Halloween Altar

On October 31, the veil is thinnest between the two worlds of the living and the dead. It is of vital importance to honor the dead. One way to do this is to create a special altar for this day, a tradition that comes down to us from the Celts among others. Create a new shrine just for this occasion with a chest or table in your home where people will see it and acknowledge your ancestors. On the altar, place photos, letters, and any mementos that will bring the energy of your late loved ones close.

Place candles on the altar and light them during twilight. While it may seem uncomfortable at first, talk to your ancestors and tell them about what is going on in your life. Share memories and speak about whatever you feel inspired to speak of—grief, hopes for the future, troubles, all you need to share. Take as much time as you need with this. Place the bowl of water with white flowers—gardenias are an excellent choice—on the altar and leave it overnight.

In the morning, say good morning and goodbye until next year. Then take the water and pour it in your front yard or outside near the front door of your home. You have communed with your beloved dead, and they are now free to leave and return to you next year. The water contains all the blessings and love from your ancestors whom you have honored and with the special altar, and you will receive their blessings and love every time you walk through your front door. 

Sabbat of Samhain – October 31st - All Hallow’s Eve

Halloween stems from the grand tradition of the Celtic New Year. What started as a folk festival celebrated by small groups in rural areas has come to be the second largest holiday of today. There are multitudinous reasons—including modern marketing—but I think it satisfies a basic human need, to let your “wild side” out, to be free and more connected with the ancient ways. This is the time when the veil between worlds is thinnest and you can commune with the other side, with elders and the spirit world. It is important to honor the ancestors during this major sabbat and acknowledge what transpired in the passing year as well as set intentions for the coming year.

This is the ideal time to invite your circle; the ideal number for your gathering is thirteen. Gather powdered incense, salt, a loaf of bread, goblets for wine and three candles to represent the triple goddess for altar offerings. Ideally on an outdoor stone altar, pour the powdered incense into a pentagram star shape. Let go of old sorrows, angers and anything not befitting of new beginnings in this New Year. Bring only your best to this auspicious occasion.

Light the candles and say:

In honor of the Triple Goddess on this sacred night of Samhain, 
All the ancient ones 
From time before time 
To those behind the veil. 

Rap the altar three times and light the incense. Say this blessing aloud:

For this bread, wine, and salt, 
We ask the blessings of Mother, Maiden and Crone, 
And the gods who guard the Gate of the World. 

Sprinkle salt over the bread, eat the bread and drink the wine. Each of the celebrants should come to the altar repeating the bread and wine blessing. After this, be seated and everyone in turn should name those on the other side and offer thanks to ancestors and deities. This can and should take a long time as we owe much to loved ones on the other side.

Celtic New Year: Samhain Celebration

Samhain, also known as the Celtic New Year, is the most profound, important, and best-known of all pagan sabbats.  Samhain is perhaps the  pagan’s favorite high holiday of all. 

After all, it is the witches’ New Year celebration and the time to honor and commune with your elders and family members who have passed on to the other side, as well as the time to celebrate the passing year and set intentions for new blessings in the coming new pagan year.  Plus, it is the season to become your most bohemian in a glamorous costume!

            Supplies:

            Altar space

            3 candles

            Powdered incense

            Bread

            Salt

            Wine

1.     Prepare for this most holy night and rite by setting up an altar.  Place the three candles on a stone altar to represent the Triple Goddess and five to represent the points of the pentagram.  The star of the pentagram should be drawn with powdered incense to be lit later.  Gather together bread, salt, and wine for the sacrament.

2.     After you have made your preparations for the altar, ready yourself by bathing and meditating.  Anoint your body before dressing in a robe or gown befitting this night when the veil between the worlds is the thinnest.  As you ready your body, mind, and spirit, consider what has taken place in the preceding year.  Cleanse your mind and heart of old sorrows and most especially of angers and petty resentments.  Bring only your best into this night.  After all, this is New Year’s Eve for witches, and you want to truly connect with those who have gone on to the other side.

3.     Walk alone to the place of the ceremony and kneel before the altar.  Before lighting the candles on the altar, say aloud:

This candle I light for the Maiden’s brightest glory.

Light the candle and bow to the Maiden.

      This candle I light for the power and passion of the Lady, the Queen.

Light the candle and bow to the Queen.

      This candle I light for the unsurpassable wisdom of the Crone.

Light the candle and bow to the Crone.

4.     Light the incense and then place the candles on the altar, saying:

These do I light in honor of the Triple Goddess on this sacred night of Samhain

I create this holy temple in honor of the Goddess and the God

And all the ancient ones.

From time before time,

I pay my tribute and my devotion

In love and greeting to those behind the veil.

5.     Now light the candles that represent the power of the five-pointed pentagram.  Rap three times on the altar with your hands or with your wand.  Then say:

This is a time outside of time

In a place outside of any place.

On a day that is not a day

Between the worlds and afar.

6.     Pause and listen to your heart for thirteen beats, then hold your hands in benediction over the bread, salt, and wine.  Now say:

For this bread, salt, and wine,

I do ask the blessings

Of our Maiden, our Queen, and our Crone

And of the God who guards the Gates of the World.

7.     Take the bread and sprinkle a bit of salt over it, saying:

I ask that I and all whom I love

Have health and abundance and blessings.

            Eat the bread, and hold up the goblet of wine, saying:

To a spirit that remains strong and true!

            Drink the wine and declare:

By the Triple Goddess and her godly consort, so mote it be!

8.     At this point, a danse macabre to any dark folk or Gothic music of your choosing can end the ritual – I suggest any music by the band Dead Can Dance.  You should also spend time meditating or allowing yourself to ease into a trance state to communicate with your beloved dead.  Hear the messages they have for you and let them know you.

9.     When you feel the ritual has ended, quench the candles, and then say:

Though these flames

Of the material world

Be darkened,

They shall ever burn

In the world beyond.

This rite is ended.

Happy Celtic New Year!

Halloween stems from the grand tradition of the Celtic New Year. What started as a folk festival celebrated by small groups in rural areas has come to be the second largest holiday of today. There are multitudinous reasons including modern marketing but I think it satisfies a basic human need, to let your “wild side” out, to be free and more connected with the ancient ways.  This is the time when the veil between worlds is thinnest and you can commune with the other side, with elders and the spirit world. It is important to honor the ancestors during this major sabbat and acknowledge what transpired in the passing year as well as set intentions for the coming year.

 This is the ideal time to invite your circle; the ideal number for your “coven” is 13. Gather powdered incense, salt, a loaf of bread, goblets for wine, and three candles to represent the triple goddess for altar offerings.  Ideally on an outdoor stone altar, pour the powdered incense into a pentagram star shape. Let go of old sorrows, angers and anything not befitting of new beginnings in this New Year Bring only your best to this auspicious occasion.

Light the candles and say:

In honor of the Triple Goddess on this sacred night of Samhain,

All the ancient ones

From time before time

To those behind the veil.

Rap the altar three times and light the incense. Say this blessing aloud:

For this bread, wine, and salt,

We ask the blessings of Mother, Maiden and Crone,

And the gods who guard the Gate of the World.

Sprinkle salt over the bread, eat the bread and drink the wine.

Each of the celebrants should come to the altar repeating the bread and wine blessing. After this, be seated and everyone in turn should name those on the other side and offer thanks to ancestors and deities. This can and should take a long time as we owe much to loved ones on the other side.