Samhain v.1

Dumuzzi composed this ritual to take advantage of Riannon-Lia's House which, to his never-ending appreciation, has a basement! (Don't laugh. In New York City - land of apartment dwellers -a privately owned basement is not taken for granted).

The element of surprise figured heavily in this ritual, as you will see.

1) Prep for the Trek

We assembled on the main floor around what was apparently the main altar. A central Jack or Jill O'Lantern was carved with three faces to reflect the threefold aspect of Hecate. Around the pumpkin were arranged black gift bags, each one embazoned with a different depiction of Hecate. (I pulled the images from the web, thanks to Google's image search engine). Inside each bag were treats for the dead and a slip of paper giving whosoever selected that bag a name for the evening. The names were "Black Pearl, Dark Swan, Night Bird, Shadow Wing" and the like.

Just as everyone thought the ritual was beginning, I suddenly "remembered" that I left something in the basement and dashed down there to retrieve it. There I quickly put on a black mask, lit the candles on the real altar, and slowly, slowly crawled back up the stairs to greet the coveners as THE DARK ONE.

2) Come with Me / Diana's Descent

One by one I led them down to the basement, or rather, THE UNDERWORLD. Before the SANCTUM each person has to walk through the HALLWAY OF SHADOWS (black bedsheets from K-Mart).

3) Consecration of the Coven Broom and Sword

The broom was made by me and Riannon-Lia at a recent Pagan workshop. The Sword was a recent gift from Calamere.

Broom and Sword Broom and Sword
Welcome Lady, Welcome Lord
Sword and Broom, Sword and Broom
Banish Evil from this Room

4) Cast and Charge the Circle, Call Quarters

On this night of shadows
when the old ones
in their darkest aspects
reign supreme,
we gather in this circle
and open our bodies,
our minds and our spirits
to the Witching Hour.
The season of the Witch
now casts its spell upon us.

Drawing us into its shadow
enshrouded mysteries,
It's macabre beauty,
and its ancient magic
that will forever endure.
Come loved ones,
be with us now.
Thin grows the veil
that separates the worlds.

We call to thee
O ancient spirits of the elements
and guardians of the spheres,
tonight we seek thy presence here
In this circle and in our hearts
that beat as one.

Come, Northern element of Earth,
bring forth thy strength, stability and magick.

Come, Eastern element of Air,
bring forth thy wisdom, dreams and creativity.

Come, Southern element of Fire,
bring forth thy warmth, energy and flames of passion.

Come, Western element of Water,
bring forth thy love, intuition and power to cleanse.

Partake of our Samhain rite
and Blessed Be!

5) Welcome the Lady, Remember the Lord

6) Call Forth the Sacred Fire

Poem: "O Sacred Fire" by David Norris

By the fire within my heart
I call you forth, O sacred flame.
Within, without, you both are one
From first creation's light you came.
Ancient sisters o the stars,
daughter of the moon and sun
come forth in mystic golden light
I greet the source from which you came.

Arise bright fire into the world
Arise bright fire into the night!
Arise bright fire by Spirit's hand
Arise bright fire of magick's light.
From the core of Earth's bright center
Through the cosmos' vast expanses
I call thee forth, O cleansing fire
I call thee forth to lift and raise.
And by the power of three
I call the wind and rain and earth.
Bring the light, most beautiful light
and give this Sacred Fire its birth.

7) Hymn: He Sleeps in the Earth by Gwydion

Dark, Dark is the swirling flood
Black, Black is the stain of blood,
Deep slumbers the apple's bud
While low fires burn.

Winds blow where the night is chill
Owls shriek from the highest hill
She waits 'neath the moon until
Her lover returns.

Aged flowers now gray and brown
Bow down to the muddy ground.
Low, low is the evening star,
Wintertime is not far.

Leaves fall fromt he dying trees,
Blown bare in the autumn breeze.
Now locked in sweet mysteries
He sleeps in the earth.

When Summer was long and high
Birds spotted the bright blue sky.
Stags deep in the earth were seen
and leaves were bright green.

Now lonely the Lady roves
Through frosty fields and groves.
Earth waits for the king she loves
Waiting to give birth.

8) Do the Dark

I snuffed out all but one candle. I spoke of how life was temerous and could suddenly end without warning, then suddenly snuffed out the one remaining candle, plunging the entire sanctum into absolute darkness.

For a few moments we silently experienced this complete absence of light. Then we began chanting to invoke Hecate.

9) Invocation of Hecate

Hecate Hecate Hecate Hecate
Come Come Come Come....

And the voice of Hecate came through the black - "I am here. Light a candle".

We relit a candle and saw Hecate in posession of Riannon-Lia's body.

10) Consult & Consort w/ Hecate, Farewell

11) Consecration of Magick Mirror

The Magic Mirror is the former headstead to Riannon-Lia's bed. We consecrated it with sage smoke and Florida water.

12) Dedications to the Dearly Departed

In which we posted photos and momentos of our dear loved ones on the mirror.

Poem: "Lament" by David Norris

I miss you most each Samhain
When the boundary turns to sheer.
I wait until the veil is parted
at the ending of each year.

Sweet Spirit as you walk among us
At the toiling of this eve,
I see your face beyond the sunset
and hear your voice upon the breeze.

In the glowing of the candle
From the shadow on the wall,
I watch for you in every movement
and hear your footsteps in the hall.

Can you sit and spend the evening
As the portals poen wide?
Ancestral dead I bid you welcome
Most recent dead, I pray, abide.

When I come I sense your presence
I put my hand out in the air
a moment, then, we stand united,
palm to palm while waiting there.

I miss you most each Samain
when the boundary turns to sheer.
We share thee hours until the dawning
then bid farewell until next year.

Prayer of Offering
by Silver Ravenwolf

(all caps are in unison)

We Honor You

From the dawn of your birth
to the sunset of your death
WE HONOR YOU.

From the missions you completed
to your duties left undone.
WE HONOR YOU.

From the seasons of your being
through the cycle of your life
WE HONOR YOU.

From your time beyond the veil
'Til your earth entrance back again,
May the angels support you,
our spirit surround you.
May our healing love reach you
from this moment until the end of time.
WE HONOR YOU.

SO MOTE IT BE.

13) Scrying Time

14) Communion

Shadow Brew & Samhain Bread

Shadow Brew was a mixture of Guiness Stout, Sassafras Tea, Mugwort Tea and Honey with raisins, apple and walnuts.

Samhain Bread was a round, dark loaf of Raisin Pumpernickle.

15) Dead Can Dance

We danced and made merry and sang GREAT PUMPKIN CAROLS!

16) Farewell Lord & Lady, Farewell Quarters

17) Open Circle, Ascend to the surface, Happy New Year!