Samhain ceremony
Samhain Ritual Outline
The altar is set up, food islaid and the fire prepared. Incense may be lit, music played and introductionsmade. The circle is laid out using the nearby natural resources, whether it bestones, twigs, leaves, etc. The ritual leader then casts the circle.
THE GUARDIANS
Here we ask the guardianspirits of the place and time their permission to work our ritual in their area-
Hail Guardian Spirits of thisplace! We come here in peace and with clear intent. We come here to celebrate Samhain.We ask, with respect, that you accept our presence. Hail Guardian Spirits ofthis place!
THE CALL FOR PEACE
May there be peace in theNorth! May there be peace in the South! May there be peace in the West! Maythere be peace in the East!
(each call for peace to be madeby the person who will be calling the quarter. If done in this order, the callfor peace will flow along the lines of the pre-Christian equal armed cross,also recognised by the Native Americans for their medicine wheels).
We who are gathered here, wecall for peace in this land. We call for peace in our hearts and minds andtowards our fellow beings.
THE CIRCLE CASTING
Sacred Ones, spirits of thebirch and rowan, fir and ivy, honeysuckle and rosemary, dryads and devas, allyou who have heard our intention, we ask with respect that you encircle usknow, branch reaching branch, leaf touching leaf, roots beneath our feetentangling, that our Circle may be strong, a nemeton of inspiration, reverenceand learning, in the name of the Gods whose power we both breathe, we ask thatthis be so.
(A moment is given to allow thedevas and dryads to form the circle)
We give our energy to thiscircle, mingling and communing with those of the spirits of nature to create asanctuary of peace.
(Energy is pushed out from theparticipants to mix and strengthen the circle).
Let all here draw their mindsinto the presence of their bodies, that thoughts may be melded with flesh,blood and bones, that the spirits of those gathered may be blended in onepurpose, one voice and one sacred space. Soul to soul, we weave our circle,spirit to spirit, that none may enter this sacred space but those who come intune with our intention and in peace. Soul to soul, spirit to spirit, we askthat this may be so.
CONSECRATION
The circle is consecrated bytaking incense and water around the circle.
CALLING THE QUARTERS
I call upon the Spirit of the North,the Earth Mother, the Great Bear, to be with us in our sacred rite.
I call upon the Spirit of the East, the Skyfather, the Great Eagle, to be withus in our sacred rite.
I call upon the Spirit of the South, the Firebrother, the Great Dragon, to bewith us in our sacred rite.
I call upon the Spirit of the West, the Rainsister, the Great Whale, to be withus in our sacred rite.
THE SPIRITS OF PLACE
We call to the spirits ofplace, to those of Land, Sea and Sky, to those of the three worlds to be withus in our sacred rite.
CALLING THE ANCESTORS
We call to the ancestors ofbody, mind and spirit to be with us in our sacred rite. To our ancestors whosetears and blood, joy and happiness have been felt upon this land, whose songscourse through our blood, and whose spirit lives on through our celebrations,we call to you to be with us in our sacred rite.
CALLING THE GODDESS AND GOD
I call upon my lady of thestars and moon
To the Bringer of dreams andtwilight
I call upon my lady of the loom
The Weaver of fates in thenight
I call upon the Lady of theLady
The Singer of the Evensong
I call upon the maiden motherand Crone
The Goddess alive and strong
I call upon the Lord of the Sun
The Rider in the sky
I call upon the Lord of theWinds
To the Eagle as he flies
I call upon the King Stag
To the son, lover and sacrifice
I call upon the Lord of theWildwood
The God laughing, free and wise
THE DECLARATION
"We come to celebrateSamhain, the most sacred of nights, when the veil between the worlds is thin.We give thanks for all that we have, and we honour our ancestors and the deadat this time. Let us now say a prayer for our dead, that they may journey tothe Otherworld safely, and that we might know them again some day.
(Prayers and thanks are said,either out loud or internally during this time of prayer).
Let us now cast off the worriesand fears that shackle us to the previous year. For behold! A new year is uponus. With the blessing and strength of the Crone of Winter, we come forth tounburden ourselves to her, in preparation for the long winter ahead. We willneed our strength and conviction to see the winter through, and with herblessing it will be done.
(The Crone of Winter, The Cailleachwill stand at the northwest part of the circle, before a cauldron. She liftsthe cauldron and holds it between her hands. Members of the circle come beforeThe Cailleach and cast off their ties to the old world, figuratively orliterally throwing something into the cauldron Note: This should be flammable,if literally casting something into the flames, and non-toxic when burned. Ifsimply pushing energy, feelings or emotions into the cauldron, simply standbefore it and push them away from you, letting the Crone take them into thecauldron. When finished, simply walk away, without looking back until you areback at your place.)
The Cailleach then throws thecontents of the cauldron onto the fire. The chant begins:
"The Wheel turns, the fireburns" .
The Cailleach confirms that ithas been done, and all are then invited to feast.
THE FEAST
The food and drink is blessed.
The ale/mead/wine/juice isblessed.
Goddess, bountiful EarthMother, bless this and suffuse it with your love.
The bread is blessed.
God, powerful Sky Father, blessthis and may it lend strength to us.
The drink is held high abovethe head. Thanks be to the land! The cup is then passed to the next person, whothe toasts and passes the cup to the next person. When all have drunk the firstperson takes the cup and pours a measure onto the ground or lake. Thanks be tothe Goddess!
The bread is held out before.Thanks be to the land! The bread is then broken and passed in similar fashion.A measure of bread is then laid out. Thanks be to the God!
Everyone raises their hands tothe sky - Free the spirit, free the land!
The food comes out and everyoneis invited to celebrate! NOTE: A SPECIAL SECTION OF FOOD IS TO BE LAID OUT FORTHE DEAD ON THEIR WAY TO THE SUMMERLAND, WHICH WILL REMAIN IN THE RITUAL SITEUNTIL MORNING WHERE IT WILL THEN BE COMPOSTED, SHOULD ANYTHING REMAIN.
Poetry, artwork and musicshould then be shared round the circle by those who have been inspired by thismoon and this festival.
When the feasting is done,honour and respect are paid to the Goddess and God, the spirits of land, seaand sky, the ancestors, the four quarters (those who called the quarters nowbid them hail and farewell in much the same manner as they were called), thespirits of the heath and of the oak and to each other. The circle is thenclosed-
We now return the energy thatwe have spent in creating this circle back to our bodies and souls and the landwhich sustains us, in peace and with the blessings of the God and Goddess. (Amoment is taken to release the personal power put into the circle.)
THE CLOSING
May the Spirits of this Placehave been nourished as much as their presence has nourished us. GuardianSpirit, we give you thanks. This celebration ends in peace as it began. May theblessings we have received go with us all as we depart this place, to nourish,strengthen and sustain us until we meet again. So may it be!
The rite has ended!