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wiccanmoonsComments welcome, as always.
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Laurie's 8th Annual Samhain Ritual:
October 29th and October 31st, 2005
Samhain (October 31) is the start of the New Year on the Wiccan calendar. It represented the final harvest, when the crops were safely stored for the coming Winter. On this time of year the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is supposedly at its thinnest; therefore, it is the proper time to commune with your departed loved ones.
1) INTRODUCTION (from Starhawk)
2) PURIFICATION (Before any ritual work is undertaken, everybody purifies themselves with the four elements: air (incense), fire (the oil lamp), and a mixture of earth (salt) and water. This reminds us of our connection to the world around us and puts us in the proper frame of mind as we prepare for the ceremony to come.)
3) GROUNDING AND CENTERING: "Rite of Balance" (Jim Garrison)
4) CASTING THE CIRCLE (A sacred space, a temple, is created by directing the energy the group has just raised to form a sphere of protective power. The circle is cast from north to north.)
5) INVOKING THE QUARTERS (The spirits of each cardinal direction, and all they represent, are invited in turn to bless the work of the ritual. A candle is lit for each.)
6) INVITATION TO THE DEITIES
7) INVOKING THE MORRIGAN (The Morrigan is a Celtic goddess of war, death, and the afterlife)
CHARGE OF THE DARK GODDESS
8) INVOKING THE HORNED GOD (The Horned God, also known as Herne, traditionally dies at Samhain and is reborn again at the winter solstice, which Wiccans celebrate as Yule.)
PROCESSION OF THE GOD
9) WELCOME THE DEITIES
10) WELCOME THE SPIRITS OF THE DEAD
11) RAISING ENERGY: "We All Come From The Goddess" (This is the first step of light trance induction, and may be accomplished in any number of ways: chanting, dancing, humming, etc. The energy raised in this step will be grounded into the cauldron to create an "engine" to transport our prayers across the veil.)
12) COMMUNE WITH THE SPIRITS
13) BURN AWAY NEGATIVITIES
14) THE SMALL FEAST
15) BID FAREWELL TO THE DEAD
16) BID FAREWELL TO THE GOD
17) BID FAREWELL TO THE GODDESS
18) THANK THE QUARTERS
19) TAKE UP THE CIRCLE AND CONCLUDE THE RITUAL
- ****************************************************************
1) INTRODUCTION (from Starhawk)
"In love, the Horned God, changing form and changing face, ever seeks the Goddess. In this world, the search and the seeking appear in the Wheel of the Year.
"She is the Great Mother who gives birth to Him as the Divine Sun Child at the Winter Solstice. In spring, He is sower and seed who grows with the growing light, green as the new shoots. She is the Initiatrix who teaches Him the mysteries.
"He is the young bull; She the nymph, seductress. In summer, when light is longest, They meet in union, and the strength of Their passion sustains the world. But the God's face darkens as the sun grows weaker, until at last, when the grain is cut for harvest, He too sacrifices Himself that all may be nourished.
"She is the reaper, the grave of earth to which all must return. Throughout the long nights and darkening days, He sleeps in Her womb, dreaming that He is the Lord of Death who rules the Land of Youth beyond the gates of night and day. His dark tomb becomes the womb of rebirth, for at Yule, She again gives Him birth. The cycle ends and begins again, and the Wheel of the Year turns on, and on, and ever on.
2) PURIFICATION
The East Quarter blesses the incense, saying:
"May the blessings of the Goddess and the God be upon this incense, sweet-smelling symbol of air."
The South Quarter lights the charcoal, saying:
"May the blessings of the Goddess and the God be upon this charcoal, symbol of fire."
which is then passed clockwise around the circle, each person holding it for their neighbor and blessing them:
"By the warmth of fire and the sweetness of air be purified."
The West Quarter and the North Quarter mix the water and salt, saying
"I exorcise thee, O creature of water
That thou cast out from thee
All impurities and uncleanliness
In the names of the Goddess and the God."
"Blessings be upon this creature of salt.
Let all malignancies be cast forth
And all good enter herein,
In the names of the Goddess and of the God."
which is then passed clockwise around the circle, each person tracing upon the forehead of the person to their left the appropriate holy symbol, with the blessing::
"Thou art God(dess)."
3) GROUNDING AND CENTERING: "Rite of Balance" (Jim Garrison)
"From the heavens above I call down the light. Cleanse me and purify my soul that I might enter the circle.
"From the depth below I call upon the spirit of the land. Fill me with vitality and strength that I might serve the old gods.
"With my right hand I reach out to the new dawn and welcome the wind to walk with me, that I might know the mysteries.
"And on the left, I reach out to the crashing waves of the sea, mother of all life, that I might dare to dance with life's tides.
"Behind me, I acknowledge the flames of my passions and drives, the forces of ecstasy and creativity, of rage and chaos that have shaped my life. Now I begin to shape their influence upon me, as I will.
"Before me is the dark, fertile soil of my future. I stand upon a foundation built on my ancestry. I am a child of the ancient ones, and I would bring life, light, and love into the world whether through my words, my deeds, or my silence.
"I stand between wisdom and understanding, that I might pursue truth. I share the gifts of compassion and discipline, that I might respect myself and others. I embrace sensuality even as I pursue knowledge, that I might truly taste and partake of life in its fullest. In my heart I seek beauty and glory, that I might create blaance and harmony in all that I do.
"So mote it be."
4) CASTING THE CIRCLE
"We consecrate this circle of power as a temple to the Ancient Ones. Here may they manifest, and bless the endeavors of their children gathered in this sacred space. We stand at the threshold between the worlds, before the veil of the Mysteries. May the Lord and Lady guide us and protect us on our magical journey as we gather to celebrate the festival of Samhain. Blessed be."
5) INVOKING THE QUARTERS
"Hail, Spirits of the East, powers of Air!
We do summon, stir, and call you up to attend and protect this rite
And to stand guard at the Eastern wall of our temple.
Hail, Guardians of the East -- Hail and Welcome!"
(Repeat for all directions: South/fire, West/water, North/earth.)
6) INVITATION TO THE DEITIES
The Deity candles are lit, first Goddess, then God.
"We light these candles in honor of the Goddess and of the God,
to illuminate this circle where we gather
that we may glorify the Lady and Her beloved Consort,
Whom we adore and on Whom we call.
Come to us now, O Mighty Ones,
and bless the endeavors of Thy children gathered in this sacred space."
7) INVOKING THE MORRIGAN
"We call now to the Dark Goddess, Mistress of Death and Rebirth, whom we love and revere with all our hearts, saying:
"Morrigan! Morrigan! Morrigan!
Ancient Crone, great of wisdom, to whose womb all things return to rest before rebirth,
Honor us with Your presence at this festival of Samhain.
We ask You to join us in our rites of remembrance,
And to grant us the waning of that which has troubled us in the past.
Hail, great Queen -- hail and welcome!"
CHARGE OF THE DARK GODDESS
"Hear now the words of the Dark Goddess, who of old was called Morrigan, Nuit, Hecate, Banba, Erda, Macha, Kali, Sekhmet and many other names.
"I am She whose face you see in the dark of the moon. I am the Consort and Mate of Him you adore, the Summer Lord, the Horned One -- shall you call forth to Him this night, and not hear Me answer?
"Scourge and flame, blade and blood, these are Mine and My gifts to those who seek Me. Come to Me in the deepest night and see that which cannot be seen, face the terror that is yours alone: for this is My path, and I love not the weak and fearful. Hear My call on long winter nights, in the twilight mist, in the cloud that crosses the moon. Swim to Me through the blackest oceans, to the center of your greatest fears. Scream to Me in terror, and yours will be the power to endure. Swallow your fear and look upon Me, and you will discover truest strength, most adamant courage, and darkest wisdom.
CHORUS: "Lady of Life and Death, we adore you."
"I am the shadow in the brightest day.
"I am the reminder of mortality at the height of your revelries.
"I am the fury which rips the flesh from injustice; I slit the throats of the cruel and drink the blood of the heartless.
"I am the glowing forge that transforms your inner demons into tools of power.
"I am the fire that kisses away your shackles.
"I am the cold sword that brings destruction to your enemies.
"I am the silence before your first heartbeat and after your last.
"I am the clouded mirror in which you scry your own soul.
"I am the absence of air that awaits at the bottom of every breath.
"I am the ending before life begins again, the decay that fertilizes the living.
"I am the bottomless pit, the never-ending struggle to reclaim that which is denied, for I am that which is hidden, secluded and forbidden.
"I am the things that may not be spoken of, and I am the laughter at the edge of death.
CHORUS: "Lady of Life and Death, we adore you."
"Seek Me, and you shall be transformed, for once you look upon My face, there is no return. You shall approach Me in silence, and as a sign that you are free from fear, your breast shall be bare to My blade, for fear has no place in My mysteries, and that which you seek of Me will destroy you if you recoil from it. I will lead you through the darkness; My hand you grasp in the passage between the shadows of life and death. To those that toy with Me, I am an instrument of self-destruction. Yet to the true seeker do I bring knowledge beyond mortal comprehension.
"Think of Me when you feel most alive, and give Me due honor, until the time when I shall meet you at the crossroads between the worlds.
CHORUS: "Lady of Life and Death, we adore you, we thrice times thrice adore you. Teach us the wisdom of the Mysteries."
8) INVOKING THE HORNED GOD (in part from Doreen Valiente)
"We call now to the Horned God, Lord of the Wilds and the Hunt, whom we love and revere with all our hearts, saying:
"On this night of Samhain we gather to mark Your passing
O Herne, through the sunset into the Summerlands.
Smile upon us as we join in Your worship,
And rest well, until Yule brings Your return!
"Come! O Come!
To the heartbeats drum!
Come to us who gather below
When the broad white moon is climbing slow
Through the stars to the heavens height
We hear Thy hoofs on the wind of night
As black tree branches shake and sigh
By joy and terror we know Thee nigh.
"We speak the spell Thy power unlocks
At Solstice, Sabbat, and Equinox.
"Vision fade not from our eyes
Of the pagan paradise
Past the gates of death and birth
Our inheritance of the earth.
" From our soul the song of spring
Fade not in our wandering
Our life with all life is one,
By blackest night or noonday sun
Eldest of gods, on Thee we call
Blessing be on Thy creatures all!
Hail, Lord -- hail and welcome!"
PROCESSION OF THE GOD
Listen to the words of the Dark God, the comforter and consoler, the keeper of the Gates of Death, whose call all must answer.
"At Yule, I was the Sun Child in my Mother's arms, born of the Goddess after sleeping in Her womb since Samhain."
CHORUS: "Lord of Life and Death, we adore you."
"At Imbolc, I was still a child, but growing fast; then I was called Eros, son of golden Aphrodite, beloved wherever I go."
CHORUS
"At Ostara, I was fast approaching my manhood; you worshipped me then as Horus, and my Mother Isis with me."
CHORUS
"At Beltane, I was lusty Pan, pursuing my laughing Beloved in the Great Dance until She let me catch Her; and our passion gave life to the world."
CHORUS
"At Midsummer, you honored me as the Sun Himself, whose light warms the earth and fills the animals and the growing plants with vigor and strength."
CHORUS
"At Lammas, I was John Barleycorn, cut down at the height of my power in an act of willing sacrifice -- for from my body you shall be fed, and from the earth I will rise again."
CHORUS
"At Mabon, you honored Me as Dionysus, Lord of Wine; you celebrated My bounty and the riches of the harvest."
CHORUS
"And now it is Samhain, and I am called Herne, Lord of the Wilds and the Hunt. The snow is coming, and it is time for Me to descend again to the Underworld, to sleep in the body of the Goddess until I am born once more, young and merry, at the Winter Solstice."
CHORUS: "Lord of Life and Death, we adore you, we thrice times thrice adore you. Rest well, until Yule brings your return."
9) WELCOME THE DEITIES
The plate of first portions is offered.
"Thank you, Ancient Ones, for attending our circle this night.
Grace us with Your many blessings,
And cloak us in Your mantle of wisdom.
This food and drink we give You as Your portion of our feast,
And with it this salute: Hail and Welcome!"
10) WELCOME THE SPIRITS OF THE DEAD
The person who has taken responsibility for the offerings to the dead holds up the offering plate, saying:
"And to you, our beloved dead, we open our arms and our hearts
On this night when the veil between the worlds is thinnest.
Welcome to our circle!
We have food for you, and drink, and many fond memories.
Come, and hear the stories we will tell."
11 RAISING ENERGY: "We All Come From The Goddess"
The energy raised in this step will be grounded into the cauldron to create an "engine" to transport our prayers across the veil.
"We all come from the Goddess,
And to Her we shall return
Like a drop of rain
Flowing to the ocean.
"Hoof and horn, hoof and horn,
All that dies shall be reborn
Corn and grain, corn and grain
All that falls shall rise again.
"We all come from the Horned One
And to Him we shall return
Like a spark of flame
Rising to the heavens."
When the energy reaches its peak, the participants focus it into the cauldron, to charge the space within it to carry our prayers.
12) COMMUNE WITH THE SPIRITS
Everyone in the circle sits down around the central cauldron. A small bowl of incense is passed from hand to hand, and each person has a chance to talk about those they have lost to death in the past year (or long ago), concluding the remembrance with an offering of a pinch of incense. The bowl may go around several times before everybody is done telling their stories. Silent prayers may also be offered at this time.
13) BURN AWAY NEGATIVITIES (adapted from Scott Cunningham)
A new charcoal is lit, with this group invocation:
"Great Morrigan, Goddess of endings,
We create this fire within Your cauldron to transform that which is plaguing us.
May the energies be reversed:
From death, life!
From bane, good!
From death, birth!"
Everyone writes down things that have been troubling them in the past year, then throws the papers into the cauldron to burn -- dispatching the trouble with them.
14) THE SMALL FEAST
The plate of cakes is blessed:
"Creature of air and of earth,
of water and of fire,
sustain our bodies and nourish our spirits,
In the names of the Goddess and of the God."
The plate is passed, with the blessing: "May you never hunger." A little is left over to be place on the plate for the Deities.
The athame is placed in the chalice:
"As the athame is to the male,
So the chalice is to the female,
And in their joining we are blessed."
The chalice is passed, with the blessing: "May you never thirst." A little is left over to be poured on the plate for the Deities.
15) BID FAREWELL TO THE DEAD
The person responsible for inviting the spirits lights a candle for them, saying:
"The time has come to bid farewell to those who have joined us from beyond.
Know that you are loved, O Spirits, and that you have not been forgotten;
And when you choose to leave our celebrations,
Take with you the light of this candle to guide your footsteps on your journey,
In the names of the Goddess and of the God."
16) BID FAREWELL TO THE GOD
"Mighty Herne, Father of us all, Yours is the mystery of resurrection; for each year in the reaping of the harvest You die, only to be renewed and grow fruitful again and again. We follow the path of the sun across the seasons and watch the trees which grow barren in the winter only to thrust out fresh leaves in the spring, knowing that, like them, we pass from one life with the promise of the next already before us... and we know that You love us. Hail, Ancient One -- hail and farewell!"
17) BID FAREWELL TO THE GODDESS
"Great Morrigan, Mother of us all -- Warrior Queen, we give you due honor and reverence! Grant us Your wisdom, and with it the knowledge that all that is born to die, dies only to be reborn again. In the cycles of the moon and the turning of the seasons we are blessed, and by the planting and the reaping we are shown Your law, and are given the promise of life everlasting. We know you are always with us. Hail, Ancient One -- hail and farewell!"
18) THANK THE QUARTERS
"Hail, guardians of the North, powers of Earth!
We thank you for attending and protecting this rite
And for standing guard at the northern wall of our temple.
Hail, Spirits of the North, hail and farewell!"
(Repeat for all directions: West/water, South/fire, East/air.)
19) TAKE UP THE CIRCLE AND CONCLUDE THE RITUAL
The person who cut the circle takes it up again. All join hands in the traditional conclusion of circle:
"Bide the Wiccan Law ye must
In perfect love and perfect trust.
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
An ye harm none, do what ye will.
Lest in thy self-defense it be
Ever mind the Rule of Three;
Follow this with mind and heart --
For merry we meet, and merry we part,
And merry we meet again!"
Samhain Ritual
I enjoyed reading this. I think the people involved will get something out of it. I believe I would and I'm not even a Wiccan, as you know.
Under the section titled "Lady of Life and Death We Adore You" it says: I am the clouded mirror in which you scry your own soul.
Regarding the word scry, is this a typo? I don't recognize this word.
----Henry
Re: Samhain Ritual
(no subject)
tah for now
andrea