Circling

From Traditional Witchcraft Wiki Project

The act of circling is associated with the summoning of various spirits and gods. In folklore the circling of churches, crosses, certain mounds, sacred trees, standing stones and similar will variously conjure the Devil, the Fair Folk, phantom hounds, a Lady on a white horse, spectral druids and the like. Elsewhere such circling is recounted to have whisked the person straight to Elphame. Usually the direction of the circling is said to have an effect on the result, whether benefic or malefic, thus does a withershins movement most often conjure the Devil and the ghost from his grave (see necromancy); compare to deasil. These often have an exhausting effect on the body, which enables one to enter into a trance-like state.

Such a practice is also linked with certain perambulatory rites, or those which include a circling dance, such as Beating the Bounds, maypole dancing, Bawming the Thorn, etc. Circling is also implicated in certain lore associated with the funeral procession and the approaching of sacred wells, springs, cairns and other sacred sites/monuments.

Circling a wound with fasting spittle or a certain unguent is a stock feature of many healing charms employed by Cunning Folk. Likewise, circling a stone, especially a hagstone, with the thumb whilst muttering one's enchantment is an old act of wishing magic.