Samhain/Halloween From My B.O.S.

Samhain – October 31st
Life Events celebrated: Death to Impregnation
Other Names: All Hallows Eve, Halloween, Samhain Night, All Souls’ Eve, Day of the Dead, Guy Fawkes Night, Bonfire Night, Oidhche Shamhna, Hop-tu-Naa, Calan Gaeaf, All Hallowtide, All Saints Days, Fet Gede,
Symbols: Third Harvest, wisdom of the Crone, death of the God, reflection on our place in the Wheel of the Year, New Year, reincarnation, the dark mysteries, Rebirth after Death.
Colors: Black, Brown, Orange, Red,
Foods: Beef, Pork, Poultry, Candy Corn, Irish Báirín Breac (Fruit Cake), Colcannon, Bonfire Toffee, Toffee Apple, Candy Apple, Caramel Apple, Apple Cider, Apple Tarts, anything with Apples, Doughnuts, Roasted Ear Corn, Popcorn, Caramel Corn, Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Bread, Roasted Pumpkin Seeds, King Cake, Pomegranates, Sweet Potatoes, Squash, Beets, Turnips, Nuts, Gingerbread, Cider, Mulled Wines, Mead, Late Autumn Fruits.
Plants & herbs: Angelica, Burdock, Catnip, Pennyroyal, Rosemary, Rue, Sunflower, Sage, Thyme, Wild Ginseng, Tarragon, Mugwort. Calendula, Chrysanthemum, Cosmos, Marigold.
Trees: Acacia, Apple, Cypress, Hazel, Hemlock, Yew
Incense & Oils: Bay, Cedar, Clove, Copal, Coriander, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Heather, Mugwort, Myrrh, Patchouli, Peppermint, Sage, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Wormwood.
Stones: Amber, Beryl, Bloodstone, Carnelian, Clear Quartz, Diamond, Garnet, Gold, Granite, Hematite, Jasper, Jet, Marble, Obsidian, Opal, Pyrite, Rose Sapphire, Ruby, Sandstone, Smoky Quartz, Steel, Tourmaline, Turquoise
Animals & Mythical Creatures: Stag, Jackal, Cat, Bat, Ram, Scorpion, Heron, Crow, Robin, Goblin, Harpy, Raven,
Appropriate Goddesses: All Crone Goddess Aspects
Appropriate Gods: All Underworld, Sacrificial, or Trickster God Aspects
Decorations: Acorns, Indian Corn, Carved turnips, and pumpkins,
Activities: Trick or Treating, Leave an empty seat at the dinner table, Offerings for the Spirits and Fairies,
Spell/Ritual Themes: Time of Reflection, Looking back over the last year, Coming to terms with Death, Honoring Ancestors, Divining for the Future, finish old projects, Honor Deity, Give Thanks for the Harvest

Samhain marks the last of the harvest festivals. It was one of the four great "fire festivals" which marked the turning points of the Celtic year. Great bonfires would light the sky during the celebrations. It’s the night best suited for calling upon the spirits, seeing fairies or encountering a ghost. Sunset on Samhain is the beginning of the Celtic New Year. The old year has passed, the harvest has been gathered, cattle and sheep have been brought in from the fields, and the leaves have fallen from the trees. The earth slowly begins to die around us. The Crone Goddess is alone and the God has journeyed down to the Underworld. Prepare for the Dark time of the Year. We now honor our ancestors, and if a loved one has died during the past year, this is the night to celebrate their memory. Time to communicate with spirits from beyond the veil, who offer advice, protection and guidance for the upcoming year.

Eliade's Encyclopedia of Religion states: "The Eve and day of Samhain were characterized as a time when the barriers between the human and supernatural worlds were broken... Not a festival honoring any particular Celtic deity, Samhain acknowledged the entire spectrum of nonhuman forces that roamed the earth during that period." The Celts believed that when people died, they went to a land of eternal youth and happiness called Tir nan Og. The dead were sometimes believed to be dwelling with the Fairy Folk, who lived in the numerous mounds, or sidhe, (pronounced "shee") that dotted the Irish and Scottish countryside. Spirits and Fairies roam the lands creating mischief. This night belongs to neither, one year nor the other, Celtic folk believed that chaos reigned, and the people would engage in practical jokes. This was the time to "cull" the herds of animals that weren’t needed for breeding next spring, and were used as sacrifice for Harvest Feasts, or winter food supplies.




Samhain Blessing –
Ancestors hear my voice, know my heart,
I think of you at the season’s start,
Descendant from your honorable tree,
I am a proud member of your human family,
Come to me from beyond the veil,
Share the wisdom that you entail,
Please bestow your gentle blessing,
And accept these humble offering.
© Cat High

At Samhain I think of Sunflowers and my Dad, and the memories of growing them. The Sunflowers were traditionally harvested and prepared for eating on Halloween night. The color Black is for the hidden mystery of the night time, and Orange is the color of the big harvest moon. I also think of the Raven as a symbol of Samhain as they are messengers from beyond and have a magickal spirit.

Description – I can hear the swishing, of various costumes brushing together accompanied by the unorganized rhythm of little footsteps traipsing through the neighborhood, interrupted only by the occasional giggle, shriek, or high pitched chorus of “Trick or Treat!”

Cat's Personal Samhain
Now for Samhain I hold 3 personal rituals at midnight on the 30th, 31st, & 1st.
I have altars set up all over the house, & usually attend several group rituals as well as do my own at home ... yes I'm a busy Witch this time of year!

Night 1 is Thanksgiving for all the blessings I have received during the year. Giving thanks for all the plants & animals that died to give me food, shelter, clothing etc. Honoring my personal deities (without asking for anything)

Night 2 is a funeral for all who have passed during the year, & a wake, as well as honoring my ancestors, meditation and talking to my Mom (she died when I was 16).

The last Night is for celebrating the New Year, making plans for the coming months, magical workings (spellwork etc.) and doing divination for the next few months, as well as a full year tarot spread.

Memories Samhain's Past:

Well when my kids lived with me I remember making all their costumes, a different theme every year. We would have a sleep over with each kid having 3 friends over (not on Samhain but the closest weekend) My X always volunteered for duty when they had sleep overs so I was with 4 kids + 3 friends each YES I AM CRAZY!. We would decorate pumpkins, & toast the seeds, smash a pinata, make cookies, caramel apples, popcorn balls, play pin the tail on the cat, or skull on the skeleton games etc. We would watch halloween cartoons, then tell ghost stories, and watch spooky movies after the younger kids had crashed for the night. My Kids usually went trick or treating and attended 3 to 4 parties/celebrations; Circle with me, Star Trek Fan Club party (YES I'm a Trekkie!), Church with their Father, & his Army unit always had a party too ....... sometimes more if I could manage it ...... then they would be in a sugar coma for weeks ..... the candy was usually gone by Yule then we would stock up again. One year after the trick or treating I took my 2 oldest kids to an old cemetery at midnight to play with the ghosts, do my ritual, & leave gifts on the graves ..... that was fun!

Anyway, Have a Wonderful All Hallows Eve, Halloween, Samhain Night, All Souls’ Eve, Day of the Dead, Guy Fawkes Night, Bonfire Night, Oidhche Shamhna, Hop-tu-Naa, Calan Gaeaf, All Hallowtide, or whatever you celebrate! This year if everything works out in time, I am planning on visiting Salem Mass. so my plans are altered a bit from my norm.

Take care & Dark Blessings, Cat =^o^=