Feast of the Animal Spirits

Feast Of The Animal Spirits

(October 30th)

SPECIAL NOTES: A meal should be prepared which incorporates meat from all the animals eaten during the year. We usually treat ourselves to Chinese take-out on this night because it's the easiest way to get dishes that contain beef, pork and chicken. If you're a vegetarian, this ritual can be easily adapted to pay your respect to the animals, while at the same time explaining to your kids why your lifestyle does not include eating meat. If there are pets in your house they should be fed first, since this is their night. The child chosen to be pet feeder can say:

Lord and Lady

You gave us a world full of animals

To feed us and work for us,

But you also gave us animals for pets

For love and companionship.

On this Feast of the Animal Spirits

We thank you for our pet _________________

And honor him/her.

EXTRA SUPPLIES: As you did last night you should have a theme tablecloth, the black and white candles, the quarter candles, a safety lighter and a bell. If you have pictures of deceased pets (or drawings the children can make) those can be placed nearby for the remembrance.

Begin your ritual by ringing the bell to establish Sacred Space. The child chosen to be Bell Ringer rings the bell three times and says:

I ring the bell

To cast the spell

Let sacred time begin

1 - 2 - 3

So mote it be

Let sacred time begin.

Then an Adult casts the Circle by saying:

Great Mother,

Weave around us

A circle of radiant light

Where we can honor

Our Lord and Lady.

Protect us, guide us and love us.

Tell the kids to imagine a silvery-blue light surrounding the table to create a Circle. Explain that this "Circle of Light" means we want to make this a sacred place to honor the Goddess and God. Explain that a Sacred Place doesn't have to be a church. It can be in your dining room, a special spot in the forest, or even at school, as long as you show the respect and honor the Goddess and God deserve by creating your Sacred Space first. Next we "Call the Quarters." Explain that this is asking the Ancient Ones to add their powers to ours to make our Circle stronger.

The child chosen to be Candle Lighter lights the yellow candle and says:

I call to you

Ancient Ones of the East

Guardian Spirits of Air

To witness this ritual and guard this Circle

The child chosen to be Candle Lighter lights the red candle and says:

I call to you

Ancient Ones of the South

Guardian Sprits of Fire

To witness this ritual and guard this Circle.

The child chosen to be Candle Lighter lights the blue candle and says:

I call to you

Ancient Ones of the West

Guardian Spirits of Water

To Witness this ritual and guard this Circle.

The child chosen to be Candle Lighter lights the green candle and says:

I call to you

Ancient Ones of the North

Guardian Spirits of Earth

To witness this ritual and guard this Circle.

Next the Adult says:

The Circle has been cast

The Ancient Ones have been called

Now it is time to welcome

The Goddess and the God.

Great Mother,

Whose symbol is the bright night moon,

Heavenly father,

Whose symbol is the fiery sun,

We ask you to join our family

For this Feast of the Animal Spirits.

Once again we light the seasonal candles first. Ask the kids what the colors represent. Some of the things we discussed for black were death, cold, dark and winter. For the white: life, warmth, heat and spring.

When you're ready the adult says:

This is the second night of Samhain

The Feast of the Animal Spirits.

On this night we celebrate

The spirits of the animals.

The animals who died to feed us

And the animals who work for us

And the animals who were our pets.

We give them honor for their sacrifice

And their gifts to us.

Thank you animal spirits!

Everyone should repeat this line around the table:

Thank you animal spirits!

Now serve dinner. Talk about how, in ancient times, people's survival depended on the animals they raised and hunted for food. Last night we talked about the farmers and gatherers, who ate mostly plants. Tonight talk about the herders and hunters, who ate mostly meat. The herders raised cows, pigs and chickens which they butchered for for food. Others were hunters and they killed wild animals, like dear, bear and turkeys. Because their survival depended on the success of the hunt, these early peoples prayed to their god and goddess for help and guidance. They also prayed to the spirits of the animals, asking them to let the people shoot them, so the people would have food to eat. The people told the animal spirits if they would give up their lives, the people would give them honor the spirits and remember them. Today, because most of us do get our meat at the grocery store, and because cows and pigs are killed in such huge numbers to feed all the people, many people forget to thank the animals' spirits for their sacrifice, or to honor them. That's why, on this second night of Samhain, we remember the animals and give them thanks.

When dinner is finished the adult says:

Spirits of the animals

We thank you for your part

In the Circle of Life.

We give you honor for your sacrifice

And for your gifts to us,

And tonight we remember.

Now it is time to close the ritual. Explain to the children that the ritual is over. Now it is time to thank the Ancient ones for their help and their guidance.

The Candle Snuffer says:

Thank you and farewell

Ancient Ones of the East

Guardian Spirits of Air

Go in Peace.

( Extinguish the yellow candle.)

The Candle Snuffer says:

Thank you and farewell

Ancient Ones of the South

Guardian Spirits of Fire

Go in Peace.

(Extinguish the red candle.)

The Candle Snuffer says:

Thank you and farewell

Ancient Ones of the West

Guardian Spirits of Water

Go in Peace.

(Extinguish the blue candle.)

The Candle Snuffer says:

Thank you and farewell

Ancient Ones of the North

Guardian Spirits of Earth

Go in Peace.

(Extinguish the green candle.)

Then the Adult says farewell to the Goddess and the God:

We thank you God and Goddess

For sharing this special time

With our family.

May we keep you in our hearts,

And follow your path of love

Every day.

Blessed be!

Now the Bell Ringer rings the bell three times to release the Sacred Space and says:

I ring the bell,

Release the spell

And Sacred Time will end.

1 - 2 - 3

So mote it be,

Until we meet again.

Explain that this is the signal that Sacred Time is over. The Circle has been released and the Sacred Space is no more. That means the dining room goes back to being just a normal dining room.

Now the Adult says:

The Circle is open

And yet it remains a Circle.

Around and through us

Always flow its magical powers.

This ritual is over.