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A Samhain Traditional Ritual

Cast the circle and ask the Guardians to be present.

The candles on the altar should be black,and it is usual to have nuts,pine cones,and apples also. Make sure you place a small bunch of dry, dead twigs there, too.

Stand at the center of the circle, facing west, and begin to think deeply about the meaning of this time. Slowly say the following words:
"THE LORD SAILED SLOW INTO THE WEST,THE LADY WAITS AND WEAVES; TIME OF DARKNESS, TIME OF DEATH, BALD BRANCH, BARE EARTH, BROWN LEAVES."

Think about endings and retreat, and what it all means to you. Now think of all the things you really need to let go of, in order to make room for something else. When you are ready,say this:
"HE LETS GO,I TOO LET GO,EMBRACE THE COMING DARK; I OPEN PALMS AND LOOSEN GRIP ON ALL THAT MUST DEPART."

Open your palms and imagine all the unwanted matter dispersing like seeds upon the land-for thats what they are, seeds of some new potential that you can't yet see.

Now put out all the candles except one on the altar. Sit in the center of the circle and meditate. Call upon beloved ones who have died to keep you company if they wish. Scry, if you wish,perhaps by looking for images in a bowl of water that reflects the solitary candle flame. This is your underworld descent. Take as much time over it as you like. Think also of the inner fires. This is a time of peace, when inspiration may unfold within you, new things become possible for the earth.

You should have a cauldron, or bowl in the center of the circle,with a candle in it.When you are ready take this candle to the altar candle and light it. (Although the other candles should be black, I would choose a white candle to stand in the cauldron.) Put the candle in the cauldron, sit and look at the candle and say:
"IN SHADOWS DEEP WE CLEARER SEE,THE LIGHT THAT FLAMES WITHIN; IN DARKNESS WHIRLING, STIRRING ROUND, SEE, NEW LIFE NOW BEGIN."

Watch the flame as it dances and glows. So does the life force, deep in the bark, under the dead leaves, under stones...and it will awaken again. Consecrate some wine by drawing a pentagram over it with athame or wand-drink some and allow its warmth to make you feel more alive. You need something to bring you out of the rather sombre, meditative phase.When you are ready, circle desoil around the cauldron, braking into a dance if you like. With athame direct power into the candle that already flames there, feeling it surge with increased power. Then take up the candle and relight all the other candles. Vitality still pulses under the earth. Visualize the light of your inner sight gaining strength.

Take up the dead twigs. Name them after things that need to die,for yourself,for others, for the earth. Affirm strongly that each twig embodies something undesirable that must go,for the good of all. Keep them and burn them later on in a bon-fire.

Cut an apple so you expose the star in the center. Save the pips to bury somewhere-they are the seeds of new life. Eat the apple in celebration,and drink the wine in honor of the Goddess and God and the four Guardians. Do not forget to thank the dead that you feel were there with you.

Close the circle.
It is especially appropriate to emphasis life in the teeth of darkness by making love-either in the circle with your magickal partner, if you have one, or later on.

Source

ove_fairy_dust post in the Wicca: Blessed Be guild