After a ritual bath in salt water to cleanse your body 
    and soul of any impurities and negative energy, put on 
    a long, black ceremonial robe (unless you prefer to 
    work skyclad, as many Witches do), wear a handcrafted 
    necklace of acorns around your neck, and place a crown 
    of oak leaves around your head. 

    Begin by casting a circle about nine feet in diameter, 
    using white chalk or paint. Place thirteen black and 
    orange candles around the circle, and as you light 
    each one say: 

    "Samhain candle of fire so bright 
    Consecrate this circle of light." 


    In the center of the circle, erect an altar facing 
    north. On the center of the altar, place three candles 
    (white, red and black) to represent each phase of the 
    Triple Goddess. To the left (west) of the candles, 
    place a chalice filled with apple cider and a dish 
    containing sea salt. To theright (east) of the 
    candles, place a censer of herb incense and a small 
    bowl ofwater. Before the candles (south), place a 
    brass altar bell, a consecrated athame, and a red 
    apple. 

    Ring the altar bell thrice and say: 

    "In the sacred name of the Goddess 
    and under her protection 
    is this Sabbat Rite now begun." 


    Sprinkle a bit of salt and water at each compass point 
    around the circle to cleanse the space of any 
    negativity or evil influences. 

    Take the athame in your right hand, and say: 

    "Harken well ye elements 
    Air, fire, water, earth 
    By bell and blade I summon thee 
    On this sacred night of mirth." 



    Dip the blade of the athame into the chalice of apple 
    cider and say: 

    "I offer to Thee, O Goddess 
    This nectar of the season." 


    Return the athame to the altar. Light the incense and 
    the three altar candles, and say: 

    "Three candles I do light 
    in honor of Thee, O Goddess: 
    White for the Maiden, 
    Red for the Mother, 
    Black for the Crone. 
    O Goddess of all things wild and free, 
    Strong and loving, fair and just, 
    This sacred temple I raise to Thee 
    In Perfect Love, 
    In Perfect Trust." 


    Pick up the chalice with both hands and pour a few 
    drops of the cider onto the apple and say: 

    "To the Womb of the Mother Goddess 
    The Horned God now returns 
    Until the day when he is reborn again. 
    The great solar wheel 
    Once again turns. 
    The cycle of the seasons never ends. 
    Blessed be the souls of those 
    who have journeyed beyond 
    To the dark world of the dead. 
    I pour this nectar 
    in honor of their memory. 
    May the Goddess bless them 
    With Light, Beauty and Joy. 

    Blessed Be! 
    Blessed Be!" 


    Drink the remaining cider, and then return the chalice 
    to its place on the altar. Ring the bell thrice, and 
    then uncast the circle by extinguishing the orange and 
    black candles, starting at the east and moving in a 
    couterclockwise direction. 

    Take the apple from the altar and bury it outsid in 
    the earth to nourish the souls of those who have died 
    in the past year. 

    The Samhain ritual is now complete and should be 
    followed by meditation, 
    divination by crystal ball, the reciting of mystical 
    Goddess-inspiredpoetry, and a Witches' prayer for the 
    souls of all family members andfriends who have passed 
    on to the Spirtual Plane. 
Samhain Ritual #7