The Witch of Forest Grove

I hosted my ritual group’s Samhuinn last night, and while I cannot speak for the dead, the mortals there all dressed in white certainly seemed to enjoy themselves!  I led the ritual to invoke the king and queen of the underworld so they would open the gate for us to let the spirits of the dead through. We sang chants to entice and welcome with hooded drummers in black and white robes with skull masks hiding in the corner. We passed the crescent moon cakes and apple mead around the ring, singing, and drumming. Then everyone broke into wild spontaneous dance signaling the arrival of the spirits and we broke from the ring and we feasted at tables set with red cloth, pumpkins carved with stars, and white candles everywhere. The ancestral offering altar was full of boughs of funerary trees as well as food and flower offerings. Witches poured out libations for the dead and the gods. There was many a toast and much more merriment and joyous celebration of our reunion with the beloved dead.

Hail to the Dark God and his Queen! May their reign be blessed this winter! May they be happy and content and send us a gentle season! The earth is become the bitter hag mourning her dead son, the green mantle, who falls to pieces before our eyes rended by the cold winds. The warm goddess of spring and summer with the firey eyes retreats and her dark sister whose eyes are pools of the moon steps into her place and comes to power. Oh how I love Samhuinn! May everyone’s new year be blessed and full of peace and happiness!