samhain coven ritual
The Dread Lord of Shadows
The circle ritual for Samhain in this book focuses on the Lady of Death. She’s the one who leads her people to the entrance of the Summerlands and interacts with those who seek her out. This ritual changes the focus of Samhain toward the Horned God, here called the Dread Lord of Shadows. The term Dread Lord of Shadows is one commonly used in British Traditional Witchcraft traditions, and while it sounds rather ominous, he’s a benign figure (though in my experience not very talkative).
The Dread Lord of Shadows guards the portal between the worlds of the dead and the living. He is the god of both beginnings and endings, for we cannot be reborn in this world unless we’ve died. The Dread Lord of Shadows has one foot in the mortal world and one in the world beyond; he embodies the magickal maxim “As above, so below.” He is a “dread” lord only because we have been taught to fear death.
This ritual calls for the Dread Lord of Shadows to be drawn down and interact with those in the coven. Once drawn down, he opens a portal to the Summerlands so people may feel their beloved dead close to them once again. After their moment of reunion, they are embraced by the Dread Lord and given a token to remember their experience, along with the promise that “all that dies shall be reborn.” In this ritual, each covener approaches the portal to the Summerlands alone, with only the Dread Lord standing nearby. This means the ritual will take a bit of time, which is why it’s best for covens and small groups.
Because words often fail us when interacting with the dead, before seeking the portal to the Summerlands, each covener is encouraged to write down a few words expressing their feelings toward those they have lost. This gives coveners something to do while waiting for their time before the portal, and helps them to best express their emotions. Once the ritual is over, I generally burn the letters we’ve written and give them up to the realm of spirit.
Since many Witches celebrate the new year at Samhain this rite also includes a mini tarot card reading to prepare for the next turn of the wheel. This part of the ritual is done while people are waiting to visit and/or have returned from the portal to the Summerlands. A deck of tarot cards is spread out upon the altar, and each Witch in the room picks one when they feel the time is appropriate. The meaning of each card is then interpreted by those in the room.
This ritual requires two separate spaces. In our coven, we held the main part of the ritual in our usual working space and then used a hallway as the entryway to the Summerlands. Because we wanted reunion with the coven’s beloved dead to be an intimate personal experience, coveners had to walk through a curtain to reach our portal and altar to the dead. The dead altar was rather simple, with just a few candles, a statue of the Horned God, and a basket to place the letters written by those in the coven. Taped to the wall above the altar were pictures of the coven’s beloved dead.
The cleansing in this ritual utilizes a bowl and pitcher for a ritual hand washing. In my coven, we add two or three drops of essential oil (either a cleansing oil, such as ylang-ylang, or a welcoming one, such as rose oil) to a pitcher of warm water and pour that over each convener’s hands into a bowl. The person carrying the bowl generally places a clean towel over one of their arms so coveners can dry their hands after the cleansing.
Because there are many spirits and entities out and about near Samhain, this ritual calls the elements twice. The first go-through is an invitation to the powers of the elements to join us at ritual and features a ritualized candle lighting. This is often known as “lighting the temple” and can be done by the individuals leading the ritual or by each of the quarter callers. This is then followed by the more common calls to the watchtowers. In my coven, we utilize both of these steps at every ritual.
There are not a lot of bodies required for this ritual, but whoever casts the circle will probably get a bit of a workout, as they have to let people in and out of the circle to visit with the Dread Lord of Shadows.
Ritual Roles
• High Priestess
• High Priest
• Four quarter callers
• Circle caster
Materials Needed
• Standard altar setup
• Tokens to be handed out by the Dread Lord of Shadows (We used a variety of stones.)
• Tarot cards
• Cakes and ale (For Samhain, I prefer bread and hard apple cider.)
• Paper, pen, and string (to tie around the rolled-up paper)
The Ritual: The Dread Lord of Shadows
Before beginning the ritual, make sure everything is set up, including your altar to the beloved dead and the curtain guarding it (figure 11). If coveners have brought pictures of their beloved dead with them, they should be placed upon the altar of the dead or taped to the wall/area around it.
Figure 11. Samhain Coven Ritual Setup
Cleansing/Statement of Intent
The High Priestess and High Priest bless and cleanse all the coveners using the pitcher of water and the bowl. Whoever is pouring the water upon the coveners hands should say, “We bless and cleanse you in the names of the Lord and the Lady.” Coveners generally reply with “Blessed be,” which is then repeated by the High Priestess and Priest. Most coveners will anoint themselves with the purifying water, but they don’t have to. The High Priestess and Priest are the last to be cleansed and will need another covener to assist them either to use the pitcher or hold the bowl.
High Priest: We gather here tonight to celebrate the passing of the old year and welcome in the new. We are here to celebrate Samhain, the final harvest, that time when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest and those who have departed this world may return to it once more. So mote it be!
Many covens choose to represent spirit, or the center, upon their altar with a large central candle. This is something we do in my coven, and we look upon that candle as representing the cosmic glue that unites everything in the universe. We then use this candle to light the temple and the candle that is symbolic of fire.
High Priestess: Blessed be we who gather this night, and blessed be all who have come before us and will come after us. Blessed be the powers that will join us, and blessed be this time and this place and all who would walk in the Old Ways.
The High Priestess lights the spirit candle.
Blessing the Elements
High Priest: I cleanse and consecrate this creature of water so that it my be free of all impurities and uncleanliness. In the names of the Lord and the Lady, so mote it be!
The High Priest removes the bowl of water from the pentacle, and the High Priestess sets a bowl of salt upon the altar’s pentacle.
High Priestess: I cleanse and consecrate this creature of earth so that it may be free of all impurities and uncleanliness. In the names of the Lord and the Lady, so mote it be!
The High Priestess takes her athame and places it in the salt, removing three measures of “earth” and placing it in the water. She then stirs the salt into the water with her athame.
High Priestess: Thrice measured, thrice taken, thrice given. So mote it be!
The salted water is set aside. The High Priest takes an unlit candle and lights it with a taper lit from the spirit candle. He places the candle (in a holder) on the pentacle and touches it with his athame.
High Priest: I cleanse and consecrate this creature of fire so that it may be free of all impurities and uncleanliness. In the names of the Lord and the Lady, so mote it be!
The High Priest removes the candle from the pentacle, and the High Priestess takes the incense and sets it upon the pentacle, placing her athame on or in it, depending on the type of incense used.
High Priestess: I cleanse and consecrate this creature of air so that it may be free of all impurities and uncleanliness. In the names of the Lord and the Lady, so mote it be!
The High Priestess lights incense with the fire candle (or at taper lit from the fire candle) and then walks the incense around the circle deosil. The High Priest picks up the salted water and follows the High Priestess, sprinkling the water around the perimeter of the circle. For me, the incense and salted water are about cleansing the circle, and not so much the participants. With that in mind, I tend to fling the salted water into every corner of my ritual room.
Casting the Circle, Lighting the Temple, Calling the Watchtowers
To cast the circle, start in the east and move deosil three times.
Circle Caster: I cast and conjure thee, O circle of power, that thou may be a meeting place of love, truth, joy, and reunion. This circle is a boundary between the world of the living, that of the dead, and the realms of the Mighty Ones. May this circle serve as a protection from any and all that might seek harm upon this coven or would attempt to join our rites uninvited. I bless and consecrate this circle in the names of the Lord and the Lady. So mote it be!
To light the temple, candles should be set up at each of the four quarters. In our coven, those candles are placed in sconces on the walls of our ritual room. Alternatively, altars can be set up for each quarter, or the coven can choose to simply place a candle on the floor or somewhere near the quarter to represent it. Once each element has been summoned, the candle representing it should be lit with a taper whose light comes from the spirit candle. Once the element candle has been lit, the taper should be blown out and passed to the next quarter caller.
East Quarter Caller: I bring air and light in at the east to illuminate this temple and bring to us a sense of belonging.
South Quarter Caller: I bring fire and light in at the south to illuminate this temple and bring to us our true will.
West Quarter Caller: I bring water and light in at the west to illuminate this temple and bring to us the promise of hope.
North Quarter Caller: I bring earth and light in at the north to illuminate this temple and bring to us a feeling of power.
Once the elements have been summoned, the watchtowers should be called, again going deosil. Coveners generally repeat the greeting “Hail and welcome!” at the end of each call. Additionally, each of the four quarter callers can draw an invoking pentagram while summoning their watchtower.
East Quarter Caller: Ye guardians of the watchtower of the east, powers of air, spirits of intuition and insight, in the name of the Craft we summon, stir, and call you up to bear witness to our rites and watch over our circle. Hail and welcome!
South Quarter Caller: Ye guardians of the watchtower of the south, powers of fire, spirits of devotion and ecstasy, in the name of the Craft we summon, stir, and call you up to bear witness to our rites and watch over our circle. Hail and welcome!
West Quarter Caller: Ye guardians of the watchtower of the west, powers of west, spirits of memory and beginnings, in the name of the Craft we summon, stir, and call you up to bear witness to our rites and watch over our circle. Hail and welcome!
North Quarter Caller: Ye guardians of the watchtower of the north, powers of air, spirits tradition and place, in the name of the Craft we summon, stir, and call you up to bear witness to our rites and watch over our circle. Hail and welcome!
Calls the God and the Goddess/Charge of the Lady of Death
High Priest: I call to the Great God, Lord of the Underworld, the Horned One, Master of the Great Hunt. We ask you to be with us tonight and join us in our circle. Help us to understand the mysteries of the Underworld. Help us to reunite with loved ones who are now a part of your realm. Give us the courage to face the coming of the new year, and help us to learn the lessons we received in the last turn of the wheel. Hail and welcome!
High Priestess: We call to you, Great Goddess, she who is Maiden, Mother, and Crone and all that lies between. Join us, Lady of Death, as we celebrate the passing of the old year and the coming of the new. Great Lady, smile down upon us and illuminate our rite with your power, compassion, and grace. Allow us to feel the touch of those who have left us this night. Stir our souls with passion and fire as we gather here tonight to celebrate the sacred Samhain festival. Hail and welcome!
High Priest: O Gracious Goddess, Eternal Mother, you who gives birth to the fallen, teach us all to know that in the time of the greatest darkness there is the greatest light. Share your wisdom with us this night as explore the mysteries of Samhain.
What follows is what we call in our coven the “Charge of the Lady of Death.”
High Priest: Now listen to the words of the Great Mother, the Lady of Death, who was once called Diana, Hecate, Kali, Ariadne, Persephone, and by many other names.
High Priestess: I am she who is feared yet she who would bring comfort. I am the end of all things and the beginning of all else. I would give you peace, freedom, and reunion with those who have gone before you. My gifts are rarely sought, yet freely I offer them. I am she who embraces every woman and every man. None shall escape my touch, but fear not, for I hold the cauldron of life within my hands, the power of immortality for all those who would be reborn in your world.
I am feared, yet I am the balance in this world without end. Without me, thou would not live again. I am the end of suffering, the release from all pain. I gather the spirits who have left your world and offer them a place in it once more. I am the mystery of the end and the wonder of beginnings.
And all will come to know me, for I am death, and none can escape my grasp. But remember, I reach for thee because I also love thee. For I was with thee at the start of your journey and will be there again at the end. I exist both in this world and in the world beyond, and offer love and comfort to all who enter my realms. Blessed be!
Drawing Down the God
High Priest: The Lady of Death dwells ever around us and is a part of this life’s journey.
High Priestess: But to see the Summerlands this night, we must call down he who is the Dread Lord of Shadows. He is the god of both this world and the next, and through his power we shall be granted reunion with those who have gone before us. My love, are you ready to be his vessel?
High Priest: Yes, I will stand for him.
The High Priestess stands before the High Priest. She looks him square in the eye, and he raises his hands above his head to draw forth the power of the Dread Lord of Shadows. At this point she may choose to embrace the High Priest in order to direct the God into the body of his servant, or she may stand in front of the High Priest, using her will to help manifest the drawing down.
High Priestess: Dread Lord of Shadows, God of Death, Giver of Life, open wide, I pray thee, the gate through which we all must pass. Let our dear ones who have gone before return to us this night to share their love and wisdom. And when our time comes, as it must, O thou comforter, counselor, giver of peace and rest, we will enter your realms gladly and unafraid. For we know that when rested and refreshed among our dear ones, we will be reborn by your grace and the grace of me who art Queen of the Dead and the Great Mother of us all. Let it be in the same place and at the same time as our beloved ones, and may we meet, and know, and remember, and love them again. Descend, O lover and loved, into this thy servant and Priest.
Blessed be thy feet, which stand in this world and the realm beyond. (The High Priestess kisses the High Priest’s feet.)
Blessed be thy knees, which kneel in promise to the dead. (kisses knees)
Blessed be thy sex, which brings us again to this life. (kisses area above the genitals)
353Blessed be thy heart, source of strength and courage. (kisses between breasts)
Blessed be thy lips, which shall speak only truth. (kisses lips)
I Invoke and beseech thee, O Father of us all, Dread Lord of Shadows, God of Death and Giver of Life. By root and tree, by petal and bud, by steam and life, by my life and love, do I invoke thee to descend into the vessel of your servant and Priest here.
Arrival of the God/The Charge of the God of Death
High Priestess: Let all come forward now and show proper respect and reverence to he who is the Dread Lord of Shadows, God of Death, Giver of Life.
The High Priestess bows to the God, and the coveners follow suit, with everyone coming up to where he stands in the circle. Alternatively, the God may choose to walk around and greet each covener individually. What a deity chooses to do, especially in a coven rite, can never truly be controlled. If the drawing down is successful, the God may choose to address the coven. If it’s not successful, the High Priest can read this short “Charge of the God of Death.” I’ve also seen fully drawn-down deities prefer to read whatever charge has been prepared for them.
High Priest/Dread Lord of Shadows: I stand at the end of all things and the beginning of all that is new. I take and I give. I am the spark of life and he who extinguishes all. I stand with you in this journey and will walk with you upon the next. I am he who gives release from pain and brings to you all that is pleasurable. My touch is feared, yet my hand is readily grasped. I rend, I rip, I tear. I love, I lift, I embrace.
The Gates of Death/Into the Summerlands
High Priest: I go now with the power of the Dread Lord of Shadows to open the portal to the Summerlands so that we might all experience reunion with those who have gone before. My Priestess will guide you when each of you are ready.
The High Priest leaves the ritual space and prepares to open the portal. How each of us envisions the land of the dead is a personal one, and I’m not sure there’s any one right way to open a gate between this world and the Summerlands. My own method is to reach out with my being and seek the veil that keeps the dead mostly apart from us. Once I discover that veil, I focus on opening a small rift in it. I picture all of this in my mind’s eye while concentrating on a space near the coven’s altar of the dead. To then keep that rift open requires continuous concentration.
When my coven has done this ritual, the Dread Lord often challenges each covener as they walk into the hallway, generally asking them how they choose to approach the veil between the worlds. Answers often vary, with “in perfect love and perfect trust” and “with courage” being the most common. After each covener leaves the altar of the dead and the spirits of those they have lost, they are given a small token by the High Priest/Dread Lord. In our experience, he often whispers words of advice and encouragement to our coveners. Even if the drawing down hasn’t truly “taken,” he’s often present, and the High Priest may find himself saying things that will surprise him.
There’s a lot to balance here for the High Priest, as he must focus on keeping the portal open, interacting with coveners, and containing the Horned God. But who said Witchcraft was easy?
After the High Priest leaves, the High Priestess should address the coven.
High Priestess: There are always so many things we wish to say when reuniting with those who have gone before us, but words often fail us. Our speech is replaced by tears, our emotions over-powering nearly all else. Before we all stand before the veil, I ask that you take a moment to write a few words to your beloved dead. Tell them that you love them, that you miss them, and that a part of them lives in this world, because nothing and no one is truly gone if they are but remembered.
When you’re done writing down those things within your heart that you wish to share, roll up your letter and tie it with a string. Before finishing, you may wish to reflect upon those you have lost or whisper a prayer to our Lady and Lord at our altar. When I see that you’re ready, I shall lead you to the portal and you shall be let out of our temple by they who cast our circle.
The idea behind writing the letters is to limit a mad rush to the door, and since each person writes at a different pace, this has worked well for our coven. However, if you have a lot of coveners and feel like the journey to the portal is not quite enough, you can supplement this rite by adding the tarot divination rite below. This should be used once everyone is done writing letters but while there is still a line to seek the beloved dead.
In order to retain the power and energy present in the circle, the circle caster will have to cut everyone out of the circle and then back in when they go to and depart from the altar of the dead. Alternatively, the circle can be cast around both the coven’s regular working space and the altar of the dead.
High Priestess: Before reunion with your beloved dead, you may be challenged by the God at the outside of the veil. Remember always our password, “In perfect love and perfect trust,” and if he were to ask a question of your heart, remember to always reply true.
Slowly, all the coveners write letters to their dead and then approach the God and the portal. Because this process can take quite a while (I think in our coven it once lasted over an hour), I created an optional tarot rite that coveners can participate in if they desire. This is optional, but it does help keep everyone engaged as each covener has their individual moment with the Dread Lord of Shadows and their beloved dead.
Tarot for the New Turn of the Wheel (Optional)
High Priestess: Upon this Samhain night, we begin a new turn of the wheel and begin another year, one tinged with the feelings of joy, hope, sadness, and promise. To see what may lie ahead of us on this journey, I invite you to come forward and pick a tarot card that we will then read together as a coven.
The High Priestess lays down the deck of tarot cards, spreading them upon the altar’s pentacle and perhaps around it too if it’s not particularly big. One by one, coveners come forward and pick a card if they so choose, allowing their intuition to guide their hand. All present are allowed to remark upon the card and offer their interpretation of it.
Because there’s so much going on, this should be done quietly and with the knowledge that some coven members may need to be consoled after touching their loved ones across the veil. Once all who want to participate have drawn a card and all have gone to the altar of the dead and passed the Dread Lord of Shadows, the High Priestess should leave the circle and indicate to the High Priest that it’s time to rejoin the coven. Before making his way back into the circle, he must close the portal and bid farewell to the spirits who remain.
High Priest: I now close this entryway from the land and realm of spirit. What was torn asunder is once more whole. So I say this in the names of the Lord and the Lady. So mote it be!
The High Priestess leads the High Priest back to the circle.
High Priestess: Well have you done, our servant and Priest. You have opened the door to the Summerlands and led our journey this Samhain night. With the portal now closed, we welcome you back to us.
The High Priestess kisses the High Priest on the lips.
High Priestess: While Samhain is a time to reunite with those we have lost, it also allows us to look inward and find the things there worth celebrating. The fields may lie fallow, but the touch of the Lord and Lady are always with us. The heart quickens, the pulse races, and we celebrate what it means to be alive. While we have journeyed to the edge of the soul’s rest, that rest is not yet for us. Even in the time of the greatest darkness, there is also the time of greatest light. Blessed be!
The Great Rite/Cakes and Ale
The High Priest holds the cup, while the High Priestess holds her athame. At the end of the rite, the athame is placed into the chalice.
High Priestess: The days grow shorter and the nights grow colder, but the gods have not forgotten us. Life is ever present, even when the darkness grows.
High Priest: We shall now celebrate the promise given to us by the Lord and Lady and all that lies between.
High Priestess: The athame is to life,
High Priest: As the cup is to death.
Both: All that dies shall be reborn!
High Priestess: We now shall bless this bread and this drink as it was done in the days of old, when Pagans and Witches were forced to hide their art.
The High Priest picks up a tray of cakes and holds them up in front of the High Priestess.
High Priest: In the names of the Lord and the Lady, we bless these cakes.
The High Priestess touches her athame to either the cakes or the plate they are being served upon. She then takes a cake and eats it. The High Priest does the same before passing the tray around to the rest of the coven.
The High Priest picks up the coven’s chalice and holds it in front of the High Priestess.
High Priestess: In the names of the Lord and the Lady, we bless this drink.
The High Priestess touches her athame to the top of the cup and then takes a drink before passing the cup to the High Priest. He takes a drink and then passes it on so the rest of the coven may drink. Be sure to reserve some cakes and ale for the libation bowl.
Goodbyes to the Gods and the Beloved Dead
High Priestess: We thank the Lady, the Great Mother, the Goddess of Death, for being with us tonight in our circle. Remind us of your beauty and your love in the days ahead. Help us to find the strength to honor you as much in the darkness as we do in the light. Hail and farewell!
High Priest: We thank the Horned One, Dread Lord of Shadows, God of Birth and Death, for being with us tonight in our circle. We thank you for opening your realm to us. As death comes to our lands, help us to remember that you are a god of beginnings as well as endings. The Wheel turns, and as you sink down into the shadows, we say to you hail and farewell!
High Priestess: Dearest Ancestors, Beloved Death, those who have departed this world, thank you for joining us this night. Let us never forget what you mean to us as you retreat once more into the veil that separates the two worlds. Hail and farewell!
Dismissing the Watchtowers/Closing the Circle
The watchtowers and the powers of the elements are dismissed starting in the north and working counterclockwise back to the east. After the entire coven has said “Hail and farewell!” the quarter caller should blow out the candle of the element they have dismissed.
North Quarter Caller: Ye guardians of the watchtower of the north, powers of air, spirits of tradition and place, in the name of the Craft we called you up to witness and watch over our rites, and in this you have served us well. We thank you for your service and for being a part of our journey this sacred night. Hail and farewell!
West Quarter Caller: Ye guardians of the watchtower of the west, powers of water, spirits of memory and beginnings, in the name of the Craft we called you up to witness and watch over our rites, and in this you have served us well. We thank you for your service and for being a part of our journey this sacred night. Hail and farewell!
South Quarter Caller: Ye guardians of the watchtower of the south, powers of fire, spirits of devotion and ecstasy, in the name of the Craft we called you up to witness and watch over our rites, and in this you have served us well. We thank you for your service and for being a part of our journey this sacred night. Hail and farewell!
East Quarter Caller: Ye guardians of the watchtower of the east, powers of air, spirits of intuition and insight, in the name of the Craft we called you up to witness and watch over our rites, and in this you have served us well. We thank you for your service and for being a part of our journey this sacred night. Hail and farewell!
The circle is taken down by walking around it three times widdershins, with sword outstretched.
Circle Caster: I cast and conjured thee, O circle of power, to be a meeting place of love, truth, joy, and reunion. You were a boundary between this the world of the living and that of the dead and the realms of the Mighty Ones. But now all will be as it was once before, and what has been changed shall only exist within us. I release this circle and prepare us all to stand once again in our mortal realm. In the names of the Lord and the Lady, the circle has been opened and that which was once within it has been dismissed in their names and by our power. With courage we return to our world. So mote it be!
Closing Statement
High Priestess: Another year has passed us and another year full of promise and hope stands before us. With the blessings of the Lord and Lady, the love of those around us, and the memories of those who have left us, we go from this sacred place knowing of the bounty yet to come in our lives. Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again! And may the gods preserve the Craft!
FIN