Samhain CUUPS 2009 ritual
The General Invocation
adapted from The Turning of the Wheel, by Stanley J. Modrzyk
We meet within these blessed bounds to celebrate Samhain, the time of passing from one season to the next, passing from the old year to the new, passing from life to death to life. The pumpkins are ripe in the fields as the North wind chills the air. The Earth is dark and cold and brown–the Earth that was so fair. The Wheel has turned full cycle, from birth to death at last; and we look back for knowledge from the life that now has passed–the knowledge that is the seed of all we will be and feel–the knowledge that comes from living the turning of the Wheel.
Elements invited into circle
Adapted from The Sabbats Edain McCoy pg 204 and 205
east-Elements and Powers of the East and of the Air, we ask for your breezy cleansing presence in our circle tonight. Hail and welcome.
south-Elements and Powers of the South and of the Fire, we ask for your fiery transformative presence in our circle tonight. Hail and welcome.
west-Elements and Powers of the West and of the Water, we ask for your flowing and ever changing presence in our circle tonight. Hail and welcome.
north-Elements and Powers of the North and of the Earth, we ask for your sturdy, comforting presence in our circle tonight. Hail and welcome.
Now let us invite the Goddess and God to our circle.
Goddes candle-Blessed Lady Goddess, we humbly ask for your presence here in our circle tonight. Hail and Welcome.
God Candle-Blessed Lord God, we humbly ask for your presence here tonight in our circle. Hail and Welcome.
Circle is cast
The Goddess
adapted from Seasonal Dance, Broch and MacLer, p.33
This time and season are your time, Grandmother Crone. You,the keeper of wisdom, mistress of magick, keeper of riddles. You who wore the Maiden’s white and the Mother’s red cloak now wear a cloak of black. Ascending the throne of the Queen of the Night, you who ruled beside the Sun, now oversee his exile.
Join our rites, if you will, showing us the wisdom of this time.
Candle is lighted
The God
original text by Melissa Creighton
In this time and in this season, O lord of the Sun, now you leave us for the Summerland, to hide your face for a time, to sleep in Mother Gaiea’s sheltering embrace, under ice and snow, safe until your return. In this time of darkness and renewal, we call upon you, O Ancient Lord, to join our rites, if you will, and bless us that we may know the wisdom of the Wheel. That we may remember that in death there is rebirth, in sorrow, there is also joy.
Candle is lighted
Main Working
Adapted from Celtic Magic, by D.J. Coway
Samhain is a day and not a day. It is the day of the traditional “year and a day”, a day of endings and beginnings when the division between this world and the next is thin. In this night, we remember those who have passed from this world in the past year. Those who wish may name loved ones who have passed in the last year, share a memory and so invite them to be present in our circle tonight.
As each person (pets are included also) is named and shared with the group, a stone is placed on the altar.
We welcome those who, though no longer living in body, live on in our hearts, with our families and friends, in our stories and our memories. Be with us tonight as we reflect on joy and sorrow, how we let go and what we let go, and how we keep what is precious to us.
It is not only our loved ones that we need to release in our path through life. We have experiences, habits, pain, mistakes, embarrassment, beliefs that no longer serve, even dreams which are no longer useful. As we sit in this circle, we may reflect on that which we would like to release from our lives, knowing that each of us at some time, has something to let go of.
Participants will have time to reflect on what he/she would like to release. Taking time to reflect on what he/she would like to remember about that which is being released; (Is there something good to be gleaned from this experience and the act of release?)
Participants may take this time to share their thoughts or just meditate silently.
“let go of all that is painful, shameful or useless and replacing it with good intentions of the future”
As we release these feeling and emotions, so also we release the spirits of our loved ones, though we keep our memories of them. It is their time to move on as others have. Now is a time to share some memories of ancestors, friends, pets and other loved ones who have gone in years past. As we remember these, remember that the newly dead tread the path that has been followed by other beloved souls and will, someday, be followed by each one of us in our time. Who would like to share a memory?
Photographs and mementos may be put on or around the altar at this time.
Wheel of the Year poem
Bless the Food via the Libation Offering
Release the elements
North Elements and Powers of the North and of the Earth, our time in this circle has come to an end, stay if you will, go if you must. Hail and farewell
West-Elements and Powers of the West and of the Water, our time in the circle has come to an end, stay if you will, go if you must. Hail and farewell.
South-Elements and Powers of the South and of the Fire, our time in this circle has come to an end, stay if you will, go if you must. Hail and farewell.
East-Elements and Powers of the East and of the Air, our time in this circle has come to an end. Stay if you will, go if you must. Hail and farewell.
Thank the God and Goddess
God candle-Beloved God, we thank you for your presence and your
blessings within our sacred circle. Go if you must, stay if you will;
Goddess candle-Beloved Goddess, we thank you for your presence and your
blessings within our sacred circle. Go if you must, stay if you will.
Circle is released
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