Samhain 2009
By Valerie                                                                                                                       
Dried white heather                                                                                                               
Corn dollies                                                                                                                                  Basket with seasonal veg and fruit                                                                                      
Light pumpkins and place around circle-for ancestors to find way                                             Paper to be written on before ritual                                                                                             Ribbon to write on                                                                                                                  
Ring of yellow and orange marigolds for Crone                                                                             Altar for the dead with plate of food as well as usual altar
2 x camp ovens with lids, one has coals burning (and contains remnents of past ritual fires)
The other camp oven has a fire laid but not lit.
Bucket of sand.
Cast Circle
HPS: The Wheel of the Year has turned again, it is now Samhain. The days have grown short and the nights have grown long. It is becoming colder and the land changes from one of fertility and abundance to a land that is bare. A land that lies in darkness.
HP:   And with the darkness comes a time of fear. But the witches fear not, for we see this as a time of rest and reflection as we stand upon the threshold between the old year and the new. Turn around and face the old year. Remember and reflect upon it.
Everyone turns to face the outside of the circle and contemplates.

HP: The time has come. (Everyone turns back)
HPS: Earlier this evening, you were asked to write on a piece of paper that which you no longer want. At this time of Samhain, I invite you to burn your paper in the fire of the old year. To banish that which is no longer needed.
HPS and HP are first to throw their paper into the fire. Everyone throws into the fire their paper to burn away what they no longer want.  Can be said out loud or quietly to themselves.
When everyone is done, HP and HPS dump sand over fire and extinguish it and place lid upon the camp oven. The HP speaks his line as he places the lid on the camp oven.
HP: The year has ended... (turns to face everyone) This is the moment when time runs differently. The veil between the worlds thins and those who have passed may return to visit those they left behind. 
HP moves to the edge of the circle and opens the veil with his wand.
Samhain Priestess (SP) takes up the basket of dried heather from the altar and gives it the HPS. HPS takes the basket to the edge of the circle, holds it up and shows it to the world beyond. 
HPS then takes basket of dried heather and passes it around the circle. Everyone takes some.  
SP takes up Jack O'Lantern and gives it to HP, he holds it up as he speaks.
HP: As you light your heather, invite your beloved dead to join you this night. 
HP takes around jack-o-lantern, everyone lights the dried heather from the jack-o-lantern and says:
All: “I invite name, and my ancestors to join me on this night” (If you don’t have a specific name you want to say   “I invite my ancestors to join me on this night”)
SP walks around with a cauldron and everyone puts their smouldering heather into it. She places the cauldron at the veil.
HPS: Commune with your beloved dead. They may have messages for you or just wish you to feel their presence. Invite them to partake of the feast laid out in readiness for them.
Everyone sits and communes with their dead in silence. Whilst this is happening, HPS takes up the Jack O Lantern and the HP a taper. SP pours spirits onto the ready laid fire.
HP:  Our beloved dead and ancestors please stay to witness the New Year and kindling of the fire.
SP comes forward and takes the taper from the HP. She then lights the taper from the Jack O Lantern. She takes the lit taper to the new fire and kindles it. HP and HPS take taper and Jack O Lantern back to the altar. They bring back the basket of corn dollies and basket of ribbons. HP gives ribbon to SP.
SP:  The New Year is beginning. Think about the coming year and those things you would like the coming year to be. What are the things you want for the year? What are the things you’d like to start and bring about? What are you going to change? What do you want to stay the same? Since you burned something away in the fire you must replace it with something new. Put the thought of what you desire for the next year into these ribbons. 
SP hands out ribbons and gives time for everyone to think and empower their ribbons. 
When everyone is done, HPS gives basket of corn dollies to SP who takes the basket of corn dollies and walks around for everyone to take one. 
SP:  We have for you a gift, corn dollies. Corn dollies are traditional for Samhain. They are said to bring the owner health, wealth, and general prosperity over the coming year. Keep them in a sacred place. Attach to the dollies the ribbon that holds your desires for the next year.
Everyone ties their ribbons to their corn dollies. HPS and HP return baskets to altar.
HPS:  Our beloved dead and ancestors, we thank you for staying to witness the New Year and kindling of the fire. We ask one more task of you on this night. We ask you to stay and help with the magic about to be performed. We would like you to take it back with you beyond the veil to give us protection in the other world as well as our own.
SP takes up cord with hazelnuts from the altar.
SP:  The hazelnut a magical gift from the Earth. Sacred at this time of year.
 SP  takes cord with hazelnuts attached and ties it into a ring. Moves to fire. Consecrates the amulet in the Samhain fire smoke.
SP:  I consecrate this amulet for Applegrove and all who belong to it. Attract to them good luck, fertility, and give protection from all forms of evil and negativity.
SP takes the amulet and gives it to the HPS and HP, who place it on the altar. 
HPS:  Those of us who have a personal amulet and wish to consecrate it in the Samhain fire. Step forward and do so now.
Anyone who made an amulet before ritual for their home now consecrate it.
HPS takes up Jack O Lantern.
HP: Our beloved dead and ancestors, we thank you for communing with us this night and the magic you have done. It is time for you to return back to the other world. Thank you and farewell.
All: Thank you and farewell.
HP, HPS and SP take up the Applegrove amulet and walk around the circle with it. They place it beyond the veil. HP then ritually closes the veil. HPS puts Jack O Lantern on this side of the veil. SP takes up the basket of heather and returns it to the altar.
Cakes and ale
Close circle
Feast