SAMHAIN

(October 31st/November 1st)

Click here for my Samhain Spells, Recipies, and Rituals!!!

Also Known As:

All Hallow's Eve Halloween Hallowmas All Saint's Eve Feast of The Dead Feast of Apples

Samhain (pronouced "sow-ain")is considerd by some to be the most important Sabbat. It represents the experience of the craft: traveling between worlds, experiencing life and rebirth, and ultimatley transcending both in the proccess: of not being afraid to face the darkness, or to think about that which we have lost; of not being afraid to face the changes in our lives; of turning negative experiences into opportunites for learning.      We say farewell to the God even though he's to be reborn again at Yule. This is also a time of relflection and coming to terms with one thing we can never control-death. It is a somber holiday. We wear dark clothes and  harbour thoughts for those who have lived an died before us.  This is also a time of ending relationships and  it's possible for one to see a glimmer of hope for the future.      Because of the siginificance of "life and death" sexual power is very important on this Sabbat as well. To make love is traditional on Beltane, buy it is even more important on Samhain. What better way could there be to honor life at a time of death? There is much feasting as well we do this do demonstrate our trust that there will be enough bountry to see us through the coming winter.       Samhain is an excellent time for divination and all other magickal work. This is also a true time for rememberance for thoe who  have already passed to the  Summerland.

Traditional Ritual Herbs:

Heather Mandrake Mullein Oak Leaves Straw

Acorns Apples Broom Deadly Nightshade Sage

Dittany Ferns Flax Fumitory

Altar Decorations:

Jack-O'-Lantern Apples Candles in Halloween shapes (witches, cats, ghosts ect.) Photos of passed loved ones Tools of Divination Small Triple Goddess statue in Crone stage.

Incense:

Apple Heliotrope

Mint Nutmeg

Sage

Sabbat Gemstones or Jewels:

All Black Gemstones

Sabbat Deities:

Goddess in Her dark aspect of the Crone Hecate ( ancient goddess of fertility and moon magick) Morrigan (Celtic goddess who presides over death) Cernunnos (Celtic fertility god) Osiris (Ancient Egyptian deity whos annual death and rebirth personnified the self-renewing vitality and fertility of nature)

Candle Colours:

Foods:

Corn Cranberry Muffins Breads

Apples Pumpkin Pie Hazlenuts

Ale Cider Herbal Teas

Black Orange

Some info taken from 21st Century Wicca, J. Hunter and Everyday Wicca, G. Dunwich Also http://www.witchway.net,

Suggested reading:  Halloween by Silver Ravenwolf There's some good stuff in there!!