Solitary Samhain Ritual
Supplies
- Working Altar decorated with symbols of life and death
- Ancestor Altar (temp or permanent) with keepsakes/pictures and a white candle
- Earth, Air, Fire, and Water elements
- Illuminator candles
- Besom
- Athame
- Cauldron or another fire-proof container
- Chalice with wine/juice
- Dish with cakes
- Cleansed and Consecrated offering dish if performing inside
- Small carved pumpkins with tea lights for each quarter (either white or colored)
- Candles: 1 red, 1 white, 1 black
- few sprigs of rosemary, as well as a small amount of dried herb
- 1 clove of garlic
- Salt
- A black stone
- A red cloth
- Black cord
- A picture of the fifth pentacle of the moon
- ribbon of equal lengths: red, black, and white
- parchment paper for the releasing spell
- notebook and pen for recording any notes/information received throughout the ritual
Directions
- Sweep the area with a besom. Cleanse the area with the four elements clockwise, working with each element one at a time. Place any objects of seasonal representation on the altar, along with a chalice with wine/juice and an offering plate with cakes (I’ll add my recipe as a comment).
- Open altar energies by passing the four elements over the altar and intoning a personal blessing. Tap on the altar five (5) times, one for each element and the spirit.
- Light the illuminator candles on the altar.
- Cast the sabbat circle:
Tides of the season ebb and flow (tap the altar once while)
From spring’s first light to autumn’s glow. (hold your hand over the altar)
Deosil around from birth to death (begin at the north and start to walk the circle clockwise)
Legends, myths, and lore connect. (you should be back at the north)
Solar fire, sun’s bright burning (light the red candle on the altar and hold it upwards while looking skyward)
Purify the Great Wheel turning. (return the candle to the altar)
Winds of the north to carry the flame (begin walking from the north to the east)
The mists of eons call the name Samhain.
East and South, the west inspire (pause the wording at each direction as you continue around the circle)
Energy spirals ever higher! (return to the north)
The circle rises and marks rebirth (begin to walk the third pass around the circle)
As seasons change and kiss the earth. (return to the north)
From seed and plough to harvest home (hold hands over the altar)
To starry vault and standing stone (standing at the north, point upward)
This sabbat circle thrice around (visualize the complete circle)
I seal thee now from sky and ground! (bring your arm down and stomp the floor with your foot).
- Light the quarter candles within the carved pumpkins and call the quarters:
I call to thee, oh Ancient Spirits of the Element of Air.
Guardians of the Eastern Sphere.
Tonight I seek thy presence here.
To guard, to guide, and to share in my Blessed Samhain rite.
Hail and Welcome!I call to thee, oh Ancient Spirits of the Element of Fire.
Guardians of the Southern Sphere.
Tonight I seek thy presence here.
To guard, to guide, and to share in my Blessed Samhain rite.
Hail and Welcome!I call to thee, oh Ancient Spirits of the Element of Water.
Guardians of the Western Sphere.
Tonight I seek thy presence here.
To guard, to guide, and to share in my Blessed Samhain rite.
Hail and Welcome!I call to thee, oh Ancient Spirits of the Element of Earth.
Guardians of the Northern Sphere.
Tonight I seek thy presence here.
To guard, to guide, and to share in my Blessed Samhain rite.
Hail and Welcome!
- Read the Charge of the Goddess:
Listen to the words of the Great Mother,
Who was old, called amongst men,
Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite,
Cerridwen, Diana, Arionhod, Bride,
And by many other names.At mine Altar, the youths of Lacedaemon in Sparta made due sacrifice.
Whenever ye have need of anything,
Once in the month and better it be when the Moon is Full
Then shall ye assemble in some secret place
And adore the Spirit of Me,
Who am Queen of all the Witcheries.There shall ye assemble,
Who are feign to learn all sorceries,
Who have not yet as won my deepest secrets.
To these I will teach that which is as yet unknown.
And ye shall be free from all slavery,
And as a sign that ye be really free,
Ye shall sing, feast, and make music
All in my presence.
For mine is the ecstasy of the spirit,
And mine is also joy on earth.
For my Law is love unto all beings.Keep pure your highest ideals,
Strive ever towards them.
Let none stop you or turn you aside.
For mine is the secret that opens upon the door of youth,
And mine is the Cup of the Wine of Life
And the cauldron of Cerridwen,
Which is the Holy Grail of Immortality.I am the Gracious Goddess
Who give the gift of joy unto the heart of man upon earth.
I give the knowledge of the Spirit Eternal,
And beyond death I give peace and freedom
And reunion with those that have gone before.Nor do I demand aught or sacrifice,
For behold I am the Mother of all things,
And my love is poured out upon the earth.
- Invoke your ancestors by declaring your honor for them.
The veil grows thin at this time, and the dead come closer to us,
We honor them, and we remember those whose footsteps we tread.As life around us retreats into the bulbs and the roots,
where it waits for the time to pass to bring the flowers and fruits.As leaves fall and cover the ground,
Mother Nature awaits in stillness profound.As time stands still for all creatures,
We prepare many feasts.
We seek the wisdom of those gone by,
And ask for help with how to deal with the past.May we face our shadows and accept our faults,
and may we look now to the future to seek new goals.
- Read the Samhain Sabbat Invocation:
Forests misty, dark and deep
The door between the words release
Loved ones, family, favored pets
To join me in this evening’s fest.The birth of new, the death of old
I will this cycle to unfold.Each leaf that drifts upon the ground
Will bury all that is unsound
And in its place will rise anew
The gift of love the whole year through.With harvest gold and autumn sun
I reap the best that I have done.
And as the days grow shorter still
With longer nights and winter’s chill.
I’ll work to build a better place
For every soul and human race.Wild autumn winds and crone’s dark voices
Speak to me of wisdom’s choice
Let me hear your words of fate
So I know which path to take!Those of you who went before
Speak to me from crossroad’s door
Whisper words of love and care
Let me know that you are there.
- State the intent of the ritual aloud, along with your understanding of the holiday. This can be through poetry, a story, or meditation. Here is my meditation:
Ancestor Meditation
- Take some time to go through old photos and keepsakes, absorbing the energies of those you have lost
- Light a candle on the ancestor altar and some incense
- Sit and close your eyes, breathing deeply
- Take a moment to reflect, keeping in mind that you embody the ancestors and loved ones who have come before you. Think about the strengths and weaknesses of your family members and how they have all come together in you
- Recite your genealogy as far back as possible, naming each person you’re thinking of and giving a succinct description of their life and importance to you. You should also acknowledge the ancestors you do not know but who are still part of you.
- At the end of the meditation, be sure to thank any ancestors/archetype that has come to you. Please note any words/actions from them to review later.
- Perform divinatory work. I will use a tarot spread from Rowan Morgana on Etsy and try some automatic writing. Perform any other magickal workings you have planned.
Celebration of Circle of Life and Death
- Gather a few sprigs of rosemary, a white and a black candle, and black, red, and white ribbons (three equal lengths)
- Decorate your altar with symbols of life and death
- Welcome Samhain, and the approaching winter. Acknowledge the day as one of death and dying, during which you honor the ancestors, the Dark Mother, and the Ancient Ones
- Place rosemary on your altar, vocally acknowledge the night as one on which you remember the people who have gone before you
- Light the black candle and acknowledge the turning of the Wheel of the Year into darkness
- Light the white candle and acknowledge that light awaits at the end of darkness
- Holding the ribbons, acknowledge the symbolism and memory of those you have lost. Start braiding the ribbons together, focusing on the memories of lost loved ones.
- While braiding, vocally acknowledge the cycle of life, death, and rebirth
- The knotted ribbons are placed on the altar.
A spell for releasing the past
- You will need a pen, paper, and a candle/fire
- Make a list of negative emotions you wish to banish from within yourself. They can be related to people, events, or anything else that brings up harmful feelings.
- Go outside and light the candle/fire. Look up at the moon, then look down at your paper and read the list aloud.
- Put your list into the candle flame/fire to burn it while reciting:
With this fire, I banish anything harmful.
Now my mind and spirit will be clean,
And I will renew my strength from within.
A Protection Charm Against Unwanted Spirits
You will need the following:
- Rosemary
- 1 clove of garlic
- Salt
- A black stone
- A red cloth
- Black cord
- A picture of the fifth pentacle of the moon:
Directions:
- Place the red cloth on your altar.
- Mix the rosemary with the salt, and imbue the mixture with your intent.
- Pour the mixture into the red cloth.
- Add garlic clove and take the black stone into your hands. Envision its protective energy traveling toward you and uniting with your intention of keeping unwanted spirits at bay.
- As soon as you feel this energy encompassing your body, lower the stone onto the herbs.
- Take the representation of the fifth pentacle of the moon and fold it in half away from you (this sends the negativity away from you).
- Place the folded picture on the herbs and stone.
- Join the four corners of the cloth at the center and secure them with the black cord. Make sure you tie a triple knot for added security but leave enough cord so that you can hang the charm.
- Step outside with the charm in your hand and prepare to place it on the front door by taking a deep breath and envisioning the desired outcome.
- At this point, you should sense a barrier that will allow you to keep unwanted spirits away from your home, but that enables you to grant those who wish to invite permission. When you do, repeat the following:
On Samhain night, as all spirits roam,
I cast this spell with herb and stone,
While spirits will wander from their eternal home,
From their spectral haunt, I shall seal my home.
And by hanging this charm,
I’ll receive no harm.
- Hang the newly empowered charm on your door and let it do its job. It will protect you on the night of Samhain and keep away any lingering malicious spirits that may have stayed in this world after the veil has been restored.
- You may dispose of the charm anytime you feel that you do not need any additional protection.
- Take Communion/Cakes and Ale.
- Set the cakes and chalice with wine/ juice on the altar. Hold hands over the chalice and say:
From the sun to the vine
From the vine to the berry
From the berry to the wine
This brew is bless in the sacred names
Of our Lord and Lady.
So mote it be.
- Visualize the sun’s energy feeding into a vine, which grows into a berry, which in turn becomes the wine/juice.
- Lower the athame into the chalice and say:
As the rod is to the God
So the chalice is to the Goddess
And together they are one!
- Visualize divine energy pulsating from the blade into the cup and the entire cup filling with white light.
- Take a sip of the wine/juice while visualizing pure, divine energy entering your body, pushing out any negativity. When done, say:
May you never thirst.
- Hold hands over the cake(s) and say:
From the moon to the stalk
From the stalk to the grain
From the grain to the bread
This bread is blessed in the sacred names of our Lord and Lady
So mote it be!
- Take a bite from the cake (or eat the entire cake). Visualize the energy from the moon feeding into a stalk which grows into the grain, which in turn becomes bread. When you are done, say:
May you never hunger.
- Perform the offering to the Gods. If you are outside, the offering is made by pouring some wine/ juice and scattering a bit of cake on the ground. If you are indoors, the remainder of the cake and wine/juice is poured into a cleansed and consecrated offering bowl, then carried outside after the ritual is over and poured onto the ground.
I honor the spirits of the north. (hold bowl to the north)
I honor the spirits of the east. (hold bowl to the east)
I honor the spirits of the South. (hold bowl to the South)
I honor the spirits of the west. (hold bowl to the west)I honor the spirits of my ancestors. (hold bowl out in front of you)
I honor the Lady and the Lord. (hold bowl slightly above your head)
I honor the spark of life. (hold bowl out in front of you)From perfection to perfection
This gift is given.
So mote it be.
- If inside, place the bowl on the altar. If outside, lower bowl to ground and pour out contents.
- Thank the Lord and the Lady and your deities.
- Thank and release the quarters, extinguishing each quarter candle at the quarter’s release.
With love do I now give thanks,
And bid farewell,
To the Guardians of the Northern Sphere
Return now in peace, harming none, to your place in nature.
Blessed Be!With love do I now give thanks,
And bid farewell,
To the Guardians of the Western Sphere
Return now in peace, harming none, to your place in nature.
Blessed Be!With love do I now give thanks,
And bid farewell,
To the Guardians of the Southern Sphere
Return now in peace, harming none, to your place in nature.
Blessed Be!With love do I now give thanks,
And bid farewell,
To the Guardians of the Eastern Sphere
Return now in peace, harming none, to your place in nature.
Blessed Be!
- Release the circle (moving counter-clockwise). Seal altar energies, and extinguish illuminator candles.
- Clean up and offer libation bowl out-of-doors (if the ritual was performed inside).
for sharing the details of your Samhain Ritual 
and magick 
always
Amaris, this is an amazing ritual! I can’t even wrap my mind around how I would perform such an elaborate ritual but this is beautiful 
You really have a knack for words and writing rituals.
