Matter crossing a circle boundary… disrupts the circle

[SerScot]

How does this operate?  Does it apply to any physical matter of any size crossing a circle boundary? 

If someone is talking to someone in a circle and spittle from their mouth crosses the circle boundary is the circle disrupted?  What about blowing air across a circle boundary does that disrupt a circle?  Circles obviously aren’t hermetically sealed as they are magically not physically boundaries. 

I’m sure intention and belief come into it.  But this is really confusing.  Why would accidental spit not disrupt but intentional spit would?  Is it the intention of the people inside or outside that controls entirely?

[Bad Alias]

Harry does say, I think in Changes, that dust on his summoning circle in his lab degrades its efficiency. In Changes he also creates a circle purely in his mind.

From this, I take it that intent and human will are close to 100% of the deal. Not quite, but very, very, close.

[SerScot]

Harry does say, I think in Changes, that dust on his summoning circle in his lab degrades its efficiency. In Changes he also creates a circle purely in his mind.

From this, I take it that intent and human will are close to 100% of the deal. Not quite, but very, very, close.

Doesn’t this mean it is impossible to “accidentally” break a circle?  Doesn’t this mean that “intention” is all a circle is?  That if you believe in a moving magical circle… and genuinely believe it exists and protects you, in the DV, it should do so?

[Mira]

Doesn’t this mean it is impossible to “accidentally” break a circle?  Doesn’t this mean that “intention” is all a circle is?  That if you believe in a moving magical circle… and genuinely believe it exists and protects you, in the DV, it should do so?

I think it's tricky and one doesn't construct a circle lightly. I think it's very possible to break a circle accidently, especially if you don't really understand what's behind it, or are careless drawing it.  Also not all circles are created equally, as Kim Delaney found out when the circle she tried to draw didn't protect her from the Loop. Also in Changes you will remember that while he didn't laugh at Harry's attempt at a mental circle, Uriel smiled and said that it really wouldn't stop him if he really wanted to cross it.

[Bad Alias]

Doesn’t this mean it is impossible to “accidentally” break a circle?  Doesn’t this mean that “intention” is all a circle is?  That if you believe in a moving magical circle… and genuinely believe it exists and protects you, in the DV, it should do so?

It could be like the legal world where if one intends an action, the intent transfers to the result.

[Snark Knight]

Also in Changes you will remember that while he didn't laugh at Harry's attempt at a mental circle, Uriel smiled and said that it really wouldn't stop him if he really wanted to cross it.

To be fair, I'm pretty sure Harry couldn't actually manage a circle that would stop an archangel who really wanted to cross it *with* physical props either.

Also, wasn't it mentioned at one point that cats are good pets for practitioners because they can cross a circle without disrupting it?

[Bad Alias]

Also, wasn't it mentioned at one point that cats are good pets for practitioners because they can cross a circle without disrupting it?

Yes. I can't remember where though.

[Mira]

Yes. I can't remember where though.

I don't remember it being said.  Nor actually do I remember Harry ever allowing Mister in his lab where his circle is located.  Or rather I don't remember Mister being in the lab at anytime.  Yes, when Bob was let out on leave or to spy, he piggybacked on Mister, but it didn't say that the actual transfer from skull to cat happened in the lab.  I think if cats can cross the boarder of a circle it's because they shed, all it would take is a stray cat hair to fall across the line and the boarder is contaminated and thus broken.

[g33k]

I don't remember it being said.  Nor actually do I remember Harry ever allowing Mister in his lab where his circle is located.  Or rather I don't remember Mister being in the lab at anytime...

No, at least once Harry *intentionally* set Mister to mayhem in his lab:  the oakleaf lure in Little Chicago!

[Mira]

No, at least once Harry *intentionally* set Mister to mayhem in his lab:  the oakleaf lure in Little Chicago!

 I don't remember that, but at any rate, when Harry has activated the circle for whatever reason, he always makes sure that the boarders are clean and clear.  The key is activation, without Harry firing it up with power, it's just a circle on the floor.  I don't think you would want an unattended activated circle, because there are creatures who can cross them without further precautions.

[LostInTime]

Way back in Storm Front, Bob tosses a vial across a circle and it is not disrupted. Because Bob does not have free will. It's not the object, it's the willful act of intending to throw physical matter across the circle. E.G. Molly in Peace Talks.

[Mira]

Way back in Storm Front, Bob tosses a vial across a circle and it is not disrupted. Because Bob does not have free will. It's not the object, it's the willful act of intending to throw physical matter across the circle. E.G. Molly in Peace Talks.

  It also wasn't as powerful circle at that time, remember after he started bringing in a regular paycheck as a Warden, he upgraded his circle to make it more stronger.

[g33k]

No, at least once Harry *intentionally* set Mister to mayhem in his lab:  the oakleaf lure in Little Chicago!

I don't remember that ...

I think it was Small Favor.
Mab had chosen Harry to act as her mortal representative, so Summer was hunting him.

Harry figured out they were using Summer's oakleaf to track him, so he suspended it with some catnip on a bouncy over Little Chicago, and let Mister have at it... every time Mister pulled it down to LC, Summer saw the oakleaf wherever that happened to be.  Harry was then free to move about real Chicago mostly un-tracked by Summer.

Eldest Gruff showed up on Demonreach, after Harry began using fire-magic again -- Mab had hidden his memory of it, because apparently "fire magic" also ping's the Summer radar.

[Mira]

Harry figured out they were using Summer's oakleaf to track him, so he suspended it with some catnip on a bouncy over Little Chicago, and let Mister have at it... every time Mister pulled it down to LC, Summer saw the oakleaf wherever that happened to be.  Harry was then free to move about real Chicago mostly un-tracked by Summer.

[/quote

I don't think that proves anything, because Mister was under direct supervision of Harry.  Yes while Mister playing with the leaf proved Summer was tracking, Harry had to know where they were, or with one pounce Mister could have brought Summer down on him.