Samhain InformationSamhain Goddesses - Cerridwen. Eris. Bast. Cailleach. Cassandra,Fortuna. Frigga. Innana. Kali. Macha. Mari. Psyche. Hecate. Ishtar,Lilith. The Morrigan. Rhiannon. Samhain Gods - Hades. Horned God. Loki. Pluto. Woden. Kronos. Odin. Sekhet. Samhain - From the Sabbats booklet by Obsidian Star*Samhain celebrates the eve of the Celtic New Year. It is also known asthe"Festival of the Dead" because Samhain is a time to honor the Spirit world. This is a time to reflect the cycle of Life and Death. Samhain isthe festival of the final harvest and marks the beginning of Winter (bytraditional reckoning). It was believed that any foods left uncut in the fields after Samhain would be taken by the Phookas (nasty hob-goblins). Samhain is Gaelic and means "Summer's End". In ancient times the daybegan at sunset which is why many Pagan festivals start on the last day of a month - as they would begin the celebration at sunset. As thedarkness symbolized a beginning rather than an ending the darkness inPagan festivals and traditions is usually thought to be a beginningalso. At Samhain the veil between the spirit realm and the realm of man is at its weakest and it is a good time for all sorts of magic,divination and inner workings. It is customary to leave a plate of foodoutside your house for the souls of the dead as they journey to theunderworld or to bury an apple as a symbolic gesture to feed the souls who are traveling tothe underworld. It is also customary to light a candle/lantern and placeit in a window to help guide the Souls of the dead in their journey. Some typical Samhain activities are bobbing for apples scrying makingmasks,visiting graves and making Jack-o-lanterns. Bobbing for apples isactually aprosperity/fertility custom. If you catch one it was believed that a soul of your soul would enter the apple and you could either eat it forprosperity or bury it to give continued bounty to the fields over thewinter. Mask making was possibly done to frighten off evil spirits or as a form of sympathetic magick to aid the traveling souls. Jack-o-Lanterns were first made in Ireland where they were used whiletraveling to frighten off evil spirits that followed the deceased lovedones blocking their entry into the land of the dead. It is a time for remembering those who have passed over. Some Pagans consider Samhain tobe the most sacred of all Sabbats. Other names: Halloween. All Hallow's Eve. The Feast of the Dead. Plants for Samhain: Chrysanthemum. Wormwood. Apples. Pears. Hazel. Thistle,Pomegranates. All grains. Harvested fruits and Nuts. Pumpkin. Corn,Marigold. Foods for Samhain: Beets. Turnip. Apples. Squash. Corn. Nuts. Cider,Gingerbread. Mulled wine. Pumpkin dishes. Meat dishes. Pomegranates. Stones: Ruby. Colors: Red black orange. Planet: Mars. Zodiac: Scorpio. Pagan Beliefs: Time to say Farewell to the God. God is now Lord of theUnderworld the Goddess is a crone.* Sabbats booklet available from. This booklet iscopyright obsidian but this information can be forwarded to other listsas long as these lines are included.
October MagickMagick doesn't happen just with spells and rituals. It's the activities and events that allow for fun and memories or that help others. Here are some suggestions on how to make October Magick... Donate blood (think of Dracula)Finish any incomplete projects and pay off lingering bills (if possible) to close out the old year and begin the new year afresh. Go for a walk and collect twigs leaves pinecones moss seedpods and feathers. Leave food out for the birds and other wild animals. Light candles a fireplace or bonfire put up Halloween lights to get a start on the season of lightIf you don't have a wicker man left from Beltane make one from dried grass or grains of some kind. Burn it in your Sabbat fire. If you don't have a fireplace or firepit burn him in your cauldron barbeque grill or hibachi. Make a ScarecrowTell ancestral stories and tales around the fire or at the dinner table. Visit cemeteries to do a clean up project visit ancestors or just immerse yourself in the historyHave a mask-making ceremony in which you create masks to represent your ancestry. Rake some leaves and jump in the leaves (especially fun if there is a child around to do this with you)Decorate your computer with Halloween. Samhain or Autumn wallpaper or screensaverMake a quilt crochet an afghan or braid a rug using Autumn colorsMake a music tape of Halloween or Autumn inspired music and songsGo for a drive strictly for the purpose of foliage gazingHave a wine tasting partyLearn to weave (think of grandmother spider)Plant trees (Japanese maple is a great Autumn tree) and flower bulbsPick apples from an apple tree and make a home-made pie or cobbler from scratchMake a big pot of soupCollect pictures of past Halloween's or Autumn activities and make a scrapbook; add pressed leaves poems and sayings seasonal sketchesGather firewoodSamhain is the best time for divination; learn tarot runes using the pendulum scryingStart to knit a warm sweaterVisit a charity haunted houseTake a late night walk under the full moonMake a batch of popcorn and hot spiced cider and watch Halloween movie videosGather up and press leaves of red gold and yellowSet up an ancestor altar with candles and your ancestor's picturesBuy orange pumpkins and red green and yellow applesEasy decorations: a cauldron of apples a candy dish of candy corn chains made of black and white beads or paper loops pumpkins. carved or notMake foods of fall; beef stew with thick gravy apple crisp with vanilla ice cream and cinnamon sauce pumpkin pie with whipped cream... macaroni and cheese (it's orange!)Make a Halloween tree; paint branches black and gather into a vase with black stones for anchors. Add orange Halloween lights drape with dried moss and thin black ribbons. Even add ornaments!Start a nature sketchbook. With the wonderful colors of fall this is the perfect time to record the leaves changing colors bare branches against a stormy sky squirrels stocking up for winter... Go on a hayrideBake sugar cookies and cut out with Autumn-shaped cookie cutters. Frost with chocolate maple and orange flavored frostingsMake or buy onion braids Buy lots of orange yellow brown and gold candles to brighten up dark days and eveningsMake witch balls (clear glass ornament swirl around silver paint inside fill with red threads and herbs)Collect pinecones for decorations and firestartersLeave food outside as an offering to the deadMake hot chocolate. French toast and bacon for Sunday BreakfastAdopt a black cat (or orange or any color)Watch for ducks and geese flying south for the winterThe most traditional Samhain activity is to prepare an extra plate at the dinner table to honor those passed. After the meal place the plate outside overnight for any passing creatures. In the morning bury whatever remains on the plate in the earth. Buy some new fall clothes; corduroy pants or green denim jeans; a sweater or a college sweatshirt a suede jacket new hiking bootsWear a costume to greet trick or treaters on Halloween night or accompany trick or treatersTry a new shade of hair color; such as auburn or dark burgundy (red is the color of witch's hair)Make homemade applesauce apple dumplings apple turnovers.. Make popcorn ballsHave a costume party; for kids only for adults only or familiesBuy pumpkins and carve jack-o-lanternsBob for apples do apple divination cut an apple cross-wise to see the star that the seeds make nature's own pentagramMake caramel applesDo a Past-life Regression therapyStart to meditate if you don't already do thisHarvest and dry herbs Celebrate a late Oktoberfest with beer and German foodMake and/or collect miniature buildings for a miniature Halloween village Written and Compiled by Cindi Wafstet© August 2002Permission to share freely as long as credit is given.
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