Circle of Protection

[NestorValentino]

I'm not a very handy man, but I need to make a Circle I can use for the outdoors for an evocation. What material can it be made from? And what tips have you got for drawing the "perfect" Circle? And in writing the holy Names?

Thanks a lot

 

[Adelina]

There are many ways, I will list a couple of advices for more effective Circles.
1. Use wooden stick (don't use knife, dagger or any other metal blade) to make the circle on earth.
2. Use powder to trace the circle. Material of powder should be chosen according to the purpose of Ritual.
"Premade" Circles aren't as effective unless you retrace them after placing.

 

[Faria]

I'm not a very handy man, but I need to make a Circle I can use for the outdoors for an evocation. What material can it be made from? And what tips have you got for drawing the "perfect" Circle? And in writing the holy Names?

Thanks a lot

Best option: get a large canval painter's tarp and a large plastic sheet for underneath it so you don't end up with a permanent Circle on your garage floor. Take as much time as you like and paint it.

If you insist on not using a full cloth, measure a length of cord from your head to your foot. Tie a loop in both ends. Poke a stick firmly into the ground at what will become the center, wrap the loop around that, and stretch the cord as a radius. Put a knife in the loop on the other end, and drag it around to make a circle while keeping the rope pulled tight from the center. If you prefer, instead of a knife, use a frickin ton of salt. If you want names or symbols, write them on items like rocks, wooden or metal disks, or post them around like flags or signs on stakes. Use chalk on concrete.

If you want a permanent artifact with names on it, get a roll of something like extra wide ribbon about 30 feet long and write them on it, and secure it with pins or weights.

 

[Sabbatius]

Temporary? create one via objects around the area.
Permanent? Stones.

Ever heard of a Medicine Wheel?

 

[MidnightProphet]

A can of salt is a tried-and-true means. They're like $3, have a handy little pour spout, are portable and work like a charm. Open it up, pick your place, and dump it as you turn in a circle on the point you have selected.

 

[Sabbatius]

A can of salt is a tried-and-true means. They're like $3, have a handy little pour spout, are portable and work like a charm. Open it up, pick your place, and dump it as you turn in a circle on the point you have selected.

Salt on dirt, yes.
Salt on grass, no.

 

[Kepler]

Sounds like you thinking of making some sort of carpet, like used indoors.
That's good for not leaving a footprint and in a regulated area.

Consider taking advantage of the natural environment and adapting to it.

For a ~3 meter radius Circle
Scout and clear a suitable area for your standards.
Equip yourself with 17 Stakes, Hammer, 1 Spool Non-stretchy String, Tape, Scissors. Stake the center with magical intent, tie string to center stake in a way that it won't wrap around the stake or loosen. Size radius of circle toward a cardinal point. Mark length with tape and cut string with a little extra to hold onto. Stake it, then stake the other cardinal points to the same mark, then crossquarters. then finally stake between the quarters and crossquarters.


...and then?

That's for you to decide. In some places with taller grasses I like to stamp down the area in the circle through ritual movement for establishing the space. Not scorched earth destructively, enough to subconsciously pick up the physical boundary by what's obviously walked on. That also means taking some care on where casual walking takes place, but that's part of making the space particular. Afterwards might take a season to completely disappear. But do clean up afterwards. To my shame some of my early circles I've gone back to I've found rose stems from rituals performed years earlier.

For the Holy Names, if they need to be written, you could write them on preprepared objects, fabric, or paper devoted to them and secure them around the Circle in the way they need to be placed.