Samhain 2003
by Adrianne

Ritual Preface
This is a two part ritual that is designed to facilitate access to the Mysteries of Samhain.

This ritual will require you to bring the following:
•	An offering for the dumb supper plate, Ideally something you have made yourself to eat to share with the group
•	A prepared toast to the year past that highlights lessons learned for the good
•	Something warm and comfortable in Samhain colours as we will be working both indoors and out
•	A reminder of your ancestors for the altar

Props
Outdoor Circle
Cauldron in middle of circle
Fuel for cauldron
Plate with a pomegranate on it
Staff
Black shawls/clothes
Samhain ointment
Indoors
Dumb supper plate
Plates, glasses and cutlery for all
Wine and non alcoholic drinks
Food
Samhain altar set up
Awards/Toasts
Offerings
Hat for toast master
Wand for toastmaster

Parts
HP
HPS
Lord of the Otherworld 
Crone
Toast Master

The ritual
Outside the circle members gather, they form a ring around the central cauldron.

The HPS anoints the men, and the HP anoints the women with a Samhain ointment.

The HPS steps forward and casts the Samhain circle around the entire house and yard.

The HPS then calls the Goddess forth:

HPS:	I call upon she who haunts the dark forests
The witch, the hag, the crone

I call upon our lady of the threefold moon
Our lady of the night

I call upon she who has seen 
The seasons fading light

She who must descend, in order to rise again
Our lady of the night,

We do build this circle, 
A place sacred, and apart in thine honour

The goddess, as crone, now appears, dresses in black and old shawls and clothes. She kindles the Samhain fire and says:

Crone:	One for each season, one for each way
One for the night, one for the day
One for my lover, one for my son
One for the serpent, this is my song

She then lights the fire.

She then stands back to invoke the Lord of the Otherworld:

Crone:	On sacred plains, I kindle sacred flames
Lord of the Otherworld I invoke thee

Oh Horned one, hear my call and come,
Lord of the Otherworld I invoke thee

Bring forth our dead…….
Lord of the Otherworld I invoke thee

Through the veil comes the Lord of the Otherworld, leading our glorious dead. He takes the hand of the Goddess and leads a procession to the banquet table inside.

(the first course has already been placed on the table ready for serving)

the HP and HPS  invite the group to make silent offerings to the dumb supper plate and to remember the glorious dead. This includes remembering those who have passed from our own circles:

HPS:	As Samhain night descends upon us, we pause to remember our glorious dead who have travelled from the Otherworld to be with us tonight.

In particular we remember those that once stood with us in circle - but who do so no more.

You are invited to make an offering to the plate that sustains our dead as they pass through the otherworld.

Each person makes an offering.

HPS:	Eat now in silence, remembering those who have gone before.

Commune with the dead, share your thoughts and memories.

The first course is eaten in silence.

At an appropriate time, the HP and HPS stand and gesture to the Lord and Lady that it is time to depart 

HPS:	We thank the Lord of the Otherworld for leading our ancestors to be with us tonight. We thank thee that guards the underworld, but now you must return.

The Lord stands and gestures to the Crone with hand outstretched, she says:

Crone:	My Lord, at Death’s door, I will embrace thee.

the HP and HPS accompany the Lord and Lady back to the underworld.

When the HP and HPS return they perform the symbolic great rite at the head of the table:

HPS:	As the athame is to the male, 
So the cup is to the female, 
And when they are cojoined they bring forth a great blessing

The two circle members (who played the parts of the lord and lady) now reeenter the dining room bringing the second course and proceed to serve the participants.

HPS:	As once long ago the clan would gather to celebrate seasons past, and to prepare for the long winter ahead, we do so now join to pause, to reflect, to look back along the wheel, and to look to its future turning.

HP:	We stand at a point outside of time, outside of reason, outside of rhyme
What will the new year bring us this time? 

The banquet table is now joined by the Toast Master to lead the Circle awards and toasts.

TM:	It is now time to celebrate our survival and growth through this turning of the wheel and to pause for a moment to celebrate!

You were asked to prepare a toast, and if you now charge your glasses, it is time…

After the toasts have been made

It is now time for the, Wheel of the Year, Samhain Celebration Awards.

TM:	First up, we have the award for…..

TOP SECRET

After the awards and celebrations, The HPS stands and speaks, wrapping up the ritual and the mystery:

HPS:	We have journeyed with our beloved dead, we have laughed in the face of it all
However, the wheel must turn, it must not stall
Samhain brings a new year to us all.

HP and HPS ask the group to stand, they lead the group back outside to the cauldron, which is now out. In it’s place is a pomegranate.

HPS closes circle.

Happy Samhain, Happy New Year!!!!