| Samhain is coming up fast! While most of us | | | | personally use hematite here because it is so |
| know Samhain as Halloween, what is this | | | | grounding. I like using the hematite |
| Wiccan Sabbat really about? What ways are | | | | afterwards when I need to ground my |
| best to celebrate the Sabbat? What special | | | | energies.Candle colors, while not absolutely |
| things should one do for Samhain? Why is | | | | essential, can be quite important to setting |
| Samhain so utterly cool? Read on, gentle | | | | the appropriate mood. As one could likely |
| reader :-)Samhain is usually pronounced | | | | guess, orange and black are the primary |
| "Sow'an," and is from the Celtic "Samhuinn" | | | | colors for Samhain candles. One can also use |
| which means "summer's end." It is one of the | | | | silver for the Goddess and gold for the God |
| doorways of the Celtic year - divided into | | | | for candles on their altar if they so |
| light and dark, Beltane being the "light." It | | | | desire.Once everything is together, cast your |
| is the final harvest of the year, and thanks | | | | circle as you choose, call your quarters if |
| are given for the year's bounty.Many believe | | | | that is part of your practice, and perform |
| that Samhain and Beltane are the two times | | | | your ritual. What ritual, you ask? While |
| during the year when the "veil" between the | | | | Kestra is always one to suggest you write |
| seen and the unseen is at its thinnest. This | | | | your own rituals, I suppose I'll share one of |
| is the magical time when laws of time and | | | | mine with you, as a guide, or as a "yuck, I |
| space are suspended, and one can communicate | | | | don't want to do anything like THIS."We |
| with departed loved ones. On the night of | | | | welcome our beloved dead |
| Samhain (October 31) people often light a | | | | |
| single candle in their windows to guide their | | | | With offerings that they be fed |
| loved ones home, and set an extra place at | | | | |
| the supper table for them.Samhain is also the | | | | Let them hear this sacred night |
| time when the Crone and her Aged Consort are | | | | |
| honored, this being a time for Dark Magic | | | | Our love for them brought through this rite |
| (not "evil," just dark), and to honor the | | | | |
| Dark Mysteries. Remember, without Dark there | | | | We ask their guidance through this year |
| cannot be Light.So, what should you do for | | | | |
| your Samhain ritual? First, gather things | | | | And that their blessings settle here |
| that you feel are symbolic of Samhain. | | | | |
| Pumpkins or other gourds, apples, besoms, or | | | | May their knowledge reach our ears |
| even pointy hats are useful articles to set | | | | |
| the mood. If you happen to have the | | | | May their message come through clearLight |
| friendship of a black cat, ask her to | | | | the herbs, and meditate for a time, waiting |
| participate with you.Next, gather the herbs | | | | for any message that may be sent.After you |
| that are special to the Samhain Sabbat. Not | | | | feel you've waited long enough, or after |
| all of the herbs that correspond with Samhain | | | | you've received a message, thank the Dead, |
| are easily available, and at least one takes | | | | and anyone else you invoked, take down your |
| preparation beforehand (as in soaking | | | | signal as you normally would, and end the |
| mandrake for two weeks or so before you can | | | | ritual.After your ritual is complete, you may |
| shred it properly for use). The herbs that I | | | | wish to ground using some of the foods |
| personally use are mugwort, motherwort, broom | | | | associated with Samhain, such as pumpkin pie, |
| flower, belladonna (also known as deadly | | | | apples (definitely), nuts, mulled wines (yum |
| nightshade), mandrake (European mandrake, not | | | | yum), pork, beef, or chicken.Kestra is a |
| American mandrake, which is a completely | | | | Wiccan Priestess, Master Herbalist, and Reiki |
| different plant used for other things), and | | | | Master, offering the best in practical |
| white sage. I use these herbs to burn as an | | | | information, unique and useful altar tools |
| offering to my Matron Crone Goddess, and as | | | | and ritual supplies. Please check out her |
| incense.Also on the altar, the stones of | | | | offerings at Guaranteed to not be your |
| Samhain, which are black (go figure), but | | | | "same ole" Wiccan shop. |
| especially jet and obsidian. I don't | | | | |