Samhain

As part of rediscovering my path this year, I didn't want to do a typical Samhain ritual.  I would typically get in touch with darker energies or ancestral energies, but having just gotten back in touch with any energies, this didn't seem the time to delve deeply into the dark.  Also, my ancestral energies are not really my go-to energies.  I am more of an elemental girl, and then animal totems.  I didn't know my family well, and what I did know, well, let's just say, we take the good with the bad when it comes to families.

So this Samhain, my goal was to get in touch with magical energies in general, and I invited friends to participate.

We set the Ritual space in my living room, in front of my hearth.  I cleared the hearth and mantle of their usual knickknacks, and thinking of a directional arrow to lead energies toward us, I set up a series of pillar candles atop large, standing candle holders.  I had enough of them to make a "V," with the tallest being a short pillar on each end of the mantle, and then five or six others on each side, ending with a white taper in a glass, lotus-shaped holder on the floor. 

We cast Circle and called Quarters, with our bodies forming a circle that was broken by the "V," with the white candle in the center of the circle.  Then we each lit a candle according to the energies we sought, starting with the tallest.  Feminine energies were represented by candles on the left and more masculine energies by candles on the right.  Those of you who Ritual often will not be surprised to learn it worked out just right, and I, as the hostess, lit the final candle to represent our larger intention and draw the energies forth.

We said a few words in closing, released the Quarters, and opened the Circle again.

Blessed Samhain.