Samhain Ritual 2022 - Ancestral Wisdom

Darkness is spreading. The last bit of life struggles to maintain itself, as the icy grip of winter knocks loudly on the door. Barren fields are littered with dried bits of plant matter and the smell of snow lingers heavy in the night air. Leaves dance along the gusts, while empty branches rattle haunting melodies of darker days ahead. The air is thin, but the veil is thinner. Samhain (/ˈsɑːwɪn, ˈsaʊɪn/; Irish: [ˈsˠəuɪnʲ]; [sah-win]) or “summer’s end” is here.

Our celebration tonight originated with the Irish Celts, who celebrated great events with a fire festival. Each year there were four significant ones, with Samhain being the most important, as it marks the beginning of a New Year. It’s also the third of the three annual harvest festivals, and the time when the world went dormant. First Lammas in August and the first grains of the year. In September it was Mabon and the fruits and vegetables were picked and plowed. Now in late October, the herbs, the nuts, forest forage, meats and any remaining row crops. If these three were successful, then the New Year celebration would be joyous and plentiful. It was a time of feasting, but also a time of remembering the ancestors.

As October wanes, the invisible veil which separates the spirit world from the world of the living, begins to thin. On Samhain it is so thin that the barrier can be crossed. All sorts of mischievous spirits would venture into the land of the living to play tricks and kidnap the living. Of course, the spirits of our ancestors would also come across. In order to keep out the bad spirits, the ancient Celts would leave offerings of food and drink at the furthest edge of their property, to keep them at bay. The good spirits were invited and called into the village by name. Anyone who was forced to travel on Samhain would dress up in animal or monster costumes to confuse them, so as not to be kidnapped and pulled across the veil. Evening rituals were conducted by the Druids, complete with animal sacrifices, a communal bonfire, and a sharing of the flame ceremony. To all, I bid you welcome, for this Samhain ritual is about to begin.

samhain ritual 2022

Samhain Ritual 2022 – Preparations

This ritual should be preformed outside with a generous bonfire and plenty of food, drink, and good company.

Let your guests know that this will be a celebration of the ancestors & to bring items that connect them to their departed loved ones to decorate the altar (pictures, jewelry, personal items, etc.)

What items you’ll need to collect for this ritual (as written)

Quarter Candles (yellow, red, blue, green)
Large White Goddess Candle
Large Black Ancestor Candle
Food and Drinks & an extra plate for the ancestors
Decorate the altar with items from the attendees
Sturdy Plate with Offering Items (Milk, Whiskey, Honey, Fruit, Cakes, Anything Homemade, Nuts, etc.)

Any portion of the ritual that is bracketed by <> symbols should be understood as instructional notes and not to be spoken aloud.

Our Samhain Ritual Begins

From earth to sky, from sky to ground, I cast this circle all around !

<This serves as a call to action for the participants to stop talking, gather, and prepare to begin the ritual>

Calling the Samhain Quarters

East
All souls turn and eyes fix to the East. Let the great spirits of Air see your faces, so that they shall know you as the night grows dark and the festivities rise. For this night is a night of many spirits and the air will be filled with power. Reach out with your hand and embrace the wind. Caress it in your palm and then set it free. Remember that feeling and you shall never be alone. <light yellow candle>

South
Shift your gaze to the South. Look far beyond the horizon and seek out the great spirits of Fire. The glow of the bonfire shall be your reminder that your hearth shall be warm and even the darkest nights, bright. Look deep into the flames for the signs and symbols of the past and the future. <light red candle>

West
Now look West. The skies are still speckled with the last remnants of the setting sun and those last strands of sunlight sparkle and dance with the great spirits of Water. There is magick in water; it disappears and reappears at will, changes into ice, snow, mist and then back to water again. It is cleansing and soothing, and of all things, we are more at peace with water than any other. <light blue candle>

North
Finally look to the North. Tonight the spirits of Earth are everywhere, crossing back and forth across the veil at will. Focus your gaze and keep attentive for those invited and those which may pay an unexpected visit. But do not linger in your worry about troublesome spirits, for luck shall prevail through this night. And before we close this circle, this offering we do make. <Ritual leader or someone of his choosing should take the offering plate and place it as close to the edge of the circle as possible, with great reverence – once the plate is set, then light green candle to complete the circle>

Goddess
Brigid, Anu, & Danu, we call upon you to join in this Samhain ritual tonight. Our fields have been plowed and stores filled. We have been blessed with health, fertility, prosperity, and comfort; all thanks to you. Tonight we celebrate the end of one year and the start of another and we are poised to increase our knowledge, deepen our bonds, and spread our love. We ask for your continued blessing. <light Goddess candle>

samhain ritual 2022

Opening Statement

On Samhain night the veil is at its thinnest. There is movement and there is mischief. Some spirits are welcomed, while others are not, just as it is with people. We welcome the good ones, but try to bribe the monsters to stay away, which is why we placed our offering at the edge of the circle. If any mischievous faeries or other spirits happen by our celebration, the treats will occupy them for the night. Even being outside has a risk, but one well worth taking. For tonight is a rare gift.

It’s a genuine opportunity to commune with your ancestors. If you are patient, you’ll hear the wisdom of the past and how you can adapt it to the current time. If everyone would pay closer attention to the lessons of the past, we wouldn’t have so much hardship today. The modern world spends too much time trying to erase the past, or rewrite the past into a nice neat package. Some feel history is incorrect and they need to ‘fix’ it. Others want to use tiny portions of history to validate a false narrative. Still others want to justify violence or other acts against their brothers and sisters, citing transgressions of the past.

If you haven’t already heard it before, let me say it now. There are no good reasons for ignoring the past, for it is singlehandedly the best tool we have as humans to learn and prepare for a brighter future. So tonight, when you are in close contact with your ancestors, let their words guide you. Let their experiences teach you. Be a listener and a sponge. Blessed Be!

samhain ritual 2022

Musical Interlude

Music and rituals have gone hand in hand since the beginning. Drums, flutes, pipes, voices, and string instruments were some of the first. Now we have so many technological innovations that we can make music with a computer. But that’s no fun, now is it. Tonight’s selection is from my absolute favorite group, Faun. They bring magic to your ears, complete with memorable melodies and a huge presence. The song is simply called, Halloween.

Speaking With the Ancestors

Our lives consist of forgetting and remembering. Knowledge gained, even if gained by great hardship, is often lost or obscured. Memories fade as time passes. The ways of our forefathers become blurred, sometimes to the point that we no longer remember why we do certain things. None of these constitute sin or reason to be punished; they are simply a part of being human. But, do not fret and do not fear, for knowledge lost can be recovered through communing with the ancestors. They remain a permanent source of wisdom, knowledge, and especially tradition. When we seek their counsel, even on small matters, we honor them.

Speaking with the ancestors was a regular part of life with the ancient Celts, but on Samhain, it was something much greater. On Samhain, these conversations took place face to face. Food and drink were shared and for as long as the moon shone in the night sky, ancient wisdom would be shared, refreshed, or presented. But before we can enjoy the great New Year feast, we must first join together and call them home. Please, everyone, rise and gather close together. Face the West once again, for it is the direction of the ancestors. Open your hearts, surrender your inhibitions, and wait for the magick.

<Ritual leader should light the black candle on the altar>

“Ancestors…We call out to you on this night of Samhain, this night of the thin veil and the freedom of movement. We invite you to come forward from your resting place and step across the veil. Come to the place where your descendants are gathered. Come to the place where your blood still flows in our veins and your love still fills our hearts. These lands that you once paced are now the lands of the great grandchildren of your great grandchildren. Centuries have passed, and your families have grown. We’ve built our lives by your teachings and safeguarded our culture by honoring you. The ancient whispers are still heard in every footstep, every plow blade sinking into the earth, and on the edge of every sword. Ancestors…Hear us as we offer you the seat of honor at our table. Mothers, Fathers, Brothers, and Sisters to us all, we call upon you to join us. And to those honorable souls who wait on the other side with no blood left to celebrate them, we call upon them as well. For none of our kin or kind shall be left alone, even if they remain nameless. Step across the veil and come toward our light today, and forever you shall be welcome as family. Ancestors…it is only this night, so we bid you haste. Our table is set, and we await your company.”

<momentary period of silence to allow for the wandering spirits of our ancestors to enter the sacred space>

samhain ritual 2022

Meet, Greet, and be Merry – Celebrate the Knowledge

We welcome the ancestors to this great feast of the New Year. Our altar holds the dearest tokens and memories of loved ones who have passed. Those symbols keep the ancestors alive in our hearts and act like magnets to bring them to our circle. Everyone greet them as they arrive, open your hearts and let your voices be heard, for this is a night of celebration and festivities. Our feast is prepared and our glasses full, so let us sit in a great gathering and become one with the everything.

But first, let us fill a plate for those from across the veil. And while we’re at it, let us pour a draught as well.

<Fill the extra plate with food, and pour a drink for the ancestors>

We offer this meal and this drink for those footsteps we now walk in and whose memory we seek to maintain.

<place the ancestor serving on the altar and then serve food and drink to everyone else (get help as needed)>

Raise your cups, one and all, and toast with me. Hail to the ancestors! Hail to the Knowledge! Have a Blessed New Year!

Having conversations with your ancestors is no different than having conversations with one another. Open your heart and free yourself from the mundane anchors of everyday life. Let your energy flow freely and your sight to widen. Give your energy to those seated next to you, and they in turn shall give their energy to you. Together we shall create a great and complex web of human compassion and love. And once we’ve filled one another with energy, then we shall spread it and share that love and power with every blade of grass and each stone. Every tree and bush, and every grain of sand shall become part of this great web. For we are at the moment of happening, a new beginning, and a fresh start. We are a great vibration and we are in tune with the spirits.

Let us take time as we share food and drink for stories of the past. Whomever wishes to tell a story about someone who has passed away, please feel free to share. These stories are important for keeping memories alive and sharing the wisdom of of family with other families.

<Allow as much time as necessary for people to take turns telling stories or until the meal is over>

Now that our bellies are full and our minds swimming with the great deeds and actions of our ancestors and those of our community, let us gather our focus. Let us grow quiet and dive into the energy field all around us. Focus on whomever you wish to speak with and do not allow yourself to be distracted. Keep those things that which you wish to know in the forefront of your. Remember your intention. Speak with purpose, you not with sound. Listen and remember.

Surrender any expectations you may have about how they will speak to you. It may not be words, but instead a gentle breeze across your cheek. You may be suddenly overwhelmed with a calmness that has the power of a great embrace. The trees may dance and the night owls might sing. Visions or pictures may appear in the flames of our bonfire. Or, you might hear whispers of sounds familiar and yet only known to you, such as a lullaby or an encouraging word. And do not be shocked if a comforting weight appears on your shoulder, as if someone is resting their hand there.

For pressing questions about things grand and important, the answers might not be immediately obvious. The ancestors move in mysterious ways at times, and are not always direct. Some believe that this is their way of nudging us in the right direction, but not solving our problems for us, rather teaching us how to solve them ourselves. You may see an unexpected light, or a unique gust of wind, or you may find yourself face to face with an apparition or completely drenched in a feeling of pure love, like a sudden rainstorm. You might just feel at peace, and more will be revealed as you dream tonight. Remember that the ancestors are not bound by the same time constraints as we are, so it may be several days until you are given a response. Be attentive and remember that knowledge awaits you.

Now is your time. Be at peace as you seek the wisdom of those who you wish to learn from.

<allow ample time for everyone to follow their own hearts in how they speak to their ancestors>

And now we shall close this circle. The night is still young and there is merry-making to be had. Tomorrow is a clean slate and a new year. Make yourself a promise to not waste this precious time. Seek the knowledge and you shall receive it, but more importantly, use the knowledge for growth and ensure it is never lost again.

Closing Our Samhain Ritual 2022

North
Once again we look toward the North as our Samhain ritual comes to a close. The Earth spirits have certainly made their presence known tonight and we honor them for their presence and presence of mind. For as we move through our allotted time on earth, we are constantly learning. Books, landmarks, and the wisdom of our ancestors are great, but nothing in comparison to the wisdom and lessons taught to us by the spirits. <extinguish green candle>

West
Now turn again to the West. For as the ancestors leave, they shall be returning in this direction. As we close this circle, we are once again confronted with the transformative power of water. It’s a real lesson on flexibility and situational change, while never altering what you truly are made up of. <extinguish blue candle>

South
Next look toward the South and once again offer great praise and thanks to the spirits of Fire for always being there when we need them. Just as water teach us flexibility, fire teaches us the lesson of duality. The flames can create warmth, light, and comfort, but can also destroy, and drive humans to despair. The same lesson goes for the axe, the pen, and the cloak. It’s how we apply them to our lives that ends up being the deciding vote. <extinguish red candle>

East
Finally look again to the East and allow the comforting embrace of the Air spirits to surround and invigorate you. For as we depart, the wind shall serve to remind each of us, of this night and the magickal energy flows that came across the veil. <extinguish yellow candle>

Ancestor (black candle)
We have been blessed on this Samhain night, for the greatest gift of all has been given to us once again. The great gift of knowledge, not any knowledge, mind you, but ancestral knowledge. For it is true that we forget. But the ancestors ensure that things are not forgotten and happily share that wisdom without expectations. <extinguish black candle>

Goddess
And now we whisper the names of the Goddesses on the night wind, so that they shall rise up above us and shower us with their love. But, do not fear, for we only need to reach out and call for them, and they shall return. They are always with us, whether we know it or not. For as long as we honor them, they in return shall provide for us, and for that, we are eternally thankful. <extinguish Goddess candle>

Be cautious on the road home and do not fall prey to the Fae.

This Samhain circle is now open!