Samhain 2019, using Silver Spiral's standard ritual format 2.3. Performed on November 9th, 2019, for a group of 4 people.
Materials and Tools:
Ritual broom, representations of the elements, a bell or singing bowl, an unlit candle per person, a favourite picture of each person, ritual food on a plate or in a bowl, a pitcher of beverage, an offering bowl or plate and an offering goblet, an athame, one goblet per participant.
Before Beginning:
Territory acknowledgement:
Before we begin, I would like for us to take a moment to acknowledge that this ritual is taking place on the traditional unceded territory of the First Peoples of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (hun-ki-meen-um) language group. I ask that we take a moment to reflect on this fact and to acknowledge that we bring our beliefs and spirits to this place in concert with those that were here before.
Consent acknowledgement:
We stand here as empowered and free individuals. We are each able to make our own choices about coming to this circle, about staying in this circle, and about how to participate in the ritual. You may leave at any time and for any reason, return whenever you want, and sit out any activity. We ask of each other only that we don’t interfere with the experience of other participants.
Preparation:
While everyone else gathers off to the side, one person sweeps the space with the ritual broom while saying (repeatedly if necessary):
With purpose and intent, I cleanse this space.
The person who cleansed the space welcomes each person into it one at a time with a hug and the greeting:
Welcome to our sacred space.
To which the person entering responds: Blessed be.
Everyone holds hands and closes their eyes while the ritual leader leads the breathing meditation:
Breathe... [Pause for full breath in and full breath out.] Breathe... [Pause for full breath in and full breath out.] Breathe... [Pause for full breath in and full breath out.] Feel the ground beneath you. [Pause for full breath in and full breath out.] Feel the air around you. [Pause for full breath in and full breath out.] Come home to your body. [Pause for full breath in and full breath out.] Prepare to enter sacred space. Blessed be.
All repeat: Blessed be.
Building Sacred Space:
We will start casting the circle and calling the elements in the North.
The space cleanser picks up the bell or singing bowl.
The circle caster picks up the element's representation from the altar and carries it around the circle clockwise while saying:
We cast this circle in honour of [element].
All repeat:
We cast this circle in honour of [element] to create and open sacred space.
The space cleanser rings the bell.
The circle caster repeats with each of the other elements in clockwise order, ending with spirit if using. After the last circuit, the circle caster says:
The space is set. The circle is cast. Blessed Be.
All repeat: Blessed be.
All turn to face the direction and the direction quarter caller says:
To the North, I send this call: Earth, bless us with your gift of our temporary bodies as we celebrate Samhain and every day. Blessed be.
All repeat: Blessed be.
Repeat for each quarter, going clockwise around the circle:
To the East, I send this call: Air, bless us with your gift of our passing breath as we celebrate Samhain and every day. Blessed be.
To the South, I send this call: Fire, bless us with your gift of our numbered heartbeats as we celebrate Samhain and every day. Blessed be.
To the West, I send this call: Water, bless us with your gift of our precious fluids as we celebrate Samhain and every day. Blessed be.
To the Centre, I send this call: Spirit, bless us with your gift of life while it lasts as we celebrate Samhain and every day. Blessed be.
Invocations:
One person invokes the Goddess:
Lady of the Dark Eternity, Goddesses of our tribes, we invite you to our rite. Blessed Be.
All repeat: Blessed be.
Another person invokes the God:
Lord of the Bright Present, Gods of our tribes, we invite you to our rite. Blessed Be.
All repeat: Blessed be.
Centre:
Ritual leader:
The last harvest ripens, the leaves fall, and there’s the soft smell of decay in the air. It is the season to honour endings, especially our own inevitable ending.
Everyone who has ever lived has died. Everyone who will ever live will die. We will each die.
So it shall be.
All repeat: So it shall be.
Ritual leader: We will each read a statement, then everyone will repeat it back as an I statement.
North: Our bodies will fail.
All repeat: My body will fail.
East: We will take our last breaths.
All repeat: I will take my last breath.
South: Our hearts will beat for the last time.
All repeat: My heart will beat for the last time.
West: Our blood will stop flowing.
All repeat: My blood will stop flowing.
Centre: We will die.
All repeat: I will die.
Ritual leader:
Close your eyes. Take a slow deep breath. Let it out.
Death is the one thing that will happen to everyone. It is the one thing every human has in common.
Take a slow deep breath. Let it out.
Think of a child in your life. Think of them as they are now: young, energetic, bright, and unique. How do you know this child? How do they know you?
Take a slow deep breath. Let it out.
Now imagine them in 70 or 80 years. They are the same bright and unique person, but with a lifetime of experience. What have they seen? What do they know?
Take a slow deep breath. Let it out.
Now they are holding a photo of you. They are telling someone else about you, their physical or spiritual ancestor. Who are they telling? What are they saying?
Take a slow deep breath. Let it out.
Now imagine you are the person looking at that picture of you, hearing about you. Imagine you are your spiritual descendant.
Take a slow deep breath. Let it out. Open your eyes.
Give each person an unlit candle and the picture of themselves.
Ritual leader: Light a candle in your own memory. How do you want your descendants to speak of you? What kind of ancestor will you be?
Each person lights a candle and speaks in turn, going clockwise starting with the ritual leader.
Food and Drink:
One person holds the plate of food while another blesses it:
By the Divine, this offering is blessed, and we share this food in the spirit of community. Blessed be.
All repeat: Blessed be.
The person who blessed the food puts a portion of the food in the offering plate or bowl and says:
To the gods and goddesses of our tribes.
The food is passed clockwise with each saying to the next: May you never hunger. Response: Blessed be.
When the food has been returned to the altar, one person holds the pitcher while the other lowers the athame into it and says:
As the athame is to the lover, so the chalice is to the loved, and joined they are one in truth. Blessed be.
The person holding the pitcher pours a portion into the offer goblet and says:
To the gods and goddesses of our tribes.
As the pitcher is passed clockwise, each fills their neighbour's goblet while saying Thou art God or Thou art Goddess. The recipient responds: Blessed be.
Once all the goblets have been filled and the pitcher is returned to the altar, the leader toasts: May you never thirst. All respond with Blessed be and drink.
Devocations:
The leader will decide whether to devoke in the same order or reverse order.
The same person who invoked the God thanks Him:
Lord of the Bright Present, Gods of our tribes, thank you for your blessings. Go in peace. Blessed be.
All repeat: Blessed be.
The person who invoked the Goddess thanks Her:
Lady of the Dark Eternity, Goddesses of our tribes, thank you for your blessings. Go in peace. Blessed be.
All repeat: Blessed be.
Closing Sacred Space:
The leader will decide whether to close in reverse order, starting with whichever quarter was called last, or to dismiss in the same order, starting with whichever quarter was called first. If spirit was invoked, it will also be included in the closing.
All turn to face the direction and the direction quarter caller says:
To the [direction]: [Element], thank you for your gifts. Go in peace. Blessed be.
All repeat: Blessed be.
The space cleanser picks up the bell again.
The circle caster walks the circle counter-clockwise to take down the circle. At each quarter point, they pause and the bell is rung. When they step back into the circle of people, the bell is rung one more time and then the circle caster says:
The circle is open, but never broken. Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!