Simple Samhain Ritual

You will need:

- Black and/or orange altar cloth(s)
- Quarter candles
- One white candle for the God
- One black candle for the Goddess
- One black candle
- Carved Jack-o-lantern or skull (ceramic, stone, etc) on altar
- Samhain Incense

Cleanse the area in preparation of the ritual as you normally would. You can mark the circle with pumpkins or other things that remind you of Samhain. A nice touch is to have a jack-o-lantern mark each quarter.

Casting the Circle

Pick up your athame and kiss the blade. Starting in the North point the athame to the ground while visualizing a blue light coming from the blade to the ground. Begin to draw the circle moving deosil (clockwise). Complete this circle three times saying:

First time:
“I cast this circle in order to create a sacred space.”

Second time
“I cast this circle to contain the power.”

Third time
“I cast this circle as a barrier from all negative energy and spirits. So mote it be!”

Call the quarters starting in the North. Say:

"Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, element of air, and Guardians of the doorway between worlds. I do summon, stir and call you forth that you may guard and witness us in these rites. Hail and welcome!”
 
Turn to the East and say:

"Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, element of air. I do summon, stir and call you forth that you may guard and witness us in these rites. Hail and welcome!”

Turn to the South and say:

"Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, element of fire. I do summon, stir and call you forth that you may guard and witness me in my rites. Hail and welcome!”

Turn to the West and say:

"Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, element of water. I do summon, stir and call you forth that you may guard and witness us in these rites. Hail and welcome!”

Inviting the Lord and Lady

Light the Goddess candle and say:

"Wise Crone, Dark Lady, Dark Mother this is your time to rule. Darkness and decay begins to envelope the world and death knocks upon the door. Bring us this night your wisdom and clarity and envelope us within your love. Challenge us to look into ourselves and reflect upon what we find. Dark Mother we invite you this night to join us within our circle. Hail and Welcome."

Light the God candle and say:

"Lord, though you leave us for a time, we know that you will soon return!”

Extinguish the God candle and say:

“While we mourn your passing, we rejoice and await your return at Yule! Through your sacrifice we live and understand that death is a natural part of life. You show us that there is no true death for we all shall be reborn. The Wheel of Life forever turns. Hail and farewell!"

Circle Work

Read the Charge of the Crone.

Read the Charge of the God.

Bless the cakes and ale.

Light the black candle and place it near the offering bowl and say:

"May this candle guide those who have passed before us. We welcome (speak their names) to this rite in perfect love and perfect trust. Negative energies will be repelled for only positive energies are welcome here. May this candle serve as a beacon to those loved ones who seek to be with us this night. So mote it be!"

Take a piece of the cake and dip it into the wine. Place it into the offering bowl and say:

“We offer this food and drink to those who have passed before us. We offer this food and drink to our ancestors. May it please you and sustain you this night. We honor you and remember you.”

Break off a piece of the cake and pass it to your left. Eat the cake. Pick up the glass of wine and take a drink, passing it to your left. Remember your loved ones as you symbolically share a meal with them. Then sit quietly for a time and meditate and remember those who have passed. Take as much time as you wish. If your loved one has contacted you and you have communed with them, break off another piece of cake and dip it into the wine. Place it with the previous offering and say:

"I thank you for your company and for speaking with me. I offer you more food and drink. May it please you and sustain you this night! Blessed be!"

Wait silently for a short period of time and when you feel it is time then say farewell to the ancestors:

”To those who have passed that we love. We thank you for joining us and we bid you farewell as you journey back to the Land of the Dead. Go in peace. Hail and farewell!”

Farewell to the Goddess

Face altar and say:

“Dark Mother, Wise Crone. We thank you for being here with us tonight and for sharing your wisdom. Stay if you wish, go if you must. Hail and farewell!”

Extinguish the Goddess candle.

Farewell to the Guardians

Face the North and say:

“Guardians of the Watchtower of the North, element of earth and Guardians of the gateway between worlds. We thank you for your presence here this evening. Go in peace. Hail and farewell.”

Extinguish the North quarter candle.

Face the West and say:

“Guardians of the Watchtower of the West, element of water. We thank you for your presence here this evening. Go in peace. Hail and farewell.”

Extinguish the West quarter candle.

Face the South and say:

“Guardians of the Watchtower of the South, element of fire. We thank you for your presence here this evening. Go in peace. Hail and farewell.”

Extinguish the South quarter candle.

Face the East and say:

“Guardians of the Watchtower of the East, element of air. We thank you for your presence here this evening. Go in peace. Hail and farewell.”

Extinguish the East quarter candle.

Visualize the circle slowly melting away into the earth. Once it is gone the circle is open and
the ritual is done.

Before leaving the area, make sure you ground and center.

Take the remaining cake and wine and offer them to the Goddess. Pour the wine onto the ground and leave the cake on the ground and say a prayer of offering to the Goddess.