Samhain 2001

Mobius

 

SAMHAIN OIL

3 drops cedarwood

3 drops clove

3 drops frankincense

3 drops patchouli

3 drops rosemary

½ ounce sunflower or grapeseed oil

 

Add a piece of dried marigold and three dried pumpkin seeds with obsidian, amber, and ruby crystals. This is a light and dark oil that captures all the mystery and ambience of this special night of meditation.

 

            This is the time for Samhain, the time of the third and final harvest.  Samhain also marks the end of the old year and the beginning of the new year, a time to honor and remember the dead.  The last year has been an eventful one, with the attacks on the World Trade Center, we all have many of the dead to remember, and be thankful for those who sacrificed their lives to save others.  We must never forget those who sacrificed themselves for us, but now is a time to remember, mourn, and go on with our lives. 

 

            The Summer Lord has died, winter is upon us, and in this twilight before the darkness of winter, He passes over to the Summerland to rest and await His rebirth.  The veil between the worlds is thin, and through the wisdom of the Great Goddess, the Lord holds the veil aside that we may catch a glimpse of the other side, be it but a shadow.

 

            Our loved ones and those whom we give honor, have gone on before, can now draw nearer at this time.  We are no longer separated by a physical distance. 

 

            The wheel of the year has turned, and yet, here in our sacred space all time is one.  We invite those whom we loved and honored to join us now to celebrate life, friendship, and family.  This day is neither of the old year; nor of the new, just as our circle will be neither of our world, nor of the world beyond, all are one.  Reach out and feel those who have gone on before… gather strength in your reuniting.  Know that there is no beginning and no end, all is but a journey, and at the end of that journey, we find the love and compassion of the Goddess awaiting us.

 

THE WHEEL TURNS

 

ALL:  The wheel turns.

 

HPS:  Rings bell three times, and lights the black candle.

Be it known, the circle is about to be cast, the temple is about to be erected.  Let none remain here but of their own free will.  Join with us in perfect love and perfect trust.

 

This single black candle is lit to remind us that in this waning season, the sunlight is becoming shorter, and the darkness in vanquishing the light.

 

ALTAR CONSECRATION

 

 

HPS:  I consecrate this altar in the names of the Goddess and the God, that it may be a purified surface, a solid foundation for our worship and work, pleasing and acceptable to the Gods!

 

 

CANDLE PROTECTION SPELL

 

HP:  Lights central orange candle. 

            Creatures of fire this charge I give,

            No evil in this Circle live.

            Neither Baneful creatures, now spell work stay,

            About this place, not night, nor day.

            Hear my will addressed to Thee,

            And as I will, SO MOTE IT BE!

 

ALL:  SO MOTE IT BE!

 

INCENSE PROTECTION SPELL

 

Covener of incense steps forward from the EAST.

 

HP:      What element do you bring to our ritual this night?

 

Covener:  (Raising incense)

Behold, I bring incense.  This is to symbolize the air that gives us breath, and life, for the east.

 

ALL:  Blessed be thou creature of air.

 

HP:  Bless incense.

 

Covener of fire steps forward from the SOUTH.

 

HP:      What element do you bring to our ritual this night?

 

Covener:  (Raising lit charcoal in incense holder.)

Behold, I bring fire and warmth from the south.  This symbolizes the fire that burns within each of us.

 

ALL:  Blessed be thou creature of fire.

 

HP:  Bless fire.

 

HP:  (With athame, take three portions of incense and place in the center of the lighted charcoal.)

As FIRE and AIR are joined as one, all negativity flees in it’s wake.  Cleansing this circle and space, leaving only good to remain.

 

Coveners return to prospective places.

 

SALT AND WATER PROTECTION

 

Covener of water steps forward from the WEST.

 

HPS:  What element do you bring to our ritual this night?

 

Covener:  (Raising water bowl)

Behold, I bring water from the running streams.  This is to symbolize the water that nourishes us from the west.

 

ALL:  Blessed be thou creature of water.

 

HPS:  Bless water.

 

Covener of earth steps forward from the NORTH.

 

HPS:  What element do you bring to our ritual this night?

 

Covener:  (Raising salt holder.)

Behold, I bring you the salt of the earth.  This symbolizes the Earth and the solid foundation we need in our lives, and the earth on which we live.

 

ALL:  Blessed be thou creature of earth.

 

HPS:  Bless earth.

 

HPS:  (Pour water into bowl, with athame, take three portions of salt and place in the bowl of water.)

As WATER and EARTH are joined as one in wisdom and purity.  Cleansing our bodies, soul, and this sacred space, all are free from evil and negativity.

 

Coveners return to prospective places.

 

EAST/ HP/ HPS/ WEST:  East begins consecrating the circle with the incense, saluting each watchtower.  When EAST passes HPS, HP anoints HPS, and then she begins to anoint all coveners with Samhain oil.  When she finishes WEST, WEST will follow HPS consecrating the circle with water, saluting each watchtower.  Then all return to prospective places. 

 

HP:      Spirits of evil, unfriendly beings, unwanted guests be gone.  Leave us, leave this place, leave this circle that the Gods may enter.

Go, or be cast into the outer darkness of the North.

Go, or be drowned in the watery abyss of the West.

Go, or be burned in the fiery flames of the South.

Go, or be torn by the whirlwinds of the East.

By the power of the Mother Goddess and Father God,

So mote it be.

 

ALL:  So mote it be.

 

Circle Casting

HPS:  Visualize a blue mist forming a Sphere, enclosing the circle.

 

HP:      I weave and empower Thee,

O Sphere of power,

From astral mist and strength of Will

To be a protection and Containment

For the energies which we shall raise within Thee.

 

 

HPS:  Visualize Standing Stones, rising up from the Earth at the edge of the circle.

 

HP:      I Conjure Thee,

Circle of Standing Stones,

To be a Division and a Boundary;

Between the world of men and the Realms of the mighty Ones,

An Ancient place for our worship and work.

 

 

HPS:              Visualize fiery white light, forming a circle with the Standing Stones making them glow.

 

HP:      I Cast Thee, Sacred Circle,

To be a Temple set apart,

Between the worlds

And beyond the bounds of Time,

A Sacred and powerful place,

For the honoring of the Divine

Without, and within.

 

CALLING THE DIRECTIONS

 

EAST:             Lights Yellow candle…

                        With this light we invoke the energy of the East, and the powers of the mind, so that we may think clearly on the challenges the coming year has in store for us.

 

 

Hail to the Watchers of the East, the powers of Air.  Come and join us this night of Mourning and Celebration.  Lend us your protection and the beauty of your energy.  Hail, and Blessed Be!

 

ALL:              Hail and Blessed Be!

 

SOUTH:         Lights Red Candle…

                        With this light we invoke the energy of the South, and the powers of fire, to keep warm in the coming months, and to keep the divine spark alive in all of us. 

 

Hail to the Watchers of the South, the powers of Fire.  Come and join us this night of Mourning and Celebration.  Lend us your protection and the beauty of your energy.  Hail, and Blessed Be!

 

ALL:              Hail and Blessed Be!

 

WEST:            Lights Blue Candle…

            With this light we invoke the energy of the West, and the powers of our emotions.  So we will be ever mindful of our feelings and the feelings of others in the coming year, and to act accordingly.

 

Hail to the Watchers of the West, the powers of Water.  Come and join us this night of Mourning and Celebration.  Lend us your protection and the beauty of your energy.  Hail, and Blessed Be!

 

ALL:              Hail and Blessed Be!

 

 

 

NORTH:        Lights Green Candle…

                        With this light we invoke the energy of the North, and the powers of Earth.  To give us the strength we need to help others as well as ourselves in the trials we must all face before us. 

 

Hail to the Watchers of the North, the powers of Earth.  Come and join us this night of Mourning and Celebration.  Lend us your protection and the beauty of your energy.  Hail, and Blessed Be!

 

ALL:              Hail and Blessed Be!

 

HPS:              As above, so below, the circle is cast and the ritual has begun.

 

COV 1:           We are between the worlds,

            Beyond the bounds of time.

            Where night and day,

            Birth and Death,

            Joy and Sorrow,

            Meet as one.

                        And we meet in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.

 

COV 2:            Remember always the Wiccan Rede:

            An it harm none, do what thou wilt.'

            Remember this in whatever you desire.

            Whatever you would ask of the Gods,

            Whatever you would do,

            Be assured that it would harm none.

            Not even yourself.

 

COV 3:           And remember that as you give,

            So shall it return threefold.

            Give of yourself, your love your life. 

            And you will be thrice rewarded.

            But send forth harm,

            And that, too, will return thrice over.

 

INVOKING THE GODDESS

 

HPS:  The Goddess in her many guises is the keeper of birth, life, death and rebirth.  Tonight she morns for the loss of her consort, yet through death, rebirth comes.  We call you this night to join us in the ritual of honoring and remembering the dead.

 

HP:      Lights 1st black candle…

            Hail Dark Mother, on this night we join you in your mourning for your lost consort, we call for you to join us now!

 

HP:      Lights 2nd black candle…

            Hail Dark Mother, we ask that you aid us in our magick and divination on this night when the veils between the world is thin.  We invite you to join us now.

 

HP:      Lights 3rd black candle…

            Hail Dark Mother, we ask that you pull aside the veil separating the worlds, that we may one more time see those whom we love and mourn for their loss.  We invite you to join us now.

 

ALL:   To the Crone be praise,

            To the Crone be power,

            For the power we raise,

            In this Dark Hour.

            On this her holy night of All- Hallows!

 

INVOKING THE GOD

 

HPS:  Lights old god candle…

Our Lord meets the Crone and she lays him to rest.  His time here is now done, but he still has his gifts to give us.  He says farewell to his Lady, although He knows they will meet again. 

 

            Lights new God candle with old, and extinguishes the old…

Samhain Greetings, Horned One!  Lord of the Dead, and companion of the Crone.  We invoke thee…  we invite you to be here with us now!

 

ALL:   To the God be praise,

            To the God be power,

            For the power we raise,

            In this Dark Hour.

            On this his holy night of All- Hallows!

 

CELEBRATION OF THE SAMHAIN FIRE

 

COV 3:           The cycle is complete; Death is the sacrifice for Life.  On this night all times are one, cradle and grave are one, no time between.  Past, present, and future all melded into the moment.  The Goddess summons all to celebrate Her holy night of rebirth.  The past year is gone, yet it is ever present, and the coming year is upon us, but what has happened, and what will happen are all one on this night.  All hail the Goddess and the God!

 

ALL:               All Hail the Goddess and the God!

 

 

LIGHTING OF THE SAMHAIN CANDLES

 

HP:      Leads the Dance of the Dead with his arms crossed upon his chest, HPS is the last in line.  Each Covener places his left hand on the right shoulder of the person in front of him/ her and holds their black candle in their right hand.

 

ALL:  Walking deosil, chant (three times around, continuous).

            Spirits of the dead we raise,

            Join us by the cauldron’s blaze.

            Elves and Goblins and gnomes and all,

            Heed the Witches’ Samhain call.

 

CHILD:              Passes out acorns deosil, while Cernunnos speaks.

 

CERNUNNOS:         (Rings bell 13 times)

I am the Lord of Death and Resurrection.  The keeper of the gate that keeps the worlds separated.  Here all are mine.  On this night I can grant you access to what you desire.  To cross the veil and to seek knowledge and counsel from those who have crossed before you.  But I must ask that you extinguish your candles, for the light you use to see in your world, is not the light to see with in the world beyond.  Instead you must look with the divine light from within, which is your gift from the gods.  I command the spirits of Nature to aid you on your quest.  May only those influences that you desire, and can aid you in a positive manner, be with you now!  SO MOTE IT BE!

 

GUIDED MEDITATION

 

HPS:  Close your eyes and peer into the great beyond with your eyes from within. 

Focus on the person that you wish to meet with.  Imagine yourself in a dark wooded forest, winding and twisting through a dark, but well trodden path.  Slowly you start to see light emerge, and you hear the sound of a slow moving brook.

(Pause)

 

As you walk nearer the sound, you see a clearing.  The clearing is a beautiful green pasture, with splashes of color from the wild flowers and butterflies that live in the clearing.  You near the brook and you see a small bridge going over the brook.

(Pause)

 

On the other side of the brook, you spy a person.  You soon realize that the person is one of your loved ones that have already passed over to the other side.  Take this time now to greet your loved one and reacquaint yourself. 

(Long Pause)

 

The hour now draws late.  It is time to rejoin your own world.  Take a few minutes to say good-bye, knowing that you are never truly separate, you always have each other.

(Short Pause)

 

Now cross the bridge and head back into the forest.  Find the path and take it back to where you started from.  Rejoin us now and open your eyes.

 

 

CHILD:                      Oh, great Cernunnos it is time for us to leave the underworld.

 

CERNUNNOS:            Before I can release you back from whence you have come, you must first speak the sacred password.

 

CHILD:                      Perfect Love, and Perfect Trust.

 

CERNUNNOS:             Proceed, for nothing holds you here any longer.  My gates are open for you to return to your world when you are ready.

 

Dance of the Dead

 

ALL:              Proceed widdershins, without chanting.

 

MAIDEN:      Before you returned to the world above, you were given a token, a symbol of the completed cycle. Samhain is a farewell celebration. It is a time to look back on the year and review all that has happened. At this time, you should remember and enjoy the memories of those good times that make you smile and laugh, as well as remember and store those lessons learned in those times that brought forth tears of sadness or disappointment. Within this acorn store these gifts you have each been given, that you may carry them with you always.  Samhain is a time to celebrate the growth you have realized over this last cycle of life. It is a time to wave goodbye to all that was in preparation, for all that will be- thus ends this turning of the Wheel of life!

 

CAKES AND ALE

 

HPS: Holds chalice.

 

HP:  Holds athame over chalice and blesses it. (INVOKE)

 

HP:  Athame to chalice

 

HPS:  Spirit to flesh

 

HP:  Man to woman

 

HPS:  As the God and Goddess within.

 

ALL:  Together they bring blessings and purpose to life.

 

HPS:  (Offer to HP) May you never thirst.

 

HP:  (After sipping) Nor you M'lady.

 

HP:  (Offer to HPS)

 

HPS:    (After sipping)

Let us all partake of this sacred ale the enchantment of the Divine. This renews our bodies and our souls.

 

HPS:              (Blesses cakes)

Bread made from all Elements,

Grain from Earth,

Water to bind and moisten,

Fire to grow and cook

Air to leaven and filter the sweet aroma into our senses,

And the empowerment of our human spirit.

 

ALL:  Together the Elements bring blessings and purpose to life.

 

HP:      (Offers cakes to HPS)

May you never hunger.

 

HPS:  Nor you M' lord.

 

HPS:  (Offers cakes to HP)

 

HP:      (After eating)

Let us all partake of these sacred cakes, enchantment of the Divine Elements. This renews our bodies and our souls.

 

GODDESS THANKING

 

HP:      Great Goddess!  We thank you for joining us, on this night of mourning and honoring the dead.  And for reminding us that life is like the wheel of the year and it is forever turning.  That through you, and your cauldron of rebirth, Death is but a new beginning.  Hail! And Farewell. 

 

GOD THANKING

 

HPS:   Great Horned One!  Lord of the Dead and companion to the Crone, we thank you this night for joining us, on this night of mourning and honoring the dead, and for being our bridge to the Divine.  For reminding us that as you die and are once again reborn, so are we too transformed through death, to renewed life. Hail! And farewell!

 

 

 

THANKING THE DIRECTIONS (Extinguish candle after reciting)

 

 

 

 

NORTH:        Hail to the Watchers of the North, the powers of Earth.  We thank you for joining us on this night of Mourning and Celebration.  And for your protection and energy for our works on this night.  Farewell!  And Blessed Be!

 

ALL:              Farewell!  And Blessed Be!

 

WEST:            Hail to the Watchers of the West, the powers of Water.  We thank you for joining us on this night of Mourning and Celebration.  And for your protection and energy for our works on this night.  Farewell!  And Blessed Be!

 

ALL:              Farewell!  And Blessed Be!

 

SOUTH:         Hail to the Watchers of the South, the powers of Fire.  We thank you for joining us on this night of Mourning and Celebration.  And for your protection and energy for our works on this night.  Farewell!  And Blessed Be!

 

ALL:              Farewell!  And Blessed Be!

 

 

EAST:             Hail to the Watchers of the East, the powers of Air.  We thank you for joining us on this night of Mourning and Celebration.  And for your protection and energy for our works on this night.  Farewell!  And Blessed Be!

 

ALL:              Farewell!  And Blessed Be!

 

 

HP:                  Takes down the triple circle.  (Widdershins)

 

HPS: (extinguish flames)

These flames are a form of energy, which like, all energy, cannot be destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. As we extinguish these flames, we transmute that energy, from the physical flames, without, to the divine flames within. In doing so, we confirm our dedication to the path of light, secure in the knowledge that what we seek we shall find, empowered by the divine flames within each of us.

 

(Rings bell)

 

The circle is open, yet it ever remains a circle. Around and around us ever flows its magical energy. May the peace of Goddess and the God go ever in our hearts.

 

ALL:  Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again!

 

 

 

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