Deosil vs. Widdershins?

Deosil is clockwise movement. Widdershins is counterclockwise movement. When casting circles and performing other ritual or magical tasks, you will often be instructed to use deosil or widdershins movements.

In the Northern Hemisphere, Quarters are generally called beginning in the North or East and moving clockwise (deosil). For example, North, East, South, then West. Most of the books available about Wicca and Witchcraft use these correspondences.

In the Southern Hemisphere however, these correspondences may vary. Circles are still cast deosil, but to those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, they would seem to be widdershins. (counter-clockwise). The equator is to the North in the Souther Hemisphere, so North is sometimes representative of fire.

Copyright © 2007 by PaganPath.com, A. Minahan (Volute) and K. Minahan (AbaKus). This article is used with permission and may be freely distributed on the internet, provided no editing is done, and this unaltered notice is included with the article. Click here to read more articles and to learn more about taking online courses in Witchcraft, Tarot or Herbs

 

Check out the new Gifts & Souvenirs Shop. This is a tiny gift shop with unusual items. This is also the new area where you can become a Member of PaganPath and save on Membership dues by signing up for more than one year.

If you prefer not to use the shopping cart system in the Gift Shop, you can simply click the key to join now for $35 for a full year. This includes enrollment in the PaganPath Academy and access to all courses and materials.