Circle Casting
Introduction

Circle casting can happen in many ways, but there are a few ways that are standard to Reclaiming that many of us know and are familiar with, and there are ways that have evolved from our ongoing work that are based on those standards. I want to present these here so that anyone can be prepared for the usual responses that we actually use in ritual.
Oldy But Goody

This one originates in the Faery Tradition, crafted from some lines in a poem by Victor Anderson:

By the Earth that is Her Fertile Body
By the Air that is Her Vital Breath
By the Fire of Her bright quickening Spirit
By the Living Waters of Her Womb
By All that is above, and all that is below, and all in the Center
The Circle is cast.
God & Goddess Version #1, by Todd

By the Earth that is Her body, and the Grove that is His home
By the Air that Her breath, and the music that is His song
By the Fire of Her bright spirit, and the heat of His passion
By the Waters of her womb, and the dew of his tears [or sweat].
God & Goddess Version #2, by Mike

By the Earth that is Her fertile body, 
and the shadows of His Mystery

By the Air that is Her vital breath, 
and the flights of His ecstasy

By the Fire of Her bright quickening spirit, 
and the heat in His touch

By the living Waters of Her womb, 
and the Waves of his passion

By the Brightness above, and the Darkness below,
And the stirring Vortex in the Center, the circle is made....
Opening the Circle

To open the circle, we very often use one of two modes which we have found work really well for our purposes:

Repeating of version #1 above [first 4 lines] then the chant:

The circle is open, but not broken, may the peace of the Goddess and the God go in our hearts, merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!

Sing "When We Are Gone" and then chant "The circle is open..."