Call for peace

Move to face the north, and say, 'May there be peace in the north'.

Move to face the south, and say, 'May there be peace in the south'.

Move to face the west, and say, 'May there be peace in the west'.

Move to face the east, and say, 'May there be peace in the east'.Druidry Home

Turn to face the centre, and say, 'May there be peace throughout the whole world'.

Cast the circle

Turn back to the east, extend a hand or your wand, and walk around your working space to cast your circle, until you are back in the east again, and your circle is complete. 

You may also want to bless and consecrate the circle by carrying around incense and scattering water, while saying, 'I bless and consecrate this circle with water/fire'.

Greet and welcome the spirits and animal powers of the four quarters

Turn to the east and invoke it, saying these or words of your own:

"Spirits of the East, spirits of air, of dawn, of spring, of new light, of new life.  O rising sun, O waxing moon, O kestrel dancing on the breeze of morning, bring your gifts of clear sight and focused intent to this circle.  Hail and welcome!"

Move to the South and invoke it, saying these or words of your own:

"Spirits of the South, spirits of fire, of noon, of summer, of greatest light and greatest vigour.  O sun at noonday and moon at the full, O lizard basking on the rock in the heat of the midday sun, bring your gifts of swift action and focused energy to this circle.  Hail and welcome!"

Move to the West and invoke it, saying these or words of your own:

"Spirits of the West, spirits of water, of evening, of autumn, of fading light and ebbing energies.  O setting sun, O waning moon, O salmon leaping above the waters of the well, bring your gifts of wisdom and understanding to this circle.  Hail and welcome!"

Move to the North and invoke it, saying these or words of your own:

"Spirits of the North, spirits of earth, of night, of winter, of darkness and of rest.  Here, where the sun shines not, here when the moon is dark.  Great boar that walks the paths of the midnight forest, bring your gifts of earthy enjoyment and instinctive understanding to this circle.  Hail and welcome!"

Greet and welcome ancestors and guardians

Move slowly sunwise around the circle, saying these or words of your own:

"And welcome also to you, ancestors of place, you who have walked this bowl of earth before me; ancestors of blood, you of my line who lived before me; ancestors of spirit, you who have walked this druid path before me.  And you, my guides and guardians, [name any otherwordly beings you work with], hail and welcome!"

The Druid Prayer

Grant, O spirits, your protection,
And in protection, strength;
And in strength, understanding;
And in understanding, knowledge;
And in knowledge, the knowledge of justice;
And in the knowledge of justice, the love of it;
And in the love of it, the love of all existences;
And in that love, the love of spirit and all creation.

Statement of intent

"O spirits of this circle, O spirits of this place, I am come to celebrate this festival of Samhain, the feast of the Ancestors on the eve of winter!"

Call to the Ancestors

"We have reached the time of Samhain, which is no time.  The old year has ended, the new year has not yet begun.  I stand outside time and the veil between the worlds is thin.  This is a time of winter, of darkness and death, yet fear has no place here.  I welcome those ancestors, of place and blood and spirit, who may seek me out tonight.   I honour you and remember you now... [speak the names of any ancestors you wish to recall, of any friends or family who have died in the previous year]   You are of the past, I am of the present.  The future is yet to be revealed."

Journey to the world of the ancestors

At this point in the rite, you may wish to meditate and make an inner journey to meet and speak with your ancestors.  If so, seat yourself comfortably and move in meditation to your inner grove.  Leave by the north-western gate, passing into the darkness beyond.  Here you may meet the guardian of the gate, who has words of guidance for you.  Move on down the dark forest path until you reach a clearing where a great bonfire burns.  The Ancestors are here, like shadows against the firelight.  You may meet and talk with them; they may give you advice or gifts. Let your meditation unfold naturally, and when you are ready, return along the forest path, past any guardian, through the north-western gate and back into your inner grove, where you gently return to normal consciousness.

If you do not want to make this meditative journey, then instead spend some time thinking of those who have died, recently or long ago, and imagine how they might speak with you, what they might wish to say to you. 

Looking forward to the year ahead

Now you have the opportunity to think ahead and ask questions about the year to come.  Use your divination method of choice to look ahead or to shed light on a matter that is troubling you.  As you begin, say these or words of your own:

"O ancestors, at this time when the veil is at its thinnest, help me now as I seek guidance and understanding."

Ask your questions, do your reading, and when you have finished, say:

"O ancestors, I thank you for your guidance and for understanding received."

Letting go

After your inner journey and your divination, you may now have clearer understanding of where you are in life and what you need to let go before moving into the new year. 

“What have I done with the past year?”  [review your harvest, good and bad.  On separate slips of paper write the things that you want to let go.]

“What must die now, so that I can go on purified and renewed into the new year?”  [Read out, then burn each slip in the candle with appropriate words]

“This is the time of Samhain.  The old year is gone, and the dross goes with it.  The harvest of my achievements I take forward into the new year.  May I, and all those I care for, be blessed  with love, peace and laughter.” 

Chant the Awen

If you wish, intone 'Aaaaaaa-oooooo-ennnnn' three or nine times.

Complete the rite

"Spirits of the North, spirits of earth, I thank you for your presence here, for your gifts and guidance, and I bid you now, until the next time, hail and farewell!"

Move to the West, and say these or words of your own:

"Spirits of the West, spirits of water, I thank you for your presence here, for your gifts and guidance, and I bid you now, until the next time, hail and farewell."

Move to the South, and say these or words of your own:

"Spirits of the South, spirits of fire, I thank you for your presence here, for your gifts and guidance, and I bid you now, until the next time, hail and farewell."

Move to the East, and say these or words of your own:

"Spirits of the East, spirits of Air, I thank you for your presence here, for your gifts and guidance, and I bid you now, until the next time, hail and farewell."

Turn to the centre, and say these or words of your own:

"And you, my ancestors, guides and guardians - I thank you for your presence here, for your care and guidance, and I bid you now, until the next time, hail and farewell."

Turn to the east, stretch out your hand or your wand, and moving against the sun, uncast your circle until you stand in the east again.  Then extinguish your candles, and say these or words of your own to close the rite:

"This rite of Samhain ends in peace, as in peace it began.  May its inspiration live on in my thoughts, my heart, my life."

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Page created on 28 October 2007.  Last updated on 29 October 2007
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