A Powerful Protection Spell: Casting a Circle of Light

Magic has long been a way to protect and empower ourselves, connecting us to the energy around us while shielding against harm. For beginners, it’s empowering to know that historical practices can be adapted to create powerful and personal rituals. This protection spell draws inspiration from historical texts and the insights of K. M. Briggs in her article, Some Seventeenth-Century Books of Magic (1953). Briggs reveals how historical magic intertwined faith, folk practices, and natural elements to create protective rituals designed to guard against harm.

This ritual honors the wisdom of the past while allowing for personalization, making it suitable for practitioners of any spiritual path—whether you’re drawing on old traditions or creating new ones.

A Glimpse into Historical Protection Magic

In the 17th century, protection magic blended deep religious faith with practical ritual. As Briggs (1953) explains, practitioners often called upon Christian figures such as Jesus or saints alongside natural elements like Earth, Air, Fire, and Water to form protective boundaries. A compelling example is The Night Spell, which invokes divine protection:

"On three crosses of a tree, three dead bodies did hang, two were thieves, and the third was Christ. Jesus save us and our good within and without and all this place about" (Briggs, 1953, p. 452).

Spells like this reflect the strong interweaving of religion and magic during the period. For practitioners of the time, invoking Jesus or saints was an act of faith, as they trusted in the power of these figures to repel harm and evil.

However, while historical magic often included Christian names, the essence of these spells lies in their intent, not necessarily in the religious figure invoked. Today, modern practitioners can easily adapt these invocations to align with their personal beliefs. By replacing references to Jesus with a deity, goddess, or energy that resonates with you, the spell becomes a powerful reflection of your own spirituality. This approach allows us to honor the past without feeling constrained by it, ensuring the magic is as meaningful to us as it was to practitioners centuries ago.

Personalizing Historical Protection Spells and Invocations

Replacing Jesus in a historical spell with a deity or energy of your choosing ensures the ritual feels deeply personal and relevant. For example:

• Invoke Hecate, the goddess of boundaries, for her guidance and ability to shield against harm.
• Call upon Gaia, the Earth Mother, for her nurturing and grounding energy.
• Turn to Saint Michael, revered across many traditions, for his strength and protective power.
• Alternatively, use a more universal energy such as "Divine Light" or "Universal Energy" to create a spell that transcends specific religious or spiritual systems.

What’s important is to adapt the ritual in a way that strengthens your connection to it. By doing so, you infuse the spell with your own intention, ensuring its potency.

A Protection Spell using The Circle of Light Ritual

This spell combines the structure of historical rituals with modern flexibility. It allows you to replace historical religious references with ones that resonate with your path.

Purpose:

To create a protective circle around your space, repelling negative energies and guarding against harm.

You Will Need:

• A small bowl of salt (symbolizing Earth)
• A white candle (symbolizing purity and light)
• A small bowl of water (symbolizing cleansing)
• Incense, such as frankincense or sage (symbolizing Air and Fire)
• A ritual knife or wand (optional, to trace the circle)
• Invocation adapted from The Night Spell:
  "___ save us and our good within and without and all this place about, and through the virtue of ___’s might let no thief enter in this night."
  (Replace “___” with a deity, goddess, or energy that aligns with your beliefs.)

Steps:

                  1. Preparation

• Choose a quiet, undisturbed space for the ritual.
• Arrange your materials in the center of the area to be protected.
• Light the candle and incense, allowing their glow and scent to create a sacred atmosphere.

                   2. Casting the Circle

• Take your ritual knife, wand, or simply your hand, and trace a circle around your space, moving clockwise.
• Visualize a glowing ring of light forming as you walk, enveloping the space in warmth and protection.
• Sprinkle the salt lightly along the boundary, saying:
  "By Earth, I create a shield of strength and stability."

                   3. Calling the Elements

• Pause at each cardinal direction to honor its corresponding element:
• East (Air): Hold the incense and say:
  "I call upon the winds of the East to bring clarity and protection to this space."
• South (Fire): Hold the candle and say:
  "I call upon the flames of the South to ignite courage and repel harm."
• West (Water): Sprinkle water toward the boundary and say:
  "I call upon the waters of the West to cleanse and guard this space."
• North (Earth): Hold the salt and say:
  "I call upon the soil of the North to anchor and protect all within this circle."

                    4. Invocation of Divine Protection

• Stand in the center of the circle, facing East.
• Recite this invocation, adapted from The Night Spell:
  "On three crosses of a tree, three dead bodies did hang, two were thieves, and the third was ___. ___ save us and our good within and without and all this place about."  (Here, insert the name of the deity or energy you’ve chosen. For example: “Hecate save us” or “Divine Light save us.”)

                   5. Sealing the Circle

• Visualize the glowing ring of light solidifying into an impenetrable barrier.
• Say:
  "This circle is sealed. May no harm enter, and may all within be protected and safe.

                  6. Completion

• Extinguish the candle and incense, thanking them for their role in the ritual.
• Leave the salt in place as a reminder of the circle’s protection, or sweep it up later to ground the energy.
• Pour the water onto the earth as an offering, completing the cycle of energy.

Using Herbs, Oils and Crystals in your Protection Spell

Adding herbs, oils, and other magical tools to the Circle of Protection spell can enhance its energy and make the ritual more personal and powerful. Here’s how practitioners can incorporate these items into the spell:

Herbs for the Casting a Circle of Light Protection Spell

Herbs can be scattered along the circle boundary, burned as incense, or placed in sachets at the four cardinal points:

• Rosemary: Sprinkle dried rosemary around the circle for general protection and clarity.
• Sage: Burn sage to purify the space and dispel negative energy before or during the ritual.
• Lavender: Add lavender to bring a sense of calm and peace to your protective circle.

Conjure Oils for the Casting a Circle of Light Protection Spell

Conjure oils can be used to anoint the tools, candle, or even your hands:

• Protection Oil: Anoint the white candle to amplify spiritual protection and create a sense of sacredness.
• Uncrossing Oil: Dab a drop on your wrists or the edges of the circle to ground and repel negativity.

Crystals for the Casting a Circle of Light Protection Spell

Placing crystals at the cardinal points strengthens the protective energy:

• Clear quartz: Amplifies the overall intention of the circle.
• Obsidian or black tourmaline: Placed in the North, these stones act as powerful shields against harm.
• Amethyst: Positioned in the West, it fosters spiritual clarity and emotional balance.

Symbolic Tools for for the Casting a Circle of Light Protection Spell

• A besom or broom: Sweep the area lightly before starting to symbolically remove lingering negativity.
• Charm bags: Create small sachets filled with herbs, crystals, and a written protective intention. Place these bags at the four corners of the room or along the circle boundary.

Incorporation Steps

1. Before Casting the Circle: Prepare your herbs, oils, crystals, or tools in advance.
2. While Tracing the Circle: Sprinkle the herbs or place crystals as you walk clockwise, incorporating each element with your intention.
3. During Element Invocation: Incorporate the tools into each directional call. For example, hold a crystal when invoking the North or use an anointed candle to invoke the South.
4. Sealing the Circle: Anoint the circle's edge or sprinkle a final layer of protective herbs like salt and rosemary to reinforce the boundary.

By incorporating these tools, practitioners can align their circle with specific intentions and magical properties, creating a tailored and potent ritual that resonates with their unique spiritual practice.

Why Protection Magic Endures

Protection spells like this one have always addressed our fundamental need for safety and security. As Briggs (1953) highlights, historical magic served practical purposes, from safeguarding property to warding off spirits. These rituals were deeply personal, blending intention with connection to the natural world.

By adapting historical practices to modern beliefs, we honor their legacy while creating magic that feels authentic and relevant. Whether shielding your home, protecting your energy, or seeking peace of mind, this spell serves as a timeless reminder that magic is both ancient and endlessly adaptable.

References

Briggs, K. M. (1953). Some seventeenth-century books of magic. Folklore, 64(4), 445–462. Taylor & Francis, Ltd. on behalf of Folklore Enterprises, Ltd.