Samhain Song for the Dead

I sing the song of those who have passed beyond the Veil.  These are our remembered dead, our beloved dead.  When Witches call on the Old Ones of the Craft, let these folk be numbered among them.

I sing of Old Donald Michael Kraig, Priest and Magician, son of the God.

I sing of his many books, which made magick accessible to so many to whom it may never have been.

I sing of his brave work to honour sex as both magick and sacred.

I sing of his work as a teacher.

I sing of his desire to reach and help others.

I sing of his power to open the door to Mysteries for others who followed him.

I sing of his work to help others share their knowledge also.

Hail and farewell!  Hail and farewell!  93 Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again.

I sing of Old Judy Harrow, Priestess and Witch, daughter of the Goddess.

I sing of the bridges she built between the Pagan faiths and other world faiths.

I sing of the Covenant she helped to form to protect all Witches and all Pagans of the Goddess, like a ring of hands joined around the world.

I sing of her passion for understanding human nature and the lessons she taught us from this wisdom.

I sing of the great college  she helped to build.

I sing of the books she wrote and the great works she left behind her.

I sing of the souls she healed.

I sing of the library that was named for her.

Hail and farewell!  Hail and farewell!  May you rest in the Summerlands and grow strong until such time as you deem it fit to return, re-united with those you love.  May the Horned Lord hold you gently in His embrace.

I sing of Old Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart, Priestess and Witch, daughter of the Goddess.

I sing of the green egg she made that drew us all together.

I sing of the church she helped to found, which paved the way for so many of us who came after.

I sing of the books she wrote.

I sing of her work as a teacher.

I sing of how she taught us all that love is not finite and we should love whom we will.

I sing of how she brought unicorns back to the world; or made us believe in them, even if they had not existed before.

I sing of how she taught the world to believe in magick once again.

Hail and farewell!  Hail and farewell!  May you rest in the Summerlands and grow strong until such time as you deem it fit to return, re-united with those you love.  Thou art Goddess.

I sing of Old Margot Adler, Priestess and Witch, daughter of the Goddess.

I sing of her brave journalism and her daring spirit.

I sing of her work to build bridges among Pagans.

I sing of her passion and her powerful spirit.

I sing of her courageous activism.

I sing of the books she wrote, especially the one that pioneered it for us all, and made us realize that wherever we are, we are not alone.

Hail and farewell!  Hail and farewell!  May you rest in the Summerlands and grow strong until such time as you deem it fit to return, re-united with those you love.  May the Horned Lord hold you gently in His embrace.

I sing of Old Pete Pathfinder (Pierre Claveloux Davis), Priest and Witch, son of the Goddess.

I sing of the church he founded, which paved the way for so many.

I sing of the magazine he wrote.

I sing of the great network he created to bring Pagans together around the world.

I sing of the seminary he built.

I sing of the place he created for our children, that they might learn the Old Ways.

Hail and farewell!  Hail and farewell!  May the Lady Hecate guide you with twin torches in hand, until you rest in the Summerlands.  May you grow strong until such time as you deem it fit to return, re-united with those you love.

Each of you has been a pathfinder to us; each of you has left a legacy that will long outlive you.  We honour you this Samhain and remember, and we set a place for you to join us, since what is remembered, lives on.

Hail and farewell!  Hail and farewell!  Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!