| A Wiccan Circle of Friends Samhain Ritual |
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| This Samhain ritual can be done solo, or in a group. If done in a group, each participant should take on a "task" during the ritual. Choose one person to act as the High Priest or Priestess, another can sweep, another lead the invokations, another call the quarters, etc. * Take a ritual bath scented with herbs or oils such as apple, rosemary, or mugwort. Take your ritual items with you to your chosen ritual space. * Sweep the space with your besom, or witch's broom. (you may also wish to "smudge" the area with a smoldering bundle of sage) say, "purity of thought, purity of space, negatives be gone from this place", or other similar words. * Set up the perimeter of the circle either with a chalkline or rocks or elemental symbols in the four quarters. * Build your balefire or cauldronfire and set up your altar. If outdoors, a tree stump or flat-topped rock will do nicely. While you do these things you can chant or sing to build energy. * Cast your circle, by walking around the perimeter of your circle deosil or clockwise three times, visualizing white light streaming out of your athame, wand or index finger as you hold it out before you. If you wish to say words as you cast, here is a nice quote, "I conjure thee, O Circle of Power, that thou beist a boundary between the world of the human, and the realms of the Mighty Ones; a meeting place of love and joy and truth; a shield against all wickedness and evil; a rampart and protection that shall preserve and contain the power that we raise within thee. Wherefore do I bless thee, and consecrate thee. As it is above, so it is below." * Light incenses (or place dried herbs on your fire). Aside from apple and rosemary, Gum mastic, copal, and myrrh produce an other-worldly sensation when burnt in your ritual space. Heather and clove are also nice. * Light your Samhain (or purpose) candle and anoint yourself (or if in a group anoint each other) with your chosen oils. * Call the quarters, moving deosil, and holding your athame or wand towards each direction as you call each quarter. The following are suggested words for calling each quarter/element. (substitute "we" for " I " if in a group); "Guardians of the Watchtower of the North, guardians of Earth, I call upon thee to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I have flesh and bones I am kith and kin to thee!" "Guardians of the Watchtower of the East, Guardians of Air, I call upon thee to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I breath and think, I am kith and kin with thee." "Guardians of the Watchtower of the South, Guardians of Fire, I call upon thee to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I consume life to live, and passions burn within me, I am kith and kin with thee." "Guardians of the Watchtower of the West, Guardians of Water, I call upon thee to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as most of my body is of water and I flow with emotion, I am kith and kin with thee." * Go to the altar and place your athame point downward into a bowl of water, saying, "I honor You O gracious Mother-Goddess, bless this water so that i may find wisdom in my journey this Samhain night." Place the athame, point downward into a bowl of salt saying, "I honor You, benevolent Father-God, bless this salt so that I may find Your strength and power this Samhain night." Pour the water into the bowl of salt and sprinkle the mixture over the altaer and tools saying, "Bless these tools that they may help me be of loving and humble service to You. As I will it, so mote it be!" * The Invocations Light your Goddess candle saying, "O great Goddess, One of many names, Come to us now, Come from Your veil of darkness, Goddess of the Sacred Cauldron, Let the wheel turn from Life to Death to Rebirth. Great Goddess Hail and Welcome!" Light your God candle saying, "O Great God, One of many names, Come to us now, Come fromYour Shadowlands. God of the Wild, Fallen One of Samhain, Let the Wheel turn from Life to Death to Rebirth. Great God, Hail and Welcome." * Give thanks and praise to the God and Goddess for thier presence. Raise power by (any/and) dancing, music, drumming, chanting. Here are a couple of chants; "Corn and grain, corn and grain, what does fall shall rise again." "Hoof and Horn, hoof and horn, what will die shall be reborn." * The Samhain Dunbfeast Ritual If you have special favorite foods that you have brought in remembrance of deceased loved ones, place it on your altar, saying, "I call to thee, my beloved dead, my ancestors, and all those of positive intent. If you choose to visit during this Samhain night, then come and be welcome and enter my circle for a brief time, to join my feast and recieve due offering. To my own beloved dead, (name names is you wish) who have gone ahead, I honor you and miss you." (this is an appropriate place to light individual candles for each deceased loved one if you wish to do so) "To the honored dead of the past year; those women and men who inspired and guided our mortal world, I remember and honor you. As the year turns, I welcome the quiet of the dark, the chill of Winter. Let the stillness of the land calm and satisfy my spirit, allowing me to recieve the harvest's bounty. Let the gain of the passing year be mine, to fill my life with contentment. I welcome you, my spirit guests, who but stay for this brief night's ritual. Goddess and God grant that I may I rest content as I pass the threshold of new beginnings." * Place offerings of rosemary sprigs in the samhain fire if you wish, saying; "Rosemary is for remembrance and I shall not forget! You are with me forever in my heart, Blessed be!" This is the most important moment of your samhain ritual. It is the time for quiet meditation and reflection as you remember those whom have died. Give this ample time and do not rush this. Sit quietly. You may chose to close your eyes, or you may choose to gaze into the flame of a candle you have lit in a deceased loved one's honor. (If works of magick or divination are desired this is an appropriate time to do so.) * If you have food and drink that you have brought for yourself enjoy your feast. (food is good to help "ground" your energies) * Give thanks to your spirit guests and the Goddess and God, saying, "I have opened my heart and remembered those no longer with me. May they speed safely on their way, may their journeys be easy and free of pain. Blessed Be. The dead have feasted with me, I will offer up the remains of their meal to nature." Hold up the plate of food that was for the deceased. If you are in an appropriate outdoor place you can scape the food onto the ground. If not, you will do this later after you leave your circle space. When you do, say, "Lady of the Earth, take this food back into your soil, use it to nourish yourself so that life may spring once more from Thee. Blessed Be." * Conclusion "I have mourned and remembered the dead this Samhain Eve. Dear, departed, and spirits, now be on your way. I continue with my mortal life, making the most of the time I am given, for each of us has but a brief time in each mortal life." Reverantly extinguish each candle that was lit for the dead, and your Samhain or purpose candle. * "Lady of the Harvest, thank you for joining my rite. Stay if you will, but go if you must, I bow to Thee, O Goddess, in perfect love and perfect trust." Reverantly extinguish your Goddess candle. * "Lord of the Hunt, I thank you for joining my rite. Stay if you will, but go if you must, I bow to Thee, O God, in perfect love and perfect trust." Reverantly extinguish your God candle. * Release the quarters, thanking them, as you walk widdershins, or counterclockwise, to each. * Open your circle, by walking three times widdershins or counterclockwise, saying, "Thie circle is now open, but as always it remains unbroken." (if in a group, say, "merry meet and merry part, and merry meet again.") |
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