Samhain Lore and Rite
Pronunciation: SOW-in
Date: October 31st (although some observe November 1st instead)
Other Names: Halloween, November Eve, Samhuinn
The New Year and beginning of Winter. The third and last of the Harvest festivals, when all the crops are in and the last animals have been slaughtered for our tables. A time of reflection and mourning. The God has died for the sake of land, and is now the Horned One, riding with spirits and Fae on the Wild Hunt. Together They round up the souls of the departed to join His horde as He escorts them to the next realm. The Goddess is often seen as a Crone at this time, mourning the loss of Her Consort. However, She is still swollen with child, anxiously awaiting Her Son's birth. It is said that the Veil between this world and the next is thin at this time, and so divination and other efforts to make otherworldly contact are going to be most successful. Appropriate symbols for this time are gourds and Jack o'lanterns, and it is customary to leave out offerings of food and drink for the Hunt and other passing spirits.
SAMHAIN RITUAL
For Group Work: Needed for this rite are an antlered headdress or other appropriate mask, a basket/bowl of apples, a white-handled knife, and a crystal ball with stand.
For Solitary Work: Exclude the headdress, keep all tools mentioned.
Set the altar and cast the Circle as usual. Ignore the "P/S" speaking distinctions if this is done as a Solitary rite.
PS: IN TIMES LONG PAST, MANY WERE THE GODS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES SO THAT THE PEOPLE COULD LIVE, INHABITING THE SPIRITS OF THE CROPS AND BEASTS, DYING WITH THEM AT THE HARVESTS AND SLAUGHTERS. SO TOO DOES OUR GOD GIVE OF HIMSELF, AND TONIGHT WE HONOR HIM AND GIVE THANKS FOR THAT SACRIFICE.
If this is a Group rite, the PS assists P in donning headdress/mask. P then picks up apples and moves to West and assumes God position.
If this is a Solitary Rite, replace "I" with "He/Him/His" as appropriate.
P: IN THE REALM OF GREAT DARKNESS, TO THE CENTER OF THE UNDERWORLD I JOURNEY, AND I TAKE UP THERE THE TASK BEFORE ME. FOR YOUR SAKE, I WILL DWELL IN THE DARK REALMS WHERE YOU WILL COME TO REST. FOR YOUR SAKE, I WILL REIGN AND BECOME KING THERE. FOR YOUR SAKE, I WILL HAVE PITY AND GIVE YOU TO REBIRTH. COME FORWARD NOW, AND RECEIVE YOUR WINTER’S SUSTENANCE.
If this is a Group rite, the PS begins the procession. As each steps forward they should bow to P and receive an apple while chanting. After each has received an apple, all will continue to dance.
If this is a Solitary rite, take up an apple, dance if moved, and speak the chant three times.
Listen here to the chant if you are unfamiliar with it.
ALL: HOOF AND HORN, HOOF AND HORN
ALL THAT DIES SHALL BE REBORN
CORN AND GRAIN, CORN AND GRAIN
ALL THAT FALLS SHALL RISE AGAIN
If this is a Group rite, the P will call “DOWN” and all energy should be sent to him. P returns to altar and PS assists him in removing headdress/mask.
If this is a Solitary rite, ground away the energy before continuing.
PS: NOW, JUST AS THE GOD JOURNEYS TO THE UNDERWORLD IN OUR STEAD, SO WE JOURNEY INSIDE OUR OWN MINDS TO SEEK HIS WISDOM
As this is said, the crystal ball and stand are placed on the altar.
P: FOLLOW HIM, HE IS HERE
THE COMFORTER, THE CONSOLER
HEART’S EASE AND SORROW’S END
HE IS THE GUIDE - THE GATE IS OPEN
HE IS THE GUIDE - THE WAY IS CLEAR
HE IS THE GUIDE - DEATH IS NO BARRIER
FOR HE IS THE LORD OF SHADOWS
AND KING IN THE REALM OF DREAMS
LOOK NOW, AND WITNESS THEIR DANCE
If this is a Group Rite, the P will break the trance when he feels scrying is complete.
If this is a Solitary rite, use your own judgement and waking techniques.
P: DREAMERS, AWAKE!
If this is a Group rite, P will clap his hands to finalize the waking. All will remain silent for a moment.
If this is a Group rite, the PS will pick up white-handled knife and slices an apple cross-ways, exposing the star within.
If this is a Solitary rite, slice the apple in the same manner.
PS: THOUGH APPLES ARE A FRUIT OF THE UNDERWORLD, WITHIN THEY CONTAIN THE POTENTIAL FOR NEW GROWTH. LOOK NOW INTO DEATH, AND SEE THE SEEDS OF ETERNAL LIFE! BLESSÈD BE!
ALL: BLESSÈD BE!
Now to Cakes and Wine, sharing apples as part of the libation and feast.
Date: October 31st (although some observe November 1st instead)
Other Names: Halloween, November Eve, Samhuinn
The New Year and beginning of Winter. The third and last of the Harvest festivals, when all the crops are in and the last animals have been slaughtered for our tables. A time of reflection and mourning. The God has died for the sake of land, and is now the Horned One, riding with spirits and Fae on the Wild Hunt. Together They round up the souls of the departed to join His horde as He escorts them to the next realm. The Goddess is often seen as a Crone at this time, mourning the loss of Her Consort. However, She is still swollen with child, anxiously awaiting Her Son's birth. It is said that the Veil between this world and the next is thin at this time, and so divination and other efforts to make otherworldly contact are going to be most successful. Appropriate symbols for this time are gourds and Jack o'lanterns, and it is customary to leave out offerings of food and drink for the Hunt and other passing spirits.
SAMHAIN RITUAL
For Group Work: Needed for this rite are an antlered headdress or other appropriate mask, a basket/bowl of apples, a white-handled knife, and a crystal ball with stand.
For Solitary Work: Exclude the headdress, keep all tools mentioned.
Set the altar and cast the Circle as usual. Ignore the "P/S" speaking distinctions if this is done as a Solitary rite.
PS: IN TIMES LONG PAST, MANY WERE THE GODS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES SO THAT THE PEOPLE COULD LIVE, INHABITING THE SPIRITS OF THE CROPS AND BEASTS, DYING WITH THEM AT THE HARVESTS AND SLAUGHTERS. SO TOO DOES OUR GOD GIVE OF HIMSELF, AND TONIGHT WE HONOR HIM AND GIVE THANKS FOR THAT SACRIFICE.
If this is a Group rite, the PS assists P in donning headdress/mask. P then picks up apples and moves to West and assumes God position.
If this is a Solitary Rite, replace "I" with "He/Him/His" as appropriate.
P: IN THE REALM OF GREAT DARKNESS, TO THE CENTER OF THE UNDERWORLD I JOURNEY, AND I TAKE UP THERE THE TASK BEFORE ME. FOR YOUR SAKE, I WILL DWELL IN THE DARK REALMS WHERE YOU WILL COME TO REST. FOR YOUR SAKE, I WILL REIGN AND BECOME KING THERE. FOR YOUR SAKE, I WILL HAVE PITY AND GIVE YOU TO REBIRTH. COME FORWARD NOW, AND RECEIVE YOUR WINTER’S SUSTENANCE.
If this is a Group rite, the PS begins the procession. As each steps forward they should bow to P and receive an apple while chanting. After each has received an apple, all will continue to dance.
If this is a Solitary rite, take up an apple, dance if moved, and speak the chant three times.
Listen here to the chant if you are unfamiliar with it.
ALL: HOOF AND HORN, HOOF AND HORN
ALL THAT DIES SHALL BE REBORN
CORN AND GRAIN, CORN AND GRAIN
ALL THAT FALLS SHALL RISE AGAIN
If this is a Group rite, the P will call “DOWN” and all energy should be sent to him. P returns to altar and PS assists him in removing headdress/mask.
If this is a Solitary rite, ground away the energy before continuing.
PS: NOW, JUST AS THE GOD JOURNEYS TO THE UNDERWORLD IN OUR STEAD, SO WE JOURNEY INSIDE OUR OWN MINDS TO SEEK HIS WISDOM
As this is said, the crystal ball and stand are placed on the altar.
P: FOLLOW HIM, HE IS HERE
THE COMFORTER, THE CONSOLER
HEART’S EASE AND SORROW’S END
HE IS THE GUIDE - THE GATE IS OPEN
HE IS THE GUIDE - THE WAY IS CLEAR
HE IS THE GUIDE - DEATH IS NO BARRIER
FOR HE IS THE LORD OF SHADOWS
AND KING IN THE REALM OF DREAMS
LOOK NOW, AND WITNESS THEIR DANCE
If this is a Group Rite, the P will break the trance when he feels scrying is complete.
If this is a Solitary rite, use your own judgement and waking techniques.
P: DREAMERS, AWAKE!
If this is a Group rite, P will clap his hands to finalize the waking. All will remain silent for a moment.
If this is a Group rite, the PS will pick up white-handled knife and slices an apple cross-ways, exposing the star within.
If this is a Solitary rite, slice the apple in the same manner.
PS: THOUGH APPLES ARE A FRUIT OF THE UNDERWORLD, WITHIN THEY CONTAIN THE POTENTIAL FOR NEW GROWTH. LOOK NOW INTO DEATH, AND SEE THE SEEDS OF ETERNAL LIFE! BLESSÈD BE!
ALL: BLESSÈD BE!
Now to Cakes and Wine, sharing apples as part of the libation and feast.