Halloween

Samhain Ritual

Samhain is the Witch's New Year and a time when the veils between our world and the spirit world is at it's thinnest. Traditionally this is a time for divination and a time to honour our ancestors who have passed before us. Also, it is the last harvest and the time when the god crosses over to the Summerland. In many countries it is traditional to leave any unharvested crops left out after sundown on Halloween for the faeries.

Alter decorations: Orange and Black candles, Autumn flowers, pumpkins, Indian corn, Gourds, Jack-O-Lanterns, Heather, Apples, Pomergranates, Cornstalks, Acorns, Oak leaves and other Fallen Leaves, Obsidian, and Jasper.

Ritual Soap: Apple, Cinnamon, Myrrh, and Oatmeal soaps.

Incense: Myrrh, Sage, Oak, Patchouli, or Pumpkin.

Cakes: Pumpkin pie, sweets.

Ale: Apple Ginger Beer.

Colours: Black and Orange.

Invocation:
Apostle of the Ancients
Chant from your willow scroll,
Call Artemis to share Full Moons
And bless the silver bowl.

Guardian of the Fabled Book
Bow down your ear to hear
The cries of those within this womb
Whose birch to light is near.

Avatars of times now past
And times still yet to be,
Reveal our paths from out the mists
Pay heed, our augury.

Deities from days of old
Carve out our misplaced pride,
That we might rise among the stars
And there our souls abide.

Apostle of the Ancients
Burn now the candles bright
Let spirits soar on seas of joy
And grant rebirth this night.
(invocation taken from A Victorian Grimoire by Patricia Telesco)

Activies:
- Divination is a traditional activity and always apporitae.
- Offerings to the dead and of fruit to ask for a gentle winter are also popular.
- Dumb Dinners are traditional. This is when you set a plate and put a small serving of food as offering for each ancestor who has passed on.
- Write your bad habits you hope to get rid of on parchment and burn them in the caudlron.
- Make resolutions for the year.
- Enjoy trick-or-treating
- Scrying either by smoke, fire, crystal ball, or a scrying mirror is traditonal also.
- Carve pumpkins, gourds, and apples.
- Leave an offereing for the faeries.
- Bury an offering to the Dead.
- Also give liberations to the Goddess.
- Say farewell to the God, and Sun, until Yule.
- Make hot mugwort tea.
- Make a pumpkin pie or roast pumpkin seeds!
- Make a collection of photographs and memoire of deceased loved ones and display it on your altar or somewhere specail in your home.
- Necromancy, if you're so inclined, is sometimes preformed on this night.

Traditional Foods: Cider, rye bread, squash, turnips, pumpkin, pumpkin pie, pomegranates, and pork. Dark wines such as sangria or blackberry. Also, bannan nut bread, apple cider, taffy apples, game birds stuffed with savoury bread stuffing (like Cornish hen). For mute suppers bread, salt, and cider or beer is traditional.

Herbs: Wormwood, rosemary, tarragon, rue, bay leaf, calendula, almond, sunflower petals and seeds, hazelnut, passionflower, pumkin seeds, pine needles, turnip seeds, nettle, apple leaf, garlic, sage, hemlock crones, mushrooms, mandrake root, wild ginseng, and acrons.

Solitary Halloween Ritual
     This ritual is designed to be preformed by the solitary witch, meaning one which works alone. It's also best done during the evening after the sun has set. Sweep the area beginning in the North moving deosoil using a magickal broom to cleans the circle and "sweep away" any negative energies. Set up the quarter candles (North-Gree, East-Yellow, South-Red, and West-Blue) and/or other items symbolising the elements at the four quarters. Set up alter as desire and face to the North. I reccommend covering your alter with an orange and black altar cloth and placing photographis, obituaties, and other mementos of loved ones who have passed away and anything else you so desire. Also, along with you usual tools you will need:
Orange and/or Black Altar cloth
Mementos from Love Ones who have passed on
Three Chandles in Holder for the Triple goddess (1 White, 1 Red, 1 Black; place on left side of altar)
Three Candles in Holders for Triple god (1 Yellow, 1 Green, 1 Black; place on right side of altar)
Cauldron with a black candle inside
An apple
A Bollin (or other sharpe knife with which to cut)
Food and Drink of your choice (for sharing of the Feast with the Dead)
Incense: Autumnal Blend use 1 or any combination of: mint, nutmeg, sage, heliotrope, and apple
    Once you have set up your altar set up, take a ritual bath (or shower) and put on ritual clothing. To begin sit quietly and meditate for awhile for grounding and centering. Once you feel ready begin cast your circle and sit quietly until you feel ready to move on. Then, turn to the three candles on the left side of the alter and say:"I light three candles for the Triple Goddess. The Great Lady of Three Aspects." Light the white candle sand say: "Glorious Maiden, Goddess of youth and new beginnings, dawn, and the planted seed." Light the red candle saying "Great Mother, Goddess of magick and plenty, love and knowledge." Then light the black candle saying "Dark Crone, wise Goddess of the night, death, and rebirth. I welcome the Goddess in all her forms." Next, turn to the three candles on the right side of the altar and say: "I light three candles for the Triple God, Great Lord of many faces." Light the yellow candle and say "Bright Sun King, God of success and plenty." Light the green candle saying "Horned God of the Woodlands, God of fertility and growth." Then light the black candle saying "Dark Lord of the Underworld, God of protection and rest the God in all His forms." After the candles are lit, take your wand with your power hand and tap the cauldron five times. Raise your arms over your head and say:
"Dark Goddess, Lord of Death, I ask Your blessings. Lift the Veil for me so that I may gree my Loved Ones who have passed on,
Friends, family, and pets who have gone ahead into your realms.
Let only those who wish me well enter this Circle."
Tough the place or basket of food with the Wand and say:
"This is the night of the Feast of the Dead, the night of the wheel-turning year that bring us to the Thin Veil. The gates between the worlds stand open this night.
I honour my Loved Ones whos voices come to me on the whispering wind. The Veil is lifed this night so that ally may once more rejoice together in fellowship. All those who wish me well, welcome to my Cirlce. As we eat, may we remember the eternal presence of the Gods, and may we remember that what we call death is but a fleeting existance in the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth."
Place the plate or basket of food on the Pentacle or in the centre of your altar and light the black candle in the Cauldron saying:
"I ask all who have gathered here to join me in this feast. This is a time of remembrance of all those gone into the realm of the Dark Mother and Dark Lord. May I always have good health, prosperity and happiness."
Eat a little of the food and drink some of the fruit juice. Anything left after the ritual should be placed outside or buried; whichever you prefer.
Sit silently and think of friends, family, and pets who have passed on. Pick up and look at the photographs. Savour this time with them and once you feel satisfied say:
"The Thin Veil has been lifted. My Loved Ones have come to the Feast of the Dead. I thank them for their presences and words of comfort."
Pick up the apple and say: "Beautiful Maiden, you are the dispenser of the seed of life, life that awaits, hidden in the Sacred Cauldron. Fruitful Mother, your ripeness of power nutures the seed Bringing it into existence and helping it grow. Dark Mother, your magic Cauldron is the well of death and rebirth, an experince each of us undergoes again and again. Let there be no fear in me, for I know your gentleness. Here is teh secret symbol of life in death and death in life, the hidden, mystical symbol of the Triple Goddess."
Cut the apples crosswise to revel the pentagram in the core. Inclining your head toward the altar say:
"My deepest thanks to the Triple Ladies, and to the Triple Lords. May I always walk in peace beside you." Eat part of the apple and place the rest outside after you have completed the ritual.
Turn back to the Goddess candles and say: "The wheel of the Year has turned, the harvest has come again. I have sown many thought-seeds since last All Hallows Eve. Let the good be harvested; let those that would hinder or harm me be cast aside. The Triple Goddess has covered me with Her gentle hands, guided my steps, heard my desires. For this I give Her honour and love."
Turn to the God candles and say: "The Wheel of the Year has turned, the harvest has come again. Once more I stand before teh Thin Veil, before the gates that divide the worlds. The Triple God has protected me with His sword, guided my steps, heard my desires. For this I give Him honour and love."
Now tap the Pentacle with your wand saying: "Give me clear knowledge of the path I am to follow. Hear my desires, O Great Ones! Guide me and protect me. Lead me to greater knowledge and fulfillment." Sit in silence while you ask what you need of the Gods. Also listen fro the spirit guidance that may come from those in the Summerland. When you feel you have finished say: "All love and honour to the Great Goddess and the Horned God!" Once this is done release the circle.

Halloween Scrying Spell
    On Halloween light a candle and look at your reflection in a dark window. Close your eyes, aske your question about marriage or love and open your eyes and look quickly over your shoulder. There his or her reflection will appear over your left shoulder.

Candle Calling for the Dead
(this is an invocation/ candle-calling ritual)
We honour you,
Our own beloved dead,
On this night of all Nights
On this Night of All Souls

We place a candle in each window
For love of you,
That thair fair light
May lead you home.

We light a silver candle
For the Blessed Lady
And a golden candle
For Her Nobel Lord

We light an orange candle
For the fading autumn
And a purple candle
For the robes of wisdom

We light a red candle
For love everlasting
And a yellow candle
For remembrance

We light a white candle
For each of you:
(say the name(s) aloud as you light the candle)

We light a blue candle
For spirit and those of you
Whose names we do now know:
(describe them by type of death: "Those who died of starvation, Those who died in.." etc.)

Be with us now,
Beloved dead,
The named and unnamed Alike: We love and honour you all.

Irish Samhain Ritual
      To prepare for this ritual, a few days before it spend time mediation on the events of the year ending. Take this time to determine what it is you need for the year ahead and what you would like to achieve (be realistic). After a list of important events from the ending year and those for the new year has been made, list them on a small card and seal in an evelope. You will use this in the ritual. You will also need:
Robes (if you use them), Knife, Wand, Stone, Cup, Sword, eight tea-light candles, a bonfire, two blocks of charcoal, incense, matches, the brance of an apple tree, your list in a sealed evelope, a compass, and food and drink. This ritual is designed to be preformed outside on Samhain Eve at dusk. A reasonably flat secluded area with a birch tree is ideal.
       To begin your ritual, center yourself. Once you are ready to start lay your equipment in the centre of what will be your working area. Take your Sword and trace the limits of the entire working area on the ground. (You need to make it large enough to hold two separate circles within it one for this world and one for the Otherworld.) Work in a clockwise direction. Once this is done return the Sword to the centre and put on your robes. Place the apple branch in the extreme north of teh ellispe. Next, light a fire at the eastern edge of your working area. Once the fire is burning and safe, return to the centre and take your Knife, go to the southern edge of the circle and draw a circle taking about half of your area in a clockwise direction to represent this world.
   Then, go to the northern end of your circle and make another circle in the ground in a counterclockwise direction to represent the Otherworld. Now, return to the centre and put down your Knife. Take up your Wand. Going back to your first circle trace around it again this time using your wand. Return to your starting point and do the same to the Otherworld circle. Return again to the starting point and repeate this process using your Cup. Once you have defined your working area in this way, reflect on being between this world and the Otherworld. Take four of your small candles and go to the Otherworld circle. Place one candle at each cardinal point and light them, you are now bringing to life the otherworld. Visualise this as you light the candles. Do the same to the other circle. Next, bring your charcoal and incense into the centre of the Otherworld and light it. The smoke symbolises the spirit of the Otherworld. Repeat this for your other circle. From the this-world circle turn and look at the Otherworld circle and reflect on the Otherworld. When you feel ready, walk over into the Otherworld circle. Spend time there meditating on it and with it's inhabitants. Once you have finished this, take the apple branch and deliberateling bring it back with you into the this-world circle. Realise this is a very important gift and lay it respectfully on the ground and meditate on this. Your meditation on the ending of this year and the start of a new. Now take your sealed envelop and place it in your fire with intention. As you watch it burn visualise what is written on the card happening. Any other business you feel compelled to carry out is done now. Food and drink is commonly taken at this point in the ritual. Center yourself and close your circle when you feel ready.

Green Witchcraft Samhain Rite (Ann Moura)
Preparing Your Altar: Altar candles should be orange. Incense may be myrrh or patchouli. Circle may be decorated with autumn flowers, branches, Indian corn, gourds, and small pumpkins. Cirlce candles remain teh same for the elementals (red, blue, yellow, and green.) Have piece of parchement paper ready with bad habits or weaknesses you want to be rid of. Have a white candle sitting on the altar and a black votive inside the cauldron. Have an apple or pomegranate on the altar along with some hearther.
Ceremony: Sweep circle area; lay out altar items; bathe and robe. Light incense and altar candles. Ring bell three times and say: "The circle is about to be cast and I freely stand within to greet my Lady and my Lord.
Take centre candles from the altar, light each of the candles of the circle moving north, east, south, then west and say:
(N) I call upon light and earth at the north to illuminate and strengthen the circle.
(E) I call upon light and air at the east to illuminate and enliven the circle.
(S) I call upon light and fire at the south to illuminate and warm the circle.
(W) I call upon light and water at the west to illuminate and cleanse the circle.
Take the athame in upraised hand, begin circle at north and move around the circle north to east to south to west and say: I draw this circle in the presence of the Goddess and the God where they may come and bless their child (name).
Lower the athame at the north, and as you walk around the circle, evenision a blue light shooting out from the point and forming the circle boundary and say: This is the boundary of the circle. Only love shall enter and leave.
Return to the altar and ring bell three times. Place point of the athme in the salt and say: Salt is life and purifying. I bless this salt to be used in this sacred circle in the names of the Goddess and the God, (names).
Picks up salt bowl and use tip of athame to drop three portions of salt into the water bowl and set salt bowl back in its place. Stir three times with athame and say: Let the blessed salt purify this water that it may be blessed to use in this sacred circle. In the names of the goddess and the God, (names), I consecrate and cleanse this water.
Take the salted water bowl in hand and sprinkle water from it as you move deosil around the cirlce (N-E-S-W-N) and say: I consecrate this circle in the names of the Goddess and the God, (names). The circle is conjured a circle of power that is purified and sealed. So mote it be!
Return the water bowl to the altar and pick up censer; take it around the circle to cense it; return censer to altar. Take anointing oil, make a Solar Cross ringed by a circle on your forehead, and say: I, (name), am consecrated in the names of the Goddess and the God, (names), in this their circle.
If working with family members or a Green-focused coven, open a door in the circle with the athame now for all to entre. Use anointing oil to trace a Solar Cross in a circle on their foreheads as each person enters having some kind of greeting. (For example "I come in perfect love and perfect trust.") Then close the door with the athame.
Take the wand, hold it aloft with both arms open and upraised at the north of the circle (envision a powerful bull arriving) and say: I call upon you, Elemental Earth, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I have body and strength, we are kith and kin!
Lower want and move to east, raise up want and say (envison fairies in flight, devas, or and eagle in flight): I call upon you, Elemental Air, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I breathe and think, we are kith and kin!
Lower want and move to the south, raise up wand (see a dragon) and say: I call upon you, Elemental Fire, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I consume life to live, we are kith and kin!
Lower wand and move to west, hold wand aloft (visualise undine, sea serent, or dolphin) and say: I call upon you, Elemental Water, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I feel and my heart beats, we are kith and kin!
Return to altar and use wand to draw the symbol of infinity in the air above the altar. Set the wand on altar, raise up athame in both hands overhead and say: Hail to the elementals at the four quarters! Welcome Lady and Lord to this rite! I stand between the worlds with love and power all around!
Set down athame and pick up goblet of wine. Pour a little into the cauldron. This is a libation to the Divine; offere them the first draught, then you take a sip. Ring bell three times and say: I celebrate the dance of life to death to new life and the balance of teh cosmos in my life! The last harvest is gathered and stored for the dark months ahead, and the wheel has turned to the time of the Hunter.
Ring bell nine times and say: At this time is the veil between the worlds thin, and I welcome thee spirits who have gone before and thee others who pass between two worlds. This is the crone's time and witht he Lord of the Shadows, she is the passage frm life to life that all must take. They give a refreshing rest in the continuous turning of the spiral dance that goes and returns, yet ever moves on. With the Ancient Ones (names), I move with the dance unperturbed. Love gives strenght; give to gain.
Take wand and hold it aloft and say: Great Lady, (name), fruitful mother, you have showered me with your bounty, and in this turning of the seasons I bid you farewell as you walk now as crone with (name), the Lord of the Hunt. I know that within you is yet another fruit waiting to be born, and I will bide patient until the mother returns.
Replace wand on altar. Place cauldron on pentacle, light black cnadle within it and say: Here is the cauldron of endings and new beginnings. Into this burning flame do I cast my weakness and the habits that keep me from attaining my potential. By the death of these things will I live a better life. So mote it be!
Cast the partchment into the flame to burn. After it is reduced to ashes, ring bell nine times. Take the white candle and pass it through the patchouli incense or annoint with patchouli oil if other incense is used and say: With this candle and by its light I welcome you spirits this Samhain night.
This candle will be saved to be lit and placed inside the jack-'o-lantern to light the way for spirit visitors. Take the heather into your power hand and hold it over the altar saying: I call upon the power of this herb to bless this house and the spirits that come to visit.
Drop the heather into the cauldron and say: The air is purified and made pleasant for the spirits and others who may call upon me. Blessed be!
Take up the apple or pomegranate, hold it aloft over the altar, and say: I call upon thee, Lord and Lady, (names), to bless this fruit to be the food for the dead. Let any who visit find sustenance in this apple/pomegrante and pass on refreshed. So mote it be!
After that Sabbat is concluded, bury the apple/pomegrantae in the garden or in a pot of soil outside your door.
(Cakes and Wine) Ring bell three times. With your feet spread and arms raised say: I acknowledge my needs and offer my appreciation to that which sustains me! May I ever remember the blessings of my Lady and my Lord.
Feet together, take up goblet in left hand and athame in right. Slowly lower point of the athame into the wine and say: As male joins female for the benefit of both, let the fruit of their union promote life. Let the earth be fruitful and let her wealth be spread throughout all lands.
Lay down the athame and drink from the goblet. Replace the goblet on the altar and pick up the athame. Touch the point of the athame to the cake in teh offering dish and say: This food is the blessing of the Lady and the Lord given freely to me. As freely as I have received, may I also give food for the body, mind, and spirit to those who seek such of me.
Eat the cake, finish the wine, and say: As I enjoy these gifts of the Goddess and God, (names), may I remember that without them I would have nothing. So mote it be!
When all if finished hold the athame in your power hand level over the altar and say: Lord and Lady, I am blessed by your sharing this time with me; watching and guarding me, and guiding me here and in all things. I came in love and I depart in love.
Raise up athame in salute and say: Love is the law and love is the bond. Merry did I meet, merry do I part, and merry will I meet again. Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again! The circle is now cleared. So mote it be!
Kiss the flat of the blade and set the athame on the alatar. Take up the snuffer and go to the north quarter; raise up arms and say: Depart in peace, Elemental Earth. My blessings take with you!
Do the same for the other other quarters saying:
<E> Depart in peace, Elemental Air. My blessings take with you!
<S> Depart in peace, Elemental Fire. My blessings take with you!
<W> Depart in peace, Elemental Water. My blessings take with you!
Return to altar and set down snuffer. Raise up arms and say: Beings and powers of the visible and invisialbe, depart in peace! You aid in my work, whisper in my mind, and bless me from the Otherworld, and there is harmony between us. My blessings take with you. The circle is cleared.
Take up athame, go to the north quarter, point athame downa nd move widdershins around the circle. Evenvison the blue light being drawn back into the flame and say: The circle is open yet the circle remains as its magical powers is drawn back into me.
When you return to the north, raise the athame so teh blade touches your forehead, and envision the blue light swirling back into you. Return to the altar and say: The ceremony is ended. Blessings have been given and blessings have been received, may the peace oft eh Goddess and the God remain in my heart.
So mote it be!
Set down the athame and put away all magical tools that do not need to burn themselves out or work for a longer peroid of time. The cauldron contents shoudl be poured into the earth.