Strike flame and light white candles

HPESS

White do we light for the Maiden, thou divine and joyous child. Fresh and new as the life that springs from earth is the taper which is her symbol. We give greetings to the Blessed One.

HP

White do we light for the Willow King, thou divine and blessed child. White skies of wind and storm, and the promise of heat from our revitalized sun is the taper which is his symbol. Greetings Blessed Consort.

Light red candles

HPESS

Red do we light for the Mother, thou warm embracing Queen of Creation. Scarlet as the beauty of ripening fields, is the taper which is her symbol. We give greetings to the Regal One.

HP

Red do we light for the Corn King, thou warm messenger of life. Crimson Gold as the sun which warms the land and brings us the bounty is the taper which is his symbol. Greetings Regal Consort.

Light black candles

HPESS

Black do we light for the Crone, thou keeper of the magical mysteries. Ebon as the night is the taper which is her symbol. We give greetings to the Wise One.

HP

Black do we light for the Holly King, thou consort of the dark. Crystalline lakes frozen in glittering beauty, is the taper which is his symbol. Greetings Wise Consort.

Triple Goddess form circle, right arms raised above their heads, touching the others hand to form a cone. They go around once chanting:

GESS

Realms of snow and frozen earth, not the time of life and birth. We are the circle within a circle, never-ending. Three in One and One in Three. The oldest form of Trinity. Goddess Triformis; the Mothers we. Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna.

MAIDEN

Mine is the time that will be.

Puts arm down.

MOTHER

Mine is the time that is past.

Also puts arm down. When Crone starts her speech, the other two move beside her.

CRONE

Mine is the time that is. We stand at the crack of time, for this day belongs neither to the old year nor to the new. And as there is no distinction between the years, so there is no distinction between the worlds. I am the Mistress of the Dark. My dread hand withers the green leaf, my searing stare sets the land ablaze and I revel in its ashes. My kiss stills the human heart. I am the Mother men curse. Endings and darkness are my gifts, yet without me, there would be no life for I complete the blessed circle and through my deeds new life will emerge.

Maiden and Mother embrace Crone, Maiden goes to South. Mother goes to the East. Crone stands in the North West.

Triple Gods form a circle, raising their wands above their heads, each King touches the other's wand, to form a cone shape.

GDS

Skies of wind and storm blow cold and sharp over the sleeping land. The wheel of life spins round and round. Earth, water, fire and air. By this we are bound. Spirit lives, dies and is reborn. Neptune, Osiris, Merlin, Helios, Shiva - Cernunnos.

WILLOW

Mine is the time that is past.

Puts arm down.

HOLLY

Mine is the time that will be.

Puts arm down, the Holly and Willow Kings raise their wands again, Holly to the left of Willow, Willow to the right of Corn, and touch their wands together to form a triumphal arch. Corn steps through and when he starts his speech, Willow goes to South, Holly to the West.

CORN

Mine is the time that passes!

Crone steps up to the Corn King and takes him by the hand moving VERY SLOWLY deosil from North to West.

CRONE

The season of plenty shall return but now this land will slumber. My kisses are ice and all that lives shall wither.

The Crone and Corn King stop in front the West. She kisses him.

CRONE

So sleep Corn King, sleep.

Corn King falls to one knee, the Crone cover him with a black cloth. Crone steps to the middle and says:

CRONE

The brave, the wise and the trusting know. They revere me and my harsh ways. They see life in death and death in life and the spirit soars through and its lights glow forever.

Crone now moves slowly deosil to the West.

CRONE

All is a continuous turning. A spiralling dance that goes and returns, yet moves ever on. In that turning Samhain is the sacred festival marking the end of summer and the beginning of winter. A time to celebrate the tunnel of darkness that bears the light at its end.

Crone stops in the West. She beckons her Consort. The Corn King struggles to rise. The Holly King puts his hand on Corn King's shoulder and forces him down. Holly King SNATCHES the Wand of Power from Corn King and holds it triumphantly over his head. Crone smiles and saunters to the middle of the circle. Holly King stays in the West.

CRONE

With my kiss the Corn King withered and embraced the Great Mother. So it has been from year to year, since time began. The Corn King sleeps until the planting and I need a new consort.

Crone turns to face the West.

CRONE

A consort who is forever green and shall reign with me through this cold season. I NEED A GREEN MAN.

Crone extends her hand but does not look at the Holly King until after he has taken her hand in his. Holly King steps forward and kneels (on one knee), taking Crone's hand and kissing it. Then Crone looks down at Holly King, smiles, and raises him up.

HOLLY

My Lady, my power rises. Together we shall walk the shadowed paths of summerland. By our joining the circle of life near completion. Now comes the last measure in the great spiral dance. For mine is the time that is.

The Crone and Holly King remain in the centre.

HPESS

The veil of life and death are thin at this time of All Hallows. Let us now join together and remember the ones who have passed through the veil.

CONE OF POWER

Blessing of cakes and wine. Hpess and HP say the words as the Crone and Holly King enact the blessing.

Pass out the cake and wine.

HPESS

The cycle of life and death has been completed once more. Let us celebrate the darkness that bears the light at the end. For as there is death, so too there is life.

Closing as per forma.

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