RITUALS

Samhain Ritual
The Naming Tree
By Stephanie Earl, The Altered Goddess

A tradition of our Circle is honoring our ancestors through the Naming Tree Ceremony. Each step of this ceremony has deep meaning.

This ceremony begins with the erecting of our Ancestors Altar. This Altar is dedicated to "those who wrought us in body, blood, and bone". We also honor friends and pets who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge. We do this by placing photographs and artifacts of those we honor on the Ancestors Altar. This acknowledges our Ancestors and our appreciation for their contribution to our existence.

The second part of our ceremony is the laying of the Ancestors Form of the Naming Tree. This is done by creating a "tree" made out if dead limbs. Then the Ancestors Form of the tree is placed on an altar where each person can fill out tags with the names of those they wish to honor and tie them to the tree. This honors our ancestors by name in a ritual setting. It also collects energy given during ritual. This energy is to be used later.

The third part of our ceremony is the Living Form of the Ancestors Tree and it represents us, the descendants. It is a young evergreen, usually a Juniper. It is the healthiest specimen we can find and has been blessed and consecrated. It soaks up energy from the ceremony, to be used later.

The Naming Tree ceremony takes place within the Samhain Ritual with purpose. During our Ritual we share a favorite story or anecdote about an Ancestor. We feel this helps draw energy in which to infuse the trees.

During our Samhain ritual, when it is time for the Naming Tree ceremony, The Ancestors Form of the tree is broken apart and bundled up along with all the name tags. During the ceremony we explain that the The Ancestors Form of the tree, now contains love and remembrance.

It, along with the Living Form of the tree are presented to a member of the Circle who has lost a loved one during the past year. Sometimes we have more than one recipient and the Ancestor form is divided up equally among the recipients and a juniper is given to each recipient.

When a hole is dug to plant the living Evergreen, the Ancestors Form is placed in the hole and burned. Then the ash is worked into the soil infusing the Earth around the new planting with love. It also adds much-needed nutrients to the soil. Wood ash contains potash, phosphate, iron, manganese, boron, copper and zinc in levels that vary depending on what type of wood the ash came from.

The evergreen is then placed in the hole planted and watered. The love, energy and nutrients that are now infused into the soil help to encourage the growth of the Evergreen. The Evergreen is now a living memorial to the Ancestor.

Naming Tree. One year we presented 4 Naming Trees.
It had been an exceptionally heartbreaking year for our Circle family.

We have been told by some of those who have been recipients of the Naming Tree that they were very moved by the gift and it helped them navigate their loss and heal. This is why we do this.

If there is no one who has lost someone in the past year. Then the Naming Tree is planted at the host home in thanks to Divinity for the gift of life.