my workings will not be effective. (Not that I'm anywhere near comfortable yet, still learning)
The energy out there in the world is there for you to use. Much of it has no shape and has no direction. You need to use your will to ask permission of the Divine (Elements, Flying Spaghetti Monster, Lord and Lady, etc) to use that surplus energy and to channel it to fit your needs. this is why we often say that visualization is a very important part of what we do.
You don't need to cast one to do magical workings, but many find that it being a cleansed space that is isolated (until you let things in) is very peaceful and allows them to better achieve focus.
*I know "sect" has a negative connotation, but its the best word I know to describe individual groups under the same umbrella religion. Sorry...no offense meant!
I think you're thinking of "Tradition" or "Path". They are better at explaining what we are. I can say that I'm Wiccan but follow a family tradition or path. Others may say that they follow the Gardnerian path. Still others may say that they follow Norse Traditions. Etc and so on.
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