Samhain: Honoring Those who have Passed
SPIRITWAYS CUUPS
--written by Annabelle Clippinger and Gerry Walsh
Background:
Originally the Celtic New Year, Samhain (pronounced Sow-en) is the intercalary day (the “day” of a year and a day). At Samhain, it is said that the veils between the worlds are thinnest. These worlds that communicate include the world between the living and the dead, the worlds between the seen and the unseen, and the worlds of what was, what is, and what shall be. Thus divination, or seeking to know what will be, is featured at this time; Tarot readers, palmists, astrologers, and other diviners frequently do a brisk business at this time. Samhain, is the final harvest of the year, and in times past included the culling of the herds, and the salting of the meat against winter need, and is thus filled with blood fear. Traditions at this time include the carving of gourds and pumpkins, and the lighting of them with candles and the placing of them in windows, not to keep back the spirits, but as a beacon to welcome the spirits of the ancestors, and of our beloved dead. Our ritual tonight brings together two of these elements: the welcoming of the spirits of those who have passed, and the power to see through time, or of divination.
As we ready to join in the solemnity of this holiday, we ask that you think of a question that you would have answered this year, and that you choose someone who has passed to honor in our pumpkin lighting ceremony.
Items Needed:
Pre-Ritual
All gather with their fall items to decorate all of the altars together. As we do this, let us be both joyful and thoughtful of our purpose tonight. All bring their carved pumpkins into the circle and place them on the floor.
Spiritways CUUPS will provide votive candles and several candleholders for those who do not have carved pumpkins.
Magickal Tools are placed on the altars. Candles are lit on the altars. Incense is lit.
Body of Ritual:
Annabelle welcomes everyone.
1. Readying to Enter:
The group gathers in the vestibule to receive a blessing of a pentacle marked with essential oil on their forehead.
Person who welcomes participants and marks them with oil: Welcome beloved friend. Clear your mind
and heart now. (Marks them with oil)
Let us walk this sacred path together.
While they enter, Annabelle sings this song:
When we are gone,
they will remain,
Wind and rock, fire
and rain
They will remain,
when we return,
The wind will blow
and the fire will burn
2. Circle Casting:
Let us join in the spirit
of our finest selves, to bless this place, protect it, and make it holy. This
circle now shields us all.
3. Blessing by the
Elements
Water and salt blessing:
Where this water falls, comes a blessing.
Fire and air blessing: Where this sweet air rises, comes a blessing.
3. The Calling of the Elemental Spirits:
Air: Spirits of the
east, clear ones of the air, renew us
All: Hail and
Welcome, Blessed Be!
Fire: Spirits of the
south, bright ones of the fire, impassion us
All: Hail and
Welcome, Blessed Be!
Water: Spirits of the
west, deep ones of the water, balance us
All: Hail and
Welcome, Blessed Be!
Earth: Spirits of the
north, noble ones of the earth, ground us
All: Hail and
Welcome, Blessed Be!
4. The Calling of Goddess and God:
God: Lord of the
Mountains and Forests, we call on you to join with us. Grant us peace as we
reach between the worlds.
All: Hail and
Welcome, Blessed Be!
Goddess: Lady of the
Earth, Moon and Waters, we call on you to join with us. Grant us wisdom as we
pull back the veil.
All: Hail and
Welcome, Blessed Be!
5. Crone’s Responsive
The Crone: I am the
Crone, the keeper of wisdom, mistress of magick, keeper of riddles. The
knowledge I own, I have gained from pain and joy. Once I wore the Maiden’s
white, and the Queen’s Red cloaks, but the flowers have withered, and the
winter is close. The black of night
All: I take up
Crone: The cold of
winter
All: I take up
Crone: The cloak of
sleep
All: I take up
Crone: The ice of the
fields
All: I take up
Crone: The crown of
wisdom
All: I take up
Crone: The cycle of
birth, death, and re-birth.
All: I take up
All: May the Aged
Goddess guide us as we seek her wisdom at this time.
6. Candle Lighting Ceremony:
All are seated in the circle with their pumpkins.
Annabelle: As we
gather in this darkening time, in this magick time, in this time when the veil
between the worlds is thinnest, let us honor and welcome those who have passed.
One by one, we will light our candles and as each one lights a candle, each
will speak about who they are honoring and welcoming into our sacred circle.
All Share.
After each speaks, All Say: We honor you! Blessed Be.
7. Scrying Bowls:
Gerry’s section—Music
8. Cakes and Ale
Both: Lord and Lady, bless these gifts of the earth that sustain us so well.
Sharing, toasts and libations.
9. De-invoking:
Air: Spirits of the
east, you have witnessed and charged our rite. Thank you. Stay if you will, go
if you must.
All: Hail and Farewell,
Blessed Be!
Fire: Spirits of the
south, you have witnessed and charged our rite. Thank you. Stay if you will, go
if you must.
All: Hail and
Farewell, Blessed Be!
Water: Spirits of the
west, you have witnessed and charged our rite. Thank you. Stay if you will, go
if you must.
All: Hail and
Farewell, Blessed Be!
Earth: Spirits of the
north, you have witnessed and charged our rite. Thank you. Stay if you will, go
if you must.
All: Hail and
Farewell, Blessed Be!
10.. Farewell to Goddess and God:
God: Lord of the
Mountains and Forests, you have taught us the ways of peace as we reached
between the worlds, and we thank you. Stay if you will, go if you must.
All: Hail and Farewell,
Blessed Be!
Goddess: Lady of the
Earth, Moon and Waters, you have taught us the ways of wisdom as we pulled back
the veil, and we thank you. Stay if you will, go if you must.
All: Hail and Farewell,
Blessed Be!
11. Circle Opening Song:
May the Circle be
open, but unbroken
May the Love of the
Goddess be ever in your hearts
Merry Meet and Merry
Part, and Merry Meet Again!