Blackberry Circle Events

Samhain Celebration 2007

The Samhain celebration went wonderfully. We had a beautiful altar of the dead and the ritual theme was the movie "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou."

More than 80 people arrived for the ritual so it was a full one.

Samhain 2007 Blackberry Circle Ritual

This was the written ritual that was practiced. There is many times a lot of impromptu happenings based on the situation or because someone forgot lines, or because Thora, a three year old little girl decides to follow Death around the Circle... but here is the ritual...

Alter Consecration

JON: Lift incense in air with left hand
Creature of Air
I cleanse and consecrate thee by the ancient energies of the North
I cast out all negativity in this world and in the world of phantasm
Blessings of the Ancients be on you now
So Mote it Be!
Pass right hand deosil over the incense three times

CATHERINE: Lift salt in air with left hand
Creature of Earth
I cleanse and consecrate thee by the ancient energies of the East
I cast out all negativity in this world and in the world of phantasm
Blessings of the Ancients be on you now
So Mote it Be!
Pass right hand deosil over the salt three times

JON: Lift candle in air with left hand
Creature of Fire
I cleanse and consecrate thee by the ancient energies of the South
I cast out all negativity in this world and in the world of phantasm
Blessings of the Ancients be on you now
So Mote it Be!
Pass right hand deosil over candle three times

CATHERINE: Lift chalice in air with left hand
Creature of Water
I cleanse and consecrate thee by the ancient energies of the West
I cast out all negativity in this world and in the world of phantasm
Blessings of the Ancients be on you now
So Mote it Be!
Pass right hand deosil over chalice three times

Great Rite

Balance a pinch of salt on the athame blade and sprinkle it three times into the water. Stir three times deosil with the blade of the athame. Hold the chalice in the left hand and the athame in the right hand. Say:
Athame to Chalice, Spirit to Flesh, Man to Woman,
As the God and the Goddess within,
Lower the blade of the athame into the chalice.
Together they bring blessedness to life.

Circle Cast

JON: I cast this space, a sphere set apart,
Woven in light and astral mist,
Guarded by the Gods,
Circled by shields of spirit,
A place of protection and a sealed orb
Which shall contain the energies of our worship
And work!

Erecting the Temple

As above…
So below
As Without…
So Within
As the Universe…
So the Soul.

JON with athame in air:
I dedicate this circle
To Danu, the Red Bull,
Mother of all, bringer of abundance;
She from whose belly all are born
And whose breast all are nurtured.

And to The Dagda, the Black Snake,
The All Father, bringer of the Seasons;
He who is the keeper of the cauldron Undry
And the Protector of the people.

Unto Thee High and Holy Lady and Lord
This sacred and magickal Circle is dedicated
And as I will it, So Mote It Be!

Calling the Quarters

EAST: To the East I call forth the Spirits of Earth
Let your compassion and bounty nurture this Circle
Come gnomes, lend us your strength
To aid our celebration.
Guardian of the Eastern sphere
Now we seek you presence here.
Come, East, come, be here this rite

SOUTH: To the South I call forth the Spirits of Fire
Let your passion flow through this Circle.
Come salamanders, lend us your energy
To aid our celebration.
Guardian of the Southern sphere
Now we seek you presence here.
Come, South, come, be here this rite

WEST: To the West I call the Spirits of Water
Let your emotion and intuition permeate this Circle
Come undines, bring us your deep well of understanding
To aid in our celebration.
Guardian of the Western sphere
Now we seek you presence here.
Come, West, come, be here this rite

NORTH: To the North I call the Spirits of Air
Let your fresh breeze blow through this Circle
Come sylphs, bring your gift of communication
To aid in our celebration.
Guardian of the Northern sphere
Now we seek you presence here.
Come, North, come, be here this rite

JON: This is the time of Samhain, the Witches New Year. This is one of the most magickal times of the year as well for twice in the year the veil between the worlds thin allowing free passage between all worlds, all times, anything that has been and anything that will be. It is during the thinning at this time of year that we acknowledge our friends and family that have crossed over to the Summerland during the past year. At this time we ask that each of you name those who have crossed over and invite them to join us this one last time for revelry and companionship.

Almost all cultures celebrate the death of a loved one by remembering the life of that loved one and what they have given that enriches the lives of those they touched. In New Orleans they have bands playing music and they parade through the streets in open celebration. Our neighbors to the south celebrate their dead on November third with Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, where they offer food and drink to their loved ones who have passed on and some actually have dinner over the graves of their ancestors.

It also seems that every culture, even though they morn the passing of their loved ones, also know that there is something else beyond, whether it is a kind of heaven, another world, or in our beliefs the Summerland.

Catherine and Jon move over to the “between” space.

CATHERINE: Oh Guardian of the portals, keeper of the gates
Lay open the path to Summerland
So that we may rest our dead
And welcome the new life into the world.

Catherine and Jon carry bread, an apple and a cup of wine and lay them on the altar of the dead

CATHERINE: We offer thee a token for thy service.

Each person may step into where the two Circles join and speak of their dead they wish to remember.

JON & CATHERINE:
Come forth those who have passed this year.
Come forth those who were not named.
We shall lament you, and send you to rest in Summerland.

Jon and Catherine take the cake and juice that was originally placed on the altar of the dead back to the central altar.
Wine and Cakes

JON: While this is the time of endings and of death it is also a time to celebrate life since all that dies must be reborn. Before anything passes from this life they must first be born into this life. With this in mind we celebrate the birth of Gina, a beautiful, young woman who has been a part of this Circle since it began.

Catherine removes the cover from the birthday cake and lights the candles and invites Gina to the altar. Everyone sings “Happy Birthday” to Gina.

Offer bread to the Earth points.

JON & CATHERINE: To you Air, Earth, Fire and Water.

ALL: This is my flesh to thee, the fruit of my labor.

The cake is cut in very small pieces and placed on a plate to allow Gina to take them around the circle so people can individually wish her happy birthday.

Offer wine to the Earth points

JON & CATHERINE: To you Air, Earth, Fire and Water.

ALL: This is my blood to thee, the fruit of my labor.

Jon passes the Chalice deosil.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Anyone can make any comments or announcements they may way to bring up

PLAY

Danny moves over to the cot and lies down on it. Keith stands just behind the cot in order to reach Danny’s shoulders while Jon kneels next to the cot and begins:

JON:	O, Death O, Death Won't you spare him over till another year
DANNY:	Well what is this that I can't see With ice cold hands takin' hold of me	Keith puts his hand on Danny's shoulder
SIRENS:	Well I am death, none can excel I'll open the door to heaven or hell
JON:	Whoa, death someone would pray Could you wait to call him another day	Keith takes his hand off Danny and looks at Jon
SIRENS:	The children prayed, the preacher preached Time and mercy is out of your reach I'll fix your feet til you cant walk I'll lock your jaw til you cant talk I'll close your eyes so you can't see This very air, come and go with me I'm death I come to take the soul Leave the body and leave it cold To draw up the flesh off of the frame Dirt and worm both have a claim
JON:	O, Death O, Death Won't you spare him over til another year
DANNY:	My brother came to my bed Placed a cold towel upon my head My head is warm my feet are cold Death is a-movin upon my soul Oh, death how you're treatin' me You've close my eyes so I can't see Well you're hurtin' my body You make me cold You run my life right outta my soul	Keith places his hand back on Danny's shoulder and then steps around to the side to help Danny up.
JON:	Oh death please consider his age Please don't take him at this stage My wealth is all at your command If you will move your icy hand
SIRENS:	Oh the young, the rich or poor Hunger like me you know No wealth, no ruin, no silver no gold Nothing satisfies me but your soul	Keith takes Danny's hand and helps him up from the cot.
JON:	O, death O, death Wont you spare him over til another year Wont you spare him over til another year Wont you spare him over til another year	Danny puts his hand on Jon's Shoulder and then Keith leads him off through the north of the Circle behind the garage. Karly follows.

Closing

Karly comes back from the edge of the garage with Keith following her. She begins her song “Sleep Little Babe” at the North and walks widdershins. She moves her hand across everyone's face with the hidden fan blowing on their face. When she passes each of the Quarter Callers they blow out the torch and say their closing in a silent voice in order to not drown out Karly and her song.

NORTH: All hail…
For cooling winds which bring change…We thank you.
Hail, farewell, and Blessed Be.

WEST: All hail…
For waters of life, nourishing and cleansing…We thank you
Hail, farewell, and Blessed Be.

SOUTH: All hail…
For warmth, light, and fire of spirit…We thank you
Hail, farewell, and Blessed Be.

EAST: All hail…
For fertile womb and the promise of growth…We thank you
Hail, farewell, and Blessed Be.

JON: We are now asleep in the world of the living so that our ancestors, our mothers, our fathers, our friends and loved ones may join us for the rest of the evening to celebrate their lives and their legacy along side each of us.

When the sun rises it will be time for them to continue their journey on to the Summerland and to the adventures that await them in their own futures.

This Circle is open, but unbroken.
May the peace of the Goddess go in your hearts.
Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet again!
Blessed Be!