Finding the Path

Samhain Rite

After a ritual bath in salt water to cleanse your body and soul of any impurities and negative energy, put on a long, black ceremonial robe (unless you prefer to work skyclad, as many Witches do), wear a handcrafted necklace of acorns around your neck, and place a crown of oak leaves around your head.

Begin by casting a circle about nine feet in diameter, using white chalk or paint. Place thirteen black and orange candles around the circle, and as you light each one say:

"Samhain candle of fire so bright
Consecrate this circle of light."

In the center of the circle, erect an altar facing north. On the center of the altar, place three candles (white, red and black) to represent each phase of the Triple Goddess. To the left (west) of the candles, place a chalice filled with apple cider and a dish containing sea salt. To theright (east) of the candles, place a censer of herb incense and a small bowl of water. Before the candles (south), place a brass altar bell, a consecrated athame, and a red apple.

Ring the altar bell thrice and say:

"In the sacred name of the Goddess
and under her protection
is this Sabbat Rite now begun."

Sprinkle a bit of salt and water at each compass point around the circle to cleanse the space of any negativity or evil influences.

Take the athame in your right hand, and say:

"Harken well ye elements
Air, fire, water, earth
By bell and blade I summon thee
On this sacred night of mirth."

Dip the blade of the athame into the chalice of apple cider and say:

"I offer to Thee, O Goddess
This nectar of the season."

Return the athame to the altar. Light the incense and the three altar candles, and say:

"Three candles I do light
in honor of Thee, O Goddess:
White for the Maiden,
Red for the Mother,
Black for the Crone.
O Goddess of all things wild and free,
Strong and loving, fair and just,
This sacred temple I raise to Thee
In Perfect Love,
In Perfect Trust."

Pick up the chalice with both hands and pour a few drops of the cider onto the apple and say:

"To the Womb of the Mother Goddess
The Horned God now returns
Until the day when he is reborn again.
The great solar wheel
Once again turns.
The cycle of the seasons never ends.
Blessed be the souls of those
who have journeyed beyond
To the dark world of the dead.
I pour this nectar
in honor of their memory.
May the Goddess bless them
With Light, Beauty and Joy.
Blessed Be!
Blessed Be!"

Drink the remaining cider, and then return the chalice to its place on the altar. Ring the bell thrice, and then uncast the circle by extinguishing the orange and black candles, starting at the east and moving in a couterclockwise direction.

Take the apple from the altar and bury it outsid in the earth to nourish the souls of those who have died in the past year.

The Samhain ritual is now complete and should be followed by meditation, divination by crystal ball, the reciting of mystical Goddess-inspiredpoetry, and a Witches' prayer for the souls of all family members andfriends who have passed on to the Spirtual Plane.

This chant can be outdoors around a bonfire or inside around an extra large altar candle.

Fire red, summer's dead, Yet shall it return.
Clear and bright in the night, Burn, fire, burn!

Dance the ring, luck to bring, When the year's aturning.
Chant the rhyme at Hallowstime, When the fire's burning.

Fire glow, vision show Of the heart's desire,
When the spell's chanted well Of the witching fire.

Dance the ring, luck to bring, When the year's aturning.
Chant the rhyme at Hallowstime, When the fire's burning.

Fire spark, when nights are dark, Makes our winter's mirth.
Red leaves fall, earth takes all, Brings them to rebirth.

Dance the ring, luck to bring, When the year's aturning.
Chant the rhyme at Hallowstime, When the fire's burning.

Fire fair, earth and air, And the heaven's rain,
And blessed be, and so may we, At Hallowstide again.

Dance the ring, luck to bring, When the year's aturning.
Chant the rhyme at Hallowstime, When the fire's burning.

Valiente, Doreen; "Witchcraft for Tomorrow"; Phoenix Publishing 1985

Samhain Correspondances
Samhain History and Lore
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