In some wiccan traditions, by Samhain, the Goddess has entered her incarnation of Crone. She is the old one, the earth mother, the wise one we turn to when we need advice. She teaches us that sometimes we must let go in order to move on. The God, at Samhain, is the horned one, the stag of great antlers, the God of wild hunt. He is the animal that dies so we may eat, and the grain and the corn that once lived in the field before our harvest. We can honor these late ~ fall aspect of both the Goddess and the God in one ritual.
Begin by casting a circle, if your tradition required it. Prior to starting the ceremony, place three sheaves of corn or wheat around the ritual space. You'll also need a statue or other image of the God and Goddess at the center of your altar. Around the status place five candles ~ red and black to represent the darker aspect of the Goddess, green and brown to symbolize the wild God, and white for heart and home.
Place a plate of dark bread enough for each person present, near the center of the altar, along with a cup of wine or cider. Circle the altar.
The youngest person will present will act as handmaiden, and the oldest as the High priest (HP) or High Priestess (HPs). If you're performing this Rite solitary, simply take on both parts, The HPs lights the red and black candles, and says:
" A pair of candles lit
In honor of the Goddess
She is the Maiden and Mother
throughout the year
And tonight we honor her as crone.
Next, the HP lights the brown and green candle, saying:
" A pair of candles lit
In honor of the God
He is wild and fertile and animal
And tonight we honor him as the
Horned God."
The handmaiden takes the bread and walks around the circle with the plate, allowing each person to tare off a chunk. As they do so, say: "May the blessings of the Goddess be upon you." The cup of wine or cider is passed around, each person takes a sip. As they do, the handmaiden should say: "May the blessings of the God be upon you."
The handmaiden then lights the fifth candle, for the heart, then say:
" This candle is lit
In honor of heart and home.
The mother, the father, the Goddess
And God,
Watch over us tonight as we honor
Them."
The HPs takes over, saying:
"We light these five candles
For the powerful Goddess
And her mighty horned consort,
The God,
And for the safety of home and Heart.
On this, the night of Samhain,
When the Goddess is a wise Crone
And the God is a wild stag,
We honor them both."
The handmaiden says:
"This is the time between the worlds,
A time of life and a time of death.
This is a night unlike any other night.
Ancient ones, we ask your blessing.
Goddess, great Crone, mother of all
Life,
We thank you for your wisdom.
Horned God, master of the wild hunt,
Keeper of the forest,
We thank you for all that you
Provide."
At this time, the rest of the group may also say thanks. If you wish to make an offering to the God and Goddess, now is the time and place to place it upon your altar.
Once all offering have been made, and thanks given, take a moment to mediate on the new begging of Samhain. Consider the gifts that the Gods have given you the past year, and think about how you might show them your gratitude, in the coming twelve months. As the old year dies, make room in the new year for new things in your life. You may not know yet what's coming, but you can certainly imagine, dream and hope. Tonight, this night between worlds, is perfect time to imagine what things may come.
End the ritual in the way called by your tradition.
Tips:
* Decorate your altar with symbols of the God ~ antlers, acorns, pine cones, phallic symbols ~ to representations of the Goddess, such as red flowers , cups, Pomegranates, ect.
* if your tradition honors a specific pair of deities, feel free to add their names in this ritual when they mention God and Goddess.
