SAMHAIN RITUAL 2002
PRE-RITUAL PREPARATION
The fire is prepared, the well opened, the World Tree Offering Bowl placed in position and the following items placed on or near the altar:
Two large drinking horns; bowl and branch or sage sprig for aspersing; a sage smudge stick; bell; offerings (Olive oil in a bowl with a ladle; corn meal and dry oatmeal in a small bowl; silver for the well; ale in a small chalice; ale in a small drinking horn; cut apples, cooked pork and hazel nuts in three small bowels; herbs, flowers and stones in a small bowl; a small wreath of twigs; whiskey in two small drinking horns; a loaf of pumpkin bread and a knife; holy water and hard cider), and divination tools.
The "Rite Of Letting Go" sheets should be distributed to the People before the Processional begins so they may fill them out.
At the place of the Procession's beginning, a bowl with burning charcoal is prepared.
Before the Procession begins, Druid 1 gives the briefing. The Bard teaches the People any new songs and the Seer leads the People in taking a moment to center.
**** PROCESSION ****
Druid 2 carries the bowl of charcoal while the Lead Drummer creates a rhythmic drumbeat and the Bard leads the People in song as they process to the Stone Circle.
The Bard leads the People in singing:
We Approach The Sacred Grove
We approach the Sacred
Grove
With hearts and minds and flesh and bone.
Join us now in ways of old;
We have come home.
(Repeat until Procession is ended)
**** OPENING PRAYERS ****
Druid
1 rings bell thrice-three times and says:
Welcome to this sacred place. We shall establish the Sacred Center of the
Worlds here, where the heavens and the underworld touch, connected by the
World Tree. At this Sacred Center we may open the Gates to the Otherworld,
where our Ancestors, the Nature Spirits and the Gods reside.
Once we have opened the Gates, the Spirits can join us here while we make offerings to them. And then we will ask for their Blessings in return.
Druid
2 says:
But first, let us now offer to the Earth, who is our mother, bearer of all
life, so that we may honor and revere her.
The People kneel and kiss the Earth.
Druid 1 takes corn meal and dry oatmeal to fire pit while Druid 2 brings the bowl of burning charcoal.
Druid
1 offers the corn and oat meal to the fire pit, saying:
We build our fires on the breast of the Earth;
On her our hearths are formed.
Let us now make our offering here
And make this place our sacred space.
Mother of All, receive this gift!
The
People say:
Mother of All, receive this gift!
Druid
2 places the burning charcoal in the prepared fire pit, lighting the fire.
When the fire is burning,
Druid 2 says:
We build our fire here, claiming this place as our own. May the Kindreds bless
us and all our endeavors. Biodh se! So be it!
The
People say:
Biodh se! (Bee shay) So be it!
While
Druid 2 makes of offering of oil to the fire,
The Bard invokes the Awen, singing:
Power of
inspiration, attend to us;
Come into our hearts' shrine.
O Brigit, Goddess of poetry,
Guide our rite in the way of truth.
O power of inspiration in this holy place,
O power of inspiration at this holy time.
Biodh se!
The
People say:
Biodh se!
**** PURIFICATION ****
Druid
1 lights a smudge stick at the fire, while
Druid 2 draws water at the well.
Meanwhile, Seer takes a horn of ale and goes to the Outdwellers' altar,
at the south of the Nematon.
Seer says:
Outdwellers!
Ancient spirits of the Outer Dark,
You that would hinder us, take now this offering.
And as a gift calls for a gift,
Be on your way, and trouble us not.
Seer
makes an offering of ale to the Outdwellers. As he returns to the circle,
Druid 1 and Druid 2 meet him at the entrance. Druid 1
smudges and Druid 2 asperses him.
Druid 2 says:
We purify you from the Outsiders' influence.
We cut you off from them, that you might return to the people.
Druid 1 uses smudge stick to cense while Druid 2 asperses the People.
Meanwhile, the Bard leads the People in singing:
The Portal Song
Chorus:
By Fire and by Water, between the Earth and Sky,
We stand like the World Tree, rooted deep, crowned high.
Verse:
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
**** GROVE ATTUNMENT ****
The Seer leads the 2 Powers meditation to attune the company to the Earth and Sky powers and to join the company in spirit.
**** FIRE, WELL AND TREE ****
Offerings are made to the Sacred Center.
Druid
1 goes to the well. He offers Silver to the well, with these words:
Sacred waters that flow and swirl beneath all being,
power of the underworld, accept our offering!
Let us know the depths within ourselves, the source of all,
the well of elder wisdom.
Sacred Well, flow within us!
The
People say:
Sacred Well, flow within us!
The
Bard offers oil to the Fire, with these words:
Sacred fire that consumes and transforms,
True and holy light of the Shining Ones,
Accept our offering! O sacrificed and sacrificer
Let holy flame warm our spirits and our lives.
Sacred fire, burn within us!
The
People say:
Sacred fire, burn within us!
Druid
2 draws water from the Well.
Druid 1 hands lit smudge stick to the Seer (the Seer lights
a smudge stick from the Fire if the original has gone out).
The
Seer censes and Druid 2 asperses the World Tree.
The Seer says:
Sacred pillar, boundary of all worlds,
Stand at the center of the land on which we dwell.
Let your roots grow deep into the earth
And your branches embrace the heavens.
Let us be deepened to your depths,
Raised to your heights, and
Strengthened in your strength.
Sacred tree, grow within us!
The
People say:
Sacred tree, grow within us!
Seer gives smudge stick to Druid 1.
**** PURPOSE AND PRECEDENT ****
Druid
1 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 time of endings
and new beginnings.
Druid
2 says:
As our ancestors did, so do we now. We offer to Cernunnos, known as Donn,
the Dark One, Lord of the House of the Dead, who gathers up the souls wandering
on the land and takes them to his hall in the west. We also offer to Morrigan,
the Great Queen of Battle and Sorcery; the Old Woman of Death and the Cauldron
of Rebirth.
Druid
1 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. Biodh se!
The
People say:
Biodh se!
**** OPENING THE GATES ****
Druid
1 says:
We are here in the Sacred Center where the Underworld, Mid-world and Starry
Worlds all touch. Here the Gates Between The Worlds may be opened.
A drum
beat begins and rattles are used to fill the sound.
The People begin to chant, over and over:
Open the Gates. Open the Gates. Open the Gates……
When
the chants, drums and rattles are well established,
Druid 1 says (over the chants):
Gatekeeper! Manannan mac Lir, open the ways for us. We walk in your holy ways;
we walk the Sacred Road. Share your power with us; ward us as we walk in safety.
Gatekeeper, accept our offering!
Druid 2 makes an offering of oil to the fire.
The chanting, drums and rattles continue. They increase in speed and volume.
Druid
1 holds the bottom of his staff, pointing the top of it at the top of
the World Tree. He begins to spin widdershins, faster and faster. When his
staff first passes the Fire, Druid 1 says:
Let the Fire open as a Gate!
He continues spinning at least one full revolution.
As
his staff passes over the Well, Druid 1 says:
Let the Well open as a Gate!
He continues spinning at least one full revolution.
As
his staff passes by the Tree, Druid 1 says:
Let the Tree connect the Worlds!
There
is a loud drum roll ending in a strong stroke.
The chant, drumming and rattles stop.
Druid 1 stops spinning, holds both hands (and staff) in the air and
shouts:
Let the Gates be open!
The
People shout:
Let the Gates be open!
**** KINDRED OFFERINGS ****
ANCESTORS
Seer
says:
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. Ancestors, join us here while this ritual lasts, to spend time with
your children.
We offer to you:
Seer
elevates the offerings.
Apples, the Fruit of Life and Death.
Pork, the flesh of the Sacred Sow.
Hazel nuts, concentrated meat of wisdom.
And beer, to help you on your way.
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 this passed year; those women and men of our folk who
have inspired and guided us.
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.
Ancestors, come to us now!
You Mighty Ones, kin of heart and kin of blood,
Those whose bones lie in this land,
We call you to our sides!
Come to our well, spirits; meet us at the boundary.
Seer pours ale into the well.
Ancestors, accept our offering!
The
People say:
Ancestors, accept our offering!
NATURE SPIRITS
Druid 2 makes an offering of herbs scattered inside the circle of participants while:
The
Bard says:
All you spirits of the land, come to us now!
You Noble Ones of fin, fur and feather; of skin, leaf and stone;
We call you to our sides!
Spirits of the king snakes, the coyotes and javalina,
Spirits of the rabbits, the doves and the quail,
Spirits of the stones, the cactus and the trees,
Come to the fire, spirits; meet us at the boundary.
Land-spirits, accept our offering!
The
People say:
Land-spirits, accept our offering!
DEITIES
Druid 2 makes an offering of oil to the fire, while:
Druid
1 says:
Shining Ones! Hear us, eldest and brightest.
Gods and Goddesses of this place, known and unknown;
Deities of those gathered here, we offer you welcome!
Come to our fire, Shining Ones; meet us at the boundary.
Shining Ones, accept our offering!
The
People say:
Shining Ones, accept our offering!
The Bard leads the People 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)
**** KEY OFFERINGS ****
Druid 1 makes an offering of whiskey to the fire, saying:
The Invocation of Cernunnos
In this
season of darkening, the Lord of the House of Death receives the Spirits in
his hall. He is Cernunnos the Horned One, called Donn the Dark One. He gathers
the spirits from the land and takes them home, to feast and rest before they
continuing on to the Isles of the Blest.
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 call on You to come here to
us now, to join us in our revels for as long as our rite lasts. Great One,
we offer you whiskey. Come to us and join us here!
Great God Cernunnos, accept our offering!
The
People say:
Accept our offering!
Druid 2 makes an offering of whiskey to the fire, saying:
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.
Hear us now, Red One, Great Queen, Lady of the Reaping, Cauldron-Witch of
Sorcery and Prophesy. We call on You to come here to us now, to join us in
our revels for as long as our rite lasts. Great One, we offer you whiskey.
Come to us and join us here!
Phantom Queen, accept our offering!
The
People say:
Accept our offering!
**** INSTALLATION OF SENIOR DRUID ****
Seer
says:
In days of old in Ireland, Samhain was the time that the King would be wed
to the Goddess of Sovereignty so that he might be fit to reign. Nowadays,
we elect our Senior Druid annually, and Gannd has been so elected.
Druid 2 brings forth a loaf of pumpkin bread, standing beside the Senior Druid.
Seer
says:
Gannd, this loaf represents the Morrigan, Goddess of Sovereignty.
Senior
Druid says:
By symbolically wedding the Goddess, I hereby swear to uphold the Kindreds,
to uphold our Grove and to uphold Ar n'Driaocht Fein.
Senior Druid stabs the loaf with his knife.
Seer
says:
All Hail Gannd, Senior Druid of Sonoran Sunrise Grove! Biodh se!
The
People say:
All Hail Gannd! Biodh se!
**** PRAISE OFFERINGS ****
THE RITE OF LETTING GO, ACCEPTANCE AND CLAIMING
Druid
1 says:
Now is the time for all of us to burn away those parts of us that need letting
go, that we may accept and claim ourselves. As the wreath comes to you, please
bring your "Rite of Letting Go" sheet to the fire. This will be
your offering to the Kindreds. While there, meditate a moment on what you
have written. You may then speak aloud what you are letting go, or be silent.
Then put your offering into the fire, letting the Kindreds take the pain,
sadness and regret from you.
Should you also have a Praise Offering, this will be the time to offer it as well.
Druid 1 is the first to go to the fire. When he is finished, he passes the wreath to the person nearest him. It continues around the circle after each offering.
The final Praise Offering will be the singing of Ian Corrigan's "Hoof And Horn" and the dance of the Wild Hunt.
**** THE OMEN ****
Druid 2 offers the wreath to the fire, and any other offerings to the fire or World Tree Offering Bowl, while:
Druid
1 says:
While our offering burns, meditate on your own needs, those of loved ones,
and those of the community.
During
the meditation, while the wreath offering burns,
The Seer takes the Omen. He interprets it, discovering if our Rite
and our offerings are pleasing to the powers. (While the Seer is preparing
to read the omen, the Druids prepare the Waters of Life.)
**** BLESSINGS ****
The Return Flow
The People all stand and hold hands in a circle.
Druid
1 pours alcoholic Waters of Life into the large drinking horn.
Druid 2 fills another horn with waters from the Well.
Both are elevated.
Druid
1 says:
O Great Cernunnos and Mighty Morrigan! O Noble, Mighty and Shining Ones! As
we have given you gifts and sacrifices, so we ask you for gifts in return
in accordance with the laws of hospitality. Give us the Waters of Life!
The
People say:
Give us the Waters of Life!
Druid
2 says:
Again we ask You, mighty Kindreds. Give us the Waters of Life!
The
People say:
Give us the Waters of Life!
Druid
1 says:
O you mighty Kindreds! Hallow these waters! Bless our lives with love, magic
and bounty as we drink these sacred waters. Again we ask, give us the waters
of life!
The
People say:
Give us the waters of life!
The People let go of each other's hands and the drinking horns are passed. The pumpkin bread from the Installation of the Senior Druid is also passed. All drink and eat while the Bard leads the People in singing:
Pour The Waters
Pour the waters, raise
the cup;
Drink your share of wisdom deep;
Strength and love now fill us up
As the elder ways we keep.
(Repeat until all have drunk from the horns)
**** THE TRANCE JOURNEY ****
The Seer leads the People in a trance journey to the Isles of the Blest, enlisting Manannan mac Lir as guide, so that the People may commune with their dead.
**** CLOSING THE GATES ****
Druid
1 says:
The Mighty Ones have blessed us! With joy in our hearts let us carry the blessings
of the Kindreds from our Grove into our lives and work. Each time we offer
to the powers they become stronger and more aware of our needs and worship.
So as we prepare to depart, let us give thanks to those who have aided us.
A drum beat begins and rattles fill the sound.
Druid
2 says:
Great Cernunnos and Mighty Morrigan, we thank you!
The
People say:
We thank you!
Druid
2 says:
Gods and Goddesses of elder days; mighty Ancestors; noble Spirits of the Land;
our Kindreds, we thank you!
The
People say:
We thank you!
Druid
1 says:
Gatekeeper, warder of the ways,
for your presence and power,
for your guiding and guarding, we say:
We thank you!
The
People say:
We thank you!
Druid
1 says:
Now we end what we began.
The
drums begin to play and the People chant, starting quietly and building
in speed and intensity:
Close the Gates…. Close the Gates….. Close the Gates…..
Druid 2 holds the bottom of his staff, pointing the top of it at the top of the World Tree. He begins to spin deosil, faster and faster.
As
the staff passes the fire,
Druid 2 says:
Let the fire be flame!
As
the staff passes the well,
Druid 2 says:
Let the well be water!
As
the staff passes the World Tree,
Druid 2 says:
Let all be as it was before!
There
is a loud drum roll ending in a strong stroke.
The drumming and rattles stop.
Druid
2 stops spinning, holds both hands (and staff) in the air and shouts:
Let the Gates be closed!
The
People say:
Let the Gates be closed!
Druid
1 says:
Walk with wisdom, children of the Earth.
The Rite is ended!
Biodh se! So be it!
The
People say:
Biodh se! So be it!
Druid 1 then rings the bell thrice-three times.
The Bard leads the singing as the People 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 until Recession is ended)
At
this point, a party/potluck is held for the assembled people.
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