Samhain ~ 2011

Do you ever feel like a chicken with it's head cut off? I'm feeling that way lately. I don't know if it's because I feel the need to do some fall cleaning or if it's the myriad of projects I have on the go, or the Samhain/Halloween parties I've committed to. Probably all of the above.

One party that I'm looking forward to is one that my friend Carl and I are hosting on October 29th. My friends have graciously accepted the invitation to partake in Samhain Celebrations with me! We're having a traditional Samhain Feast complete with a roast turkey, Butternut Squash and Apple Casserole, Green Bean Casserole, corn bread . . . okay, I'll stop - I'm making myself hungry.

After dinner we'll revel, share and tell stories and then at midnight we'll be conducting a Samhain Ritual. It's the first time I've shared in ritual with my friends and I'm elated to be sharing it with friends who trust, understand and accept my beliefs. They're a great bunch! I love you guys!

In the Spirit of Samhain, I've posted two rituals to my 'Sabbats and Esbats' page. One is simpler than the other, but both are meaningful and catch the Spirit of this beautiful time of year when the veil is thin and we can connect with our Ancestors and loved ones.

Wishing you all a Blessed Samhain and a Happy New Year!!

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!

Breast Cancer Awareness, Samhain & Halloween

My friend, Sharon, over at 'Plumrose Lane' has designed a couple of beautiful blog backgrounds to honor her mother and bring awareness to 'Breast Cancer Awareness Month'. The designs, banners and buttons are free!

In order to help her spread the word, I decided to change my blog background to reflect the 'pink' for the month of October. It wasn't a hard decision, Sharon's designs are gorgeous!

It's also the month of 'Samhain' (pronounced sow-een) and I'm already planning my celebration and rituals. Samhain is a three day festival starting with the end of the harvest, progressing to the honoring of one's animals or pets and finishing with honoring one's ancestors.

End of the Harvest
In my neck of the woods, the garden has died off. Where once there were lush green plants, there is nothing left but dry and dead stalks. The perennials have shut down for the season too, going dormant so that they may return in the spring. For some it is a time to bring in livestock from the fields for the winter -- and if a spider comes wandering into your living room one chilly October night, you know that even the insects are trying to find a place to stay warm.

Honoring of Animals
Man's relationship with animals goes back thousands and thousands of years. They have been a source of food and clothing. They have protected us from the things that lurk in the darkness. They have provided comfort and warmth. In some cases, they have even raised and nurtured our discarded children, as in the case of Romulus and Remus. If you have animals in your home, pets or livestock, this is their night. Feed them before you feed the humans in your family. Put some food out for any wild animals that may happen by as well.

Honoring of Ancestors
As it's a time to honor ancestors, I'll be putting up pictures of my departed grandmothers on my altar along with other items that represent the end of the harvest and the beginning of the dark half of the year. I'll also be placing candles on the altar, which traditionally should be kept burning all night having been placed in a window to guide their spirits here. Instead, I'll put an electric candle in the window . . . safety first!

Samhain is also a good time for divination so I'll be scrying with the black mirror I made recently and perhaps give my new pendulum a go. There are many ways of divination, so be sure to do ones that are right for you.

This year we decided that we're going to dress up and go out dancing for Halloween . . . what am I going as you ask? A Witch of course! In all my years, I've never dressed as a witch and I must say . . . I'm pretty excited about it!

Well, October is off to a good start and with so much to look forward to, I'm sure it will whiz by quicker than a speeding train . . .