Samhain

Samhain Ritual

(Northern Hemisphere: October 31st; Southern Hemisphere: April 30th)

Preparation:

Balefire in centre
Two black candles upon the altar
A red candle in each of the Quarters
A wreath of autumn flowers and the crown of the Horned One are upon the altar.
All Coveners are properly prepared, naked and bound.
All are purified by the scourge.

HPS erects the Circle. The HP says:
HP: "Oh Gods, beloved of us all,
bless this our Sabbat that we,
thy humble worshippers,
may meet in love, joy and bliss.
Bless our rites this night
with the presence of our departed kin

Facing north with arms upraised, coveners hand-linked in a semicircle behind him, the HP invokes the Horned One.

HPS bearing a priapus wand then leads the Coven in a meeting dance, slowly, to the Witches' Rune. HP gives each an unlit candle and brings up the rear of thedance. The candles are each lit from the balefire before the outward spiral.
When it is done, the HPS assumes the Goddess position saying:

HPS: "Dread Lord of the Shadows, God of Life and Bringer of Death !
Yet as the knowledge of thee is death, open wide, I pray thee, the gates through which all must pass.
Let our dear ones, who have gone before, return this night to make merry with us.
And when our time comes, as it must, O thou the Comforter, the Consoler, theGiver of Peace and rest, we will enter they realms gladly and unafraid; for we know that when rested and refreshed among our dear ones, we will be reborn again by thy grace, and the grace of the Lady Cerridwen.
Let it be in the same place and the same time as our beloved ones, and may wemeet, and know,
and remember, and love them again ! Descend, we pray thee, on thy High Priestand Servant, N..."

HPS goes to the HP and, with wand, draws the five-point star upon his breast and upon the crown of the Horned God. HP kneels and HPS places the crown uponhis head. Fresh incense is cast into the crucible. HPS strikes the bell and HPsays:
HP: "Here ye my witches,
Welcome to our Great Sabbat.
Welcome we the spirits
Of our departed kin."

HPS strikes bell. Witches walk slowly around the Circle.
HPS fills chalice with wine and hands it to HP who drinks and then says:
HP: "In humility, as the Horned One asks,
I beg my witches drink."
HP takes chalice to first witch, giving it with his right hand whilst takingthe taper with his left (kiss), then extinguishing the taper before acceptingback the chalice. Repeat with each witch present. HP then says:
HP: "Listen, my witches, to the words of the Horned One,
Drink, dance and be merry in the presence of
the Old Gods and the spirits of our departed kin."
Coveners partake of cakes and wine.
Dances and games follow closing of Circle.
Great Rite, if at all possible, by High Priestess and High Priest if no other.
Merry meet, merry part.