1. READ THE UNIVERSAL DRUIDS PRAYER

SO MOTE IT BE!

2. light processional candles

3. proceed to circle site from wherever we gathered for the social

4. place foliage on altar/around circle etc after procession to site

5. casting the circle

Arch: ARE ALL READY TO FORM THIS TEMPLE AND PERFORM THE SAMHAIN RITES?

Druids: WE ARE!

Arch: HERE BEGINS THE RITE - I CALL FAIR WARNING!

walk around circle deocil

Arch: I CONJURE THEE, OH CIRCLE TO BE OUR MEETING PLACE A PLACE OF LOVE, AND JOY AND TRUTH

Druids: SO MOTE IT BE!

Arch: A GORSEDD FOR THE BARDS OF THE CAER MABON FAILLAICH A RAMPART OF PROTECTION; A SHIELD AGAINST ALL VICE CONTAINER AND CONDENSER OF POWER RAISED WITHIN

Druids: SO MOTE IT BE!

Arch: AS ABOVE, SO BELOW! UNTIL THE SKY SHALL FALL UPON US, THE SEA RISE UP AND SMOTHER US, THE EARTH SPLIT AND SWALLOW US, GRANT US THY PROTECTION! IN THE NAMES OF THOSE WE WORSHIP, I CONSECRATE AND BLESS THEE.

Druids: SO MOTE IT BE!

Asperger: Walks deosil (clockwise) around the circle and asperges the congregation with salt and water whilst saying

WATER - EARTH; WHERE THOU ART CAST LET NOW NO ADVERSE PURPOSE LAST BE IN COMPLETE ACCORD WITH WE AS IS OUR WILL, SO MOTE IT BE

Druids: SO MOTE IT BE!

Censer: Walks deosil (clockwise) around the circle and censes the congregation with burning incense whilst saying

ELEMENTS OF AIR AND FIRE HEARKEN NOW TO OUR DESIRE BE IN COMPLETE ACCORD WITH WE AS IS OUR WILL, SO MOTE IT BE

Druids: SO MOTE IT BE!

Arch: (Walks to the EAST and performs 'the Invoking Pentagram of Earth) HAIL TO THE GUARDIANS OF THE WATCHTOWERS OF THE EAST GUARDIANS OF THE ELEMENT OF AIR I SUMMON STIR AND CALL THEE UP TO JOIN IN THIS OUR CIRCLE

Druids: JOIN OUR CIRCLE!

Arch: (Walks to the SOUTH and performs 'the Invoking Pentagram of Earth) HAIL TO THE GUARDIANS OF THE WATCHTOWERS OF THE SOUTH GUARDIANS OF THE ELEMENT OF FIRE I SUMMON STIR AND CALL THEE UP TO JOIN IN THIS OUR CIRCLE

Druids: JOIN OUR CIRCLE!

Arch: (Walks to the WEST and performs 'the Invoking Pentagram of Earth) HAIL TO THE GUARDIANS OF THE WATCHTOWERS OF THE WEST GUARDIANS OF THE ELEMENT OF WATER I SUMMON STIR AND CALL THEE UP TO JOIN IN THIS OUR CIRCLE

Druids: JOIN OUR CIRCLE!

Arch: (Walks to the NORTH and performs 'the Invoking Pentagram of Earth) HAIL TO THE GUARDIANS OF THE WATCHTOWERS OF THE NORTH GUARDIANS OF THE ELEMENT OF EARTH I SUMMON STIR AND CALL THEE UP TO JOIN IN THIS OUR CIRCLE

Druids: JOIN OUR CIRCLE!

Arch: hail to thee, o lord and lady! we ask thee to watch over us and protect us within our circle

Arch: OUR MOTHER EARTH LIES AT OUR FEET THE SKY RESIDES ABOVE US OUR CIRCLE IT IS NOW COMPLETE THE ELEMENTS PROTECT US (pause) THE RITES OF SAMHAIN MAY NOW BEGIN

All: (A hearty 'CHEER' is given by one and all)

[This concludes the opening ceremony.]

6. light the bonfire/candles etc

ARCH: WE MEET ON THIS MOST SACRED DAY, TO CELEBRATE THE RITES OF SAMHAIN. THIS IS THE TIME WHEN THE VEILS SEPARATING WORLDS ARE THINNEST THE ANCIENT TIME WHEN WE WOULD COMMUNE WITH ANCESTORS AND THE SPIRITS OF THOSE YET TO BE MADE PART OF THE CYCLE

A TIME OF FEASTS WHICH HERALD THE ONSET OF WINTER A TIME FOR DEATH WITH THE PROMISE OF LIFE A TIME FOR THE TURNING OF THE WHEEL TO CEASE FOR THE CYCLE TO BREAK IN ORDER TO BE REBORN

PRIEST: WE PAY HOMAGE TO THE SUN THE SUN WHO HAS DIED FOR US THE SUN WHO LIES DORMANT THE SUN WHO WILL BE REBORN THE SUN WITHOUT WHOM WE CANNOT BE

HAIL TO THEE OH SUN

DRUIDS: HAIL TO THEE OH SUN

PRIESTESS: WE PAY HOMAGE TO OUR MOTHER EARTH THE EARTH WHICH HOLDS THE SEED THAT SHALL BE REBORN ANEW

HAIL TO THEE OH EARTH

DRUIDS: HAIL TO THEE OH EARTH

ARCH: YET IN THIS TIME OF DEATH AND IN THIS TIME OF NO-TIME WE KINDLE A SPARK OF HOPE WE CARRY A FLAME IN OUR HEARTS AS WE AWAIT THE RETURN

WHO SHALL LIGHT THE FLAME?

PRIESTESS: I SHALL LIGHT THE FLAME (lights fire) LORD AND LADY ON THIS FEAST OF SAMHAIN I LIGHT THE FLAME AND ASK FOR THY BLESSING

DRUIDS: SO MOTE IT BE

ARCH: I CALL UPON THE GUARDIAN OF THE GATE WHO STANDS AT THE BEGINNING AND AT THE END OF TIME MAY WE EMBRACE THY REALMS GLADLY WITHOUT FEAR IN OUR HEARTS FOR DEATH IS BUT THE BEGINNING OF LIFE AND THE END OF THE CYCLE IS BUT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT

ALL HAIL TO THE GUARDIAN OF THE GATE LORD OF THE SHADOW REALMS I SUMMON, STIR AND CALL THEE UP TO JOIN IN THIS OUR CIRCLE

DRUIDS: SO MOTE IT BE

ARCH: NOW LET US CONSECRATE THIS FOOD AND DRINK [gestures to priest/priestess]

PRIESTESS:[raises goblet of wine, while PRIEST dips athame into it]

PRIEST: I CONSECRATE THIS WINE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD AND LADY FOR OUR USE IN THESE RITES [raises food as priestess touches each with athame]

PRIESTESS:I CONSECRATE THIS FOOD IN THE NAME OF THE LORD AND LADY FOR OUR USE IN THESE RITES

DRUIDS: SO MOTE IT BE!

7. read out something to do with 'winter' and the theme of death and rebirth...

8. pathworking on the nature of the festival

ARCH: I NOW ASK ALL PRESENT TO PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR THE SACRIFICE I ASK OF YOU ALL THAT, ONE AT A TIME, YOU APPROACH THE CENTRAL FIRE AND AFTER BURNING YOUR OFFERING, YOU LIGHT YOUR CANDLE AND STEP BACK TO RETAKE YOUR PLACE IN THE CIRCLE [gestures left to priest/priestess to begin]

[after completion, ARCH makes final sacrifice, and returns to his place]

ARCH: WE OFFER THESE GIFTS THAT THEY MAY BE REBORN, AND THE CYCLE BE RENEWED.

DRUIDS: SO MOTE IT BE!

ARCH: WE NOW INVOKE THE OTHERWORLD AND THE SPIRITS OF THE ANCESTORS WE INVITE THE SPIRITS OF THE DEAD TO CROSS THE BRIDGE THAT WE SHALL BUILD

WE ENTREAT THOSE POWERS THAT HOLD THEM TO RELEASE THEIR HOLD UPON THOSE SO INVITED SO THAT WE MAY BE RE-UNITED FOR A TIME

[all whisper/think of the names of the dead we are inviting to join us. this meditation continues throughout the building of the bridge]

DRUIDS: SO MOTE IT BE!

ARCH: [anarl nathrach invocation] LET US WALK THE CIRCLE... [all walk around the circle deocil, in silence, once and pause...] THE BRIDGE IS BEGUN! [anarl nathrach invocation]

DRUIDS: THE BRIDGE IS BEGUN! [all walk deocil again, in silence, and pause...]

ARCH: THE ABYSS IS HALF-SPANNED! [anarl nathrach invocation]

DRUIDS: THE ABYSS IS HALF-SPANNED! [all walk deocil one final time, in silence, and pause...]

ARCH: THE BRIDGE IS COMPLETED! SPIRITS, WE INVOKE THEE! OTHERWORLD, WE INVOKE THEE! [anarl nathrach invocation]

[at this point, each individual may complete the calling in any way of their choosing - sitting down, saying the names of the dead we have asked to join us, etc. when the communication has finished, cross your arms over your chest. feel free to take as long as you require. once this has occurred, the ARCH will asperge you before continuing with the ceremony]

ARCH: WE NOW SHARE IN THE FEAST WITH THE SPIRITS [PRIEST and PRIESTESS pass out wine/food, and all consume something] WE INVITE THE ANCESTORS TO REMAIN WITH US THROUGHOUT THIS FESTIVAL TO JOIN IN THE LIFE OF THE TRIBE ONCE MORE.

AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO PLAY SOME PARTY GAMES...

[drinking circle/party games/duck-apple etc for a little bit, unless it's cold when we'll shift back over to the union and play there instead...]

ARCH: BEFORE WE CLOSE THIS TEMPLE ARE ALL PRESENT OF ONE ACCORD?

DRUIDS: WE ARE

ARCH: THEN I SHALL ASK YOU ALL TO JOIN HANDS [all join hands] REPEAT AFTER ME:

WE SWEAR BY PEACE AND LOVE TO STAND

DRUIDS: WE SWEAR BY PEACE AND LOVE TO STAND

ARCH: HEART TO HEART, AND HAND IN HAND

DRUIDS: HEART TO HEART, AND HAND IN HAND

ARCH: MARK, OH SPIRITS, HEAR US NOW

DRUIDS: MARK, OH SPIRITS, HEAR US NOW

ARCH: CONFIRMING THIS, OUR SACRED VOW

DRUIDS: CONFIRMING THIS, OUR SACRED VOW

ARCH: WE GIVE THANKS TO THE GUARDIANS OF THE WATCHTOWERS FOR WATCHING OVER US AND STRENGTHENING OUR CIRCLE WE GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD AND LADY FOR THEIR PROTECTION IN THIS OUR CIRCLE

DRUIDS: SO MOTE IT BE!

ARCH: I DECLARE THE CIRCLE CLOSED AND THE RITUAL COMPLETED

DRUIDS: [a hearty cheer would be nice...]