Samhain is pronounced as sow-in (in Ireland), sow-een (in Wales), and sav-en (in Scotland). It marks the end of the harvest, the end of the year, and the death of the god. Self-reflection becomes not simply a custom, but a necessity. One cannot (or at least should not) allow the Wheel of the Year to turn without some kind of examination of what has occurred. How have I spent the last year? Did I grow or remain stagnant? Did I live according to the values I claim to embrace? These are questions which must be addressed in solitude and solemnity.

Just as Samhain ends the old year, it must begin the new, though many witches do not celebrate the New Year until Yule. Reflection should continue during this dark time, but reflection should be accompanied by a growing sense of the changes to be made and the light to be sought. I sometimes make many lists during this time -- lists of what I have accomplished and what I still want to accomplish, things I have neglected and those I have tended, and other similar lists. Samhain symbolizes both the past and the future, illuminated by the cycle of the seasons, forever linked as steps on the journey we must all make.

The Goddess tells us: "And you who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without." We must look inside ourselves for self-knowledge and for the spirit that will sustain us in life's trials. Silence is one of the keys to seeking truth, for we cannot hear the answers in the midst of this noisy world in which we walk every day, nor in the noise of holiday celebrations however joyous.

Samhain is also said to be the time when the veil between the living and te dead is thinnest, allowing us some communication with those who have departed. How befitting this is for such a time of endings and beginnings. Reflections on death can be as instructive as the self-examinations just mentioned. When we think of those who have died, it reminds us of time passing by and of things we could have or should have done. These reminders, coupled with our lists of past and future actions, encourages us to take our New Year's resolutions far more seriously. We know our time is limited, and most of us have much to do in our alloted time. Most of us have to make a living somehow, but death reminds us that we had better spend some of that time in pursuit of our other dreams lest they be lost in the struggle merely to survive.

The Samhain rituals I follow change a little from year to year. I don't like to have a set of mandatory words or actions that might prevent me from exploring new possiblities in meaning. However, I do include the traditional Samhain rituals of sharing a feast (even if I am alone) and some form of divination. Since it is best that you write/say your own words in performing rituals, I will only include an outline here. If you are one of those fearless people you may want to perform the Dumb Supper which summons the shades of a departed loved one. You can find that ritual by clicking here

Prepare your house or room

Use black and orange candles, pumpkins (carved or not) and other traditional "Halloween" items if you wish (most are actually traditional for Samhain)

Prepare a table for the Feast of the Dead. It should be covered with a black table cloth and set with black dishes (black paper plates will do just fine). Place a chair at the head of the table, drapped in black cloth, to represent the spirit. The spirit's place is set with a plate with a white votive candle on it. Set places for each of the dead that you hope will join you., and place black votive candles on their plates. Plates for the living (in my soitary ritual, just one) are empty, of course, awaiting the feast food to be served.

Food preparation

My feast is usually very simple: bread, fruit, nuts, and juice or wine. If you've invited living guests, it is common to make the feast potluck. However, since the actual feast will take place in silence, try not to have too many things that would have to be passed or requested.

Light the candles and turn out the lights

Call the quarters (ask the Guardians of the Watchtowers to witness and protect your circle).

Cast a circle (use whatever method you've been taught).

Invite the deities

There are certain Goddesses that I always invite to my rituals. It seems especially important to invite them on Samhain, as I will want to thank them for their help during the past year, and of course, ask that they continue to help me in the coming year. If the departed loved ones were especially close to any deities, I invite them as well.

Feast of the Dead

Light the candles on the plates of the dead and the spirit. The feast should take place in silence so that you can think about your departed friends and relatives. Think of their passing and your hopes for their joyous return. If someone is recently departed, try to put aside your sadness and think of that soul as well and happy in the presence of the Goddess.

Speak in silence an invitation to these loved ones, asking them to join in your feast. Use your own words for this. You know these individuals and can speak to them in a way to which they are likely to respond.

Sit at your table and eat the food you have brought to it. Feel the presence of those who have joined you and rejoice in their presence. Allow them to speak to you of whatever they want to communicate. Take as long as you wish at the table, listening to those you have invited and speaking to them in silence.

When the feast is over, thank your spirit guests for coming, bid them farewell, extinguish the candles on the plates, and leave the table.

Banishings and Resolutions

Now is the time to bring out one of those lists! Before Samhain, write a list of things from the last year that you want to banish: bad habits and addictions, unkind feelings toward others, unkind feelings toward yourself .... anything you do not want to carry over to the New Year. Light a black candle and burn the list, asking the Goddess and God to help you get rid of these and all negative things in your life. If you prefer, you can put about 1/4 cup of alcohol in a cauldron, light it, and burn the paper there. Speak to the deities (you can speak aloud now) about your sincere wish to remove these things from your life. Use a banishing chant, if you wish.

Now you should speak to the deities about those things you want to bring into your life in the New Year. I do these things rather informally, but there are many poems and prose pieces in books that you might want to use. Asking the deities for future rewards must be accompanied by resolutions as to how you will accomplish your goals. They will help you if you are sincere in your efforts to help yourself.

Divination

Because the two worlds are so close at Samhain, it is the perfect time for divination. I prefer to use a cauldron of water for scrying, since the cauldron seems to fit the mood of Samhain (not to mention Halloween tradition). You may prefer Tarot cards, a pendalum, or runes....whatever method works best for you. Obviously, the goal of this divination is to see what lies ahead in the next year.

Meditation

All of my rituals include some form of meditation. This is when I ask my personal Goddesses to guide me, advise me, and generally keep me on the right path. I also use this time to thank them in a more personal way than by reciting a poem of thanksgiving. At Samhain, I thank them for all their gifts in the last year and ask them to continue helping me in the New Year.

Sometimes this part of the ritual takes the form of a shamanic journey in which I am taken to a far away place (sometimes familiar, sometimes not) and where I may be given signs that will help me know what I should do (either in general or in specific situations). Take as long with your meditation as you need.

Thank the Deities

Give thanks to the deities you have invited by offering them food. I usually say something like "all things come from the Earth and to the Earth they must return." Whatever food and drink I offer (usually bread and wine), I eat a little and save the rest to place or pour on the Earth later.

Open the circle

Thank and dismiss the Guardians

Blessed Be!

A word about invitations to the dead

For my solitary Samhain Feast of the Dead, I invite not only departed humans but special animals as well. I doubt that this is customary since the feast is usually for one's ancestors. However, when one of my beloved pets has passed away, his or her passing leaves an empty place in my household and in my life, just as the passing of a person would. I choose to believe that the Goddess takes these creatures and cares for them as She would any human. They are far purer in heart than any human could be, and their love is perfect and unconditional. Surely their spirits deserve whatever rewards await the rest of us. So, at Samhain, I invite these loving creatues to join in my feast where I can once again feel their presense and their uncomplicated devotion to those they love. In their honor, I also invite either Bast, the Egyptian Cat Goddess, or Diana, Goddess of the hunt and mistress of dogs, both wild and tame.

Items Needed:

A log or candle which will burn the night through
lots of evergreen boughs, pine cones and other such green decorations of the season
Journey cakes, Apples, or other foods made especially for offering out
also a libational offering
and last, but most important, famiy and/or friends gathered together for a pot-luck dinner on this night of nights.
Appropriate runes include Dagaz (bringing forth that which is hidden), Ingwaz (astral doorway), Berkano (passive warding), Sowilo (regenerative aspects), Jera (embodies cyclic completion), Gebo (root force of runic orders), Kenaz (binds together opposing runes), and Uruz (unlimited creative potential).

Light the Yule Flame while reciting:

As Sunna sinks below, so begins
the longest night of the year.
Standing in stillness behind all motion
let ye who would watch this night,
Bid farewell to the Ancient Ones
Who become re-born into another Life.
As we kindle the Yew Flame
May the reigning Darkness give way
To the ever-growing Light.


Blessing of the Foods:

Bid welcome to the Ancient Ones
For now shall begin the feast as we give
Blessings to the Spirits of the Land,
Blessings to the Guardians of our Family,
Blessings to the Lady and to the Lord.
For food is the gift of Frey,
Warmed and lit by Sunna,
Coming from the Goddess
By the powers of the God:


Following is the Blessing of the Libation

By light o' Sun and light o' Moon
As we drink of this libation,
We drink of the power of All Deities.
Of Fire and Lightning and Rain,
Of things that are wild and free,
We shall ever strive to remain true
To the ways of the Ancient Ones.

(Now it is time for the pot-luck feast, followed by gift-giving, after which all shall relax and bond until such time as bed beckons, whereupon the following is recited :

All hail to thee, Skies of Wind and of Storm. Blow ye sharp, clear and cold During this, the Wolf-Moon, When the dead fare on dire wind-ways, For Sunna now stands in her lowest stead. Lost is all light, all life be asleep, For now begins the Wild Hunt. In howe-mounds high, rise this night All who are kith and kin, For full well do we know you. Hail the Yule-Wights high!

(First thing next morn, assemble all out of doors to recite the following :)

Our Yule light glowing which gleamed the night through, Now kindles the keen fire, As we greet the new day with open arms. Look now down upon us Sunna As the Darkest night now is done, As this Rite of Winter has been honoured. Hail the Yule morn !!! Hail the Yule morn !!! Hail the Yule morn !!!

Once upon a time, long long ago, a beautiful young woman lived on a blue and green island. She had many friends on the island, fairies, trees, flowers, rabbits, deer and birds... but she was the only person who lived there.

She wanted to share her friends and her secrets with other people just like her, so she began to give birth. Every month when the moon was hiding, she gave birth. For the first six moons she gave birth to daughters with dark skin and eyes. For the last six moons of the year she gave birth to fair skinned daughters. On the seventh moon of every year the First Mother gave birth to a magical, sacred oak tree.> As the years turned many many daughters were born, and quite a few oak trees as well. The daughters played games with the animals and each other, they climbed in the branches of the oak trees and gathered flowers with the fairies.

One day the firstborn daughter of the First Mother gave birth herself! The First Mother was very proud and happy, her favorite friend Oak tree (who was very wise) gave her a silver crown to wear and told her that she was now a GrandMother !> Soon, many of the daughters gave birth, and the island became an even happier place, full of babies and big girls and Mommies who all played together with the animals the trees and the fairies.> One winter night when the moon was hiding, one of the daughters gave birth to a baby that was different from anything they had ever known. It was not a daughter, it was not even an oak tree, it was a baby BOY!

It was a very dark cold night, the longest winter's night of the year, so all the daughters and all the animals were snuggled up together to keep cozy and warm. After their excitement of seeing a brand-new baby born passed, the daughters and the animals realized that the baby boy was not feeling well. He was not as strong or as warm as the babies and trees that were usually born on the island. They all began to worry about the new baby, and tried to help keep him warm. The animals with the furriest coats pushed up close to the Mother and baby, the fairies sprinkled magic dust above him, and the little girls sang wonderful songs and danced around and around the room.> But the baby boy couldn't get warm enough and soon he was too cold and tired even to cry or to drink the healing milk from his Mother.> The first Grandmother was so afraid for the baby boy ! She tried to hide her tears from her daughters and ran out into the forest. The snow was very deep and full of white glitter, She tried to walk, but it was just too deep. So her friend the owl carried her up above the snow filled clouds, deep into the magic forest where her firstborn, most sacred wise friend Oak lived. The First GrandMother intended to ask Her friend for advice about the baby boy.>

When the owl reached the clearing where the Sacred First Oak tree lived, the GrandMother gasped! There was no snow on the ground there, and in the middle of a perfect circle lay her Friend the Oak. The Tree had fallen to the ground and broken into a pile of logs and branches. She rushed to kneel beside the broken tree, and her teardrops turned into sparkling icicles on her cheeks.>

While she was trying to understand what had happened to her dear friend, a coyote entered the circle and brushed up beside her. First the coyote kissed her tears dry, and then she whispered a secret in the First GrandMothers ear.>

The GrandMother nodded, and with the help of the coyote and the owl She gathered some of the branches from her oldest friend Oak and they returned to her daughter and the baby boy.

Using the gifts from the Oak, and the secrets from the coyote, the GrandMother built the very first fire that anyone on the blue and green island had ever seen!

The fairies were shocked, they had never seen anything dance like that without wings! The animals laughed, they had never seen colors so bright except on springtime flowers. The daughters didn't know WHAT to do, they had never felt anything as warm as the summersand on the beach in the middle of winter!

The Mother brought the baby boy close to the edge of the fire, closer than everyone else (they were still just a little bit scared of this new thing called a fire). The baby boy opened his eyes just a little bit, and began to wiggle his fingers. THEN he smiled and moved his toes too. When he was warm enough he snuggled with his Mother and drank her milk, soon every one was certain the baby boy would be okay. They were all so happy they danced around the fire singing their favorite special songs and giving little gifts to the fire.> The baby boy grew up strong and happy because of the gift of the First Oak tree. He had many sons of his own, and taught them all to plant acorns on the 7th dark moon of the year so that there would always be many many Oak trees on the island.> Every winter, on the longest coldest darkest night of the year, all the people who lived on the blue and green island built a very special fire. They brought in a special tree and honored it with shiney ornaments and glittery fairy dust. They picked one very special branch or log and sang their favorite songs while they decorated it. Then they would give this beautiful log to the Fire as a present... and all the children would hear the story of the gift of the First Oak tree.> On the longest night of the year, whenever you light a candle or build a fire, remember the story of the First GrandMother and the coyote who told her the secret. No matter how cold and dark it seems, the Sun will always be reborn and bring us warmth and light again.

Imbolc, Brigit's or Brighid's Day, Oimelc, Imbolg are just some of the names for this holiday. Imbolc is the name that I prefer to use. Translated literally from Irish Gaelic, it means "in the belly". I think this is very fitting since spring is still hidden from our senses but flourishing and growing in the womb or "belly" of our Mother, the Earth. Candlemas is the Christianized name for this holiday.

In the Wiccan tradition on Imbolc, after giving birth of the God, the Goddess awakens from her recovery by the lengthening days of light. The Earth begins to feel this warmth, marking a return to the months of Spring. The fires which mark this festival symbolize the coming return of life and the replenished powers of the Sun. In some Wicca covens, it is also a traditional time for initiations.

Brigit's Day was so-named in honor of the great Irish Goddess Brigit. At her shrine, the ancient Irish capitol of Kildare, a group of 19 priestesses (no men allowed) kept a perpetual flame burning in her honor for many years. She was considered a goddess of fire, patroness of smithcraft, poetry and healing (especially the healing touch of midwifery). This tripartite symbolism was occasionally expressed by saying that Brigit had two sisters, also named Brigit. (Incidentally, another form of the name Brigit is Bride, and it is thus She bestows her special patronage on any woman about to be married or handfasted, the woman being called "bride" in her honor.) The Roman Catholic Church could not very easily call the Great Goddess of Ireland a demon, so they canonized her instead. Henceforth, she would be "Saint" Brigit, patron Saint of smithcraft, poetry, and healing. The Irish somehow believed this, after the Catholc church concocted a plausible history and attributed enough stature to "Saint" Brigit. Brigit's holiday, being a typically Celtic holiday was chiefly marked by the kindling of sacred fires, since she symbolized the fire of birth and healing, the fire of the forge, and the fire of poetic inspiration. Bonfires were lit on the beacon tors(hills), and the village chandlers (candlemakers) celebrated their own special festival. The Roman Church was quick to confiscate this symbolism as well, using "Candlemas" as the day to bless all the church candles that would be used for the coming liturgical year. (Catholics will be reminded that the following day, St. Blaise's Day, is remembered for using the newly-blessed candles to bless the throats of parishioners, keeping them from colds, flu, sore throats, etc.)

Candlemas in Rome was originally a day for honouring the Roman goddess Juno Februata, as the virgin mother of Mars (this later turned into the Virgin Mary). Not unlike the festival of Lupercalia, usually celebrated two weeks after Candlemas, it is a celebration of the FEBRIS or "fever" of love. Many candles are traditionally burnt, giving rise to the title of this day. The candles were the symbol of that fever, and of the spirit or soul of those already born and those yet to be born. Pope Sergius, in direct response to the concerned and misinformed reports of Pagan Candlemas rituals of prayer and worship, rededicated the ceremonies to the Virgin Mary, so as to "purify" it and make it a Holy day. It was still, and is still today, recognised as holy by those with the knowledge of its origins, and continues to be celebrated as a day sacred to women and to the Goddess of Love. In the old Celtic sacred year, this is also the celebratory day of the Feast of Imbolg or Imbloc. This feast is one of the four great Fire Festivals of the Celtic sacred year, including Beltaine, Lughnassadh and Samhain. The burning of many fires and candles therefore are appropriate and traditional. Oimelc in some Gaelic dialects is translated as "lamb's milk" or "ewe's milk", as this is the time that many of the tribe's lambs would be born. It further is a day to celebrate the growing of the God as he feasts on the milk of the Mother. Imbloc was a festival to commemorate the growing power of the Sun, and the gentle rebirth of the Earth as she begins to once more open her bounties to us after the cold winter. The Celtic festival of old was traditionally held on a full moon, as were all the fire festivals. The date of Imbolc is determined by counting four moon-cycles from Samhain. However, most people practicing nowadays prefer the traditional date of February 2nd. Celtic festivals were celebrated from dusk of the evening of the full moon to dusk of the next day, and sometimes lasted several days.

Judeo-Christians consider the Candlemas the end of the Purification period for Mary after the birth of Jesus. In the Bible it says a woman is "unclean" for 40 days after the birth of a son (for a daughter, who is considered twice as "unclean" as a boychild, the purification is 80 days). Leviticus articulates the cleansing of women after childbirth, part of which is exclusion from religious worship in temples or churches by women who have just given birth. This last fact resulted in the Council of Trullus once attempting to abolish the Candlemas celebrations, as, in their belief, the Virgin Mary had "suffered no pollution" in conceiving and birthing the Christ, and therefore no "cleansing" was deemed necessary for her -- and it followed then that the celebration was without merit. The Candlemas was not abolished however and is celebrated world over under a number of different names.

Candlemas/Imbolc is a day for Omen watching as well, especially where the weather is concerned, leading to the modern day marking of Ground Hog Day. As the ancients once watched the animals for a clue as to how the weather would turn, our hopes for the end of winter and an early spring are steadfastly pinned on the possibility of "Chuck" seeing his shadow. The Candlemas rhyme, found in Carew Hazlitts book "Faiths & Folklore of the British Isles" goes as follows:
"If Candlemas be fair and bright, Winter will have another flight; If Candlemas be shower and rain, Winter is gone and will not come again." The Celts of old considered all of the High Sabbats (the fire festivals, also known as "cross-quaters" or "cross-corners" as they fall inbetween the Lesser Sabbats) direct weather predictors, as the above rhyme illustrates; the weather on the day of the Sabbat will indicate the weather that will follow until the next Sabbat. The Lesser Sabbats (winter solstice, vernal equinox, summer solstice, and autumnal equinox) were considered indirect weather predictors; the weather on those Sabbats will indicate the opposite weather until the next Sabbat.

Imbolc is traditionally a great time for making and blessing the candles you will use in your rituals throughout the year. In most covens the chandler (keeper/maker of the candles) would set aside a special time during the main ritual to have the candles blessed. If you happen to like Candle Magic this is the perfect time for you!

In ancient times Imbolc was a time for farmers and gardeners to bring their seeds from the last harvest to be planted for the coming season before the Gods and Goddesses for blessing. In this vein, you may want to put the seeds you plan on using in this year's garden into clean stone bowls and place them around the altar, dedicating a portion of your ritual to bless them and ask for a fertile harvest in the coming growing season.

Other customs of the holiday include weaving 'Brigid's crosses' from straw or wheat to hang around the house for protection, performing rites of spiritual cleansing and purification, making 'Brigid's beds' to ensure fertility of mind and spirit (and body, if desired), and making Crowns of Light (i.e. of candles) for the High Priestess to wear for the Candlemas Circle. All in all, this Pagan Festival of Lights, sacred to the young Maiden Goddess, can be one of the most beautiful and poetic of the year.

In Celtic Ireland, lights (usually candles) are left burning all night. Brigid is the primary goddess honored. So, for this holiday, a bread in the shape of a Brigid's cross is traditional. In keeping with the beginning of spring theme, dairy products, sprouts, and fruitcakes are other foods for this festival. The traditional foods of Imbolc came to us from the Celts, the French, and the Swedes. Many of them are round in shape, or contain the traditional foods of the spring Sabbats such as honey and milk. No doubt this was another form of sympathetic magic to wish back warmer weather. Pancakes or waffles, usually round and made with rich cream, are still a Swedish tradition for Imbolc, especially on farms in the Lapland where sheep, goats, and deer (the latter two sacred to their gods) form the basis of the economy.

Wreaths and woven decorations made or grass, corn and grain may decorate the home. Evergreens may also be placed around the house. Extra tools on or around your altar may include a "bride" (a simple doll made of corn or grain, usually decorated with white lace and white, pink and/or red ribbons), either by itself or placed in a "bride's bed", a simple basket that can be decorated with flowers and ribbons. The Altar can be decorated with a variety of flowers, and the Altar candles traditionally are red and white, or sometimes green and white. The color of the Altar cloth should be white.

Cast the sacred circle. Invoke the God and the Goddess. After this is done, light the God candle. Say: "This is the feast of the growing Sun. What was born at Yule grows and strengthens, and we who were midwives to the infant year now see the Child Sun grow strong as the days grow longer." Light the Goddess candle. Say: "This is a time for our spirits to grow with the Sun; within the measures of the Spiral, we each light our own light, and become uniquely ourselves. May the Mother bless the seeds of inspiration and creativity within each of us as well as the fertility of our lives and the Earth around us." Now is the time for any magic or seasonal activities which you had planned to perform this evening. Any magic, and things such as singing and chanting, asking for special blessings of healing and/or fertility, runes, wands, or a pendulum, or scrying in water or mirrors. After any such business is done with, hold the simple feast. Then you may banish the sacred circle. Take the offering dish outside, and leave the offerings for Spring's Travelers (many birds and small creatures will appreciate this!). This is a sample ritual only. The best rituals are those you write yourself, so I strongly suggest personalizing this ritual to your own needs and tastes. For more rituals, see my Book of Shadows.

Purpose: To acknowledge the balance between light and dark; to revere the growing strength and energy of the Sun who is now strong enough to conquer darkness; to acknowledge the time of new beginnings; to bless new goals and projects; to thankfully reflect on the gifts of fertility.

Tools: staff, athame, 4 sticks of incense, staff, blanket, ritual clothing, BOS, 1 hard-boiled egg, cauldron or bowl filled with water, fresh cut flowers.

Time: Sunrise

1. Lay blanket on ground.

2. Arrange the BOS, egg, cauldron, flowers, and athame on the blanket facing the Sun (East).

3. Plant incense into the ground to represent the 4 quarters and light it.

4. While standing, ground and center using the staff, then sit on the blanket.

5. Either mentally or verbally state the purpose of the ritual.

6. Slowly, pull the petals from the flowers and place them in the cauldron while reflecting on the meaning of Ostara.

7. For each goal or new project you want to begin working on:

15. Clean-up.