Samhain - Woodland Wicca Seasonal Ritual & Halloween social!

Join us for the evening to mark SAMHAIN - the night for honoring our ancestral spirits! Outdoor Samhain is particularly intense because of the real dark (wet, windy) environment among trees and bushes that are already bare ...! As evening falls, there is an eeriness that also becomes apparent.. Once at the ritual space, you will be immediately involved in the ritual - of the calling of the DarkLord, and communing with ancestors. Some divination work will commence before feasting

"Samhain is a festival for the dead and ancestors. Death is seen as a transition from one phase of life to another (The Death Card in Tarot has similar meaning), or from one incarnation to the next. This rite invokes the God an Goddess of the underworld. The Dark Lord opens the gateway between our world and the underworld and invites all to feast (commune) with the dead. At Samhain the veil between world is thin, and so it is perfect time for the art of divination and mediumship. On a lighter side, apple bobbing from the cauldron is traditional. Samhain is seen as the New Year in Celtic traditions". (taken from www.WitchcraftandMagic.uk (http://www.witchcraftandmagic.uk/) )

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Date: Saturday 31st October 2015

This is an open ritual held in an outdoor park/woods with easy public access..

Out ritual *Team will conduct key aspects of the ceremony, with plenty of opportunities for everyone to get involved in the actual ritual - ie with elements calling, chants, magical work and so on.

(*to join in as Ritual team, please contact Mani several weeks in advance. Of course You can also just join in the ritual as ordinary attendee on the day).

RITUAL outline

• Opening, Sweeping & Consecration

• Circle casting & calling quarters

• energy raising chant/ spiral dance

• Invocations of Crone Goddess & Dark Lord

• Crone Goddess magic- burning of regrets.

• DarkLord Magic - Seasonal magic - Opening of Gateway to Underworld, communing / honouring the dead & ancestors.

• Blessing of Cakes & Wine

• devocations ( At Samhain, circle is NOT closed)

• Feasting & Socials

• Divination readings etc

RITUAL items to bring:

• Your ritual cloths/ robes/ cloaks
• Staff / wands / antlers / tribal masks
• Drums & musical instruments
• Lanterns / candles / lighter
• Crystals / runes / divination tools
  -Poetry / invocations (learnt or to read)

ALL WELCOME:
-All Pagans of any spiritual are welcome..
-Non-pagans, friends/ families & children of pagans are welcome.

FOOD & DRINKS TO SHARE:
Here are some suggestions--

-Home made/ baked items are exceptionally welcome (Bread, cakes, buns, salads, soup, pre-cooked potatoes).
-Wine & Mead are popular for the pre-ritual social and for feasting & socials afterwards!

• shop-bought items (sausage rolls, short-eats).
  -Cheese / ham/ butter/ crisps/ dips
  -Chicken (cooked pieces)
• Water / soft drinks/ tea & coffee in flasks
  -vegetarian food/ vegan food
  (Basically any items that add towards a sensible feast/ meal).

Halloween Fun

As this is exactly on Halloween...and am sure many would like our own party.. we are encouraging all to come in fancy-dress! Bring pumpkins, masks, glow-lights, food & drinks to share... and acoustic music (no electric or amplified music ..as the wood are in a residential area!)

More details nearer the time

-Mani