Samhain 2008 – Circle of the Hearth
Written by Bird

Parts
HPS
HP
Quarter Callers
Crone
LODR

Items Needed
Blackthorn staff
Black dress and mantle
Girdle of grape vines
Crown for crone
Tea lights
Black plates
Cup of the dead

The Ritual
People enter the circle carrying a black plate with a tea light on it.  These are placed on the altar while the circle is being cast.

Circle cast

Quarters are called silently

People take their plates and stand

HP:	On this Samhain night, the veil is thin, tonight we will call to the lord of the 
Otherworld, the Lord of Death and Resurrection,  to guide our departed dead home to us this night, and to aid us in understanding the mystery of Samhain.

To aid us this night, we call upon the Crone, the one who walks alone in this world to call our Lord to us

Crone, dressed in black comes forward

HP Invokes Crone

	O Lady of the Apple Star
	Who holds the black seeds of death
	We call to thee this Samhain night

	O Lady of the Death bearing fruit
	Who pierces the red flash of flesh
	We call to thee this Samhain night

	O Lady of the Hazel shell
	Who rides the brown husk of death
	We call to thee this Samhain night

	O Lady of the Blackthorn staff
	Who holds the dark seed of truth
	We call to thee this Samhain night

	O Lady of the Hawthorn bloom
	Who brings the red seeds of change
	We call to thee this Samhain night

	We call to thee this Samhain night
	To come and join us here

She is welcomed to the circle by the HPS & HP and crowned with the circlet

HPS:	Welcome great mother
	Will you call forth our Lord of Death and Resurrection to guide our 
ancestors home this night?

Crone:	I will

She goes to the veil and calls the LODR

	My Lord of Death, I call to thee
	To walk with me, my dear
	Come my Lord, from beyond the veil,
	Come my Lord, be here
	
	You of the hidden forest
You of the hidden flame
You of beyond the veil
	Hear my call this day

Hear my voice a calling
	Hear my heart sing true
	Hear my call this Samhain night
	As I long for you

Come my Lord, my beloved
	Come be here this day
	Come from beyond the darkness
	Descend my Lord I pray

The LODR comes through the veil, he carries a lantern and goes to the Crone and kisses her and says:
	My love, you have called to me and I have come
	Tonight I bring the light of the otherworld to rest here for a time

She gives him a sip from the cup of the dead

He says to the circle:
	Your beloved dead have come home this night, to rest here for a while
In the light they shine forth, the echos of the light in your heart
Spend this time with them now, speak what must be said, understand that which must be known

He lights each persons candle

Crone gives each person a sip from the cup of the dead

Crone: 	Sit now

Everyone sits down

After a while the HP speaks: 	LODR we do thank you for your presence here this night, and we thank you for bringing the light to us. We now give you license to depart, and take the departed dead with thee

He kisses the Crone and then moves towards the veil

HP: Close your eyes now

The LODR blows out the candles before he departs through the veil with the ancestors

HPS reads the story 

The Goddess leaves during the story telling

HPS: This is the mystery of Samhain, Blessed Be.

Cakes and ale

Farewell quarters

Close circle