SAMHAIN RITUAL 2001

PRE-RITUAL PREPARATION

To hallow the Sacred Grove, the Celebrants light the Fire, bless the Tree, and prepare the Well or Offering Shaft/Bowl.

The following items are needed for the rite:  Wand or staff, chalice, well, a branch or sage sprig for aspersing, a censer with two charcoals and incense, an offering bowl or cauldron, offerings (fragrant oil in a bowl with a ladle, silver coins, a precious stone, horn, apple juice, sliced apples in a small bowl, hazel nuts in a small bowl, cooked pork in a small bowl, cookies in a small bowl, milk in a small bowl, bread in a small bowl, whiskey in a flask, feathers, leaves and flowers in a basket, a wreath and black ribbon), Divination tools.

Before the Ritual, Pagans take a moment to center. The Bard or other musician creates a shamanic drumbeat and leads the Pagans in song as they process to the Sacred Grove. Participants are smudged as they enter, single file, into the Sacred Grove.

The Bard leads the Pagans in singing:

Come We Now As A People

Come we now as a people, to gather at the Sacred Well
Come we now as a people, to gather in the warmth and the light of the Flame.
(Repeat three times or until Procession is ended)

OPENING PRAYERS

Druid:
We are here to honor the Shining Ones!

Pagans:
Biodh se! (bee shay) So be it!

Druid:
We revere the nature spirits, our ancestors, and the Gods and Goddesses of our tribe and this place. Through the magic of the sacred fire, the holy well, and the great tree, we offer our rites.

Druid:
Let us now reverence the earth who is our mother, our home, and indeed the substance of our very bodies.

Pagans kneel and kiss the earth. Druid speaks:
Beloved mother of all, from whose starry womb the green earth springs; you are the bearer of all life. Bless and uphold this rite.

The Bard invokes the Awen, saying:
Power of inspiration, attend to us.
Voice of the fire of wisdom,
Voice of the well of inspiration,
Come into our hearts' shrine.
Make us aware of every good or ill.
Guide our rite in the way of truth.
I call you to make our hearts clear within us,
Power of inspiration in this holy place,
Power of inspiration at this holy time.

Pagans:
Biodh se!

PURIFICATION

Seer makes an offering to the Outdwellers, at the south of the Grove, saying:
Ancient dark ones, we make this offering to you. You who dwell in the outer dark, You who stood against the gods, You twisted and misshapen, You cold of heart and dim of mind, Take this offering and trouble not our working.

Seer makes an offering of milk and cookies to the Outdwellers.
Likewise we acknowledge in ourselves those qualities - fear, rage, weakness, hatred, cowardice, and ignorance - that undermine our potential, sabotage our honor, and keep us from being who we truly are. We contemplate these ills and enemies, and for this sacred time, we set them aside.

AFFIRMING THE WORLD ORDER

Seer leads a brief grounding and centering, helping the Pagans to connect their individual souls with the Two Powers. The Earth Current or Underworld Power carries the dark, mixed elements from which all forms arise. The Sky Current, or Starry Power is the ordering pattern that crystallizes forms out of the Underworld potential. Together these powers manifest the Middle World. This may conclude with an intoning chant.

THE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND PRECEDENT

Druid says:
We gather here on the Feast of Samhain, the End and Beginning of the Sacred Year, the Time of Turning when the Dark Time begins.  This is the Last Harvest.  The fields lie empty, sinking into Winter’s Sleep and our larders hold what grain we have reaped from our labors.

Seer says:
As our forebears did, so do we do now, and so may our descendants do in time to come.  We are here to offer worship to the Lord of the House of the Dead and to the Queen of Phantoms; to the Gods, the Dead and the Nature Spirits; and especially to our honored dead here on the Feast of the Dead.

Bard says:
We offer to Donn the Dark One, the Antlered God who offers hospitality and peace to those bound for the Ancestors’ Country.  We offer to Morrigan, the Great Queen of Battle and Sorcery; the Old Woman of Death and the Cauldron of Rebirth.

Druid says:
In this Season of Death we honor the Holy Dead as the ancients did, and we seek the Seed that will wait in the Womb of Winter.  Now let us open the Ways Between…..

FIRE, WELL, AND TREE

Druid or other members of the grove make offerings to the Sacred Center. Silver is offered to the well, with these words:
Sacred waters that flow and swirl beneath all being, accept our offering. Let us know the elder depths within ourselves the source of all, the well of elder wisdom

Pagans:
Sacred well, flow within us!

An offering of oil is made to the Fire, with these words:
Sacred fire that consumes and transforms, true and holy light of the Shining Ones, accept our offering. Sacrificed and sacrificer, let holy flame warm our spirits and our lives.

Pagans:
Sacred fire, burn within us!

The Tree is censed and sprinkled, with these words:
Sacred pillar, boundary of all worlds, stand at the center of the sky, stand at the center of the sea, stand at the center of the land on which we dwell. Let us be deepened in your depths, Raised to your heights, Strengthened in your strength.

Pagans:
Sacred tree, grow within us!

The Bard leads the Pagans in singing:

The Portal Song

By Fire and by Water, between the Earth and Sky
We stand like the World Tree, rooted deep, crowned high

Come we now to the Well, the eye and the mouth of Earth
Come we now to the Well, and silver we bring
Come we now to the Well, the waters of rebirth
Come we now to the Well, together we sing
(Repeat Chorus)
We will kindle a fire, bless all and with harm to none
We will kindle a fire, and offerings pour
We will kindle a fire, a light ‘neath the Moon and Sun
We will kindle a fire, our spirits will soar
(Repeat Chorus)
Gather we at the tree, the root and the crown of all
Gather we at the Tree, below and above
Gather we at the tree, together we make our call
Gather we at the Tree, in wisdom and love
(Repeat Chorus)

HONORING THE PATRONS

Bard or other appointed leader may honor the Patrons of the High Holy Day of Samhain, the God Donn and the Triple Goddesses, the Morrigan.

Bard Invokes Donn:

The Invocation of Donn

In this season of darkening, the Lord of the House of Death receives the Spirits in his hall.  He is Donn the Dark One, called Cernunnos the Horned One.  He is the First Ancestor, the Torc Bearer, The Guardian of the Cauldron of Plenty.

Hear us now, Horned One, Dark One, Receiver of the Dead, Granter of Rest, Patron of the Feast in the Land of the Dead.  We your children pray you to come in, to let your gaze fall upon this Sacred Ground, to indwell our rite and give us your blessing.

We make due offering to you.  We give you Silver….

(offering made into the offering bowl)

That you grant the wealth of the Underworld, Source of all Potential.

Oil…..

(offering made to the Fire)

That the richness of the Land be renewed as our own lives are renewed.

Horn…..

(offering placed at the base of the Tree)

That the beings who know you may bless us in the Season of Hunting.

Oh Great Donn, accept our sacrifice!

Pagans:
Accept our sacrifice!

The Seer invokes the Morrigan:

The Invocation of the Morrigan

As the Earth falls into sleep the Queen of Spirits is choosing those who will go to the Cauldron of Rebirth. She is Morrigan, the Great Queen of Phantoms, the Chooser of the Slain.  She is the Battle Raven, the Red Woman, Mistress of the Cauldron.

Here us now, Red One, Great Queen, Lady of the Reaping, Cauldron-Witch of Sorcery and Prophesy.  We your children pray that you be with us, that you look kindly upon our holy rite, that you come into our Grove and give us your blessing.

We give due offering to you.  We give you Precious Stone…..

(offering made to the offering bowl)

That the Bones of the Earth may be clothed again in life.

Whiskey…..

(offering made to the Fire)

That the Waters of Life May flow in us and Spirit dwell in flesh.

Feathers…..

(offering made to the base of the Tree)

That your raven Eye watch over us in the Season of Sleep.

Be welcome among us Morrigan;  Great Queen, accept our sacrifice!

  Accept our sacrifice!

FIRE AND WATER

Druid or other appointed Grove members draw water from the Well and light a censer from the Fire. The Druid quickly censes and the Seer asperses the Pagans, as they meditate quietly on their own personal harvests from this year.

OPENING THE GATES

Seer leads the Pagans in briefly envisioning the Sacred Center as the Gates Between The Worlds. Through the Gates, Pagans send love, worship and offerings to the Powers, and they send blessings in return. When the Gates are open, thoughts and impulses can be heard clearly by the Three Kindreds.

Seer makes an offering to Manannan, saying:
Manannan, Lord of the Gates, Lord of Wisdom, open the ways for us. We walk in your holy ways; we walk the Sacred Road. Share your magic with us; ward us as we walk in safety. Manannan mac Lir, accept our sacrifice.

Seer makes an offering of oil  to the Fire.

Druid then opens the Gates, making an opening triskele on the Fire and Well, saying:
Now, Shining Ones, join your magic with ours and let the fire open as a gate, let the well open as a gate, let the tree be the crossroads of all worlds. Open as a road to our voices and to the spirits. Let the gates be open!

Pagans:
Let the gates be open!

The Bard leads the Pagans in singing:

Gatekeeper Open the Portals

Gatekeeper open the portals
Between the Gods and Mortals
 Power freely flows
As our magic grows
(Repeat)

KINDRED OFFERINGS

The Druid or other appointed Pagans make proper offerings to each of the Kindreds, standing at the fire.

NATURE SPIRITS

Druid speaks:
The children of earth call out to the spirits of this land. Hear us, companions and teachers.

Noble Ones, we call to you as our allies, in the joy of life upon earth, to join in our magic. Come to our fire, spirits; meet us at the boundary. Guide and ward us as we walk the elder ways. Land-spirits, accept our sacrifice.

An offering of leaves and flowers is scattered around the Nemeton's edge by the Druid.

DEITIES

Bard speaks:
The children of earth call out to the Shining Ones. Hear us, eldest and brightest.

Shining Ones, we call to you as our elders, in reverence and love, to join in our magic. Come to our fire, shining ones; meet us at the boundary.  Guide and ward us as we walk the elder ways. Deities, accept our sacrifice.

Bard pours an offering of scented oil on the fire.

HONORING THE ANCESTORS

Seer speaks:
On the feast of Samhain the veils between the worlds are thin.  We call to our Beloved Dead, the blessed Ancestors, to join our feast and receive due offering.

Come to the Gates, honored ones; hear our call, we your children who remember.  We offer you our worship, our reverence and our love.

You who fill the empty womb, you who cause the seed to spring to spring, you who fill the breast with milk, receive now these offerings, made in your honor.

Seer elevates the offerings.

Apples, the Fruit of Life and Death.
Pork, the flesh of the Sacred Sow.
Hazel nuts, concentrated meat of wisdom.

We offer these….

(Seer makes offerings of some of each to the offering bowl after each invocation below)

To the ancient heroes of the Pagan World; those men and women who did the bidding of the Gods for the good of the folk.

Offering is made.

To the honored Dead of the passed year; those women and men of our folk who inspired and guided our whole world.  And also to those who died in New York and Washington, and those who are dying now in Afghanistan.

Offering is made.

To our own Beloved Dead, Grandmothers-and-Fathers, family and friends who have gone ahead, we honor you and grieve for you.

Offering is made.

To all of you we give these fruits and meats that you may feast in joy in the Land of the Dead.

After all offerings have been made, the Celebrants re-center the Pagans and the Druid leads an attunement to all the spirits that have been called, recalling the Two Currents.

COMMUNING WITH THE DEAD

Seer then leads the Pagans in a Guided Meditation to commune with the spirits of their Dead.

PATRON INVOCATIONS AND OFFERINGS

Druid says:
Welcome to the Ancestors, the Gods and Goddesses, and the Nature Spirits! To all of you who have gathered at our fire, we pray you join us in worshipping the patrons of this place, attending this holy rite, here in our sacred grove.

Druid or other appointed leader now offers oil to the fire, saying:

Spirits of this place, accept our offerings!

Druid then passes the wreath around the Pagans.  All who wish tie a black ribbon onto the wreath in commemoration of their own dead, speaking aloud, if they wish, the names of their dead.

SACRIFICE AND OMEN

The Celebrants prepare the final offerings. Druid says:
We have given of our love and our wealth to our patron deities. Now let our voices arise on the fire, let our voices sound in the well, let our words pass the boundary to the Otherworlds. Shining Ones, we give you our love, our respect, our devotion as we pray to you.

Pagans:
Shining Ones, accept our sacrifice.

Druid offers the wreath to the Fire while the Bard leads the Pagans in singing:

Hail All The Gods

Hail all the Gods, Hail all the Goddesses
Hail all the holy ones we’ve brought together
Powers of the sky, Powers of the sacred earth
Powers of the underworld we’ve brought together
Hail all the Gods, Hail all the Goddesses
Hail all the Gods and Goddesses
(Repeat once)

Druid says:
Having prayed to the powers, let us open to them, asking what blessings they offer us in return.

The omen is taken. Seer interprets the omen, leading all in contemplation of the things they would ask of the Powers, especially as suggested by the omen.

Pagans meditate on their own needs, those of loved ones, and the community. In this moment each person's own desires may be strongly imagined, held in mind and heart, with harm to none, for the good of all.

THE LITANY OF THE WATERS

The Bard speaks:
Ancient and Mighty Ones, we have honored you. We pray you honor us in turn. Hear your children.

Pagans:
Shining Ones, give us the waters.

Bard:
We thirst for the waters of wisdom, of bounty, of rebirth from the well of wisdom, from the spring of renewal, from the bosom of the earth mother. Hear us.

Pagans:
Shining Ones, give us the waters.

Bard:
We open our hearts to the Great Ones' blessing. We stand in honor and friendship with all the Powers. Hear us.

Pagans:
Shining Ones, give us the waters.

HALLOWING THE WATERS

Apple juice is poured into the chalice and elevated.

Druid speaks:
We draw blessing from the cauldron of blessing. We pour the ale of inspiration. Behold the holy cup of magic, the outpouring of blessing from the mighty ones. When we share the draught of the Shining Ones, we drink in wisdom, love and strength.

Hear us, Shining Ones; hallow these waters! We, your children, rejoice in your gift. Bless our lives with love, magic and bounty as we drink these sacred waters.   Behold the waters of life!

Pagans:
Behold the waters of life!

The chalice is passed and all drink while the bard leads the Pagans in singing:

Power Of The Spirits

Power of the Spirits, Power of the Spirits
Power of the Spirits, Power of the Spirits
 (Refrain)
 Flowing through me
 Shining in me
 Growing with me
 (Repeat three times)

WORK OF THE RITUAL

The Bard leads the Pagans in reciting:

THE DEATH SONG

You go home this night to your home of winter,
To your home of fall, of spring, of summer,
You go home this night to the Turning House,
To your pleasant rest in the Land of Joy.

Rest you, rest, and away with sorrow,
Rest this night in the Mother’s Breast,
Rest you, rest, and away with sorrow,
Rest, O beloved, with the Mother’s Kiss.

In the Many Colored Land;
In the Land of the Dead;
In the Plain of Joy;
In the Land Beneath the Wave;
In the Land of Youth;
In the Land of the Ever-Living;
In the Revolving Castle, the House of Donn.

Rest in seven lights, beloved,
Rest in seven joys, beloved,
Rest in seven sleeps, beloved,
In the Grove of the Cauldron, Morrigan’s Shrine.

The shadow of death is on your face, beloved
But the Cauldron of Rebirth awaits you,
The threefold turning of your Fate,
When your rest has given you your peace.

So rest in the calm of all calms,
Rest in the wisdom of all wisdoms,
Rest in the love of all loves,
Rest in the Lord of Life and Death,
Rest in the Lady of Life and Death,
Till the Season comes around.

BLESSING AND CLOSING

Pagans stand and re-center. Druid offers the blessing:

The Ale of Blessing flows in us, filling us with the magic of Morrigan and Donn.  As the year turns, let us welcome the quiet of the Dark.  Let the Stillness of the land calm and satisfy our spirits, allowing us to receive the Harvest’s Bounty.  Let the gain of the passing year be ours, to fill our lives with contentment.  Let us welcome the Dead who wish to return to the living world, even as we remember those who depart.  May we rest content as we pass the threshold of new beginnings.

CLOSING THE GATES

Druid says:
The Mighty Ones have blessed us. With joy in our hearts let us carry the magic from our sacred grove into our lives and work. Each time we offer to the powers they become stronger and more aware of our needs and our worship. So now as we prepare to depart let us give thanks to those who have aided us.  Donn and Morrigan, we thank you!

Pagans:
We thank you!

Druid:
Gods and Goddesses of elder days, we thank you!

Pagans:
We thank you!

Druid:
Spirits of this land, we thank you!

Pagans:
We thank you!

Druid:
Ancestors, our kindred, we thank you!

Pagans:
We thank you!

Druid:
To all the powers that have aided us, we say again, we thank you!

Pagans:
We thank you!

Druid may call for a moment of silence. Then, any unused offerings are given to the earth with these words:
Mother of all, to you we return all we leave unused. Uphold us in the world as you have in our rite. We thank you!

Pagans:
We thank you!

The Celebrants stand in the center.

Bard says:
Gatekeeper, warder of the ways, for your presence and power, your guiding and guarding we say, we thank you.

Pagans:
We thank you!

Druid makes closing sign over the hallows with wand, saying:
Now we end what we began. Let the fire be flame, let the well be water; let all be as it was before.  Let the magic gates between the worlds be closed.

Pagans:
Let the gates be closed!

Druid:
Walk with wisdom, children of the Earth. The rite is ended!

Pagans:
Biodh se!

The Bard leads a chant as the Pagans process out of the Grove.

Walk With Wisdom

Walk with wisdom, from this hallowed place
Walk not in sorrow, our roots shall ‘ere embrace
May strength be your brother, and honor be your kin
And luck be your lover until we meet again
(Repeat three times or until Recession is ended)

 

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