Samhain Ritual

Lord Atmahka offers his ritual for Samhain, observed at the full moon nearest Ancestor Night, also called Hallowe'en.  While this ritual is more a Wiccan one than Druidic, it is of the nature of this one, and is gently offered, to be accepted in whatever way it will, by those spirits who are among us and in our hearts.

It is traditional at Samhain to leave food outside in a special place for the souls of the dead. A small candle is placed in a window, to guide those souls.

The food consists of a small piece of bread, and an apple, cut across horizontally, revealing the five-pointed star. There is also a small container of salt. Half of the apple will remain with the food, the other half consumed during the ritual. Wine is also left with the food, a portion of that which is used in the ritual. The remainder is left in a natural paper container, to return entirely to the earth. Also, the salt will remain.

THE RITUAL

An altar is set in a special place, obscure to the rest of the world, and safe from intrusion. It is made up of the elements of the outdoors. This year it will again be based on three large stump pieces from a mulberry tree cut in 1997, and left to mature among the living trees and grass. They are placed in a triangle shape, with a circle of stones 'round about the whole area.

On the left side altar stump is placed the bread, the apple, a small chalice of white wine, and fall leaves, a simple display. A candle, lighted from the domicile and carried to the altar, is in a square glassed lantern and placed on the right stump piece representing bringing the individual to a special place with his personal light shining. A small cauldron is in the middle of the natural circle described by the largest trunk piece. This circle is divided into 8 parts, spokes representing the wheel of the year and the cycle of the season--the beginning and end of creation. A candle is placed within the cauldron, as yet unlighted, as well as incense. A special small sword is placed next to the apple and bread.

A black, hooded robe is worn, representing the idea of being one with the outside, bereft of finery, and in keeping with the solemnity of the occasion.

Standing before the altar, thoughts flow through of friends and family who have passed before, in their transition to another form of their entity. It is known that they are merely in another stage of their being, so we are not sad. Rather, we allow memories of them to come into the lighted circle, and thereby they live in our hearts and continue to be with us. We do not wish for them to be unable to progress, so we allow their spirits to go on after a time. We know that they have incarnated into another form, and only this one aspect of their spirit remains.

Also prepared before the journey to the altar: a piece of paper with any aspect of life that needs to be released: worry, disease, anger, want. We know that these are merely transient, so we identify them and place a word or two for them on the paper, which is carried to the altar.

Speaking a Blessing Chant: "May the powers of the One, the Source of all creation, all inclusive, eternal; may the Goddess of the Moon and the God, hunter of the sun; may the powers of the stones, rulers of the elemental realms, may the powers of the stars above and the earth below ~ bless this place, and this time, and I who am with You."

Holding the chalice of wine toward the sky, we speak: "Gracious Goddess of Abundance, bless this wine and infill it with Your love."

Taking the knife and cutting the apple horizontally to reveal the five-pointed star, and cutting the bread also in half, both are then held up, and "Bless this food of the harvest and fill it with Your love."

Finally, these thoughts, in the following vein: "The veil is lifted tonight, we open the gates between this world and the next, and honor ancestors and others who have gone on before. You are not forgotten; remember me and all who wish me well are welcome in this circle."

Lifting the bread and salt over the altar: "We ask all who have gathered here to join me in this feast." We dip a piece of the bread in the salt and eat. Then, half the apple is eaten, remembering its symbolism.

Likewise then, the wine, first placing it on the circle, it is lifted: "May we always be strong in body, mind and spirit." Drinking some of the wine, the rest is placed back on the altar.

The candle within the cauldron as well as the incense both are lighted. The paper with those things to be released, is placed in the cauldron, to be burned and banished from our being.

The balance of this time is spent in meditation, going within to consider all matters that appear, then allowing all the spirits to depart to the four points.

When meditation is completed, then the circle is released. The food is left, the candle and incense are gently diminished, and we return to our domicile, to start a new year.

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Updated: Nov. 27, 2003