Samhain

Have people assemble OUTSIDE the ritual space.  After the space is cleansed they will be brought in one at a time.

PREPARE SACRED SPACE

MAIDEN PRIESTESS (if one is available, otherwise CHIEF PRIESTESS)

Behold, I cleanse thee spirit of Earth, casting out any impurities that may lie within.

I do Bless and Charge you for this work.

Behold, I cleanse thee spirit of Water, casting out any impurities that may lie within.

I do Bless and Charge you for this work.

Behold, the Salt is pure.

 Behold, the Water is pure.

Mix Salt And Water. 

Purity into purity then, and purity be blessed.

Asperge (tuathal)

CADET PRIEST (if one is available, otherwise CHIEF PRIEST)

Behold, I cleanse thee spirit of Fire, casting out any impurities that may lie within.

I do Bless and Charge you for this work.
 

Behold, I cleanse thee spirit of Air, casting out any impurities that may lie within.

I do Bless and Charge you for this work.

Behold, the Fire is pure.

Behold, the Air is pure.

Mix Fire And Air. 

Purity into purity then, and purity be blessed.

Charge the Space (deosil).

CAST THE CIRCLE (Begin in East & deosil with athame)

[Maiden Priestess and Cadet Priest form a 'door' at the south end of circle]

Bring each person in one by one, cleansing with censor.   Chief Priestess and Priest enter last.

CHIEF PRIESTESS

We will now cast our Circle by saying:

“From hand to hand I cast this Circle.”
 
CHIEF PRIEST

“Behold, we join together to cast this Circle, that it may be a token of the bond of love between us.  Imagine the energy running from hand to hand, person to person.  See the energy as beautiful, clear white light filled with strength and love and power.  See the energy grow and strengthen.  See it begin to expand around us, the Circle of energy moving out around us to fill our ritual space and make a barrier at its edges.  See that barrier become a wall of clear, strong white light: A wall to contain and strengthen our energy as we work.

Palidin uses sword to cast circle as Chief Priest speaks the following:

“Behold, we do cut apart a place between the realms of humankind and of the Mighty Ones: a Circle of Art to focus and contain the powers we shall raise herein! The Circle is cast! So Mote It Be!”

ALL
”SO MOTE IT BE!”

Quarters to be called by students/dedicants

EAST
“I do invoke You, O Golden Eagle of the East! Power of Air! The beating of Your wings raises the winds of inspiration and enlightenment! Share with us Your powers of thought and delineation, that we may have clarity of mind and thought.  Join us: be with us: guide and inspire us in this our holy ritual! We bid You Hail and Welcome”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”
 
SOUTH
“I do invoke You, O Red Dragon of the South! Power of Fire! You breathe forth the flames of passion and manifestation! Share with us Your powers of creativity and courage that our actions may be confident and effective! Join us: be with us: guide and inspire us in this our holy ritual! We bid You Hail and welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”
 
WEST
“I do invoke You, O Blue Dolphin of the west! Power of Water! From Your blow hole You spout waves of sensitivity and compassion! Share with us Your powers of love and empathy that our emotions may be open and free-flowing! Join us: be with us: guide and inspire us in this our holy ritual! We bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”
 

NORTH
“I do invoke You, O Black Bear of the North! Power of Earth! You make Your home in the cave which resonates with wisdom and understanding! Share with us Your powers of focus and integration that we may be steady and well grounded! Join us: be with us: guide us and inspire us in this our holy ritual!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”
 
CHIEF PRIESTESS
“Hail unto You, O Crone of Endless Ages! Grandmother! Ancient One! Mistress of Magic and the Night, Lady of Dreams and Visions! Enchantress, Queen of Spirits and of the Otherworld -on this night when the Veil is thinnest, this night when we are most conscious of our mortality and of our immortality- we call to You who holds the Keys of Life and Death.  Who comforts the Soul! Come to us now! We bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”
 
CHIEF PRIEST
“We invoke You O Sorcerer, Lord of Dreams and Midnight! Guardian of the Gates of Life and Death! Guide and Guardian of the Spirits! Horned Hunter of the Night, Who leads the Wild Ride of Souls! On this dark night, when we reach out to those who have gone before, we call to You, Lord of Visions! Guide us on our journey as You guide those who travel between the worlds! We bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”
[Ancestors could be invoked by Pallidin/Guardian]
 “O Mighty Ancestors, Beloved Ones Who have gone before, We invoke You and ask You to join us and to Bless us! Ancestors of the Correllian Tradition, Priestesses and Priests, Mothers and Uncles of the lineage, Spiritual family which aids and supports us -lend us Your inspiration and Your love, Your guidance and Your aid this night, we pray.  Beloved Ones, we bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Body of Ritual

CHIEF PRIESTESS

"We come together this night to celebrate the great feast of Samhain, Summer's End.  Now begins the Winter of the Year, when the world turns to cold and death, and we turn inward and contemplate our lives and goals. 

CHIEF PRIEST

It is the Involution of the Year, a time for visions and introspection, a time for rest and rejuvenation of the world's energies.  On this night of all nights we honor those who have gone before, the Beloved Ancestors. 

CHIEF PRIESTESS

They are always with us, for the bonds of love and loyalty are not severed by death, but endure and even strengthen from life to life and between.  But at this time we are most conscious of the Ancestors and spirit Guides who help and aid us through the year, and this night we especially honor them.

CHIEF PRIEST

 Now too, beneath the Patronage of the Great Crone Goddess, the Arch Witch, we are conscious of the magic in our lives, and our own ability to transform and renew: even as She transforms and renews through the cycle of death and incarnation.  For some the Veil is thin from birth, but on this night the Veil is thinned for us and we are all more magical, more able to hear the messages of Spirit.  Let us make good use of this."
 
ACT OF POWER: Ancestor Circle

CHIEF PRIESTESS

  “On this night of all nights, when the Veil between the Worlds is at its thinnest, we honor those who have gone on before: the Beloved Ancestors. “Ancestors are those who have shaped us and made us what we are. Family members now Crossed Over, our spiritual ancestors, those who have shaped us through their example and actions: they have made us what we are.  We honor our spiritual tie to them.

CHIEF PRIEST

 “Think now of your Ancestors: The people in spirit whom you wish to honor and with whom you wish to remain linked.  They are here.  They are always here, wherever we are: for in the Otherworld there is neither space nor time as we know it, and the spirits are not limited by either.  Think of your particular Ancestors.  Imagine them here in this room, standing among us.  See them clearly and hold them in your hearts as we proceed:

CHIEF PRIESTESS

 “Beloved, we know that you are always with us.  Sometimes we can hear your voices, sometimes we cannot, but we know you are here: We call upon you, and ask you to be with us.  On this night, set aside especially for you.  Dear ones, accept from us this offering, in token of our love and our respect..”

CHIEF PRIESTESS AND PRIEST

CHIEF PRIEST
“One by one we will approach the altar.  When your turn comes, think of your Ancestors and light your candle in their honor, then place it in the receptacle and leave it to burn for them.  Speak to them -address them with words or with your heart -they will know.”
 
Chief Priest lights the large candle on the Ancestor altar.

Cadet Priest will hand out candle as people come forward.

Now join hands and begin a chant.  If you are so inclined you can also dance as you chant.

ALL

 “Spirits! Beloved Spirits! Loved ones who have Gone Before!
Parted from us! Yet still with us! Connected to us -forever more!
 

CHIEF PRIESTESS

 “Beloved Ancestors, we pray that our offerings have found pleasure in your eyes, and that you will keep us always in your hearts, even as we keep you in ours.  We think of you always, and honor our connection to you throughout the year, but at this time of year we are all the more conscience of you and want to thank you for your contributions tour lives.  Dearest Ancestors, may the Blessing Be upon you! So Mote It Be!”

ALL
“So Mote It Be!”
 
CHIEF PRIESTESS

The Priestess will face the people and present the Chalice.

“Behold -the womb of creation! The cauldron of eternity! The circle of life and death which returns ever unto itself!”

CHIEF PRIEST

Now let the Priest face the people and hold up the consecrated lighting instrument.

“Behold -the phallus of the God! The axis of the Planes! The line of time and space which moves ever forward!”

Now Priestess and Priest face each other. 

CHIEF PRIESTESS
“In the beginning was the Goddess -and She was alone and without form.  Within Her were the beginings of all things.   For Hers was infinite potential.  And alone with all possibility She dreamed, and wondered about the possibilities.   Dream became plans, and plans turned to action, and behold, from within Herself She created the God.”

CHIEF PRIEST
“And the God burst forth from the Goddess with a Big Bang -an explosion of fire and light which shot out in all directions! This was the first creation, when God was split from Goddess: Son from Mother: Brother from Sister.  And all that was motile, hot, and physical became the God: and all that was stable, cool, and ethereal remained in the Goddess.  And the Goddess looked upon the God and She desired Him with exceeding much desire.”

CHIEF PRIESTESS
“And the Goddess yearned to be One with God again.  But She was told: ‘To Rise You Must Fall.’ And so She separated the many souls off from Herself They were separate from Her and yet always connected to Her.”

CHIEF PRIEST
“And thus did Goddess unite with God: and thus was the world formed as we know it.  For each of us is both Goddess and God, soul and body, joined together in the mystery of life.”

Priest lights chalice.

CHIEF PRIESTESS
“The God is not greater than the Goddess.”

CHIEF PRIEST
“Nor is the Goddess greater than the God.”

CHIEF PRIESTESS
“But both are equal.”

CHIEF PRIEST
“And neither is complete without the Other.”

CHIEF PRIESTESS
”therefore in the name of the Goddess…”

CHIEF PRIEST

 “And in the name of the God…”

TOGETHER
“May this Chalice be Blessed!”
 
TOGETHER
“So Mote It Be!”

ALL
”So Mote It Be!”  
Cadet Priest and Maiden Priestess pass out cakes and ale.

  “Beloved Ancestors, You Who have gone before, Your wisdom and Your example guide us.  We pray that You will be with us and aid us as we go forward, that we may call upon the strength and knowledge of the past, even as we build the future.  We thank You for Your presence and Your aid this night, and at all times.  May You Blessed be in all things.  We offer You our love and our respect! We bid You Hail and Farewell!”

ALL
“Hail and farewell!”

CHIEF PRIESTESS
“Beloved and Holy Crone Goddess -Mother of Mysteries, Lady of the Spirits, Queen of Darkness! From You we come, and to You we shall return! We thank You for Your presence and Your aid this night, and at all times.  We offer You our love, and our respect! We bid You Hail and farewell!”

ALL
“Hail and farewell!”

CHIEF PRIEST
“O Sorcerer, Lord of Visions ! Master of the Gate of Life and Death! Psychopomp and Guardian of the Spirits! We thank You for Your presence and Your aid this night, and at all times.  We offer You our love and our respect! We bid You Hail and farewell!”

ALL
“Hail and farewell!”

NORTH
“We thank You, Black Bear of the North! Power of Earth! We rejoice in the guidance and the aid You give us! May the Blessing Be upon You now and always! With love and with respect we bid You Hail and Farewell!”

ALL
“Hail and Farewell!”

WEST
“We thank You, Blue Dolphin of the west! Power of Water! We rejoice in the guidance and the aid You give us! May the Blessing Be upon You now and always! With love and with respect we bid You Hail and Farewell!”

ALL
“Hail and Farewell!”

SOUTH
“We thank You, Red Dragon of the South! Power of Fire! We rejoice in the guidance and the aid You give us! May the Blessing Be upon You now and always! With love and with respect we bid You Hail and Farewell!”

ALL
“Hail and Farewell!”
 
EAST
“We thank You, Golden Eagle of the East! Power of Air! We rejoice in the guidance and the aid You give us! May the Blessing Be upon You now and always! With love and with respect we bid You Hail and Farewell!”

ALL
“Hail and Farewell!”
 
CHIEF PRIEST

 “Behold: As Above, So Below! As the Universe, So the Soul! As Within, So Without! May the Circle be Open, but never Broken! Merry Meet -Merry Part -and Merry Meet again!”

Now have everyone cleanse and release all excess energy. 

  (Correllian tradition, reprinted with permission of Rev. Don Lewis)

A Guide For The Solitary Practitioner, by Scott Cunningham
(As always - adjust the ritual to fit your beliefs and needs.There are no wrong ways - follow your instincts! )
Place upon the altar apples, pomegranates, pumpkins, squashes and
other late autumn fruits.
Autumn flowers such as marigolds and chrysanthemums are fine too. Write on a piece of paper an aspect of your life which you may wish to be free of; anger, a baneful habit, misplaced feelings, disease. The cauldron or some similar tool must be present before the altar as well, on a trivet or some other heat proof surface (if the legs aren't long enough).
A small, flat dish marked with an eight spoked wheel symbol should also be there. [This is just what it sounds like. On a flat plate or dish, paint a large circle. Put a dot in the center of this circle and paint eight spokes radiating out from the dot to the larger circle. Thus, you have a wheel symbol a symbol of the Sabbats, a symbol of timelessness. ]

Prior to ritual, sit quietly and think of friends and loved ones who have passed away. Do not despair. Know that they have gone on to greater things. Keep firmly in mind that the physical isn't the absolute reality, and souls never die. Arrange the altar, light the candles and censer, and cast the Circle of Stones.

Recite the Blessing Chant. Invoke the Goddess [Gods, Deities, Spirits, Ancestors]. Lift one of the pomegranates and, with your freshly washed Boline, pierce the skin of
the fruit. Remove several seeds and place them on the wheel marked
dish. Raise your wand, face the altar and say:

"On this night of Samhain I mark Your passing, O Sun King,
through the sunset into the Land of the Young.
I mark also the passing of all who have gone before,
and all who will go after.
O Gracious Goddess, Eternal Mother,
You who gives birth to the fallen,
teach me to know that in the time of the
greatest darkness there is the greatest light."

Taste the pomegranate seeds; burst them with your teeth and savor
their sharp, bittersweet flavor. Look down as the eight spoked symbol
on the plate; the Wheel of the Year, the Cycle of the Seasons, the
End and Beginning of all Creation. Light a fire within the cauldron
(a candle is fine). Sit before it, holding the piece of paper, gazing
at its flames. Say:

"Wise One of the Waning Moon, Goddess of the Starry Night,
I create this fire within Your cauldron
to transform that which is plaguing me.
May the energies be reversed: From the darkness, light!
From bane, good! From death, birth!"

Light the paper in the cauldron's flames and drop it inside. As it
burns, know that your ill diminishes, lessens and finally leaves you
as it is consumed within the universal fires. [The cauldron, seen as
the Goddess.] If you wish, you may attempt scrying or some other form
of divination, for this is a perfect time to look into the past or
future. Try to recall past lives too, if you will.

Give thanks to the Deities invoked and give thanks to your Guides. Wish them farewell. Open your circle. Ground physically and mentally.