Rituals are ceremonies done to connect us with the world around us with the energy that flows through all existence. They can be as simple as lighting a candle alongside a photo of a sick relative, or as elaborate as a hundred people in bright costumes dancing, and singing on the longest day of the year. Ritual allows us to experience nature in intense and personal ways. We do not just look at the moon and think how beautiful it looks. We celebrate it. Ritual is serious, but it also is creative, and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Children love to paint banners, gather wildflowers, or build a bonfire. Rituals often involve feasting, with special symbolic foods. For all its sensuous joy, ritual also gives us a framework to allow our deepest feelings to emerge and then share them with others.
Ritual draws on the wisdom and knowledge of thousands of years. And yet it does not mean blindly following the examples of others. We may look to older cultures and contemporary teachers for inspiration, but we must always make ritual more real by making it our own.

Cleanse, Center, Ground, Cast!
~Drum~
~ Cleanse with sage and sweet grass smudge~
~Center and Ground with the Great Oak Tree~
~Drum~
~~Cast....

~~~Taking the bowl of water walk deosil around the circle, Say:
I walk the circle once around
To Cleanse and consecrate this ground.

~~~Now the bowl of sea salt (Earth), walking deosil say:
I walk the circle once again.
Between the worlds all time can bend.

~~~Now picking up the sage smudge (Fire and Air), Walking deosil around the circle the third time say:
I walk the circle thrice this time
For protection of the Lord and Lady are mine.

~~~ Now I walk once more with my Staff, defining the circle, when I get back to the East I say:

Go to the East and hold the athames point outward and say:

A nice deep breathe in:

May the circle be open but never unbroken...

Merry meet merry part and merry meet again............. :o)

The Altar is decorated with roses and other summer flowers.
The Priest carries a god figure made of woven sticks A loaf of bread(wrapped in many layers of tinfoil) is concealed in its center.

A wreath of roses and wild flowers lies on the altar.... Gather, Do Breathing meditation, and light the fire.

Faerie of the Flame:
The Priestess says, This is the time of the rose, blossom and thorn, fragrance and blood. Now is the longest day, light triumphs, and yet begins to decline into dark. The Sun King grown embraces the Queen of Summer in love that is death because it is so complete that all dissolves into a single song of ecstasy that moves the worlds. So the Lord of Light dies to himself, and sets sail across the dark seas of time, searching for the isle of light that is rebirth. We turn the wheel and share the fate, for we have planted the seeds of our own changes and to grow we must accept even the passing of the sun.

Purify, Call directions:
EAST: Dark Raven
Hail Guardians of the East,
Powers of Air:
Wind, Wings, Birds in flight,
Bring Knowledge and wisdom to us
On this Solstice Night.
Spirits of the East,
Be here now!

WEST: Windspirit
Hail Guardians of the West,
Powers of Water;
Thank you for the Spring showers,
And the mighty rivers roar.
The snow pack in the mountains,
and summer thunder storms.
Emotions, Truth, Tranquility and Peace,
Spirits of the West,
Be here now!

Blessing Chant: Windspirit
Invocation/Blessing Chant:
May the powers of The One,
the source of all creation;
all- pervasive, omnipotent, eternal;
may the Goddess,
the Lady of the Moon;
And the God,
Horned Hunter of the Sun;
may the powers of the Spirits of the Stones,
rulers of the elemental realms;
may the powers of the Stars above and Earth below,
(Repeat with me) bless this place, and this time, and I who am one with You.

Make a small pouch filled with herbs. Mentally poor you wishes into the petition as you construct it. Tie it shut with a Red string. As we circle the fire deosil. (Clockwise) each person takes a turn dropping their pouch into the fire, as the pouch burns see your wish as it has already come to pass. Then all say together:

Dance the Spiral dance, singing,
She is luminous
She is white
She is shinning
Crowned with light
He is radiant
He is bright
He is rising
He takes flight

As power is raised the chant changes, (Different coveners chant different lines simultaneously)
SHE who is at CENter, SHE WHO BLOOMS!
The LEAFY One The GREEN one The LEAFY one The GREEN one.
She who is CROWNED, She who EmBRACes
The Priest dances with the God figure in the center of the Circle. (CURT)

Still chanting, coveners place flowers on the figure, twining them into the sticks, until, as the power grows, the figure is covered with blossoms. The circle opens out: The chant becomes a wordless cone of power, as the priest, and priestess dance closer to the fire. As the cone peaks, the Priestess(Faerie of the Flame) opens her arms and calls out: TO ME! TO ME!

The Priest (Curt) tosses the figure onto the flames. All are silent, meditating on the withering and burning blossoms.

As the blossoms die away, coveners softly chant, slowly building again.
Set sail, set sail,
Follow the twilight to the west,
Where you may rest, where you may rest.
Set sail, set sail
Turn your face where the sun grows dim,
Beyond the rim, beyond the rim.
Set sail, set sail,
One thing becomes another,
In the Mother, in the Mother.
Set sail, set sail,
Make of your heart a burning fire,
Build it Higher, build it higher.
Set sail, set sail,
Pass in an instant through the open gate,
It will not wait, it will not wait.
Set sail, set sail,
Over the dark of the sunless sea,
You are free, you are free.
Set Sail, set sail,
Guiding the ship of the rising sun,
You are one, you are one.
Set sail, set sail,
Into the raging storm,
To be reborn, to be reborn.

A covener carries the wreath around the circle, (Dark Raven) holding it up to each persons face so they can see the flames through it. She Says, SEE WITH CLEAR SIGHT She holds the wreath aloft, and says, AND KNOW THE MYSTERY OF THE UNBROKEN CIRCLE

The priest and priestess remove the bread from the fire and break it open. The priestess holds it up.

Faerie Of the Flame
Priestess: BEHOLD, THE GOD HAS GONE TO GRAIN!
All: HE WILL FEED US!
Priestess: THE SUN IS ON THE WATER!
All: HE WILL QUENCH OUR THIRST!
Priestess: THE GOD IS IN THE CORN!
All: IT WILL GROW HIGH!
Priestess: THE GOD IS ON THE TREE AND VINE!
All: HE WILL RIPEN IN THE SEASON!
Priestess: THE SUN IS NOT LOST!!
All: IT WILL RISE AGAIN!
Priestess: THE SUN IS WITHIN US!
All: SEE HOW WE SHINE!
All chant, See how we shine! As the bread and drink is passed around the circle.

We are here tonight to celebrate the most sacred of our holidays, Samhain. A time outside of time, a time when the boundaries have been lifted, normal laws are suspended, and spirits from the other world can seek entry into ours. The doors are opened, the thresholds can be bridged. Samhain is a night for divination, the past, present and future merge.The dead and the still to be born are celebrated.

For those of you who have not been here to share our holiday before, I will explain something of our tradition. Halloween, called Samhain by the ancient Celts, and Hallowmass by the early Christians, represented the final harvest of the year for the ancient people. A time when all of their food was stored for the coming winter, a time of abundance and plenty, a time to give thanks to their dieties. Their belief system was based on the planting and weather cycles and so, to them, this was their New Year, a time when the fields would lay fallow until the spring came again. They viewed their God in the same way. He was born of the Goddess at Yule, the time of the winter Solstice, (which, by the way is where the Christians got the idea that Jesus was born in December). At Imbolc, (now called Ground hog day by those who do not understand it's true meaning), the goddess has recovered from the birth and the God is a growing lad whose power becomes greater with each passing day. This represents the halfway point between winter and spring. By Ostara, the spring equinox, (also taken from the Pagans and now called Easter) mother earth is greening and the God is maturing. By Beltane (May 1) the mature God and Goddess lie together to assure the fertility of the earth. By the summer soltstice she knows she is pregnant and he is at the peak of his power. By Lammas, (also called Loafmass, the first harvest) he begins to weaken. By the fall equinox, (called Mabon) as the light grows less, his power grows less, and the world readies itself for rest as he prepares himself to leave his aging body. At Samhain we bid the God a temporary goodbye while he goes to prepare himself for his rebirth at Yule. The wheel of life turns and turns again.

The story of the birth, life and death of the God is the story of the birth life and death of each of us. This cycle of birth death and rebirth is the basis for our belief in reincarnation. His death or sacrifice at Samhain is the foundation of All Hallow's Eve or The Festival of the Dead. Tonight we are here to honor our beloved dead. We believe that on this night, the veil between the worlds is thin and we can call to those who have gone and they will hear us....and so...

The Circle of Power is about to be erected.
Let all who stand within it be here of their own free will and accord in peace and love.
I cast this circle to be a protection against any negative energy that may come to do us harm. We come to you ,O Ancient Ones, with open hearts and open hands to honor our beloved dead and to receive the blessings of the universe; blessings of good health, prosperity, and the companionship of those we love.

Protection Potion: As we anoint ourselves with this potion, may we remember that no harm can come to us within this sacred circle.

Put yourself in harmony with the elements of the universe.
As we smell this incense, symbol of air, may we feel ourselves gaining in strength and power.
As we light these candles, symbol of fire, may we recall how the fires, built by our ancestors, nurtured and protected them.
As we touch this salt, the symbol of the earth, may we ask the Ancient Ones to protect and heal the earth on which we live.
As we anoint ourselves with this water may it serve to cleanse our bodies and spirits of all negativity, illness, and weariness of heart.

As the Old God dies and the veil between the worlds is thin, we honor our beloved dead and ask their spirits to join us in our sacred circle.
We are Pagans...We dedicate ourselves to channeling the Spiritual energy of our inner selves to heal ourselves and others. We know that we are part of nature. May we grow in the understanding of the unity of all Nature and may we walk in balance. May we always be mindful of the diversity of Nature as well as its unity and may we be tolerant of those whose religion and culture differs from our own.
May we use the force of the Power we generate, wisely, and may we never use it for aggression or malevolence.May we always be mindful that we create our own reality and that we have the power within ourselves to create positivity in our lives. As Pagans we must pledge to always take responsibility for our actions, both positive and negative and to be willing to accept the consequences of those actions. We must always act honorably, being honest with ourselves and others, keeping our word when it has been given, and fulfilling our responsibilities and commitments to the best of our ability. May we always remember that whatever we send out to others always returns magnified. The force of Karma will move swiftly to remind us of our pathway when we begin to stray from it. Remain strong and true to your spiritual ideals even in the face of adversity. May the force of our own inner spirit transform malevolence aimed at us into positive energy and may our inner light so shine that harmful forces cannot even approach our sphere of existence. May we grow in understanding and wisdom accepting adversity as a learning opportunity, and rejoice in the lessons learned. May we remember that the God and Goddess dwell with us and within all beings who share this planet with us. May we live our lives so as to bring honor to them as well as to ourselves.

Hear now the words of the Witches,
The secrets we hid in the night,
When dark was your destiny's pathway,
that now we bring forth into light.
The mysterious water and fire,
The earth and the wide ranging air,
By hidden quintessence we know them,
and will keep silent and dare.
The birth and rebirth of all nature,
The passing of Winter and Spring,
We share with the life universal,
Rejoice in the Magickal Ring,
Four times in the year a great Sabbat
returns and the Witches are seen,
At Lammas and Candlemas,-dancing,
on May eve and Old Halloween.
When daytime and nightime are equal,
When sun is at greatest and least,
The four lesser Sabbats are summoned.
Again Witches gather in feast,
Thirteen silver moons in a year are,
Thirteen is the coven's array,
Thirteen times at Esbat make Merry,
for each golden year and a day.
The power was passed down the ages,
Each time between woman and man,
Each century unto the other,
Ere time and ages began.
When drawn is the Magickal circle,
By Sword or athame of power,
It's compass between the 2 worlds lies,
In the land of shades at that hour.
The world has no right to know it,
And the world of beyond will tell naught,
The oldest of Gods are invoked there,
The great work of Magic is wrought.
For TWO are the mystical pillars,
That stand at the gate of that shrine,
And TWO are the powers of nature,
The forms and the forces Divine.
And do what thou will is the challenge,
So be it in love that harms none,
For this is the only commandment,
By Magick of old be it done.

On this night we honor those who have gone before. The Ancient Ones and other creatures who have lived and left their legacy of wisdom and experience for us to build upon; those whose strivings have made our world better for all. We honor the sacrifices made by so many to insure OUR freedom to practice our religion without torture and fear and we pray that we continue to be safe from ignorance and prejudice and the hatred spawned by those whose lives are governed by ignorance and intolerance.
We remember our dear ones who died during the Burning Times and weep for their sacrifice. We remember and honor those who were our ancestors, mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, children, and dear friends who have departed this life and who have gone to Summerland to await rebirth. We invite them to come to us this night and join in our circle of love lending their energy and essence to our circle. We ask that they watch over us and guard us as we guard their memory in our hearts. As Witches we celebrate the Immutable Wheel of Life. We know that even as the body dies, the spirit will survive to be born again. We greet death as new opportunity, even as we greet birth as that opportunity manifest. As our love rises to meet the spirit s of our dead who have joined our circle we greet them with joyful memories of the past and beautiful dreams of the future. The wheel turns and turns again.
O daughters and sons of the earth, adore the God and Goddess and be blessed with the fullness of life. Know that they have brought you these admonitions for herein lies the way of the Witch. We serve and fulfill and are the keepers of Wisdom, those who tend the sacred flame of knowledge, and those who perform the ancient rites with love and joy. Remember always that we are Witches, we walk not in the dark of doubt, but we walk in the light of wisdom and love, ever climbing out of the shadow to achieve the higher realms of the spirit. Live fully for that is the purpose of life. Do not scorn things of the earth for from them we learn compassion and understanding, until such time as we have spiraled upward to a plane wherein we may call the God and Goddess our kin.

Let us now hold hands and meditate on the essence of those we love who are lost to us, but only for a time.

Allow the energy to build; visualize the power circling round, gathering strength. As we release the energy into the Universe let it be used to make us wise, healthy, strong, and prosperous.

We now raise the cone of power and send it off to do our bidding.

We thank the Ancient Ones, for their attendance in our Sacred Circle and dismiss them to their areas of governance harming none as they go and taking with them our love.

To our beloved dead, we say Merry Meet and Merry Part and Merry Meet again. May you return to your areas of peace and progress and taking with you our love.

And now, as our God goes to ready himself for his rebirth at the Winter Solstice, may he know we value his sacrifice, and that we, together with Our Mother, await his return with love and joy.

May the peace and protection of the God and The Goddess and of the Ancient Ones be with you, and may the love and fellowship of this circle remain in your hearts

The Circle is open