Samhain~Halloween Customs and Practices  Again Many of my readers have seen this information before so here it is again.This major festival has several aspects. It is considered the third (meat) harvest, New Year’s Eve, the Day of the Dead (the dead are honored as they were by the ancient Celts & Egyptians and even now in Mexico) and a night that the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds is thinnest. It is thought that divination is easier and more powerful, the fairy folk create mischief on this night, and that our lost loved ones are nearer to us (and thus easier to contact) for this reason. One reason to contact those who have passed on would be to strengthen our karmic ties to them in order to be assured we will incarnate in our next life with them. Rituals on this night generally include remembering and honoring loved ones and ancestors. You may also celebrate reincarnation and another tradition is called the “dumb supper”. This entails that while feasting on all the wonderful items available at the last harvest a place is set for departed family members. You might set photos or other mementos upon the table and tell stories or jokes and remember wonderful times shared by you and those who have passed on to their next great adventure. It is not unusual to ask your ancestors’ spirits to aid and assist you in whichever form/s of divination you prefer to use. Some of most common and oldest forms of scrying used are fire or flame, and mirror. You might also try a dark bowl or cauldron filled with liquid, crystals, pendulums, runes, tarots or reading tea leaves. Guided meditations or astral travel for the purpose of past life regression and/or for the purpose of knowing or learning something specific from one’s ancestors, are very successful on this night. Also on this night we note the absence the Sun (the god), who will be reborn at Winter Solstice as the Child of Promise. The Crone is called upon for comfort; the dying God is mourned. The Sun God’s power is at it’s weakest, and the Moon Goddess’ power is at it’s strongest. (remember this when doing any magickal working on this night or even at this time of year) This is the time when cattle and sheep where brought in from summer pasture, all but breeding stock being killed for winter food and to make fewer mouths to feed. The last fruit was picked, except that which would be left for the Sidhe, and the grain was already gathered and had been processed for fodder, flour, and beer. Fishermen put up their boats and stored their gear. Debts would be paid up. Young people who hired out as farm or herder help would return home, as would the warriors of the Fianna and any Bards or poets traveling about would find a household to attach themselves to. Many of the people would begin preparing for the long, dark winter of living almost constantly indoors in often crowded conditions. Farmers and other workers would be preparing to change their summer occupation in for one of gathering wood for the next year giving it a year to dry, much as their descendants would well into the 20th century. The festival itself is a fire festival and would be celebrated with bonfires, feasts, and the killing of the livestock for the feasts and to be cured for later at large gatherings as well as smaller local ones. The Gods, Sidhe, and Ancestors would be welcome and fed in ritual, as they would be by individuals at home and hall. Divination was important, for not only was this a major turning point in the year but such things would be easier with the nearness of Otherworldly help. The fires of the old year would be extinguished to be replaced by new ones. Story telling started at this time and in many chieftains’ halls it was mandatory that a story be told every night during the dark half of the year –from Samhain to Beltaine. After all, except for an hunting expeditions and the fixing of weapons and tools, there wasn’t a lot to do at this time; while temperatures in the British Isles are kept relatively mild by the Gulf Stream it is dark and rainy most of the days during the winter months. The other modern annoyance for some Pagans, Trick or Treat, seems to have been started in Antiquity by young people who disguised themselves and requested hospitality from all they met this have been a practice at all Fire Festivals in some variation. It is always important for us to Treat them well, we can never be sure that one really is a costumed child and we don’t want to deal with one of Their Tricks if they should be our Ancestors or a supernatural entity. There is also speculation that this might have been a way for widows and orphans to procure their winter stores. The “Trick” aspect that we still have when young people vandalize and create general chaos irrespective of getting “Treats” is of some antiquity; in Scotland at least, the youths would break things, tear up gardens, and run rampant to destroy the past year This represented the actions of the Otherworldly beings and rendered that which was left useless to humans, therefore only of value to those of the Otherworld. Samhain is really the time in between two years and is therefore a time of Chaos, a time when the Otherworld rules. Afterwards a new order would be created for the New Year.
|
Correspondence of Samhain~Halloween  The Plants and Herbs of Samhain~Halloween:Apple, Cedar, Cherry, Elder, Eucalyptus, Holly, Horse Chestnut, Lime, Orange, Palm-Date, Oak, Peach, Pear, Pine, Plum, Quince, Rowan, Sandalwood, Willow, Witch Hazel, African Violet, Agaric, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cinnamon, Coconut, Cuckoo-Flower, Cyclamen, Deerstongue, Devil’s Bit, Elderflower, Garlic, Ginger, Grape, Hemp, Huckleberry, Kalbs Cross, Lavender, Liquorice, Mandrake, Mint, Myrrh, Nettle, Nightshade, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Raspberry, Rhubarb, Saffron, Sage, Sarsaparilla, Sassafras, Sloe, Star Anise, Strawberry, Sugar Cane, Tea, Tobacco, Vanilla, Witch Grass, Wolfsbane. Colors associated with Samhain~Halloween: Black, Brown, Gold, Orange, Red, Silver, Yellow Stones associated with Sanhain~Halloween:Amethyst, Asbestos, Beryl, Bloodstone Cat’s Eye, Coal, Coral, Carnelian, Danburite, Fossil, Herkimer, Jasper, Jet, Marble, Mother of Pearl, Obsidian, Onyx, Petrified Wood, Pumice, Quartz, Rhodonite, Smoky quartz, Salt, Tourmaline-Pink. Incense and oils you can use any of the following scents, either blended together or alone: Cedar, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Lavender, Lime, Mint, Myrrh, Orange, Sagebrush, Sandalwood, Animals and mythical beasts:Stag, cat, bat, owl, jackal, elephant, ram, scorpion, heron, crow, robin, Phooka, Goblin, Medusa, Beansidhe, Fylgiar, Peryton, Erlkonig, and Harpies. Gods and Goddess Associated with Samhain~Halloween: Symbols for Samhain~Halloween: apples, autumn flowers, acorns, bat, black cat, bones, corn stalks, cauldrons, colored leaves, crows, death/dying, divination and the tools associated with it, ghosts, gourds, Indian corn, jack-o-lantern, nuts , oak leaves, pomegranates, pumpkins, scarecrows, scythes, waning moon. Foods of Samhain~halloween:apples, apple dishes, cider, meat (traditionally this is the meat harvest) especially pork, mulled cider with spices, nuts, pomegranates, potatoes, pumpkins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, roasted pumpkin seeds, roasted pumpkin seeds, squash, corn, cranberry muffins and breads, turnips, beets, ale, herbal tea (mugwort). Activities of Samhain~Halloween:On Samhain, Honoring the Dead, Dumb Supper, Carving Jack O’Lanterns (and then baking pumpkin pie!) , Making Masks representing the Gods & Goddesses of Samhain, Making a besom , Divination, And most importantly, don’t forget to leave milk and honey out for the Faerie folk. Spell Work of Samhain~Halloween:release of bad habits, banishing, fairy magick, divination of any kind, candle magick, astral projection, past life work, dark moon mysteries, mirror spells (reflection), casting protection, inner work, propitiation, clearing obstacles, uncrossing, inspiration, workings of transitionor culmination, manifesting transformation,creative visualization, contacting those who have departed this plane
|
| Notions Potions and Spells Herb /Plant of the Season:Oak Gender: Masculine Planet: Sun Element: Fire Deities: Dagda, Danus, Jupiter, Thor, Zeus, Herne, Janus, Rhea, Cybele, Hecate, Pan, Erato Botanical name: Quercus robur Magickal uses: Magickally, the Oak represents strengthand protection. It teaches persistence and endurance. Known as the King of the Forest, the mighty Oak is traditionally associated withstrengthand courage. It grows to a huge size and great girth and is a very long-lived tree spanning centuries. Offering its gifts of protection, strength and courage, Oak makes wonderful magickal tools to last a lifetime or even a special heirloom to be passed down for generations. Sacred to the Druids and the Greeks, the oak is a tree of strength, protection and durability. It represents inner fire, courage and nobility of spirit. At the Greek oracle of Dodoni, the god Zeus speaks by rustling the leaves of the sacred oak. Many Germanic and Celtic tribes made truce and administered justice under the oak, and the Yule log is traditionally of oak as well. As it both attracts lightning and yet seems resilient to it, the oak is sacred to many storm and wind gods, and its power to stand to lightning’s transformative power may have something to do with its meaning in the Ogham, where it is Dur, “door” an Ogham of transformation, the ability to step through the door and create change. Dur is the turning point in the Oghamic calendar, falling at summer solstice, with Tinne(holly) in the next month, representing the transition from the oak to the holly king. The acorn symbolizes the huge potential in small things. Uses: Protection, Health, Money, Healing, Potency, Fertility, Luck Medicinal Action and Uses—The astringent effects of the Oak were well known to the Ancients, by whom different parts of the tree were used, but it is the bark which is now employed in medicine. Its action is slightly tonic, strongly astringent and antiseptic. It has a strong astringent bitter taste, and its qualities are extracted both by water and spirit. The odour is slightly aromatic. Stone of the Season:Jet Color of the Season: Orange Incense Psychic Protection Incense Fall Incense Protection Oil End Negativity and Give Hope Incense Transforming Negativity: Autumn Conjuration Source Halloween Silver Ravenwolf |
| Foods of Samhain~Halloween
Apple Pancakes 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour In a large non-metal bowl, sift together all the dry ingredients. In a smaller bowl, combine the milk and egg yolks. Pour mixture into the dry ingredients and stir well. Stir in the butter/margarine and apple. Fold in the egg whites. Let the batter set up for a few minutes. Cook on a hot griddle or in a large frying pan, using 1/3 cup of batter per pancake. Use a spatula or spoon to spread batter evenly. Remove from heat, dot with butter, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and roll up into log. Top with slightly heated applesauce and a dash of cinnamon. Makes 12 pancakes. Cranberry-Pumpkin Cookies Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets. Samhain Cider Ingredients: 2 quarts apple cider In a large pot, combine the apple cider, confectioner’s sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger. Simmer slowly on low heat for about 15 minutes. Take care that the cider does not boil. Add the apricot brandy and then serve the cider while it is still warm. Refrigerate any leftover cider. Pumpkin Muffins Ingredients: 2 cups flour In small bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy and pale. Beat in eggs and buttermilk until well-blended. Add flour mixture to form a batter. Preheat oven to 375ºF. In medium bowl, mix pumpkin, brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves until well-blended. Stir into the batter. Ladle batter into 12 2 1/2-inch greased muffin cups and bake for 15-17 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes, then cool on rack. Yield: 1 dozen Elder Flower Fritters Mix egg, rose water, honey, and brandy in a bowl, then stir in flour and cinnamon. Should be thick like pancake batter. (Add flour if it’s too thin, and add more brandy if it’s too thick.) Fold in the flowers. Fry like pancakes, OR drop by the teaspoonful into a deep-fat fryer until golden brown. Serve with orange water sprinkle and fresh lemon, or dip in sweet cream Source: Patricia Telesco, A Kitchen Witch’s Cookbook Garlic Pork with Chestnuts Ingredients: Instructions Source Joanne Asala Celtic Folklore Cooking |
Plants and Herbs~Anise, mugwort, chamomile, rose, wild rose, oak blossoms, lily, cinquefoil, lavender, fennel, elder, mistletoe, hemp, thyme, larkspur, nettle, wisteria, vervain ( verbena), St. John’s wort, heartsease, rue, fern, wormwood, pine,heather, yarrow, oak & holly trees
Litha is also known as Summer Solstice, Alban Hefin, Sun Blessing, Gathering Day, Feill-Sheathain, Whit Sunday, Whitsuntide, Vestalia, Thing-tide, St. John’s Day. Litha is usually celebrated on June 21st, but varies somewhat from the 20th to the 23rd, dependant upon the Earth’s rotation around the Sun.