By: Draig Tiernan of House Shadow Drake
This ritual has been adapted for demonstrative purposes by Draig Tiernan. This
ritual was used exclusively within Hedge Traditions. It was not a ritual to be used
lightly. This particular ritual is from a Welsh Hedge Tradition. Although the
ritual is no longer in use today, it provides an excellent example of some of the
older rituals which were historically utilized. The reader will also note how this
ritual is very different from those utilized by Neo-Pagans today, and to some it
may actually be viewed as somewhat abhorrent.
Some of the information for this ritual has been purposefully excluded, and
in some cases changed, to prevent someone who is untrained from using this
ritual.
During the time of Samhain, the ritual of the raven provided a method for the
Hedgewitch to venture off into the Veils and exercise their Gods' given right to
dwell between worlds. This ritual involved the capture of a raven that was then
fed a strict diet of ritual short loaves (i.e. sweet bread) and consecrated water.
The raven was sustained on this diet for no less than one week, and it was
pertinent that the creature did not die during this time.
On the eve of Samhain, the raven was killed with a ritual cut that drained
almost all of its blood. The blood was then added to a compound of earth, white lime, and
sometimes woad as well. Two colors could be made from this mixture: black, and
white. The raven was then gutted except for it's heart.
The raven was then stuffed with three different types of herbs. After it was
stuffed, the raven was left on the altar in a circle of salt and herbs with a white
linen cloth over it.
On the day of Samhain, the ritual of the raven begins when the moon reaches
its zenith. The body of the Hedgewitch is coated with white lime and earth. The black
compound that was previously prepared is painted across the eyes with two fingers
and across the arms in four places. The white compound was representative of
passing through the Veils, and the black compound symbolized the feathers of the
raven that would carry the Hedgewitch across and back. When the body of the
Hedgewitch was finally prepared, the raven was then placed on the fire and the
rising smoke was inhaled. It is the herbs within the raven that caused the effect
of flight, and so it was often best for a small fire to be used.
It was believed that the spirit of the raven was contained in the
heart of the bird and when it was burned the spirit was released. The
spirit of the bird was then inhaled and could allow the Hedgewitch to
walk through the Veils.
Commentary by Draig Tiernan
This ritual has been in my Craft Family for more generations that I know of, and
actually predates my Family. It was not performed by every Witch, but rather was
reserved for those of Hedge Tradition. It was essential that only Hedgewitches
performed this ritual as they were the only ones who were qualified and possessed
the knowledge of all of the components necessary.
