A Samhaintide Ritual Celtic Trinity Adapted for Modern Pagans M. Donovan Warner Set up the altar with a censer loaded with charcoal and incense mixture (16 parts Frankincense, 8 parts Myrrh, 2 parts Bay, 2 parts Thyme, 2 parts Pennyroyal, 2 parts Solomon's Seal, 1 part Rue, 1 part Wormwood, 1 part Chamomile and 1 part Rose Hips), a chalice of wine, a bowl of salt, a bowl of water, 5 brown candles, an athame, a small pumpkin or gourd and some corn. Cover the altar with a white cloth. Make sure to have plenty of matches handy. Get everyone settled down in as close to a semicircle around the altar as possible, but have them remain standing. Assign four people to call the Quarters. Priestess:
We have come to Celebrate the Season of Samhain, when the final harvest of the year marks the passage of the bounties of the past year and the seeds are gathered to await rebirth in the bounty on the next. Priest:
We are gathered to remember the passing of those we hold dear, and to contemplate their immanent rebirth. As the Sun passes into the dark wintertime, hides, and is reborn again anew, all nature gathers itself into shelter to wait out the cold seasons and anticipates the spring. Other:
It is now that the dead come to bid farewell to the living before passing on to their next life, earthly or unearthly. Let us cast our Circle now. The Other lights the candles, the Priest lights the censer. Priestess (lifting athame and touching its blade to the water in the bowl on the altar):
I consecrate and cleanse this water that it may be purified and fit to dwell within this Sacred Circle. In the name of the Mother Goddess and the Father God, I consecrate this water. Priest (touching the salt with the blade of the
athame):
I bless this salt that it may be purified and fit to dwell within this Sacred Circle. In the name of the Mother Goddess and the Father God I consecrate this Salt. Other (pouring salt from the bowl into the
water):
I charge this salt and water with the power of Spirit in the name of the Source of Spirit. The Other now takes the saltwater to the north. Working clockwise around the Circle, the Other sprinkles each in the group (including the Priest and Priestess), at each person saying:
I Sanctify this person that he/she maybe Purified and fit to dwell within this Sacred Circle. In the name of the Source of Spirit I sanctify this person. Priestess (turning in a circle and pointing the
athame):
Here is the boundary of our Sacred Circle, nothing but Love shall enter it, nothing but Love shall emerge from it. Charge this by Your powers, Holy Ones! All:
So mote it be! All turn to the north. North Caller:
O Spirit of the North, Great Power of the Earth, come from your green forests. I call you to attend this Circle. Charge this by your powers, Holy Ones! All:
So mote it be! All turn to the east. East Caller:
O Spirit of the East, Great Power of the Air, come from your Golden Skies. I call you to attend this Circle. Charge this by your powers, Holy Ones! All:
So mote it be! All turn to the south. South Caller:
O Spirit of the South, Great Power of Fire, come from your Crimson Blazes. I call you to attend this Circle. Charge this by your powers, Holy Ones! All:
So mote it be! All turn to west. West Caller:
O Spirit of the West, Great Power of Water, come from your Blue Oceans. I call you to attend this Circle. Charge this by your powers, Holy Ones! All:
So mote it be! All face the altar. Other:
O Spirit of Power, you are always present. I call you to witness this Circle, that it may be whole with thy will. All:
So mote it be! Priestess:
Great Mother, I call Thee. Attend our Circle now. Bless us and keep us in Your Love. Priest:
Great Father, I call Thee. Attend our Circle now. Bless us and keep us in Your Love. All:
So mote it be! All but the Priestess, Priest and Other sit. Priestess:
And the Goddess spoke: `I am the Great Mother, worshipped by all Creation. I am the primal Female Force, boundless and eternal. I am the chaste Goddess of the Moon, the Lady of all Magick. The winds and moving leaves sing My name. I am a field untouched by the plow. Rejoice in Me and know the fullness of youth. I am the blessed Mother, the gracious Lady of the Harvest. All things come to fruition according to My season. By Me the tides of the earth are ruled. I am the Life-Giving Mother, wondrously fertile. I am the Crone, tender of the unbroken cycle of death and rebirth. I am the wheel, the shadow on the moon. I give release and renewal to weary souls. Though the darkness of death is my domain, the joy of birth is my gift. I am the Goddess of the moon, the earth, the seas. My names and powers are manifold. I pour forth magick and power, peace and wisdom. I am the eternal Maiden, the Mother of All and the Crone of Darkness, and I send you My blessings of Limitless Love. Priest:
And the God spoke: `I am the Radiant King of the Heavens, flooding the Earth with warmth and encouraging the hidden seed of creation to burst forth into the world. I lift My shining spear to light the lives of all beings and daily pour forth My gold upon the Earth, putting to flight the Powers of Darkness. I am the Master of the Beasts, wild and free. I run with the swift stag and soar with the falcons. The ancient woods and wild places are Mine, and the birds sing of My sanctity. I am also the Last Harvest, offering up My life beneath the sickle of time so that all may be nourished; for without planting, there can be no harvest, without Winter, no Spring. I am the thousand-named Sun of Creation, the spirit of the Horned Stag in the wild, the endless harvest. See in the yearly cycle of My birth, death and rebirth the destiny of all creation. I am the spark of life, the giver of peace and rest, and I send My rays of blessings to warm the hearts and strengthen the minds of all. Other:
And the Other spoke not and was All. All:
Blessed Be! The Priestess, Priest and Other sit. The Priestess takes up the Chalice Priestess:
We here in this Circle can now speak from our hearts. It is a time of remembrance and the celebration of the Final Harvest. Take and drink the wine of compassion, speak if you wish, and pass it on. She hands the chalice to her right. Each person drinks and speaks as moved to. The Priest, Priestess and Other may speak as well, but perhaps should indicate in some way that what they say is as an individual, not as a representative of a Power. After the last person has passed the Chalice back to the Priestess, take time for meditation. Priest:
Let us now meditate upon the passing of the light of summer, and those who have left us this year. All remain silent for about two minutes. Priestess:
O Holy Ones, we ask that you bless and keep us throughout the dark passage ahead of us. We thank You for the chance to feel the light of those who have now passed Beyond, and we take Joy in the knowledge that all shall be reborn and the Light shall shine warm upon us all again in the fullness of your cycle. So mote it be. All:
So mote it be! All stand and link hands or arms. The Priest (or whoever best knows the chant) leads in We All Come from the Goddess: We all come from the Goddess
And to Her we shall return
Like a drop of water
Flowing to the ocean. Repeat until it feels like a good time to stop. Priestess:
Blessed Be! Other:
Let us now dismiss the Quarters. North Caller:
O Spirit of the North, Great Power of the Earth, we thank you for your aid. Stay if you will, go if you must, but always: Blessed Be. All:
Blessed Be! East Caller:
O Great Spirit of the East, Great Power of the Air, we thank you for your aid. Stay if you will, go if you must, but always: Blessed Be. All:
Blessed Be! South Caller:
O Great Spirit of the South, Great Power of Fire, we thank you for your aid. Stay if you will, go if you must, but always: Blessed Be. All:
Blessed Be! West Caller:
O Great Spirit of the West, Great Power of Water, we thank you for your aid. Stay if you will, go if you must, but always: Blessed Be. All:
Blessed Be! Priestess:
Great Mother, I thank Thee. Our Circle is now ended. Bless us and keep us in Your love. All:
Blessed Be! Priest:
Great Father, I thank Thee. Our Circle is now ended. Bless us and keep us in your love. All:
Blessed Be! Other:
Great Spirit of Power, I thank Thee. You are always with us. Fill us with thy energy. Bless us and keep us in your love. All:
Blessed Be! Priestess:
Our Circle is now ended, but remains unbroken. We shall keep it in our hearts forever. All:
Merry do we meet, merry do we leave, and merry shall we meet again. Blessed Be! Anyone:
Let's Party! Seasonal festivities follow. Many thanks to Scott Cunningham for much of this material is adapted from his Truth about Witchcraft Today, and to Lilith and all the New Orleans C.U.U.P.S. people. Blessed Be! 1991 M. Donovan Warner | 
