Preparing for Samhain

With Samhain just about a week away I spent the afternoon today preparing my Samhain altar. This altar has a very special meaning because it's where I'm also choosing to honor my ancestors and my two grandmothers in particular.

Isn't this wonderful? I found it at Michael's ~ on sale! The skeleton is one of the ways to honor one's ancestors during Samhain.

Here I have a basket of gourds and squash representing the last harvest of the season and the journey into winter.

Honoring my Grandmother
~ Mary Lubky ~
1921 - 1979
(She's pictured here holding my mom)

I chose to also honor Hecate on my Samhain altar. Hecate is a Dark Moon Goddess and deals with the more shadowy aspects of our lives. During this time of year she is considered in her Crone aspect and is the goddess of magic, ghosts, storms, the night, dreams, crossroads and animals, particularly dogs. She is able to see into all worlds and guards the border between this world and the spirit world. Hecate knows death and does not fear it, for death brings renewal through the fertility of decomposition.

While in her Crone aspect, Hecate is the goddess to turn to for protection, wisdom and magick. However, bear in mind that Hecate is not a Goddess full of tenderness and compassion. She is more prone to be stern with you if you brought a situation upon yourself. However, her wrath is swift and just to those who cause harm to a follower of hers, because those who seek her, honor her and do not fear her are in her protection and she does not take lightly to those who cause them harm. She does not tolerate nor does she coddle. Her actions are swift and without frills so when you do call upon her, be prepared for her swift actions and changes because it might not be what you expected.

Charge of the Dark Goddess, Hecate

I am the Queen of Magick, hidden in the deepest night.
I am the mystery of the other world and the fear that coils
about your heart in the times of your trial.
I am the soul of nature that gives form to the Universe.

My torches light the way for enlightenment and illumination.
My sickle of death cuts away things that are dead and no longer needed.
It is I who awaits you at the end of your spiral dance.
I am she who has no secrets but a thousand secrets.
I am the aged Old Crone of Darkness whose face of death
portends life anew and filled with Luna's secrets.
All acts of magick and mysteries are my rituals and
my greatest ritual is love itself.

You who seek to remove my veil and know my true face,
know that all your questing and efforts are for not
until thine own face beholds and knows the mysteries of thine own self.
For you to truly know me, you must look in your own heart
and know and accept thy self.

For those of you who call upon me and my powers for magick, beware!
For my magick is swift and without regards to the consequences.
Those that know me shall glide safely through troubles,
for it is my dark cloak of protection that is wrapped about you.
Close your eyes my child and call to me, for I am there,
within your darkness.

~ By Lady Hecate ~

Honoring my Grandmother
~ Mildred Elizabeth Bowers ~
1918 - 2005

Another view of my Samhain altar . . .

I'll have more to share with you after Samhain has passed because I'm also celebrating Halloween with a very special friend who's also coming to celebrate my 50th birthday with me. It will be a fun-filled, jam-packed weekend and one that I'm looking forward to with great anticipation!