Samhain is the representation of the death of the God, whom then will be reborn at Yule, this is the most important celebration of the Wheel of the Year, because it marks the end of a cycle.
As we know at this magical moment the worlds meet, the veil between the worlds falls and we must seize to remember the ancestors.
This celebration also represents the ritual of the last harvest.
These special moments we use to free ourselves from our weaknesses, because it is one way to tune into ancient times, when the offspring of cattle that would not endure the cold of winter were separated and sacrificed.
Having reached the end of the pagan year, we'll meditate on all the things that ended in this cycle that culminates with the celebration of the Sabbath: relationships, situations, people who have made the transition... and leave it all behind, although we'll not forget them because they're part of all we are now.
Ritual to celebrate Samhain
To change our consciousness and in tune with the energy of this date meditate briefly on the subject of death; remember friends and/or family members who have gone before.
We do this by seeking to understand and accept that death is nothing but a step to the beginning of a new cycle, which begins in death but that goes to rebirth.
Preliminary ritual
We will need the cauldron because we'll light the fire insideit, because God dies and returns to the womb of the Goddess, and the cauldron is a representation of her womb -the Goddess- and fire represents the God.
Those who wish shall have small papers written with everything they want to get rid of as grievances, grudges, all sorts of negative feelings, habits, problems of personal nature, etc., to burn in the cauldron during the ritual.
We'll light a white candle to honor the spirits that visit us tonight, so let's hand essence of patchouli to energize the candle.
Another of Samhain symbols are the pumpkin heads, then you may carve one and leave white candle inside.
Having all these items ready, prepare the pot with some coals ready to be lit, we stop in front of the altar and say:
"On this night of Samhain we contemplate your step Sun God,
Towards the Land of Eternal Summer
Also contemplate the passage of those who have gone.
Blessed and eternal Goddess, You who gives birth to the fallen!
Guide my steps into the darkness, protecting me
and helping me understand your mysteries, so I can see
that just as the light is born of darkness
Likewise the eternal cycle renews itself for ever and ever,
For ever and ever, forever, Amen "
After that set the fire in the cauldron (you can put a purple candle in it if you can not light the fire with the coals).
We took the papers where we write things that we do not want more in life, and after you read them aloud, we look the flames and say:
"Great and Wise Waning Moon Goddess,
Lady of nights full of stars!
I light this fire within your Cauldron
To transmute all that is troubling me.
I ask that these energies be transformed
From Darkness into Light!,
From evil to good!
Death in rebirth! "
Now burn the papers on fire inside the cauldron, and as the flames consume the papers, imagine numerous small dark spheres rising from the cauldron, with the full conviction that everything negative moves away from us and dissolves into the infinite starry sky of the Goddess.
Tthen while we lubricate the white candle we say:
"I consecrate this symbol of the Earth Element, so your light illuminate the spirits that will visit us tonight"
Then we place it inside the pumpkin head and light saying:
"With this symbol and its light, we welcome the spirits who accompany us in this celebration of Samhain"
When you finish the ritual, put the pumpkin head with lit candle near a window, and left there all night until it finishes burning.
This now is the ideal time to consult the oracle chosen, then finished with this part, we continue with the sharing of food, dedicating them previously -with a few simple words- those who have already passed away saying:
"We offer these foods to honor our ancestors, because your memory is with me and your teachings live through me. Blessed be in the Land of Eternal Summer"
Leave some of the food for the souls of the dead, when finished, thank the Goddess, the God and the elements for having honored us with their Presence.
Recalling:
- This Sabath will use sandalwood incense and myrrh, the colors are black, orange, white, gold and silver.
- We'll drink wines and ciders with warm cinnamon.
- We can decorate the altar with chrysanthemums, apples, pears, any of the grains and fruits of the harvest, nuts and pumpkins.
- Food can be beets, turnips, apples, corn, nuts, pumpkins, gingerbread, pumpkin pie, or any other food you have.
- Finally do not forget that the tradition of Sabbath is to leave a bowl of food out of the house to feed the spirits, and put a white candle burning in the window to guide them to return to the Land of Eternal Summer
Source: Magic Witch
