The Spell Circle

Throughout magical traditions there has always been the need for somatic components for the weaving of spells to take the mystical energies and channel them properly through the body as a conduit. Over the years, these traditions have taken many forms such as specific gestures, dance steps, music numbers, singing specific notes, specific prayer mantras, and waving wands or other talismans. But recently through arcane experimentation, a new tradition has taken place during the Age of Lost Omens discovered by prestige students of the Arcanamirium during their advanced spell weaving studies. The students called it "The Spell Circle" and while most spells consists of circles in their scroll work or formulae to contain energy and most rituals use circles as symbolism of incased power or surrounding energies, no one has ever used its representation in order to weave energy in the air for spellcasting. 
The concept is quite simple - A caster of any tradition could draw a circle whether in the air or on the ground with either their finger, wand, or staff in order to complete the somatic component for a spell. The change in the energy exchange would be more of a concentration and willpower combination then making sure certain steps and formulae were met. While it is still important for these arcane studies and divine prayers in order to access these energies and to harness them with using spell preparation, the release and activation of such spells in tandem with verbal and material components would suffice and thus save physical energy and even make some spells less obvious when cast. The side effect is that the spell casting will illuminate a circle that is drawn by the caster as the energy charges and the color of said circle usually will match the aura of the caster and their soul's resonance.  
It has also led to incredible advances in magic and allowing it to be more openly accessible or available as the complication of gestures and other somatic styles no longer cause disheartened students or accidental magical catastrophes while performing the spell.

Inspired by The Owl House created by Dana Terrace.

Type

Metaphysical, Arcane