The Circle of stonesis used during indoor rituals,for energy raising, meditation and so on.

First cleanse the area with the ritual broom.

For this circle you will need four large, flat stones. If you have none, candles can be used to mark the four cardinal points of the circle. White or purple candles can be used, as can colors related to each direction - green for the North, yellow for East, red for South and blue for West.

Placethe first stone(or candle) tothe North, torepresent the Spirit of the North Stone. In ritual when you invoke the Spirits of the Stones you're actually invoking all that resides in that particular direction, including the elemental energies.

After setting the North Stone(or candle), placethe East,South and West Stones. They should mark out a rough square, nearly encompassing the working area. This square represents the physical plane on which we exist - the Earth.

Now take a long purple or white cord and lay it outin a circle, using the four stones or candles to guide you. It takes a bit of practice to smoothly do this. The cord should be placed so that the stones remain inside the circle. Now you have a square and a circle, the circle representing the spiritual reality. As such, this is a squared circle; the place of interpenetration of the physical and spiritual realms.

The size of the circle can be anything from 5 to 20 feet depending on the room and your desires. Next, set up the altar.

The following tools are recommended:

Set up the altar accordingto theplan shown hereor accordingto your own design. Also be sure to have plenty of matches, as well as a small heat-proof container in which to place them when used. A charcoal block is also necessary to burn the incense.

Light thecandles. Set theincense smoking. Lift theathame and touch its blade to the water, saying:

As you do this, visualize your athame blasting away all negativity from the water.

The salt is next touched with the point of the athame while saying:

Now stand facing North,at the edge of thecord-marked circle. Hold your athame point outward at waist level. Walk slowly around the circle's perimeter clockwise, your feet just inside the cord, charging it with your words and energy. Create the circle - through your visualization - with the power flowing out from your athame's blade. As you walk, stretch the energy out until it forms a complete sphere around the working area, half above the ground, half below. As you do this say:

When youhave arrived back at the North,place the athameon the altar. Take up the salt and sprinkle it around the circle, beginning and ending in the North, and moving clockwise. Next, carry the smoking censer from the altar, and finally sprinkle water around the circle. Do more than carrying and walking; sense the substances purifying the circle. The Circle of Stones is now sealed.

Holdaloft the wand atthe North, atthe edge ofthe circle, and say:

As you say this,visualize agreenish mistrising and writhingin the Northern quarter, over the stone. This is the elemental energy of the Earth. When the Spirit is present, lower the wand, move to the East, raise it again and say:

Visualize theyellowish mistof Airenergy. Lowerthe wand,move to the South and repeat the following with your upraised wand, visualizing a crimson Fire mist:

Finally, to the West, say with the wand held aloft:

Visualize the bluish mist, the essence of Water. The circle breaths and lives around you. The Spirits of the Stones are present. Feel the energies. Visualize the circle glowing and growing in power. Stand still, sensing for a moment.

The Circle of Stones is complete. The Goddess and God may be called, and magick wrought.

At times you may have to leave the circle. This is fine, of course, but as previously mentioned, passing through the circle dissipates it. To prevent this from occurring it's traditional to cut a doorway.

Todo this,face Northeast. Hold yourathame pointdownward near the ground. See and sense the circle before you. Pierce its wall of energy with the athame and trace an archway, tall enough to walk through, moving counter-clockwise along the circle for about three feet. Move the point of the athame up at the arch's center and down the other side until it is near the ground.

As you're doingthis, visualizethat area ofthe circle'senergy being sucked back into the athame. This creates a void, allowing passage in and out of the circle. Pull the athame out of the circle's wall. You're free to walk outside.

Once back inside, close the door by placing the athame at the lower North-Eastern point of the archway. With your athame trace the circle's perimeter clockwise, as if redrawing that portion of the Circle of Stones, again visualizing blue or purple energy flaring out from the blade and converging with the rest of the circle. It is done.

Once the rite is ended, face North, hold aloft the wand and say:

Repeat this same formula to the East, South and West, substituting the proper direction in the words. Then return to the North and hold the wand aloft for a few moments.

Lay the wandon the altar. Take up theathame. Standingin the North, pierce the circle's wall with the blade at waist level. Move clockwise around the circle, visualizing it's power being sucked back into the athame. Literally pull it back into the blade and handle. Sense the circle dissolving, shrinking; the outside world slowly regaining its dominance in the area.

When you arrive at the North again, the circle is no more.