Samhain
Hallowe'en, All Hallows Eve, Shadowfest, Feast of the Dead

Another turn of the Wheel brings Samhain or Hallowe'en. This is the dark twin of Beltane, the end of Autumn which is the final season of life and the beginning of Winter, the season of death. At this time the veil between this world and the mystery of death is stretched thin. Standing on the threshold between life and death, the goddess, in her aspect of Dark Enchantress, the keeper of the mysteries of birth, life, death, and rebirth looks back at the year that has "died" and forward to the ultimate mystery of renewal which the next turn of the Wheel will bring as it rolls back around to Yule. She prepares to descend into the mystery of this darkness herself still carrying the child that will become the sun child of the next season.

To return to the Wheel Legend page, please select the image icon to your left. If you would like to go directly to other quarter and cross quarter celebrations of the Wheel of the Year, please select the links to your left.

SAMHAIN
(All Hallows Eve, Shadowfest, Feast of the Dead)

A sabbat of reflection and magical renewal.

Wheel Legend: The Lord of the Shadows parts the veil between the worlds and as he passes through the gates between life and death they are opened to one another. The veil between the worlds is thin. On this night of most magical transformations, all may wear the many guises of all they have been, are, and have yet to be, Child, Father, King, Sage, and hermit.....Maiden, Mother, Queen, Enchantress, and Crone.

Purpose: To renew the magic of Spirit within as the Wheel of Life turns magically renewing all things.

Needful Things: A "Vademecum" or "Comehither" symbol. A charged candle inscribed with "is to be". An empty plate for honoring the dead. A crystal ball or some other tool for scrying.

Decorations: In deepest colors with dim candlelight. Place all your tools on or around your altar.

Cleanse: With richest scents of patchouli, ylang ylang, etc... Anoint the five points of power (Third Eye, Lips, Heart, Belly, and Pubis).

Quarters and Aspects:Those aspects associated with the magical totality of birth, growth, death, and renewal. The most magical images are appropriate.

Hearthkeeping matters: Bury the candle stub and the Vademecum symbol somewhere on your property. If you have made offerings to the quarters, pour them out onto bare earth or release them into running water.

Here is an example of a ritual you may use in your own Samhain observance

Shield Envision a fourfold shield using the power and stability of stone, the chill clarity of air, the enveloping empathy of water, and the searing purity of fire.

"Protect this child and guard her aim
from any evil, harm, or bane."

Center When ready, step into your ritual space.

Cast Circle Envision the same elemental forces forming the classic castle moat ringed by balefires at the tip of your hand, wand, or athame as you cast from your projective hand beginning at the western quarter and moving deosil (clockwise).

"The veil is thin
and we begin
to see
the mystery
of the wheel
revealed."

Call Quarters Facing west.

"Waters of birth gushing forth from the womb
tears of the mourners spilled at the tomb
bring in this hour
empathy's power
all that was, is to be
welcome spirit of the sea."

light the blue candle.

Call Quarters Facing north

"Earth of the grave to which we return greening with life at the wheel's next turn
bring in this hour
stability's power
from death, rebirth
welcome spirit of the earth."

light the green candle.

Call Quarters Facing east.

"From every newborn's dawning breath
beyond the last exhale of death
bring in this hour
clarity's power
in the end we begin
welcome spirit of the wind."

light the yellow candle.

Call Quarters facing south.

"Spark of the flame that grows to a fire
ember of ashen funeral pyre
bring in this hour
purity's power
now our loss turns to gain
welcome spirit of the flame."

light the red candle.

Invoke the sun raising projective hand in the symbol of the sun (first finger and Little finger extended, like horns, other fingers folded beneath thumb)

"Child, Father, Sage, and Shadow King
all you have been, all you will be again
bring in this hour
your magical power
from your loss, life is won
Welcome spirit of the sun."

light the gold candle

Invoke the moon raising receptive hand in the symbol of the moon (hold your whole hand in a "c" shape like the crescent moon)

"Maiden, Mother, Crone, Enchantress
from before this life to beyond the next
bring in this hour
your mystical power
past and future woven on your loom
welcome spirit of the moon."

light the silver candle

Invoke your Guardian tracing a pentagram in the center of the sand censor or in the air before you.

"Spirit within, be with me now as I renew my magical spirit and gain a deeper understanding of the spiral dance that is the wheel of life."

light the incense

Complete the circle with your purpose sit or stand as you please,

"The circle is cast and we stand between the worlds
beyond the bounds of time
where pain and pleasure,
dark and light,
loss and treasure,
death and life
meet here as one.
Blessed be."

Light the cauldron candle,

"I come now between the worlds to renew my spirit in the magic of the wheel of life and by so doing remember, experience, and reveal the fullness of life as it has been, is now, will be, and shall be again."

Uncover the crystal ball and begin your meditation. Envision flight that takes you beyond your home, into the night sky, past the edge of earths atmosphere where the veil shimmers like the northern lights. Part this veil with your projective hand, wand, or athame making the sign of the pentagram. As the veil falls away, look deeply into your crystal to see what shall be revealed.

"My thanks for this blessing."

Place the vademecum or the Comehither upon the altar.

"This, my desire."

light the charged candle with "is to be" inscribed on it.

"This my charge."

Allow enough wax to drip from the candle on to the vademecum picture to hold the candle affixed to the vademecum while it burns and envision as richly as possible, in completest detail, this desire until the candle burns out.

"So mote it be."

Ground (touch something from the earth with your projective hand, or just feel the excess energy drain from your body back through your feet to replenish the earth below you).

Simple feast place 8 or more apple slices with sigil in their center on the altar and offer one each to the four elements, the sun, the moon, the dead, and your own spirit.

"From the fruit of life I taste death."

sip from the cup of juice and make liquid offerings to the elements, the sun, the moon, the dead, and your spirit.

"From the cup of death I taste life."

Meditate again on the shimmering veil between the worlds, pass through it and allow it to close as you return back through the atmosphere to the welcoming darkness of this night and safely return to your own body.

Ground
(for a good long time)
Ground
(make certain you have fully returned)
Ground
(touch something from the earth with your projective hand, or just feel the excess energy drain from your body back through your feet to replenish the earth below you)

Thank the Guardian Make the sign of the pentagram with smoke from the incense stick (if it is still burning) or trace it in the air before you with your wand, or hand.

"Spirit within my spirit, my thanks for the blessing of your attendance at my simple and solitary rite.
Stay or go as you shall please.
Hail and farewell."

Thank the moon raising your receptive hand in the symbol of the moon (hold your whole hand in a "c" shape like the crescent moon).

"Enchantress, Maiden, Mother, Crone,
My thanks for the blessing of your attendance.
Stay or go as you shall please.
Hail and farewell."

quench the silver candle

Thank the Sun raising your projective hand in the symbol of the sun (first finger and Little finger extended, like horns, other fingers folded beneath thumb).

"Shadow King, Child, Father, Sage,
My thanks for the blessing of your attendance.
Stay or go as you shall please.
Hail and farewell."

quench the gold candle

Thank the quarters taking the appropriate positions as you thank and release them and quench their candles as you bid them farewell.

"From spark of growth to funeral pyre,
from first drawn breath to final gasp,
from fertile earth to graveyard dust,
from Water of the womb and tomb,
My thanks for your attending me.
Stay or go as you shall please.
Hail and farewell, and blessed be."

Release the Circle beginning at the Southern quarter and moving widdershins (counterclockwise) draw the energy into your receptive hand, wand or athame. When you have finished re-calling the energy, compress it into a little version of the golden aura you started with in your receptive hand and absorb it into your body.

"The circle is open
yet still unbroken.
Merry met, and merry part, and merry meet again."

Ground (touch something from the earth with your projective hand, or just feel the excess energy drain from your body back through your feet to replenish the earth below you)