_Of Magical Circles, and the reason of their Institution._
Magitians, and the more learned sort of Conjurers, make use of
Circles in various manners, and to various intentions. First, when
convenience serves not, as to time or place that a real Circle should
be delineated, they frame an imaginary Circle, by means of Incantations
and Consecrations, without either Knife, Pensil, or Compasses,
circumscribing nine foot of ground round about them, which they pretend
to sanctifie with words and Ceremonies, spattering their Holy Water
all about so far as the said Limit extendeth; and with a form of
Consecration following, do alter the property of the ground, that from
common (as they say) it becomes sanctifi’d, and made fit for Magicall
uses.
♦Imaginary Circles.♦
_How to consecrate an imaginary Circle._
Let the Exorcist, being cloathed with a black Garment, reaching to his
knee, and under that a white Robe of fine Linnen that falls unto his
ankles, fix himself in the midst of that place where he intends to
perform his Conjurations: And throwing his old Shooes about ten yards
from the place, let him put on his consecrated shooes of russet Leather
with a Cross cut on the top of each shooe. Then with his Magical Wand,
which must be a new hazel-stick, about two yards of length, he must
stretch forth his arm to all the four Windes thrice, turning himself
round at every Winde, and saying all that while with fervency:
♦The form of Consecration.♦
_I who am the servant of the Highest, do by the vertue of his Holy
Name_ Immanuel, _sanctifie unto my self the circumference of nine foot
round about me_, ✠✠✠. _from the East_, ►Glaurah◄; _from the West_,
►Garron◄; _from the North_, ►Cabon◄; _from the South_, ►Berith◄; _which
ground I take for my proper defence from all malignant spirits, that
they may have no power over my soul or body, nor come beyond these
Limitations, but answer truely being summoned, without daring to
transgress their bounds_: ►Worrh.[*] worrah. harcot. Gambalon.◄ ✠✠✠.
♦[*] [? _Mispr. for_ Worrah.]♦
Which Ceremonies being performed, the place so sanctified is equivalent
to any real Circle whatsoever. And in the composition of any Circle for
Magical feats, the fittest time is the brightest Moon-light, or when
storms of lightning, winde, or thunder, are raging through the air;
because at such times the infernal Spirits are nearer unto the earth,
and can more easily hear the Invocations of the Exorcist.
♦The time for Conjurations.♦
As for the places of Magical Circles, they are to be chosen
melancholly, dolefull, dark and lonely; either in Woods or Deserts,
or in a place where three wayes meet, or amongst ruines of Castles,
Abbies, Monasteries, _&c._ or upon the Sea-shore when the Moon shines
clear, or else in some large Parlour hung with black, and the floor
covered with the same, with doors and windowes closely shut, and
Waxen Candles lighted. But if the Conjuration be for the Ghost of one
deceased, the fittest places to that purpose are places of the slain,
Woods where any have killed themselves, Church-yards, Burying-Vaults,
_&c._ As also for all sorts of Spirits, the places of their abode
ought to be chosen, when they are called; as Pits, Caves, and hollow
places, for Subterranean Spirits: The tops of Turrets, for Aerial
Spirits: Ships and Rocks of the Sea, for Spirits of the Water: Woods
and Mountains for Faries, Nymphs, and Satyres; following the like order
with all the rest.
♦The places for Circles.♦
And as the places where, so the manner how the Circles are to be drawn,
ought to be perfectly known. First, for Infernal Spirits, let a Circle
nine foot over be made with black, and within the same another Circle
half a foot distant, leaving half a foot of both these Circles open
for the Magitian and his assistant to enter in: And betwixt these
Circles round about, write all the holy Names of God, with Crosses and
Triangles at every Name; making also a larger triangle at one side of
the Circle without on this manner with the names of the Trinity at the
seven corners, _viz._ ►Yehowah,[*] Ruah Kedesh, Immanuel◄, written in
the little circles.
♦The form of a Circle.♦
♦[*] [sic]♦
[Illustration]
The reason that Magitians give for Circles and their Institution, is,
That so much ground being blessed and consecrated by holy Words, hath
a secret force to expel all evil Spirits from the bounds thereof; and
being sprinkled with holy water, which hath been blessed by the Master,
the ground is purified from all uncleanness; besides the holy Names of
God written all about, whose force is very powerful; so that no wicked
Spirit hath the ability to break through into the Circle after the
Master and Scholler are entered, and have closed up the gap, by reason
of the antipathy they possesse to these Mystical Names. And the reason
of the Triangle is, that if the Spirit be not easily brought to speak
the truth, they may by the Exorcist be conjured to enter the same,
where by vertue of the names of the Sacred Trinity, they can speak
nothing but what is true and right.
♦The reason of Circles.♦
But if Astral Spirits as Faries, Nymphs, and Ghosts of men, be called
upon, the Circle must be made with Chalk, without any Triangles; in
the place whereof the Magical Character of that Element to which they
belong, must be described at the end of every Name.
{ Air, Water, Fire. [Symbol] [Symbol] [Symbol]
As {
for { Woods, Caves, [Symbol] [Symbol] [Symbol]
Spirits { Mountains.
of {
the { Mines, Desolate [Symbol] [Symbol]
{ Buildings.