As I usually do every year I went to the desert to be sort of alone to do my ritual and meditate (I say sort of because no one should go to the desert alone, I had my boyfriend with me but he was in a different tent during the whole time and basically kept to himself). I was there before the sun set and watched it do so and after that I set up my alters and got everything ready at a spot near a shrub that always seem to vibrate with energy.
The Ritual:
What is needed: four candles (three for representing the gods, ancestors, and spirits, and one to represent the central or ‘hearth’ fire), offerings (bread, raw meat, and apples) a drinking vessel, a vessel to hold offerings (apple juice). Purifying water (I use rain water or spring water).
Purifying My Self Before Ritual:
I dip my hand into water, touch my forehead and say:
“May I be pure that I might cross through the sacred.”
I dip my hand again, touch my lips and say:
“May I cross through the sacred that I may attain the holy.”
I dip my hand again, touch my heart and say:
“May I attain the holy that I might be blessed in all things.”
Main Part of the Ritual:
Opening Prayer:
The fertile land below,
the blue sea about,
the vast sky above,
their blessings here tonight.
Kindling the Fire:
Lighting the candle.
I light the hearth candle,
May it grow strong,
May it grow bright,
May it carry my prayers to the gods.
Prayers to the Hosts:
Light a candle
A fire for the gods is here,
Excellent Hosts,
proficient in wisdom and skill,
splendid and hardy troupe,
generous patrons,
Morrígan, great warrior goddess, prophetess, and sorceress, I raise my voice in praise of you with wonder and awe. I sit in your presence, oh great source of terror and comfort.
Lugh Lamhfhada, great warrior and god of many arts, I praise you. Bright and shining god and flaming spear out of the chaos I honor you.
Fáilte!
Give offering
Light a candle
A fire for the ancestors is here,
for those whose graves we rest on
and whose fame we seek to follow.
A lamp to guide your way
through the mists
from Tech Duinn.
Fáilte!
Give offering
Light a candle
A fire for the Fair-Folk and land spirits is here,
auspicious and kindly denizens,
hosts of the abundant land,
gentry of the hills and mounds,
Spirits and guardians of the desert,
People of Peace,
Fáilte!
Give offering
Hail and Greetings to
The Three that are here,
Excellent Gods,
Beloved Ancestors,
and Kindly Spirits;
the three eternal fires
that illuminate the world.
Purpose of the ritual:
This ritual is to celebrate Samhain.
Main Offering/Sacrifice
To the Ever-Living Three
I give this raw meat and bread
in honor and in gratitude and in love,
honoring the ancient and ancestral
contract that binds us.
Give offering
Peace to sky,
sky to earth,
earth beside sea,
strength in each.
Hail to the gods,
love to the dead,
peace to the Good-Folk,
noble is each.
Personal Prayers:
As this year draws to its end,
I give thanks for the gifts it brought.
I give thanks for all I’ve learned.
I give thanks for all I’ve loved and lost,
and for all the friends I’ve gained.
Ending the Ritual:
Drinking cup filled with apple juice
I thank the gods of my ancestors for joining me in my ritual, I thank my ancestors for guiding me, and I thank the land spirits for aiding me. I thank you all for being a witness to my endeavor.
Libate and Sip
After the ritual I like to sit and meditate on the passed year. I also take out my last year’s resolutions see what I accomplished from that list asses what I didn’t and why; and write out the new year’s resolutions. For a look at what the result of my meditation and my resolutions please see: Samhain 2010 journal
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