INTRODUCTION
Samhain and Beltane are the two great poles in the Wheel of the Year of
the Wiccan tradition, based as it is on the seasons in the UK, and perhaps particularly
Scotland. It doesn’t necessarily apply to other places in the world, mind – for
instance, the equinox festivals are problematic in the tropics, where I have
lived, as there are two longest days, two shortest days and four days of equal
length … Here in Melbourne
I am trying to develop some rituals based on the indigenous seasons (see here
and here).
Nevertheless, there are many Wiccans, and a fair few pagans,
who do rituals for the two great poles of Samhain and Beltane, when the veil
between this world and the next is thinnest (particularly for Samhain). Typically,
each hemisphere does its own thing, which has a certain amount of sense to it,
given that will be celebrating a different season. However, when I was helping
to run a global on-line Wiccan group, we tried to come up with rituals that
could be used by everyone. I've decided to start having a go at those again,
and here is one for the these poles, based on the time when Samhain will be in
the south.
ESSENCE
Chant:
Southern
Hemisphere:
As the time of outward activity
passes,
We greet the Dark from the Northern half,
And welcome wisdom and growth;
As the Light goes to the Northern half,
We wish our Northern kin joy,
As they celebrate Life,
But here and now,
We greet the Dark
With reflection, introspection and contemplation
We greet the Dark from the Northern half,
And welcome wisdom and growth;
As the Light goes to the Northern half,
We wish our Northern kin joy,
As they celebrate Life,
But here and now,
We greet the Dark
With reflection, introspection and contemplation
Northern
Hemisphere:
As the time of introspection
passes,
We greet the Light from the Southern half,
And celebrate Life;
As the Dark goes to the Southern half,
We wish our Southern kin wisdom and growth,
As they reflect within,
But here and now,
We greet Life and Light and renewal
With joy and merriment and dance
We greet the Light from the Southern half,
And celebrate Life;
As the Dark goes to the Southern half,
We wish our Southern kin wisdom and growth,
As they reflect within,
But here and now,
We greet Life and Light and renewal
With joy and merriment and dance
The ritual in full follows:
THE
RITUAL
All rituals consists of 5 major parts,
which you will notice below are segmented into the five elements. Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit, but not
in that order. Each Elemental
correspondence has its own unique role within the ritual.
In most cases they are broken down as
follows:
·
East
– Air – Athame – Opening – This is the basis of preparation, introduction of
the ceremony.
·
North
– Fire – Wand - Invocations – This is
the basis of invocations, prayers of the ceremony.
·
Spirit
– Centre – the ritual itself.
·
West
– Water – Chalice - Offerings – This is
the time of offerings, libations, and honour
·
South
– Earth – Pentacle – Closing – This is the time of devocation and opening of
the circle.
Phase
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Actions
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Words (if wish to provide guide or use particular words)
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Overall
direction of ritual:
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||
Collate
items required:
·
Cauldron and match
·
salt, water
·
athame
·
copy of order of ritual / running
sheet / speaking notes
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||
Ask
for and brief volunteers
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Air – East - Athame OPENING
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Cleanse salt, water, incense and
fire.
Charge salt, water, incense and fire.
Cleanse and charge area. Participants
waiting outside to Ground and Release, and make sure watches are removed and
mobile phones are turned off.
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- hand over water, visualise yellow-white light
from hand into water, 3 Clockwise, to the south, circles while say
“Behold, I exorcise you, O creature of Water, casting
out from you any impurities which may lie within!”
- hand over water, visualise blue-white light
filling water, 3 Sunwise (to the north, anticlockwise) circles while say
“And I do bless and consecrate you to this work!”
- hand over salt, visualise yellow-white light
from hand into water to force out negativity, 3 Clockwise, to the south,
circles while say
“Behold, I exorcise you, O creature of Earth, casting
out from you any impurities which may lie within!”
- hand over salt, visualise blue-white light
filling water, 3 Sunwise (to the north, anticlockwise) circles while say
“And I do bless and consecrate you to this work!”
- add three pinches salt to water (to make Holy
Water) and say
“Behold, the salt is pure! Behold, the water is pure!
Purity into purity then, and purity be blessed!”
Walk Sunwise (to the north, anticlockwise, in the
Southern Hemisphere) and asperge (sprinkle with Holy Water) while visualise
filled with yellow-white light.
“Behold I cleanse and purify this space.”
Turn to face inside of circle, visualise
blue-white light and say.
“I bless and consecrate this space.”
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Cast circle
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“Behold I do cut apart a space between the realms of
humankind and of the Might Ones – a Circle of Art, to focus and contain the
power raised herein!”
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Invite participants into circle and
smudge
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Fire – North – Wand
INVOCATIONS
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Invoke the Four Quarters
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East (air)
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Example only: “Hail unto You, O Guardian of the Watchtower of the
East, power of Air and intellect. We pray that You will be with us this night
in our circle, and that You will give Your blessing and Your aid to this our
undertaking! We bid you hail, and welcome!”
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North (fire)
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Example only: “Hail unto You, O Guardian of the Watchtower of the
North, power of Fire and manifestation. We pray that You will be with us this
night in our circle, and that You will give Your blessing and Your aid to
this our undertaking! We bid you hail, and welcome!”
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West (water)
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Example only: “Hail unto You, O Guardian of the Watchtower of the
West, power of Water and emotion. We pray that You will be with us this night
in our circle, and that You will give Your blessing and Your aid to this our
undertaking! We bid you hail, and welcome!”
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South (earth)
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Example only: “Hail unto You, O Guardian of the Watchtower of the
South, power of Earth and integration. We pray that You will be with us this
night in our circle, and that You will give Your blessing and Your aid to
this our undertaking! We bid you hail, and welcome!”
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Invoke the Goddess
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Example only: "Divine Mother Goddess,
All-Bountiful, All-Beautiful, Source and Sustenance of Existence: we do
invoke You, asking now for your aid and guidance in this our undertaking.–
May Your Divine Love be as a light within our hearts, now and always! Light
our path, guide and strengthen us, enfold us in Your love, Divine Mother – we
thus pray! Holy One, we bid You Hail and Welcome!"
|
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Invoke the God (optional / depending
on type of ritual)
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Example only: "Holy
Father God –Son, Brother, and Consort of Our Lady- we do invoke You asking
now for your aid and guidance in this our undertaking.–. May Your Divine Love
be as a light within our hearts, now and always! Light our path, guide and
strengthen us, enfold us in Your love, Divine Father – we thus pray! Holy
One, we bid You Hail and Welcome!"
|
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Invoke your Patron Deity (optional /
depending on type of ritual)
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Invoke the Ancestors (optional / depending on type of ritual)
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Example only: “O Mighty Ancestors, Beloved Ones Who have gone before,
We invoke You and ask You to join us and to Bless us! Ancestors of the
Correllian Tradition, Priestesses and Priests, Mothers and Uncles of the
lineage, Spiritual family which aids and supports us –lend us Your
inspiration and Your love, Your guidance and Your aid this night, we pray.
Beloved Ones, we bid You Hail and Welcome!”
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Spirit – Centre
RITUAL
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Southern Hemisphere:
As the
time of outward activity passes,
We greet the Dark from the Northern half, And welcome wisdom and growth; As the Light goes to the Northern half, We wish our Northern kin joy, As they celebrate Life, But here and now, We greet the Dark With reflection, introspection and contemplation
Northern Hemisphere:
As the
time of introspection passes,
We greet the Light from the Southern half, And celebrate Life; As the Dark goes to the Southern half, We wish our Southern kin wisdom and growth, As they reflect within, But here and now, We greet Life and Light and renewal With joy and merriment and dance |
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Water – West - Chalice
OFFERING
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This
is traditionally done with a chalice of juice, wine or water passed around
the company within the circle AFTER the dedicationary offering has been
completed.
Then
it is common practice to pour out a small libation, and dedicate that to your
Ancestors, physical and spiritual, and to all your friends in Nature, seen
and unseen.
Dedicate
what remains in the Chalice to the Goddess and the God.
(After
the ritual, the libations may be emptied outside, or otherwise respectfully
disposed of.)
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Earth - South - Pentacle
CLOSING
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It
is now time to give thanks, and close the ritual
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Devoke the Four Quarters
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North (fire)
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Example only: “Guardian of the Watchtower of the North, power of Fire
and manifestation. We thank You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You
for Your aid, and Your guidance. May there be peace between us now and
always. Go if You must, stay if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!”
|
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West (water)
|
Example only: “Guardian of the Watchtower of the West, power of Water
and emotion. We thank You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You for
Your aid, and Your guidance. May there be peace between us now and always. Go
if You must, stay if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!”
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South (earth)
|
Example only: “Guardian of the Watchtower of the South, power of Earth
and integration. We thank You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You
for Your aid, and Your guidance. May there be peace between us now and
always. Go if You must, stay if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!”
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East (air)
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Example only: “Guardian of the Watchtower of the East, power of Air
and intellect. We thank You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You for
Your aid, and Your guidance. May there be peace between us now and always. Go
if You must, stay if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!”
|
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Devoke the Goddess (optional /
depending on type of ritual)
|
Example only: "Divine Mother Goddess,
All-Bountiful, All-Beautiful, Source and Sustenance of Existence: we thank
You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You for Your aid, and Your
guidance. May there be peace between us now and always. Go if You must, stay
if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!
|
|
Devoke the God (optional / depending
on type of ritual)
|
Example only: "Holy
Father God –Son, Brother, and Consort of Our Lady, we thank You for Your
presence here tonight – we thank You for Your aid, and Your guidance. May
there be peace between us now and always. Go if You must, stay if You will,
we bid You hail, and farewell!”
|
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Devoke your Patron Deity (optional /
depending on type of ritual)
|
||
Devoke the Ancestors (optional / depending on type of ritual)
|
Example only: “O Mighty Ancestors, Beloved Ones Who have gone before,
we thank You for Your presence here tonight – we thank You for Your aid, and
Your guidance. May there be peace between us now and always. Go if You must,
stay if You will, we bid You hail, and farewell!”
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Take
down the Circle itself.
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Example only: “As Above, So Below. As the Universe, so the Soul. As
within, so without. Merry meet. Merry part. And merry meet again.”
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Ground and release all excess energy.
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