Arcane Ambit

An arcane ambit is a category of magical practices that includes magical circles, pentagrams, and other enclosure shapes. Arcane ambits are frequently employed in Ritual Spellcasting to define the locus of the spellcaster, separate him or her from magical entities, and establish his function and attributes for the ritual. Arcane ambits can also be used in extemporaneous spellcasting. Some rituals require multiple arcane ambits, one to define the locus of the spellcaster, and one or more to define the locus of the summoned entity or entities.

The most effective arcane ambits require careful planning and execution, typically following a known structure. Some ambits are concentric, employing two or more shapes one enclosing the other. Some ambits are particularly ornate, inscribed over a period of many hours with costly dyes and inks into a stone flooring, the process of which itself constitutes an elaborate ritual.

List of Frequently Used Ambits

• Circle (Arcane Ambit)
• Concentric (Arcane Ambit)
• Hexagram (Arcane Ambit)
• Octogram (Arcane Ambit)
• Pentacle (Arcane Ambit)
• Pentagram (Arcane Ambit)
• Square (Arcane Ambit)
• Triangle (Arcane Ambit)

See Also

• Magic
• Ritual Spellcasting