Tides and Cycles

In many Craft traditions, the wheel of the year begins at Halloween, often called by the old Celtic name of Samhain.

Here begins the year's darkest time, midway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice. It is a time when the spirit world is close to the world of the living, and the veil between the two is thin. For this reason Witches celebrate the Samhain sabbat by inviting the spirits of the deceased to join us. The circle may be decorated with pumpkins, gourds and autumn leaves, especially oak leaves that symbolize the Lord of Death. The candles at the four directions might be placed in jack-o-lanterns and a "gateway" left at the western point -- the direction of death -- through which the dead may enter. The spirits are invited during the rite, which may include a spiral dance danced counter-clockwise ("widdershins"), symbolic of rebirth. Some device for communicating with the dead such as a Ouija board might be in the circle. At Samhain Witches hope to receive messages not only from deceased loved ones, but from predecessors in the Craft, their Pagan ancestors or kindred spirits. This is also the time for predicting the future by casting runes or reading the tarot cards. The Goddess is honored in her aspect as The Crone, the Goddess of the Dark Mysteries. The God is honored in his aspect as the Horned God of the Dead, not only of humans but of animals as well.

Solitary Practice

Place upon the altar apples, pumpkins, squashes and other late autumn fruits. Autumn flowers such as marigolds and chrysanthemums are fine too. Write on a piece of paper an aspect of your life which you wish to be free of: anger, a baneful habit, misplaced feelings, disease. The cauldron or some similar tool must be present before the altar as well. A small, flat dish marked with an eight-spoked wheel to represent the holidays should also be there.

Prior to the ritual, sit quietly and think of friends and loved ones who have passed away. Do not despair. Know that they have gone on to greater things. Keep firmly in mind that the physical isn't the absolute reality, and that souls never die.

Arrange the altar, light the candles and incense, Cast the Circle and invoke the God/dess.

Lift one of the fruits and, with your freshly washed white handled knife, pierce the skin of the fruit. Remove several seeds and place them on the wheel-marked dish.

Raise your wand, face the altar and say:

"On this night of Samhain I mark your passing,
O Father Sky, through the sunset into Summerlands.
I also mark the passing of all who have gone before,
and all who will go after.
O Gracious Mother Earth,
You who gives birth to the fallen,
teach me to know that in the time of the greatest darkness
there is the greatest light."

Bite into the fruit and savor it. Look down at the eight spoked wheel on the plate; the wheel of the year, cycle of the seasons, the end and beginning of all creation.

Light a fire inside the cauldron (a candle is fine). Sit before it, holding the piece of paper, gazing at its flames. Say:

"O Wise Mother Earth,
I create this fire within Your cauldron
to transform that which is plaguing me.
May the energies be reversed:
From darkness, light!
From bane, good!
From death, birth!"

Light the paper in the cauldron's flames and drop it inside. As it burns, know that your ill diminishes, lessens and finally leaves you as it is consumed with the universal fires.

If you wish, you may attempt scrying or some other form of divination, for this is the perfect time to look into the past or future. Try to recall past lives too. if you will. But leave the dead in peace! Honor them with your memories but do not call them to you. Release any pain and sense of loss you may feel into the cauldron's flames.

Celebrate the Simple Feast and release the Circle.

* Adapted from the book "Witchcraft Today", an article by Pauline Campanelli, & "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham, and some of the Spoken Words were Personalized by Ambrosia Knight.