Samhain—It’s Not Just about the Ancestors

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Yes, ’tis the season of “ghosties and ghoulies and long leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night!”* My favorite time of year. The veil between the worlds is thin and spirits walk close in the night. And this year the veil has been thinner than usual and for a much longer time. True, some of thoseYes, ’tis the season of “ghosties and ghoulies and long leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night! spirits are our ancestors and well worth honoring, but most of them aren’t. So, as you are welcoming in your ancestors, it’s wise to make sure no unwanted spirits tag along. Which brings me to Samhain’s other claim to fame. It’s the Celtic New Year. A time of fresh starts and new beginnings. And before we start fresh, it’s always a good idea to clean up our act on all the levels—physical, mental, and spiritual. That’s why New Year’s Days of every culture, no matter when they occur in… Read More »

Happy Beltane!

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There are actually two times in the year when the veil thins and the other worlds come within touching distance. Samhain, or Halloween is the one most folks recognize, but Beltane, its partner on the opposite side of the Wheel of the Year is the other. Ancestors and spooks visit on Samhain and Fairies, or, as Lewis Spence speculates, gods who have diminished in power through lack of attention, visit on Beltane. “At Bealltainn, or May Day, every effort was made to scare away the fairies, who were particularly dreaded at this season. In the West Highlands charms were used to avert their influence. In the Isle of Man the gorse was set alight to keep them at a distance. In some parts of Ireland the house was sprinkled with holy water to ward off fairy influence. These are only a mere handful out of the large number of references available, but they seem to me to reveal an effort to avoid the attentions of… Read More »

A Blessed Samhain to All

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Once again The Ways are much easier to navigate. Ghosts and spirits of all sorts swarm into our world, making this a very, shall we say, exciting time of year for those who have eyes to see. And so Samhain is a time to honor our ancestors, because they are close at hand. This is also a customary time for divination of all sorts. But we tend to forget that spellcasting, blessings, and prayers are also extra potent now, because the crack in the gates charges our world with powerful magical energy that’s just begging to be used. So cast your circles extra tight and be careful what you invoke!

Happy Samhain!

Posted Leave a commentPosted in Wheel of the Year

The veil between the worlds is thin this time of year and spirits walk. This evening or tomorrow evening would be an excellent time to have a Dumb Supper and visit with your ancestors. Set up an altar on your kitchen or dining room table and decorate it with your favorite Samhain/Halloween stuff – gourds, marigolds, tiny pumpkins, skulls, orange and black candles, etc. If someone you love passed away last year, put their picture on the altar with a few of their favorite things. Put out pictures of your other ancestors too if you like. Cook a wonderful dinner and set an extra place at the table. Cast a circle and invite your ancestors to join you for dinner. Serve up the food and make sure you are extra generous with that extra place setting. Relax and enjoy your meal in total silence so you can hear what your ancestors have to say to you. Some years our dining room is full to bursting… Read More »