Samhain Ritual for Divination & New Beginnings   Note:  Feel free to change "I" and "we" as appropriate, depending on whether you're working solitary or as a group.   Materials:  Orange and black candles (optional); one white candle; patchouli or cedar incense; patchouli oil; small cauldron containing black candle; salt; blessed water; sage smudging stick.  (Note: May use Deity or Elemental Altar setup.    Begin by smudging deosil (clockwise) around the circle from North, to East, to South, to West:   May this smoke banish all negativity from within this circle that it may be cleared and ready for our work.   Sprinkle salt deosil around the circle:   May this salt purify and bless this circle.  Through the Power of the Goddess and the God is this circle cleansed.   Sprinkle blessed water deosil around the circle:   With this blessed water do I consecrate this Circle by the Lady and the Lord.  This circle is conjured a circle of power that is purified and sealed, where love is the law and love is the bond.   Light incense and altar candles (if using):   [North]  I call upon you, Elemental Earth, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I have body and strength like the Great Buffalo, we are kith and kin.   [East]  I call upon you, Elemental Air, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I breath and think like the Soaring Eagle, we are kith and kin.   [South]  I call upon you, Elemental Fire, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I have energy and drive like the Wise Serpent, we are kith and kin.   [West]  I call upon you, Elemental Water, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I have emotions and my heart beats like the Gentle Dolphin, we are kith and kin.   Hail and welcome to the Elementals at the Four Quarters!   We celebrate the dance of life to death to new life.  The last harvest is gathered and stored for the dark months ahead, and the wheel has turned to the time of the Hunter.   At this time is the veil between the worlds thin, and the gates are thrown open, so do we welcome spirits who have gone before and the Others who pass between two worlds.  This is the Crone’s time and with the Hunter, Lord of Shadows, She is the passage from life to life that all must take.  Together they give restful peace in the continuous turning of the spiral dance that goes forth and returns, yet ever moves on.  With the Ancient Ones, we move with the dance.   Light the black candle in the cauldron:   Here is the cauldron of endings and new beginnings.  Into this burning flame do we cast our weaknesses and the habits that keep us from attaining our potential.  By the death of these things will we live better lives.  So Mote It Be!   Burn the papers.   Anoint the white candle with patchouli oil and light:   With this candle and by its light, we welcome you spirits this Samhain night.   Sprinkle some lavender into the cauldron/candle flame:   I call upon the power of this herb, Lavender, to bless this house and the spirits that come to visit.  Blessed Be!   ** Perform Divination Activities **   + (See Optional Spirit Conjuration)   Open the Circle:   [North] Depart in Peace, Elemental Earth.  Our blessings take with you.   [East]  Depart in Peace, Elemental Air.  Our blessings take with you.   [South]  Depart in Peace, Elemental Fire.  Our blessings take with you.   [West]  Depart in Peace, Elemental Water.  Our blessings take with you.   Beings and powers of the visible and invisible, depart in peace.  You aid in our work, whisper in our minds, and bless us from the Otherworld.  Let there ever be harmony between us.  Our blessings take with you.   Blessings have been given and Blessings have been received.  The circle is cleared.   The circle is now open, yet it is never broken.  Merry did we meet, merry do we part, and merry will we meet again!   + Optional Spirit Conjuration   On this sacred night of darkness, when the veil is thinnest and the Crone reigns as Queen, to the Spirit of (Name of Deceased) and to (repeat Name) alone do we open the door that separates our world from yours and your world from ours.  I summon thee now.   Welcome (Name) into this circle of light. Come now with haste and harming none. Blessed Be!   Note:  If using this conjuration, remember to bid farewell to the summoned spirit. http://forums.delphiforums.com/herbalmusings/messages?msg=16334.1 Assembled by Josie HTML by Giggles@ KandysKrazyKlasses