SAMHAIN RITUAL
(Yes, you can try this at home!)
PRIEST takes up sword or athame, unsheaths it and walks widdershins
once around the circumference of the circle, beginning in the
east, making sorties toward the center so as to cover the entire
area. This is done in front of the encircled attendees, swinging
the sword to banish evil spirits and cleanse the area. He repeats
as a chant until the circuit is completed
"Onward, Onward! Evil come to he who evil thinks. Thoughts
in the Light bring the Light."
He hands the sword/athame to the PRIESTESS so she can cast the
circle.
PRIESTESS takes the sword and beginning in the east, walks deosil
three times around the circle, going behind the encircled attendees,
holding the sword pointing toward the ground ahead of her. She
chants until the three circuits are completed.
"THREE TIMES AROUND, THREE TIMES ABOUT POWER STAY IN, WORLD
STAY OUT!"
She returns the sword to the east side of the altar, after it
has been sheathed.
Quarter callers: Take the appropriate element symbol
(Incense for Air, Candle for Fire, Salt for Earth) From the altar,
goes to the east, south west, and north points in turn, returning
each element to the altar before doing the next direction, and
invokes the guardians of the appropriate watchtowers, saying:
"Guardians of the East, guardians of Air and Wind"
"Guardians of the South, guardians of Fire and Heat"
"Guardians of the West, guardians of water, oceans, rivers
and waterfalls"
"Guardians of the North, of earth and of soil and things
which grow"
(each quarter caller ends with) "Be with us here in mighty
presence that our circle be guarded and our rites be blessed."
When all four quarters have been called, he says "WHAT IS
NOW IN THE CIRCLE IS BETWEEN THE WORLDS. WHAT IS BETWEEN THE WORLDS
DOES NOT CONCERN THE WORLD!"
PRIEST turns to face PRIESTESS. She crosses her wrists on her
chest and stands with feet about 12 inches apart as PRIEST administers
the Fivefold Kiss. As PRIEST's head rises above her waist, she
moves her arms until they are outstretched to the sides.
PRIEST kisses in turn PRIESTESS's feet, knees, vagina, breasts
and lips saying, as appropriate
"BLESSED BE THY FEET, WHICH HAVE BROUGHT THEE IN THESE WAYS."
"BLESSED BE THY KNEES, WHICH KNEEL AT THE HOLY ALTAR."
"BLESSED BE THY WOMB, WITHOUT WHICH WE WOULD NOT BE."
"BLESSED BE THY BREASTS, FORMED IN BEAUTY."
"BLESSED BE THY LIPS, WHICH SPEAK THE HOLY NAMES."
PRIEST says "WELCOME, LADY!" and kisses PRIESTESS on
the lips again.
PRIESTESS now returns Fivefold Kiss, with PRIEST duplicating
PRIESTESS's movements when she was the recipient, as she says
"BLESSED BE THY FEET, WHICH HAVE BROUGHT THEE IN THESE WAYS."
"BLESSED BE THY KNEES, WHICH KNEEL AT THE HOLY ALTAR."
"BLESSED BE THY PHALLUS, SOURCE OF THE SEED OF LIFE."
"BLESSED BE THY BREASTS, FORMED IN STRENGTH AND BEAUTY."
"BLESSED BE THY LIPS, WHICH SPEAK THE HOLY NAMES."
PRIESTESS says "WELCOME, LORD!"
and kisses him on the lips again.
PRIESTESS:
"We are gathered here tonight to celebrate another turn of
the wheel of the year. Samhain marks the new year's eve of wiccans,
our greatest holiday of the year. Once again we begin the cycle
of fertilizing, planting, nurturing and harvesting. At SAMHAIN.
The veil between the worlds is the thinnest; at Samhain those
who have already crossed over can return the easiest. It is they
whom we honor and let them know we still think of them and love
them. We shall go around the circle thrice. The first time - let
each person call upon someone who has gone before and invite them
to join our circle tonight as honored guests. Starting with the
person at the east quarter. Let us go around the circle in turn
as each person calls by name the one they wish to invite, their
relationship to that person and what they wish to give that person
as a gift to take back with them to the other side."
(Example: " I call upon Elsa Grossman Dietz, my mother,
and give to her the beauty and joy of the flowers I grow, especially
the roses, to enjoy on the other side."
PRIEST and PRIESTESS call upon their departed after participants
have gone around the circle to the east quarter again.
PRIESTESS: "WE WELCOME THEE ALL, WHO HAVE COME FROM BEYOND
TO JOIN US IN THIS CIRCLE. BE REASSURED THAT THOU ALL ARE LOVED,
NOT FORGOTTEN."
While PRIESTESS explains, PRIEST goes around inside of circle
deosil, beginning at east quarter and gives each participant paper
and pencil.
PRIESTESS: "Each of you has been given a piece of paper
and a writing implement. Think briefly, then draw upon the paper
a symbol of something you wish to rid yourself of during the coming
year: a bad habit, debt, old things for which you have no further
use. When all have finished, throw your symbols into the cauldron
that they may burn away and rise to Higher realms."
PRIEST picks up, unsheaths and holds sword as PRIESTESS picks
up and holds goblet with water therein. PRIEST inserts tip of
sword into bowl of goblet until it touches bottom and says
"AS THE CUP IS TO WOMAN, THE SWORD IS TO MAN, AND WHEN JOINED
THUS IN UNION IN THE GREAT RITE, THEN TRULY THEY ARE ONE."
PRIEST dries sword, sheaths it and returns it to the altar. PRIESTESS
takes goblet, sips, and offers water to PRIEST. PRIEST sips, offers
water to PRIESTESS who sips, then passes goblet around circle
so that participants share water also. When finished, goblet is
returned to altar by PRIESTESS.
PRIESTESS:
"Once more we will go around the circle. Let each person
in turn bid farewell to their visiting loved one, then call upon
someone else who is beyond, not necessarily a loved one, and ask
that as our visitors from beyond return through the veil, the
other person beyond send assistance, guidance, help or other aid
through to the requestor here, that the coming year see growth
and prosperity for we who have not yet gone across."
(Example: goodbye, grandmother. I'm happy you could be here tonight.
Aunt Sophie, please send me your skill in getting along with people."
After all have bid farewell
PRIEST: "BLESSED LADY..."
PRIESTESS: "MIGHTY LORD..."
PRIEST:
"GOOD LADY, IT SORROWS ME TO SAY FAREWELL TO THEE. THIS IS
THE TIME WHEN THY SEASON IN THE UNDERWORLD BEGINS. AS THOU BRINGEST
CHEER TO THOSE IN THE LOWER REGIONS UNTIL THY RETURN IN SPRING,
I MUST BEGIN MY LONELY DUTY AS LORD OF THE FIELDS AND FORESTS,
GUARDING THE EARTH THROUGH THE WINTER SEASON OF FROSTS AND RAINS
AND SNOWS IN THE DARK MONTHS TO COME. I DO INDEED LOOK FORWARD
TO THY RETURN WHEN THE LAND THAWS AND WARMS AND THE GREEN RETURNS
TO THE TREES AND BUSHES AND GRASSES. HALFWAY AROUND THE WHEEL
OF THE YEAR, AT BELTANE NEXT, I SHALL WELCOME THEE AND WE SHALL
CELEBRATE BY SHOWING THE PLANTS HOW TO BE FERTILE AND GROW. UNTIL
THEN, I SHALL KEEP THY CIRCLE FOR THEE. UNTIL THAT HAPPY TIME,
I BID YOU HAIL AND FAREWELL."
All: "HAIL AND FAREWELL."
PRIESTESS; "IT GRIEVES ME SORE AS WELL, MY LORD, BUT THE
TIME SHALL PASS AND WE ARE EACH NEEDED TO BE WHERE WE MUST BE
TO COMPLETE OUR TASKS, OR THE WORLD WOULD RETURN TO PRIMORDIAL
CHAOS AND NO PERSON OR THING WOULD EVER BE HAPPY. SO, HAIL AND
FAREWELL."
All: "HAIL AND FAREWELL."
Guardians of the east, guardians of air and wind, We Thank you
for your attendance here. Stay if you will, go if You must, but
ere you depart to your windy Abode, we bid you hail and farewell."
"Guardians of the south, guardians of fire and heat, we
Thank you for your attendance here. Stay if you will, go if You
must, but ere you depart to your fiery abode, we bid you hail
and farewell."
"Guardians of the west, guardians of water, oceans, rivers
and waterfalls, we thank you for your attendance here. Stay if
you will, go if you must, but ere you depart to your Watery Abode,
we bid you hail and farewell."
"Guardians of the north, of earth and of soil and things
which grow, we thank you for your attendance here. Stay if you
will, go if you must, but ere you depart to your Earthy abode,
we bid you hail and farewell."
All: "HAIL AND FAREWELL!"
PRIEST takes sword, unsheaths it and walks circle widdershins
around the circumference from the east quarter, outside of the
participants, saying as he finishes taking up the circle
"WHAT'S DONE IS DONE AND IN THE PAST; I NOW TAKE UP THE
CIRCLE CAST. WHAT IS DONE BETWEEN THE WORLDS DOES NOT CONCERN
THE WORLD. MERRY MEET AND MERRY PART AND MERRY
MEET AGAIN!" ?
