The basic set up for your altar is to have the cauldron within easy reach, the Goddess candle on your left, the God on your right, incense in between these two with a white candle in front and in the middle along with a black candle inside your cauldron or beside. Place your apple, knife and drink to one side within easy reach and intersperse any mementos, pictures, etc. that you wish amongst this basic set up.

Light your pillar candle (a single white candle) in the center of it all.

Light the incense or scatter your incense on your smoldering briquette.

Let the light of the candle fill the room and you as you inhale the incense.

Now relax. Focus. Breathe in through your nose and feel the air cool as it flows up into your nostrils and down into your lungs. Slowly breathe out through your nostrils and feel as the air has warmed and travels out through your nose.

Breathe in and feel the cool air as your belly expands, breathe out and feel the warm air wash out through the nostrils and the belly flattens. Do this on a count of 2:1.

Breathe in�?one…two�?three�?
See the breath as pure light coming inside of you�?BR>Breathe out…one…two…three…four…five…six�?
See the breath go out as gray smog or smoke as you release any tension, stress, concerns�?BR>Breathe in�?one…two…three�?BR>The air is clean and crisp�?BR>Breathe out�?one…two…three…four…five…six�?BR>Exhale the accumulation of debris on your psyche�?BR>Breathe in…one...two…three..
Breathe out…one…two…three…four…five…six�?BR>Breathe in…one…two…three�?BR>Breathe out…one…two…three…four…five…six�?BR>
Focus on your breath. Feel the air move. Do this slowly…consciously�?Scan your body for any areas of tension, stress or tightness and make a conscious decision to release that energy from your body. Feel it evaporate…exhale…release�?BR>
Now focus on your feet. Feel their weight against the floor. Feel the skin press down into the ground. Feel the ground press up into the skin.

Visualize slender tendrils of roots begin to sprout out from the bottom of your feet. Watch the roots dig deeper and deeper into the earth. Twisting and turning through layers of dirt…sand…rock…The roots go down. Your roots dig deeper.

They wind and twist and spiral through the earth…seeking…searching until suddenly the dark brown of the ground explodes into a sea of molten red that heats the tips of the roots as sparks of red sizzle and snake back up the roots faster and faster and faster . Watch it sparkle as it travels up through the earth…the sand…the dirt…the rock�?

This is grounding energy…earth energy…it travels up until it heats your feet. Feel the energy coalesce at your feet for an instant before it surges up your legs…your body…your neck…your head…and showers out the top of your head in a fountain of red stars that light up the dark before floating lazily down to the ground.

Feel the energy move…flow…connect�?BR>
You are grounded…you are centered�?

Now, envision silver light shining down from the heavens. It glows…pulses…and is cool as it pours down from above and onto you. The silvery light cascades into you like a spring shower as it slides down your head and neck…slips through your chest and belly and pours down your legs before it puddles around your feet to spread further and further out into a circle. Red sparks sink into the silvery puddle as it spreads further out around you. Suddenly the pool of silver surges upwards in a wave the reaches above your head before pouring back down onto you while the red light spears up through and fountains out the top of your head before cascading back down into the ground.

The silver light glimmers and shines while the red stars glitter and sparkle. Silver and red mix and mingle. Silver and red twist around each other in a spiral down your spine while their energies dance in a continues silver wave flowing back up and fountain of red flowing back down all around you and through you.

Feel the energy pulse…snap…glow�?BR>
The energy is around you. You are the energy. Feel it move up you…down you…around you...It fills you and as the energy builds, push the energy past your physical body. Feel it move beyond your skin, and encapsulate you inside this ball of energy...

You are cocooned, protected and as the energy moves outwards, direct it down your dominant arm until you can sense it coalescing in the palm of your hand or at the tip of your index finger. Now walk the circle in your mind or where you are directing the energy outwards in a stream of light to mark off the boundaries of your circle.

“I cast this circle once around
All within by magic bound
A sacred space, A healing place,
Safe from harm by Spirit’s grace.�?BR>
Watch the energy pour out your arm and lay a circle of light around you as you step and as you finish the circle envision it sinking down into the ground and rising up over your head to make a circle around you, above you, below you.

This is your boundary between worlds. This is your sacred space. Take a moment to walk the circle and feel the energy.

Come to the center and say�?BR>
“Wondrous Lady of the Moon, Mother of all,
I welcome you to my circle this night.
Bless this space with your light and your love.�?BR>
Light the Goddess candle.

“The Lady is come, and welcome!�?BR>
Now say�?BR>
“Radiant Lord of the Sun, Protector of all,
I welcome you to my circle this night.
Bless this space with your light and your love.�?BR>
Light the God candle.

“The Lord is come, and welcome!�?BR>
The candle light encompasses you with radiance and warmth. The shadows step back. Like an eternal flame the candles flicker and dance to the song that plays throughout the universe.

Breathe in the light. Feel the heat. See the heart of the flame.

“Spirits of the North, Powers of earth,
Come and be present in my circle,
Bless me with your strength, and your faith.
Protect me in all my endeavors.
So Mote it Be.�?BR>
“Spirits of the East, Powers of air,
Come and be present in my circle,
Bless me with your clarity, and your vision.
Protect me in all my endeavors.
So Mote it Be�?BR>
“Spirits of the South, Powers of fire,
Come and be present in my circle,
Bless me with your courage, and your passion.
Protect me in all my endeavors.
So Mote it Be�?BR>
“Spirits of the West, Powers of water,
Come and be present in my circle,
Bless me with love and dreams.
Protect me in all my endeavors.
So Mote it Be�?BR>
“The circle is cast, and we are between worlds, beyond the boundaries of time, where night and day, birth and death, joy and sorrow meet as one.�?BR>
Take a moment now to think of those that have gone before. See their names, mementos or pictures. Run your fingers over the items and feel the energy that may still cling. For a moment reflect on your memories and know that no one is ever truly gone.

Say:

“Forests misty, dark and deep
The door between the worlds release
Loved ones, family, favored pets
To join me in this evening’s fest.
The birth of new, the death of old
I will this cycle to unfold.
Each leaf that drifts upon the ground
Will bury all that is unsound
And in its place will rise anew
The gift of love the whole year through.
With harvest gold and autumn sun
I reap the best that I have done.
And as the days grow shorter still
With longer nights and winter’s chill
I’ll work to build a better place
For every soul and human race.
Wild autumn winds and crone’s dark voice
Speak to me of wisdom’s choice
Let me hear your words of fate
So I know which part to take!
Those of you who went before
Speak to me from crossroad’s door
Whisper words of love and care
Let me know that you are there.�?BR>
Take your small candles and light each from the pillar candle. Light the candle and set it in front of the pictures or in a holder of some sort. As you light them, say a prayer of thanks for being a part of your life. Reflect on what you have learned from them, what you miss about them, or whatever comes to mind when you think of them.

Know that as you think of them, they hear you and are with you once again. As you set the last candle just be in this moment of silence.

“Never forgotten, always remembered.�?BR>
Leave the candles to burn.

Now light the black candle (to represent the void and to repel negativity) and take a moment to think of those habits, angers, resentments, hurts, etc. that you no longer want or need. Write them down on your paper or your leaves. As your write, think of how those feelings, hurts, angers, etc. make you feel…hold you back…hold you down.

Know that we can be free once we choose to let go. All we have to do is choose. All we have to do is let go.

Focus on those pieces of paper and say�?BR>
“Goddess, I have a come a long way this year but I carry burdens I no longer wish to bear. I would like to step from beneath them and send them back into the spiral of where all things come and where all things go. Here, I offer to you my (resentments against�? my anger towards�?, my fear of�?, etc.) and I ask that you absorb these energies back into the universe, the circle, the center. Transform them as I am transformed. Guide me as I step away from the shadows that cling, so I can walk free in the beams of light.�?BR>
Now burn your list in the candle flame and set it in the cauldron. Watch it burn. Imagine all those unwanted feelings, hurts, etc. that are of no more use to you evaporating into the smoke. Feel yourself lighter, stronger, happier, more serene, more complete�?BR>
Now say�?BR>
“I am cleansed. I am free. I am light. Thank you Goddess for answering the call of one of your children. I honor you and I thank you.�?BR>
Let the papers burn away and know that you are free.

After the ritual, take the cauldron with burnt papers outside to let the wind carry away the remnants or you can simply flush it down the toilet or you can bury the burnt papers into the earth knowing that the energies will be absorbed, transformed and healed.

Feel yourself free. You have set yourself free.

Now is the time of divination. Focus on any questions you have and cast your divination with cards, scrying in a mirror or water, runes, etc�?BR>
When you are ready, it is time for cakes and ale.

“God of the Harvest, bless this food,
that we may never hunger.
Goddess of Abundance, bless this drink,
That we may never thirst.�?BR>
Cut your apple in half and as you eat and drink contemplate your feelings and any knowledge that has come to your during this circle. This is a time to eat and to chat.

It is time to thank the spirits and bid them farewell�?BR>
“Spirits of earth
I thank you for your blessings,
Return now to your magical realm
With my love and gratitude,
That we might meet again within this sacred circle.�?BR>
“Spirits of air
I thank you for your blessings,
Return now to your magical realm
With my love and gratitude,
That we might meet again within this sacred circle.�?BR>
“Spirits of fire
I thank you for your blessings,
Return now to your magical realm
With my love and gratitude,
That we might meet again within this sacred circle.�?BR>
“Spirits of water
I thank you for your blessings,
Return now to your magical realm
With my love and gratitude,
That we might meet again within this sacred circle.�?BR>
Extinguish the God and then the Goddess candle using a snuffer, clap or fingers (do not blow them out). Now, in your mind’s eye or where you are, extend your dominant arm as if drawing open a curtain and walk widdershins.

“I part this circle, all is done
Magic forged by Moon and Sun
All who came here, thanks to thee
To go in peace and Blessed Be!�?BR>
“The circle is open, but never broken.
Merry meet and merry part, and merry meet again!�?BR>
Today we say good-bye to the old year and look forward to the new one.