Samhain (Sow-wen) Sabbat is an embrace of the mysteries of death and renewal. We accept that everyone and everything dies eventually, and where the old matter falls to decay, that compost enriches the new life growing to replace it. As I map the Witch’s Wheel of the Year to the human life-cycle, I correlate the funeral rite of passage as an echo to Samhain’s lessons.
I offer the following Witch’s Funeral Rite for your consideration. It is designed for the witch who chooses their physical remains to be cremated, as a release to fire; therefore, this rite is a memorial for the dearly departed, rather than a burial, with a release of their subtle bodies to the Underworld. It also serves to comfort their friends and family who commit the remaining ashes to the earth, winds, and waters…nourishing a new sapling tree planted in their honor.
I write this ritual as an exercise of what kind of memorial I’d offer my own beloved dead when that unfortunate need arises. I’d hope to receive something like this when it is my own time to pass through the veil, to tread the hidden road beyond…
A Witch’s Funeral Rite For Release, Remembrance, and Rejuvenation
Setting:
Outdoors if possible, with enough chairs for all participants around the perimeter of the circle; a central altar is laid beautifully with flowers, images of the dearly departed, and their ritual/magickal items to draw their Souls near. Such as their book of shadows, wand, athame, initiation cords or jewelry, etc. If it is legal and safe, a small ritual fire burns nearby.
Altar Needs:
- A lit, white sanctuary candle prepared with an image and name of the dearly departed on the glass, symbolizing their Soul now. Can be used in the future on ancestor altars, and in Samhain rites to call them close again.
- Candles for the Ancestors, Goddess and God to suit your preferences.
- Consecration elements of a salt, water, red candle, loose ancestor incense in a small, safe, burning-vessel, with charcoal, lighter, tongs, spoon, etc.
- Their urn of ashes, ready to be returned to the earth.
- Four bowls for ashes, representing the elements of fire, earth, air, and water. An additional water pitcher holding enough water for tree-planting.
- A decanter or pitcher of wine, beer, or any beverage beloved by the deceased. Small cups on a tray, enough for all participants to toast.
- A bell or chime.
- A young tree sapling of a variety that holds symbolic importance to the deceased.
- A prepared spot for planting the tree, shovels or trowels, and an appropriately sized hole dug in advance. Or, if the rite must be held indoors, a large container for ceremonial planting, to be transplanted outdoors at a later time.
- A basket of fresh flowers and petals – enough for all participants to take a handful
- A piece of music favored by the deceased to be played during the ceremony.
Roles:
Priest/ess, Fire-Bearer, Water-Bearer, Air-Bearer, Earth-Bearer, Community of family and friends.
Opening and Welcome
Priest/ess rings bell thrice to begin the rite.
“Welcome. We gather to honor the life of (Name), to share their stories, their legacy. We release what we must, keep what we may, and open the way of rest. (Name’s) body has been returned to ash by fire. Today, we tend the subtler work—the mind, the heart, the spirit—and return each to its rightful place in the Great Cycle.”
Temple Casting
Consecrate and light the altar.
Hallowing:
Priest/ess lifts the burning vessel of incense, Saying
“Winds blow in wonderment as we banish all harm. Hail to the breath that gave them voice.” Carry the incense deosil around the circle, wafting the smoke over each participant, as all echo together: “Hail to the breath that gave them voice.”
Priest/ess lifts the bowl of salted water, Saying “Waters flow as we accept the changing seasons of life. Hail to the tears and tides of memory.” Carry the water deosil, sprinkling, as all echo together: “Hail to the tears and tides of memory.”
Priest/ess lifts the red fire candle, saying: “Fires burn as we surrender all fear of death. Hail to the spark of life that once burned bright.” Carry the candle deosil, as all echo together: “Hail to the spark of life that once burned bright.”
Priest/ess lifts the salt, saying: “Earth steadies our hearts as we resonate within the silence. Hail to the bones that bear us up.” Carry the salt deosil, sprinkling, as all echo together: “Hail to the bones that bear us up.”
Cast the Circle
All stand and link hands, thumbs pointing left, and walk the circle’s edge deosil. Priest/ess leads the chant in call and response, saying, “By the tides of the moon, (echo) By the light of the Sun, (Echo) by Breath, by Flame, by Flow, by Stone (echo) the circle is cast, to welcome us home! (echo)” Repeat until the cone of power is raised to a peak, directed by the priest/ess.
Priest/ess directs the energy into the sphere, Saying: “As above, so below; as within, so without. Only love may enter and only peace may depart! So mote it be!”
All: “So mote it be!”
Opening the Elemental Gateways
(Adapt for your standard evocation style.)
East – Air-Bearer
“Hail, Guardians of the East, Sylphs of whispering memory.
Bring clarity to our stories and gentle winds to bear the mind onward.
Hail and welcome.”
South – Fire-Bearer
“Hail, Guardians of the South, Salamanders of transformation.
Receive the vessel of flesh already rendered to your flames.
Hail and welcome.”
West – Water-Bearer
“Hail, Guardians of the West, Undines of compassion.
Hold us through the tides of grief and release the heart’s heavy waters.
Hail and welcome.”
North – Earth-Bearer
“Hail, Guardians of the North, Gnomes of stone and seed.
Receive what must return to the soil, that life may rise anew.
Hail and welcome.”
Priest/ess draws in the Center
“By the Heavens that arc above, by the Underworld rooted below, Great Goddess, Great God, draw near to our funeral rites, and receive our beloved (name) in your loving embrace. Hail and Welcome!”
Priest/ess lights the ancestor candle, then stamps the ground with their foot, beats their fist over their heart, claps their hands over-head, saying: “Ancestors of land, blood, and spirit—those who love and guide us—draw near. We remember and welcome you here. Gather into your company of Mighty Dead our beloved (name), and guide them into the rest and peace of the Underworld.”
Priest/ess lifts staff or wand:
“Guides along the Hidden Road, Psychopomps…” (Call the Gods and Goddesses of death and liminal journeys special to your devotional practice and name those divinities important to the deceased) “Walk with (Name) through this threshold, in good company and gentle passage.”
Words of Legacy
Invite brief stories or statements from the community and family, keeping them concise but meaningful. What did they teach us? What values endure because of them? What light persists?
Priest/ess Concludes:
“Memory is the living altar we build within our hearts. We will continue to tend them. What is remembered lives.”
(Rings bell)
Elemental Release of the Subtle Bodies
Separate a small portion of cremated ashes into the four bowls, each held by an elemental bearer. The water-bearer also holds their water pitcher; the earth bearer holds the tree sapling. They move to the four sides of the prepared hole for tree planting.
Fire – Physical Body Release (already complete)
Fire-Bearer, holding their vessel of ashes to the south:
“The matter of (Name) has been surrendered to the flames, may their Will endure. May all earthly pain be transmuted through Divine Will. What was heavy becomes light. Blessed be.” They scattered the ashes into the prepared hole for the tree-planting.
Earth– The Ancestral Body (Roots release)
Earth-bearer, holding their vessel of ashes:
“Into the bones of the world we return the ashes of (name) to nourish the growing life of this tree. Earth remembers. Earth renews through new life to come.”
Sprinkles ashes into the planting hole. Bearers then help to plant the sapling over the ashes, and fill in with remaining soil.
Earth-bearer: “Let the remains of (names’s) former life feed this beautiful new life to come. Let their memory shelter and enrich the next generation.”
Air – The Mental Body (Wind Release)
Air-Bearer hold’s their vessel of ashes to the East:
“The mind of (name) flies free upon the winds of dream. With this release we shift our own perceptions, holding them in our memories. Separation is illusion; Oneness is the dream.” Being mindful of the direction of the breeze, they lift a handful of ash to disperse in the air over the branches of the sapling, saying: “As the winds disperse this dust, so let the mind be freed. May their thoughts find rest in the wonderment of Divine Mind. Blessed Be.”
Water – The Emotional Body (Water Release)
Water-bearer steps forward with vessel of ashes and a pitcher of water. They pour the ashes into the water vessel, saying:
“By tear and tide, we release the emotional body of (Name). Let our grief dissolve. Let love remain. As waters carry this offering, so may our longing and sorrow be eventually eased. May compassion flow as our interconnection within Divine Love. Blessed be.”
Water-bearer now pours out all the water and ash upon the roots of the tree.
Priest/ess draws a spiral sigil into the earth around the sapling with the wand or staff:
“May these roots grow deep like the love of (Name) for their family and friends. May these branches spread like their legacy. May the flower, fruit and seeds to come spread like their enduring memory.”
Release of the Spirit
Priest/ess: Holds up the sanctuary candle for the beloved dead.
“The spirit of (Name) endures. We are all one within God/dess, never truly parted, never forsaken. But for now, we release the soul they carried in this incarnation, and bid that form farewell as they pass beyond the veil, down the hidden road. In love, we sever all cords and attachments of fear, guilt, or denial of their sacred passage. Hail and Farewell!” ”
All: “Hail and Farewell!”
Snuff the white candle with the Athame blade, and pour out the liquid wax onto the soil around the sapling.
“Spirit to Spirit, depart in peace to rest. Rejoice in reunion with those who’ve gone before. When this candle is re-lit on Samhain nights, we invite you to commune with us again, according to your Will. Until we meet again, Hail and Farewell!”
All: “Hail and Farewell!”
Libation and Toast
Priest/ess picks up the pitcher of Wine or Juice, and blesses it, saying:
“For the road behind you, we thank you. For the road ahead, we bless you. For the road between, we honor you.” Priest/ess pours a splash on the earth around the tree, then fills a small cup for each participant to toast and enjoy.
Water-bearer distributes the wine cups to participants.
Earth-Bearer distributes a handful of fresh flowers and petals to each participant.
All assembled lift their cups in toast: “Death is the season of earth’s silence, yet nothing truly ends. What is remembered lives!
All: “What is remembered lives!” All drink.
Personal Goodbyes
A favorite piece of music is played while all the participants take time to come spread their flowers and petals on the ground around the tree, arranged in the forming a mandala on the burial place. They may whisper their final farewells.
Closing the Temple
(Adapt for your standard devocation style.)
“Great Ones Above and Below, Psychopomps, Goddess, God, all those Ancestors who guide, guard, and show us the way, we are grateful for your loving aid today. Depart in peace.”
Wind-bearer:“Guardians of the East—thank you for clarity and release. Hail and farewell.”
Fire-bearer:“Guardians of the South—thank you for transformation. Hail and farewell.”
Water-bearer:“Guardians of the West—thank you for compassion. Hail and farewell.”
Earth-bearer:“Guardians of the North—thank you for continuity. Hail and farewell.”
All participants stand and take hands again to represent the circle. Priest/ess says: “By breath, flame, tide, and stone, our Temple abides in love, but for now we release the light of the circle to guide (name’s) spirit to the underworld. The circle is open, but never broken. Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet again. So mote it be.” All drop hands, clapping hands to disperse all remaining energy.
Priest/ess rings bell thrice to end the rite.
If this Funeral rite spoke to you, come study with me — learn to build your own rituals of transformation and healing within the sacred cycles of Nature. Enrollment is open to my foundations course in Elemental Witchcraft year-round: HeronMichelle.com
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