THE HIGH-PRIESTESS (taking up the black mirror) -
The universe places before you the mirror of your soul;
It reflects the cycle of life that you are creating.
The assignment I give you during this night of darkness is to look into this mirror;
You are looking into the window of your soul.
In this season of letting go of happenings, you look backwards and you look forwards.
This is something you need to do!
(each one is now given a chance, individually, to look in the black mirror.)
If anybody has lost a loved one this past year, now is the time to let that soul go beyond,
So as peacefully to transcend to the Other World,
Transcending without being slowed down by your pain!
Death is not final, as you know.
In our lives, we will all experience death in one way or another,
Sometimes painfully, fearfully, challenging, too, at times, but vitally necessary
In your growth as a person.
All endings carry the seed of some new beginning.
Such is life, death and rebirth.
RED (South) & YELLOW (East) hold up a translucent veil.
GREEN (North):
My Lady, my people, look through this veil to reality!
I am the constant burning energy of the life-force.
Even in the night of winter, I am never really away from you,
Because, in times of darkness, I guard your dreams.
THE HIGH-PRIESTESS -
But what is a dream?
You can't take hold of it. It is nothing. What could a dream hold?
GREEN (North):
A dream may be nothing,
But everything is nothing, without a dream.
in a dream you may be old or young, wise or foolish;
You can be anything you are not.
THE HIGH-PRIESTESS -
You confuse our children; these are contradictions.
GREEN (North):
That's the nature of the dream.
THE HIGH-PRIESTESS -
To be contradicted?
GREEN (North):
No. Just to spell out all the possibilities that are available,
Because the dream offers you all your possibilities for the future.
THE HIGH-PRIESTESS -
Did you hear that children?…
(again taking up the black mirror) -
Again I call upon you to look in the mirror of your soul
But this time not to the past, but to the future, which is still unknown.
As the western portal is opened this night for transformation,
so that new souls can be born again, so may you be open for new possibilities!
BLUE (West) symbolically takes up the ritual apple and the boline.
THE HIGH-PRIESTESS -
See here that fruit which in some traditions is identified as the fruit that brought about the downfall of mankind.
Again I tell you: "Don't be fooled by false appearances!"
See here that so called 'fruit of death', which is also Life…
See! The pentagram of rebirth.
BLUE (West) ritually dissects the apple with boline.
THE HIGH-PRIESTESS -
Now taste the fruit of rebirth.
(She distributes half an apple to each one.)
All things have to die, but all will be reborn.
Seeds become fruit, and fruits in their turn become seed.
Recognize this. It is the endless cycle.
Free yourself from all fear!
CELEBRATION OF THE GREAT RITE
GREEN (North) holding up the athame:
As the athame belongs with the chalice,
THE HIGH-PRIESTESS holding up the chalice:
And the spirit belongs with the body
GREEN (North) & THE HIGH-PRIESTESS -
So belong male and female together.
ALL:
As the God and the Goddess are together, they bring blessings to Life.
THE HIGH-PRIESTESS -
Tonight is the night of the dead, as our God turns to the darkland.
ALL:
Blessed be the God Lover of the Summerland.
RED (South):
Tonight is also a night of life.
If we honour our old and wise Goddess, she will lead us through the dark season until the Light returns.
ALL:
Blessed be the old wise Goddess, bringer of death and Life.
THE HIGH-PRIESTESS -
Tonight the God and Goddess are separated, each to to to another part of the world.
ALL:
Farewell, blessed God, may your trip be safe!
THE HIGH-PRIESTESS -
When our beloved God passes through the veil that separates our world from the spiritual world, there is a short moment during which we may see through to the Other side.
Loved ones who have already passed on, may be invited to celebrate Samhain in our company.
Friends and spirits, blessed is this New Year!
ALL:
Blessed be friends and spirits!
Blessed is the ever-turning wheel of the year.
THE HIGH-PRIESTESS -
Farewell, blessed Summer!
ALL:
Farewell, season of warmth and Light!
THE HIGH-PRIESTESS -
Welcome, Winter, start of the New Year!
ALL:
Welcome, Winter, season of cold and darkness.
THE HIGH-PRIESTESS -
Who is the Goddess?
EVERYWOMAN:
I am the Goddess!
GREEN (North):
Who is the God?
EVERYMAN:
I am the God!
THE HIGH-PRIESTESS -
And who are we?
ALL:
We are the children of the Gods; we are the Gods!
We are portions of the creative force that moves the universe.
We are part of all there is.
THE HIGH-PRIESTESS -
Although we are apart, we are always together
Because we are One in spirit with the God and Goddess.
