Gypsy Wytch
Samhain Dumb Supper Ritual
Gypsies, Witches and Pagans have held séances, circle gatherings and dumb suppers for centuries to conjure the dead. Newly deceased relatives, friends and spouses are more sensitive to the spells that summon the dead on Samhain. If you’re considering a dumb supper this Samhain then you’ll need a template for the evening ritual to gain the most from this wonderful experience. Samhain traditionally is a night when the spirit world and ours overlaps and the veil between us is easily crossed with summoning spells.
The deceased will hear you speak and with luck and the dumb supper, they will speak back in extraordinary ways. This is the beginning of the witches new year on the wheel and the portion of the year where the feminine Goddess exchanges places with the masculine God. This is a time of death to resurrection, a time to forge new beginnings and bid our loved ones farewell on their way to Summerlands.
Prepare for a Dumb Supper
A dumb supper is a means to communicate on Samhain at sunset. Dumb is in reference to the fact that none of the living will speak during the supper. When setting the table, try to use black as your theme color. Black tablecloth, plates, cups, utensils, napkins and candles. Using paper and plastic to accommodate this would be fine. Have large place cards on the table so each guest will know where they will sit.
Remind your guests to forgo the perfume and aftershave, fragrances from deodorant, etc., so that any hint of a familiar odor from a spirit will be recognized. Use a purifying incense like myrrh and frankincense to make your supper less likely to be visited by malevolent spirits. Use a Pagan deity on your table for support and focus such as Hecate. Turn off all phones, TV, radio and hand-held games then turn off all the lights except the many black candles on the table. Make the dining area for your dumb supper sacred with a circle or smudging.
During a Dumb Supper
When your guests arrive, remind them of the evening rules of silence before entering the sacred dining area. Let guests create a note to their loved one on a blank piece of paper that they can use to speak to the dead. Before the supper, try to anticipate the needs of your guests with extra butter, condiments, salt and pepper. You don’t want anyone to leave the table during dinner or feel the need to ask for something to drink.
Supply the head of the table free with a large ceramic dish, but no food or drink. Some hosts will cover the chair at the head of the table with a black cloth. This is recommended for those hosts who wish to have a dark background when the spirits appear. A spirits weak, wispy form may only be distinguished against the black background. No cameras or audio equipment, this is a time for communication not research.
Have each member of your supper group stop at the head of the table and quietly think of their loved one before sitting in their assigned spot. Once everyone is sitting, hold hands with a silent prayer to gain energy for the conjuring to come. Pass the food clockwise. When everyone is finished eating have everyone place their napkin over their plate as a signal. The host should be seated at the other end of the table across from the spirit seat.
Ending the Dumb Supper
Starting with the person to the hosts left, the person rises and stands next to the spirit chair. The note should be read silently then set fire by the flame of a candle and laid on a large ceramic plate to burn. Having a cauldron of spring water at the spirit chair will work as well. The person will return to his or her seat and the next will rise and repeat until everyone has spoken to the departed. Now hold hands once more for a silent prayer for all the dead to be happy and reach Summerlands. As everyone leaves, they should stop by the spirit chair and offer their thanks to the spirits who have joined the dumb supper.
