Here is the ritual we did to close this past Sunday’s Welcoming Circle at Asheville Raven and Crone. It’s one possibility for the upcoming celebration of Samhain or can be used any other time as well.
SAMHAIN DIVINATION RITUAL
ANOINTING WITH OIL (David Taliesin)
Divination oil from Asheville Raven & Crone
May the Ancestors impart their wisdom to you tonight.
May the Great Spirit make clear what is hidden from your sight.
CASTING THE CIRCLE (David Taliesin)
Use sacred smoke such as incense as you go around the circle chanting the following. You may use a feather to waft the smoke if you like.
Dark spirits fly away, so only peace and love remain.
CALLING THE QUARTERS (Llewellyn Sabbat Essentials)
Hail to the element of Air,
To the elementals that make the wind blow
And the weather flow.
Hail to the Guardian of the watchtower of the East, Raphael.
Watch over this circle that we may have cause for joy in learning,
And protection from injury.
Hail and welcome!
Hail to the element of Fire,
To the elementals that make fire dance
And the heat warm.
Hail to the Guardian of the watchtower of the South, Michael.
Watch over this circle and protect us from all harm!
Hail and welcome!
Hail to the element of Water,
To the elementals that stir from within.
Hail to the Guardian of the watchtower of the west, Gabriel.
Watch over this circle, and guide our awareness
To what will benefit our consciousness!
Hail and welcome!
Hail to the element of Earth,
To the elementals that give us our quiet.
Hail to the Guardian of the watchtower of the North, Uriel.
Watch over this circle, and guide us safely through this journey!
Hail and welcome!
Everyone face toward the center of the circle. (David Taliesin)
As the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer,
We learn to see in the dark.
We search for the deep, hidden mysteries of the Divine,
And dine at Wisdom’s table of intuition and creativity.
Great Spirit, who is known to us by many names,
Be with us tonight. We are blessed by your presence.
Hail and welcome!
A PRAYER TO THE BLESSED DEAD (Llewellyn Sabbat Essentials)
Hail matriarchs! Hail patriarchs!
Come here, remember with us,
remember yourselves,
as grandmothers, grandfathers,
as mothers, fathers,
as uncles, aunts,
as sisters, brothers,
as daughters, sons.
We remember you with stories
of warriors, of peacemakers,
of healers, of teachers,
of farmers, of city builders,
of poets, of philosophers,
of people we loved.
In memories of you dwell living feeling.
This is your spark, eternal—an ember cherished,
a light passed from one generation to the next.
A PRAYER OF REMEMBRANCE (from the Jewish Yom Kippur Liturgy)
In the rising of the sun and in its going down, we remember them.
In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, we remember them.
In the opening buds and in the rebirth of spring, we remember them.
In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer, we remember them.
In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn, we remember them.
In the beginning of the year and when it ends, we remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength, we remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart, we remember them.
When we have joys we yearn to share, we remember them.
So long as we live, they are now a part of us, as we remember them.
DIVINATION ACTIVITY FOR THE NIGHT (David Taliesin)
Begin with the Druidic Tone Chant oh-ee-ah to fill the circle with energy. Have them select an image that speaks to them from the select images from the Tarot deck. They do not have to know what the card means. Tell participants to simply meditate on the image and write down what comes to mind. Allow time for sharing before losing the circle.
CLOSING (Llewellyn Sabbat Essentials)
Hail Uriel, Guardian of the watchtower of the North,
To its midnight elementals and the forces of calm and quiet!
We thank you for your protection, and release you on your way!
We bid you farewell.
Hail Gabriel, Guardian of the watchtower of the West,
To its twilight elementals and to the forces of depth and feeling!
We thank you for your stirrings, and release you on your way!
We bid you farewell.
Hail Michael, Guardian of the watchtower of the South,
To its zenith elementals and to the forces of heat and change!
We thank you for your protection, and release you on your way!
We bid you farewell.
Hail Raphael, Guardian of the watchtower of the East,
To dawntide elementals and to that which stirs and whispers!
We thank you for your protection, and release you on your way!
We bid you farewell.
CLOSING CONTINUED (David Taliesin)
Great Spirit whose hidden wisdom
Has been revealed to us tonight,
We give you thanks.
Give us strength to act upon what we have learned,
And illumine the dark days of autumn
With your insight and creativity.
Stay if you will. Go if you must,
We bid you farewell!
Blessed Ancestors who watch over us
In ways both hidden and revealed;
Whose love surrounds us,
And whose encouragement warms our hearts;
Thank you for your presence in our circle tonight!
Stay if you will, Go if you must!
We bid you farewell!
BENEDICTION FOR THE ANCESTOR VIGIL (Byron Ballard)
In this season of honor and love,
Of forgiveness and hauntings,
Give a thought to those who are still traveling
The shadowed road of grief.
Tend them as you can
And tend your own grief as you travel with them.
May the road be traveled with some little light.
Hail, the Traveler!
What is remembered, and honored, lives.
And now the circle is open but never unbroken
Because it is a circle woven in love.
Whatever energy is left in this space
We return to the earth with a spirit of gratitude.
Merry meet and merry part, and merry meet again.
Portions as noted ©2023 by David Taliesin, http://www.sabbatsandsabbaths.com
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