This is a ritual crafted by Llyn Hydd Grove in Pennsylvania, adapted from the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids rite in 2005.
All enter the circle from the West, walking sunwise to salute the East,
before taking their place in the circle.
OPENING
EARTH MOTHER: (Saluting the East) O Great Spirit (God/Goddess, Spirit of this Circle/Place) we ask for your blessing on this our ceremony. (Turns back to center)
WEST: Let us begin by giving peace to the quarters, for without peace can no work be.
SOUTH: May there be peace in the South.
WEST: May there be peace in the West.
NORTH: May there be peace in the North.
EAST: May there be peace in the East.
ALL: May there be peace throughout the whole world.
HARVEST LORD: Let us recite the words that unite all Druids:
ALL: Grant, O Spirit, thy protection
and in protection, strength
and in strength, understanding
and in understanding, knowledge
and in knowledge, the knowledge of justice
and in the knowledge of justice, the love of it
and in the love of it, the love of all existences
and in the love of all existences, the love of Spirit
and of all goodness.
SOUTH: (Moving to Center) We consecrate this sacred center of our circle, a circle with one center and no circumference, that may encompass all the world. May it be blessed with the element of fire. (Return to circle)
WEST: (Moving to Center) We consecrate this sacred center of our circle, a circle with one center and no circumference, that may encompass all the world. May it be blessed with the element of water. (Return to circle)
NORTH: Let the four directions be honored that power and radiance might enter our circle for the good of all beings.
All turn to face each direction as it is called.
SOUTH: With the blessing of the great stag in the heat of the chase, and the inner fire of the sun, we call upon the powers of the South.
WEST: With the blessing of the salmon of wisdom who dwells within the sacred waters of the pool, we call upon the powers of the West.
NORTH: With the blessing of the great bear of the starry heavens and the deep and fruitful earth, we call upon the powers of the North.
EAST: With the blessing of the hawk of dawn soaring in the clear, pure air, we call upon the powers of the East.
CELEBRATION OF THE LAST HARVEST
HARVEST LORD: The is the Feast of Samhain. At the ending of endings comes new beginnings. To light our way in the depths of the darkness to come, we have the beacon of the Promise that the Mabon, the Child of Light, will be reborn and the Earth once more will rejoice with fresh flowers and new leaves. This is our Knowledge and our Affirmation.
ALL: So may it be!
EARTH MOTHER: This is the Feast of Summer’s End. The Sun of all our lives is setting in the West, but the bright Stars of the Seven Sisters are rising and climbing in the heavens. Our Lady the Dark Moon is hidden from us, but we are aware of Her presence. Life and Death and new Life turn in a never ending cycle. This is our Knowledge and our Affirmation.
ALL: So may it be!
HARVEST LORD: Together we proclaim the Song of Samhain.
THE SONG OF SAMHAIN
adapted from Celtic Devotional by Caitlin Matthews
EARTH MOTHER: I am the hallow-tide of all souls passing,
ALL: I am the bright releaser of all pain.
I am the quickener of the fallen seed case,
I am the glance of snow, the strike of rain.
I am the hollow of winter twilight,
I am the heart-fire, and the welcome bread.
I am the curtained awning of the pillow,
I am unending wisdom’s golden thread.
Earth Mother and Harvest Lord move to center and sit, heads bowed.
SOUTH: Now is the year’s end,
now is the death of summer’s vegetation.
The flowering plants are nearly gone,
and the fertility of the Earth is ended for another season.
Life now banks itself against the Winter months ahead.
In the sky, Winter fowl only remain.
In the meadow there is silence,
as herds rest in the barn,
and the soft, silent sound of the first snowflake is near at hand.
NORTH: The Sun dims and grows cold behind gray clouds,
and Mother Earth lies barren.
All that remains in the fields hereafter
belongs to the chilling frost.
From this day onward, darkness reigns,
and the cold of the Year’s End is here.
This is Summer’s End, this is the Beginning of the Year.
The veil between the worlds is thin,
and the spirits of the Ancestors draw near.
All sit. There is a brief silence.
HARVEST LORD: We rest outside of time, and the veil between the worlds is thin. Let us not be afraid to welcome our sisters and brothers who may seek communion with us now.
EARTH MOTHER: They are the past, we are the present, and we all may share in the future. The songs of our Ancestors are the songs of our Children. We honor ourselves and our predecessors.
There is a long silence.
All remember and meditate on their Ancestors of Blood, Place, and Tradition.
After a time all rise.
HARVEST LORD: Let us prepare to return to the apparent world, holding the images of our loved ones in our hearts.
CLOSING
EAST: It is the hour of recall. (Extinguishes flame on the altar) As the fire dies down may it be rekindled in our hearts. May our memories hold what our eyes and ears have gained.
All hold hands in the circles and, led by East, say:
WE swear by peace and love to stand,
heart to heart, and hand in hand.
Mark, O Spirit, hear us now,
confirming this, our sacred vow. (Three times)
ALL : (chant) AWEN. AWEN. AWEN.
SOUTH: Let the spirits of the four directions be thanked for their blessings.
NORTH: In the name of the great bear and the element of Earth, we give thanks to the North.
WEST: In the name of the salmon of wisdom and the element of water, we give thanks to the West.
SOUTH: In the name of the great stag and the element of fire, we give thanks to the South.
EAST: In the name of the hawk of dawn and the element of air, we give thanks to the East.
ALL: May the harmony of our lands be complete.
HARVEST LORD: Let us all radiate the Light in our hearts, by our hands, and in our lives. We now declare this festival of Samhain closed and the ritual ended in the apparent world. It is ended.
EARTH MOTHER: Nothing ends.
ALL: So may it be!