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Internet Book of Shadows, (Various Authors), [1999], at sacred-texts.com


Samhain Notes

The High Priestess wears her white tabard if she has one for the opening ritual, with the veil thrown back.

After the Witches' Rune, the High Priest and High Priestess take up their athames. He stands with his back to the altar, she faces him across the cauldron, They then simultaneously draw the Invoking Pentagram of Earth in the air with their athames towards each other, after which they lay down their athames; he on the altar, she by the cauldron.

The High Priestess scatters incense on the charcoal in the cauldron. When she is satisfied that it is burning, she stands still facing the High Priest across the cauldron. She then declaims (if needed, ask a man to bring one of the altar candles and hold it for her):

The High Priestess then walks around the cauldron and gives the High Priest the Five-fold Kiss.

She returns to her place and pulls the veil of her tabard over her face. She then calls on each woman, by name to come forward and give the High Priest the Five Fold Kiss.

When they have all done so, the coven forms up around the circle, alternating male and female with the Maiden next to the West candle. As soon as they are in place, the High Priestess says:

The Maiden should spiral into the center, taking three or four circuits to do so. During this time, the coven should maintain absolute silence and concentrate on welcoming their dead friends.

When she reaches the center, she faces the High Priestess across the cauldron. They touch palms and the High Priestess says:

The women break contact and the Maiden returns to the West candle. When she is there, the High Priestess says:

Everyone moves in and sits in a close ring around the cauldron. The High Priestess renews the incense. Now is the time for communion with the dead. When finished scrying, the cauldron is placed next to the East candle.

The spirits of the dead must be thanked and released. The High Priestess leads the rest of the Coven in saying:

The next thing to do is the Great Rite in some form.

Farrar, Janet and Stewart; "Eight Sabbats For Witches"; Robert Hale 1983

Transcribed to computer file by Seastrider


Next: O.T.O. Samhain Ritual