Samhain Ritual Preview
Good morning, everyone! Quill here. Many of you have asked about the theme and flow for the Samhain ritual, so I want to share some info and resources in advance.
At the Deeply Rooted Church Community, my main focus is on death and ancestry. I research different cultural traditions and their views on death and the afterlife. The ritual on November 2nd will incorporate what I’ve learned from my teachers, Oak Bear and Wade, along with my personal experiences.
“We will only ask for help from ancestors who support us. This is a sacred and safe space. Not all ancestors deserve our attention—let’s not focus on the toxic ones. Instead, call on those who inspire you, make you laugh, or deserve to be honored.”
To Hel and Back
This ritual draws inspiration from Norse traditions, using Norse symbols and honoring a specific Norse Goddess, the ruler of the Underworld, Hel. We’ll talk more about her a little later. There will also be other European symbolism used throughout the ritual which will be discussed before we begin.
The purpose of this ritual is to remember our ancestors, honor them, and to also travel to and from the land of the dead so that we have a stronger connection to those who have gone on before us.
Our intention is to draw from their wisdom to make ourselves stronger.
Who is the Norse Goddess Hel?
The Goddess Hel will be part of the guided meditation in this ritual. She is the Norse Goddess associated with the realm of Helheim, the land of the dead, and is the daughter of Loki and the giantess Angrboða. Hel's name means "hidden," reflecting how the spirits of the dead are usually invisible to us. She is often shown as a woman who is both alive and dead, sometimes with a split face or alive above the waist while decaying below. Hel not only rules the dead but also cares for them. While she might seem dark or villainous, there is no concept of "ultimate evil" in Paganism like there is with Satan in Christianity. Hel can be a powerful ally for personal growth, shadow work, and during times of death and mourning.
One thing that really struck me about Hel is that she works to feed the dead. Nourishing the souls who remain hungry within her realm. That was the first thing that really spoke to me of her character. I think that Hel represents the truth of death, where we are all subject to our lives ending and our body decaying, however, I think she also represents keeping the memory of the dead alive within the living through memories.
Coins will be used as an offering during ritual. Why are we using coins?
From China to Ancient Greece, coins have been used as a means of communicating and making offerings to the dead. The use of our coins during the ritual is inspired from the Roman tradition of placing coins on the eyes of the dead to pay the toll to the underworld. It is believed that Charon was the ferryman who guided souls on his boat down the River Styx, to the Underworld.
These coins were known as “Charon’s Obol” which was seen as a payment or bribe. Since we are calling upon our honored dead, we are also giving them a means to return to the underworld with safe passage.
Directional Ancestor Call & The Runes
Our ancestor calling will be a bit different than usual. We will use four runes, each representing a specific ideal and direction. Instead of just inviting the four elements, we will also invite ancestors from these directions, asking for their help and offering something in return. Moving clockwise, and beginning in the west, we will call upon:
West: The direction of our ancestors, representing water, emotions, and wisdom. We will call on the attributes of Ansuz.
North: The resting place of our ancestors' bones, which rise again as plants, animals, and are connected to the earth. We will call on the attributes of Dagaz.
East: The direction of ancestors whose names are forgotten but whose deeds remain. Their voices whisper to us on the wind, symbolized by air. We will call on the attributes of Gebo.
South: The direction of passion, warriors, and change, represented by fire. We will call on the attributes of Sowilo.
“Hail, Ancestors of the West! You who serve your lineage, remembered by name. From the silver threads that bind all life, I call you! Share your wisdom with us! Hail and Welcome!”
The group will respond with, “Hail and Welcome!” A member (Mindy) will ring a bell, welcoming in the ancestors, and the Priestx (Quill) will place two coins at this direction as an offering to those who have come forward from between the veil. We will then face the North together.
“Hail, Ancestors of the North! Souls departed yesterday, slumbering in the earth, planted like seeds, ready to rise again. Like the dawning of the new day, share your warmth and light. Hail and Welcome!”
The group will respond with, “Hail and Welcome!” A member (Mindy) will ring a bell, welcoming in the ancestors, and the Priestx (Quill) will place two coins at this direction as an offering to those who have come forward from between the veil. We will then face East together.
“Hail, Ancestors of the East! Though your deeds may fade, your legacy endures. Please bring with you the gift of the memories long woven into our DNA! Hail and Welcome!”
The group will respond with, “Hail and Welcome!” A member (Mindy) will ring a bell, welcoming in the ancestors, and the Priestx (Quill) will place two coins at this direction as an offering to those who have come forward from between the veil. We will then face the South together.
“Hail, Ancestors of the South! From joy and sorrow, brave warriors and wise teachers, gather here. Please bring with you the fire of passion and needed transformation. Hail and Welcome!”
Mindy will ring the bell three times symbolizing the next step of the ritual.
We will be invoking the spirits of three plants to aid is in clear communication and protection while working with the spirits of the dead. These herbs are pennyroyal, rue, and hyssop.
Phoebe and Miranda, the daughters of Quill, will walk clock-wise around the circle, spreading the herbs around us. We will remain silent as they do so.
Quill will say, “We will now invite the spirits of Hyssop, Rue, and Pennyroyal to help us in our communion with the ancestors.”
Plant Spirit Magick - For Easier & Safer Communication with the Dead
These particular herbs are fantastic for communication and protection with the dead.
Pennyroyal is used in various American Folk Magick traditions (such as Appalachian, Granny Magick, etc) as a way of easing the fear of death. It is the primary herb for communication.
Hyssop is used in American Folk Magick traditions as a cleansing herb. It is heavily protective and also helps create a boundary around us so only those who are called upon may enter or those who have only pure intent to help us.
Rue is used in Italian (Strega) witchcraft as a powerful protection herb. It gives us another layer of protection to help us feel safe and secure within the circle.
“Pennyroyal, Hyssop, and hallowed Rue
I beseech thee,
Protection From Crown to Shoe
In all directions,
to every plot
I ask thee to consecrate,
Between the worlds,
this very spot!
To every stick, stone, and tree,
We walk walk with our Divine Ancestors,
SO MOTE IT BE! ”
The veil between the worlds is thinning, the door to our world and the realm of Helheim slowly creeks open, the dead are paused - ready and waiting to be accepted by the living.
Calling in the Remembered
Quill will say: “Everyone, I would like for us to face outwards into the woods. We will now be calling forward the spirits of our own kin, who wait for us now, just beyond the doorway.
The doorway to the spirit world is now open. Remember, this is a safe and welcoming space.”
Quill will then say: “Please call upon your ancestors, those who have your best interests at heart. Those who are worthy of being cherished and remembered tonight. Remember to toss two coins into the woods to pay their way as they traverse the realms.
As we move around the circle, clock-wise, speak their names and share a brief memory or tribute. Let their spirits be remembered and honored.”
Everyone goes around the circle, remembering the names of their ancestors.
Note: Many of your unknown ancestors have shaped your life. You might not know their names, but you could share their features, eyes, or mannerisms that affect who you are today. Now, let's remember the forgotten.
Calling in the Forgotten
Quill will say, “Now I call to the ancestors, their names lost to time, yet their legacy lives on in us.
To those separated by the passage of years, and those forgotten, I open this sacred space.
Come forward, share your wisdom, your tales in our dreams, and your presence in our community.
Unknown ancestors, I respectfully offer you these coins to pay your toll as you travel between the veils.
Hail & Welcome!”
Let’s start our guided meditation. This short session will help connect you with your ancestors, making their messages clear and accessible beyond this ritual. We'll begin with a grounding and breathing exercise to center you in the present.
Breathing exercise
Quill will direct, “I want you to take a deep breath in through your nose, filling your lungs completely.
Hold your breath for a moment, then exhale slowly through your mouth, releasing all tension.
Continue this pattern of deep breaths, focusing on the sensation of the air entering and leaving your body.
As you breathe, imagine yourself becoming lighter
and grounding into the earth simultaneously.
You are now in liminal space - the place between the veils!
I want you to take a moment to explore the liminal space, where the boundaries between worlds blur.
Feel the energy of your ancestors surrounding you,
their presence comforting and grounding.
In your mind’s eye, I want you to picture a wooden door creaking open. Behind it is an amber light that chases away the darkness around us.
As the door opens wider, you bravely step through the immense wooden threshold to the other side. You are enveloped in a surprising gust of warm breeze. You open your eyes, expecting there to be a bright sun above your head. Somehow, there is a dark charcoal sun dancing over head, casting an otherworldly glow on the scenery before you.
Beneath this blackened disc dancing above you, are vast fields of unharvested corn, wheat, and other drops which stretch out for miles. In the deep amber light you can make out tiny homes with flickering candle lights, small cities bustling with activity, and vast mountains painted in hues of rust, earthy umber, and honey, creating a striking contrast between the sky.
Before you lies a winding path through these fields. You can hear the calls of birds echoing on the wind and the sounds of livestock in the distance. As you walk, you realize your feet are not touching the ground. You are nether tethered to this place nor adrift. You simply float along this landscape, towards the farms and cities before you, eager to see what’s next. The smell of pine, dried vegetation, and strange yet familiar spices float along the wind.
You come upon a cloaked figure whose shrouded in shades of red and burgundy. In the light of the black sun, the figure removes her cloak exposing her face. One side of her face is the striking features of a lovely raven-haired maiden, while the other in stark contrast is the decaying face of the crone. In her right hand, she carries a basket woven from still-moving serpents, somehow held together and unharmed. The woman who stands before you has a presence which commanding yet comforting. She reveals herself to you as the Goddess Hel, ruler of the Underworld.
From the basket, she removes the skull of a bear and holds it out for you to see - the eye sockets of the bear reflect your image to you.
She asks you, “Are you afraid to look into the eyes of Death? Do you fear what awaits you and every other mortal being?”
She pauses for a moment, allowing you to answer silently within your mind.
Hel continues, “If you stand here, then you are atleast brave enough to find what you seek. Look into the land of the ancestors and know this. Death awaits all who dwell on earth, however, death is not the end. As the corn kernal splits from the earth, it grows, whithers, and returns. Nothing that is dead is ever apart from the ever-powerful Wheel of the Year. What ends will rise, what rises will fall, and what falls to me will be nurtured until it is ready to grow again.”
For a moment, one blue eye and one dead socket stare into you from the Goddess. Lady Hel turns from you, and calls to the waiting dead who have been silently gathering. With the swift motion of her right hand, she summons a wave of spirits who surge forth from the silent cornfields, their forms flickering in and out of existence. They rush to you eagerly, their faces both familiar and forgotten. They wear the expressions of excitement, anticipation, and joy.
The Goddess Hel stands there, observing the scene. You almost catch a smile on her stern face, yet it vanishes as quickly as it was discovered.
Your ancestors are here with you now, standing close by, their energy palpable and strong. Take a moment to relive cherished shared memories, and allow yourself to receive their timeless wisdom. Feel their presence wrap around you like a warm embrace, their love igniting a profound sense of connection that transcends the bounds of time and space.
Know that beyond this ritual, your ancestors are still with you, tied to you through your DNA - like unseen silver chains of connection - timeless and unbroken.
All around you, the sights, smells, and sounds of Helheim envelop you like a warm blanket. This is not the Hollywood depiction of the realm of the dead. There is nothing to fear here except the inevitability that all things change. You take a moment to fully absorb what you are experiencing. Your ancestors power and guidance flow through you like your lifeblood - only needing a moment of concentration to summon lifetimes of sacrifice.
When you feel prepared, we begin our journey back down the road. The Goddess Hel follows behind the procession of the dead, with you at the very beginning of the parade of souls. With each step back to the threshold, you feel the ancestors who have come to visit you cheering you on. Your connection to them is renewed and strengthened. You step through the door and back to the realm of the living - Midgard.
Hekate’s Poem, Cakes & Ale, Closing
After the meditation, our elder Paisley will read us a poem she wrote that features Hekate - another Goddess who is connected to the Underworld.
After that, we will have Cakes & Ale “May you never hunger, may you never thirst,” served to us by John Robinson and Mindy.
From there, John Robinson will close the circle and bid the ancestors fairwell. We will then begin John’s Ordination.
Thank you for reading along about the ritual. We will have a pre-ritual discussion to refresh everyone on what the ritual will be about, the expectations, and so forth about two hours before the actual Samhain ritual will take place.
Please see the itinerary listed on the event, and PLEASE register! Spaces are filling up fast! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask me via Facebook, by texting 612.383.9741, or email.
