From: mkkuhner@phylo.genetics.washington.edu (Mary K. Kuhner)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: Ritual Ideas requested--Remembrance for dead
Date: 2 Sep 1994 22:23:14 GMT

This Samhain we are planning to use two such ideas:

(1) with a larger group: each person writes a message to his/her dead
on paper.  We gather the messages into a cauldron and light them (the
main fire is really rubbing alcohol on a bed of epsom salt; very good
indoors fire).  As the fire burns, the circle chants while people go
up in ones and twos to look into the fire and commune with their dead.
We did this last year at Samhain and had many favorable comments;
people said it felt "tribal".

(2) with a smaller group: each person takes in turn to say something
about his/her loved one(s), and after each one speaks the group says
"We remember you, X" where X is the dead person.  This needs a good,
tactful person to act as facilitator if necessary (it often won't be,
but occasionally, especially with people who have not been to many
rituals, you will get someone who will talk for hours or launch into a
political speech).

Hope this helps,
Mary Kuhner mkkuhner@genetics.washington.edu