When the nights begin to grow longer, the power of the Shadow begins to grow as well. Werewolves answer this with the rite called Spirit Lamps of Autumn. This rite offers respect to the spirit world and honors their totems, but also is a demonstration of the Uratha’s own strength and vigilance. The lamps lit send a simple message to the spirit world — We see you.
This rite is sometimes performed on the autumnal equinox, but frequently may take place later into the season, when the nights are longer than the days. The four nights surrounding Halloween (Devil’s Night, Halloween, All Saints Day and All Souls Day) are popular choices in the West, with some werewolves choosing a night based on which moon phase will be most favorable. Some ritemasters insist on performing this rite on nights of the crescent moon, when the Ithaeur’s strength is at its peak and the spirits can be resisted.
Performing the Rite
The right begins at twilight, and continues into the deepening night. All werewolves participating in the rite bring spirit lamps they’ve fashioned themselves to the gathering. These lamps take a great variety of forms. In some regions, all of the lamps may be made in the same way, in accordance to tradition — all red candles with wicks made from the maker’s own hair, for instance. The lamps may also vary tremendously even within a single gathering, with a lantern made from the skull of a Ridden enemy burning beside a kitbashed electric light with occult sigils covering its lampshade.
The ritemaster moves from one participant to the next as the rite unfolds, instructing each werewolf to place her lamp at a specific point along a spiral pattern. Each lamp is blessed by the ritemaster in turn, and ritually lit by the werewolf who brought it there. The participant then stands above or beside her lamp (perhaps even holding it), staring out into the growing blackness, and stating her conviction to stand fast against the Shadow. As the ritemaster places and lights the final lamp (always the ritemaster’s own), he then speaks out in praise of the totems of the People. The Blood Talons present join in the praise of Destroyer Wolf, the Bone Shadows present join the soft chant to Death Wolf and so on. The ritemaster then names the pack totems of each participating pack, and the packs themselves speak words of thanks and honor. The words vary, but the intent is the same: We see you. We see and honor your strength and wisdom, valued allies. We see and respect your might, enemies, and we will stand against it. We see you. The rite closes as each participant moves beyond the circle of light into the darkness, leaving only the ritemaster in the spiral of light. Many packs move directly into a hunt that very night.
