We are delighted to offer up our Samhain 2023 ritual. If you are local to the Albany area, it is being held in person. If you are not, the ritual is here so you may take it, adapt it to your needs, and run it on your own.
Samhain Ritual:
Leaving of the Ego
Take a moment, and see your own personal ego. Take it, set it aside, outside our ritual space. Join us all in this space as equals.
Opening Meditation
As we gather together, let us ground ourselves in the earth, and seek our centers.
Close your eyes and open your spirits.
Draw your focus inward. Breathe slowly and deeply. Turn aside all distractions.
Be aware of your body, of your breath, of your heart beating in your chest. With each breath, relax your body. Make yourself comfortable. Move and adjust your body as needed to feel balanced and at ease. Release the tension in your head, your neck. Relax your shoulders, your arms. Let your stomach soften and relax. Adjust your position until your spine feels comfortably aligned. Release the tension in your hips, relax your legs, your feet. Feel any aches and pains fade away. Be at ease.
Be aware of your spirit, your inner self. Observe your thoughts, your feelings. Let them wash over you, through you. Let them settle as you continue to breathe slowly and deeply. With each breath, set aside the many worries and cares that fill your mind. Focus on the calm and peace of this moment. Feel safe and protected.
Be aware of the earth beneath you. Feel yourself anchored firmly to the earth, to the planet that supports you, in body and spirit. Focus on your connection to the earth. Feel the tug of gravity, drawing you close, binding you to the earth. Be aware of the substance of the planet – the soil and water and air that comprise our world. Be aware of these elements within yourself: the earth that makes up your flesh, the water that flows in your blood, the breath that fills your lungs. Feel the magic of that connection – the power that links you to the larger whole.
Be aware of the spirits around you. Feel your connection to the other beings that support you, in body and spirit.
Be aware of the web of life that surrounds you: the beings that inhabit this world with you. Feel your connection to the plants and animals and others that you depend on for life – for food, for shelter, for the very air you breathe. They are a part of you. You are a part of them. Feel the magic of that connection – the power that intertwines your life with the greater web of all life.
Be aware of your ancestors, of their role in shaping who you are. Feel their presence in your life – their history and teachings living on in your memory, their legacy moving forward through your words and deeds. They are a part of you. You are a part of them. Feel the magic of that connection – the power that connects you to the past, to your own history and the history of all humanity.
Be aware of the deities, of their role in the shaping of the world and civilization. Feel their presence in your life – their guidance and support and power. They call to you and invite you to learn from them. They gain power from your love, and in turn, they grant you the power to shape the world through your words and deeds. They are a part of you, and you are a part of them. Feel the magic of that connection – the power to create something new and wonderful.
Be aware of the others gathered here in spirit if not in flesh. Feel their presence in this sacred space. They are here in common purpose with you, to celebrate and strengthen their connection to the earth, to the spirits of land, to the ancestors, the deities, and to one another.
As we gather in common purpose, let us do so with full awareness of the connections we share and the power it grants us.
As you breathe, deeply and slowly, focus once again on this place, this moment, where we come together in fellowship and worship, and when you are ready, open your eyes.
Honoring the Earth Mother
We gather here today for the celebration of Samhain. First though, we honor the Earth that we stand upon. Earth Mother, we call to you. You who surrounds and supports us. You who feeds and nourishes us. You who shelters and provides a home to live in. You are why we are here. Without you, we could not survive. Without you, we would not be. Today, we honor you, love you, and respect you. We all will work to make you healthy. Now, as a token of our appreciation, we give you these offerings. Earth Mother, accept our offerings!
Statement of Purpose
Today, we gather to celebrate Samhain. Even though the weather has been all over the place, and one of the latest frosts on record, we are still on the threshold of winter. The leaves have changed and many trees are starting to look bare. All the plants we planted in the spring are slowly dying. The vegetable and fruit harvests are coming to an end. We are starting to see signs of winter and the dark half of the year all around us. Today we celebrate this turn of seasons. We honor our ancestors, be they our family, chosen family, or our heroes and mentors. We also honor all the animals that we have known and lost through the years. We also are going to pray for peace around the world, so that the sacrifices of our ancestors were not in vain.
Recreate the Sacred Center
officiant makes offerings during the appropriate sections of the text.
As we gather here, in the center are our hallows, our sacred center, each with its role in the cosmos.
We start with focusing on the well, our connection to the underworlds This is our way to the Ancestors and all who are found in those realms. To the well, we offer silver. With this offering, we connect our well to all the wells in the world, and making our well `the` well.
We now focus on the fire, our connection the the upper-worlds. This is our way to the Deities and all who are found in those realms. The the fire, we offer incense. With this offering, we connect our fire to all the fires in the world, and making our fire `the` fire.
Finally, we focus on the tree, our pathway between all the worlds. This is our road to travel to the realms of the Deities and the Ancestors, and all beings found outside our realm. We join this tree with the well through the waters of the well. We join this tree with the fire through the smoke of the incense. As we join this tree to the well and fire, our tree becomes `the` tree and our path.
Outsiders
Outsiders! You who stand against our purposes for this rite. You who only wish to cause mischief and harm. You who are beyond the light of our work. We ask you today to not disturb us as we do our work. We recognize you and your role in our lives. If you do not disturb us, we will make you this offering of beer when our rites are over.
Purification
Officiants will sprinkle the congregation with water and smudge with incense while the following is spoken
Let us focus on our ritual purity. Fist, wash away all your cares and worries with the waters from the well. Then perfume yourself with the incense from the fire, tying us all together. As we wash and smudge, see our space become centered and focused. See us all here, gathered as one.
Call to the Deities
Officiant makes offerings of grains when indicated.
Deities! To all the gods and goddesses who we work with on a daily basis and who guide us in our lives. Matron and Patrons, those we work with directly. Those of this place, we we honor as we stand in your lands. Those that are unknown to us, yet watch over us all. We call to you and we offer to you. Come, join us at our fire! Deities, accept our offerings!
Call to the Land Spirits
Officiant makes offerings of grains when indicated.
Land Spirits! To all the spirits of the lands around us. To all the animals we see each and every day, domesticated or wild. To all the plants that grow around us, cultivated or not. To all the unseen spirits who live amongst us. We call to you and we offer to you. Come, join us at our fire! Land Spirits, accept our offerings!
Call to the Ancestors, our Honored Beings
Officiant makes offerings of grains when indicated.
Ancestors! You are our honored beings today. Samhain is your time of year. We are here to honor you and remember you. Over the past few years, we have lost so many people. Many of us have lost our pet companions. Many of us have lost beloved relatives. Many of us have lost those of our chosen family, our mentors, or our heroes. Today, we honor them all.
We are now in year 3 of Covid, and while it has become easier to live with it, it still is costing us lives. We also live in a world where science denialism and misinformation is prevalent. We live in a world where there are multiple wars and many innocent civilians are suffering. Today though, we are honoring all those who have died.
So, to all those who we have lost this past year and before. To all our pets we have lost, our fur children and familiars. We call to all of you. We honor you. You all played a part in shaping who we are today. For all that you have done to shape us to who we are today, we thank you, we remember you, and we honor you. Ancestors, Accept our offerings.
Ancestors! Welcome!
Offerings to Ancestors
If anyone has any offerings they wish to make to the honored dead, please come forth and do so now.
Shared Meal
Behold these small cakes. With these cakes, we share a meal with the Ancestors. As we set aside a portion for them, the rest will be shared between us.
Food is passed around for all to eat
Blessing of the Waters
We have made our offerings to all of the spirits. We have honored the Ancestors and we have remembered those who have passed beyond the veil. We now call on them to aid us one more, and call to them to bless these waters. Fill them with the powers of their blessings in return for our offerings. Ancestors, give us the waters! Behold the blessed waters!
Waters are passed around for all to drink
Working for Peace
We now will focus on sending peace to the parts of the world that are at war. May the innocent civilians in all these areas be protected, and the loss of life be limited. May the wars come to a conclusion and peace spread through the world.
Thanking the Beings
Thanking the Honored Beings, Ancestors
Ancestors! We have made offerings to you. We have honored and remembered you, and you have given back to us. For all that you have done for us, Ancestors, we thank you.
Thanking the Deities
Deities! We have made offerings to you and you have returned the favor. For all you have done for us, Deities, we thank you.
Thanking the Land Spirits
Land Spirits! We have made offerings to you and you have returned the favor. For all you have done for us, Land Spirits, we thank you.
Acknowledging the Outsiders
Outsiders! We asked you at the start of the rite that you leave us to work in peace. You have done so. We will honor our end of the bargain and pour you the beer we offered you earlier.
Thanking the Earth Mother
Earth Mother! We have given to you, and we have honored you. You are the reason we are able to survive in this world. For all that you have done for us both today and throughout our days, Earth Mother, we thank you.
Closing Meditation:
As we conclude our ritual, let us once again seek our centers and ground ourselves.
With spirits open, close your eyes. Breathe slowly and deeply. Draw your focus inward. Feel the threads that connect you to the others gathered here today – threads of common purpose and
devotion, of fellowship and mutual caring.
Feel the threads that connect you to the deities – threads of power and faith, of wisdom and trust.
Feel the threads that connect you to the ancestors – threads of lineage and history, of lore and memory.
Feel the threads that connect you to the spirits of the land – threads of life and sustenance, of beauty and wonder.
Feel the threads that connect you to the earth – threads of life and sustenance, lineage and history,
power and faith, love and existence itself.
As you feel these connections, know them to be ever present. But for now, relax your focus of these
bindings. Let your awareness of them soften, but never fade as you go about your daily lives.
As you breathe, deeply and slowly, focus once again on this place, this moment, as we prepare to go
forth into the world, and when you are ready, open your eyes.
And so the rite is finished, go now in wisdom and peace.
