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The basic ritual practice of Casting a Circle (qv) is complemented by the act of Closing a Circle.
Just as the as the intent of a Circle casting is to allow for the containment and control of energies raised within its' confines, so the closing (or dismantling) of a Circle dismisses those energies, right?? Wrong! The idea of complimenting the "casting" of a Circle with a "closing"of that Circle may not be a correct one in mathematical terms but Wicca is not mathematics and a more useful way of approaching the concept may be to characterize the process as an "Opening" of the Circle.
It is inescapable that the Circle cast must somehow be dealt with when the ritual is finished - but this does not mean that the Circle must be banished! Instead, the Circle is opened after the ritual to encompass the whole world. In this way, the greater good is served through a kind of benediction given by the Circle's energies.
The end of the ritual also marks the return to the ordinary world we left behind when we cast the Circle, but just as we do not leave our beliefs behind us when we leave the sacred space, so is the Circle left "open but never broken".
Bth: Travel to each of the Quarters in turn, and release the elemental Guardians appropriate to that direction by drawing the appropriate banishing pentagram while the HPs thanks the Guardians.
HPs: Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, ye Lords of Air, we thank thee for witnessing this rite and for guarding this Circle and bid thee Hail, and Farewell!
All: Hail and Farewell!
HPs: Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the South, ye Lords of Fire, we thank thee for witnessing this rite and for guarding this Circle and bid thee Hail, and Farewell!
All: Hail and Farewell!
HPs: Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the West, ye Lords of Water, of Death and Initiation, we thank thee for witnessing this rite, and for guarding this Circle, and bid thee Hail, and Farewell!
All: Hail and Farewell!
HPs: Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the North, ye Lords of Earth, Boreas, thou guardian of the Sacred Portals, Thou powerful God, Thou gentle Goddess, we thank thee for witnessing this rite and for guarding this Circle and bid thee Hail, and Farewell!
All: Hail and Farewell!
HPs: We stand, in love and trust, in the presence of the Goddess and her consort. As our ancestors before us, may we carry that Spirit within us, to the world beyond. Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again. May the Circle be open, but never broken!
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