A New Year Begins
 

Samhain Lore (October 31st)

Samhain, (pronounced SOW-in, SAH-vin, or SAM-hayne) means "End of Summer", and is the third and final Harvest. The dark winter half of the year commences on this Sabbat.

It is generally celebrated on October 31st, but some traditions prefer November 1st. It is one of the two "spirit-nights" each year, the other being Beltane. It is a magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily suspended, and the Thin Veil between the worlds is lifted. Communicating with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time, for they journey through this world on their way to the Summerlands. It is a time to study the Dark Mysteries and honor the Dark Mother and the Dark Father, symbolized by the Crone and her aged Consort.

Originally the "Feast of the Dead" was celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the "wandering dead". Today a lot of practitioners still carry out that tradition. Single candles were lit and left in a window to help guide the spirits of ancestors and loved ones home. Extra chairs were set to the table and around the hearth for the unseen guest. Apples were buried along roadsides and paths for spirits who were lost or had no descendants to provide for them. Turnips were hollowed out and carved to look like protective spirits, for this was a night of magic and chaos. The Wee Folke became very active, pulling pranks on unsuspecting humans. Traveling after dark was was not advised. People dressed in white (like ghosts), wore disguises made of straw, or dressed as the opposite gender in order to fool the Nature spirits.

This was the time that the cattle and other livestock were slaughtered for eating in the ensuing winter months. Any crops still in the field on Samhain were considered taboo, and left as offerings to the Nature spirits. Bonfires were built, (originally called bone-fires, for after feasting, the bones were thrown in the fire as offerings for healthy and plentiful livestock in the New Year) and stones were marked with peoples names. Then they were thrown into the fire, to be retrieved in the morning. The condition of the retrieved stone foretold of that person's fortune in the coming year. Hearth fires were also lit from the village bonfire to ensure unity, and the ashes were spread over the harvested fields to protect and bless the land.

http://wicca.com/celtic/akasha/samhainlore.htm

Happy New Year !!!
 

I enjoyed a wonderful celebration tonight with friends.....very magical & special indeed.

I love being able to burn that which you wish to release in the fire....it was very cathartic & helpful for me...& to burn the manifestation for the year ahead....just a really wonderful riual. I am SO glad I found this group of friends...they have brightened my life & enlightened it at the same time.

Blessed be !

Jonathan

Pagan
 

Arwen,Ty for this post as it so reminded me of the way my grandmother spoke of the beauty of this night and what it represents to the world and those who beleave.She was a hard core catholic but also had srtong pegan roots.Samhine blessing to you and all who are hear.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Arwen}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} What a lovely Samhain story!

I used to feel so alone, all the time. I was terribly afraid I would die alone. These days, though, I have the sense of always being surrounded by loving family, adopted family, Allies and friends... and yes, the furbabies are family to me, my deeply beloved family.

Now that I think about it, so are the ghosts who live with us, and so are our Allies. I guess that even though my mind makes distinctions, in my heart they are all simply my family. Thank you for opening the trail of thought that led to me to this realization. {{{{{{{{{{{Arwen}}}}}}}}}}} :kissy:

Thank you, honey. It's a solemn night but filled with such beauty for me. I think I would have loved your grandmother.

I read an interesting statement. When they asked Susan B Anthony about the afterlife, she said she was going to stay and pester the feminist movement. :D I think she got it.

I love you, darlin'. hugs.

LOL! We could certainly use a Guardian Pester-er!

Love you too, Arwen my dear.

I had a lovely experience last night, got reminded that one of my neighbors is also Pagan. I remembered it when she called her dog by name: Gaia. Just loved that!

I've never been one to name my furbabies after gods and goddesses. This is probably because they are very much "babies/children" to me. Lady decided early on that she had multiple names. The one that cracked me up was "Baby," because it tells you just how often I called that doglet "babygirl" and "Ladybabybug." I'm not quite so baby-inclined with Trooper, but then he's reminded me of a seven-year old since we got him.

*starts laughing* Well, that is, when he's not busy reminding me of Chewbacca in distress! *takes the hint and shares some tiny bites of apple with him*

It's time for Soulcake!! *bounces* Been waiting all year for this, wooohooo!!!

I know that the song originally--in medieval times--was a Samhain song, an All Souls' Day song, but somehow it just doesn't work that way for me. I suppose that's because it's been cast as a Christmas song in modern times. And certainly I am NOT READY for snow and ice before Samhain! My alltime favorite version of this is Sting's group, in a youtube that was made with pictures of deep winter in Sweden. I swear I start shivering just looking at the pics, lol...

Anyhow, I justify listening to this song for the whole Samhain-through-New-Year season by adding together the original intention plus the modern interpretation; it equals "Play me now!" :cheesy:

BUT... butbutbut....but they're such CUTE asses....
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/mgmedi...cilian-burros/

While I haven't had a decent set of runes for a few years and have used other forms of divination, I used to read them quite frequently. I also found that many of the meanings varied to some degree depending on the source. So I fell back on the advice given to me by my first mentor.

The meaning is important only in that YOU are consistent. If you are most comfortable with Cunningham's meanings then they will work for you. If some of the other sets ring more true for you, use those. All of them have truth, because they are the meanings that were passed down to that person from whomever taught them. Your own intention is the most important determination of any magic.

Long time wiccan/pagan goddess here who is now eclectic. I've walked many paths and have taken a little bit of everything that works for ME. Symbolism has been used since the beginning of time to invoke a state of being or focus for manifestation. There is belief that a collective set of beliefs gives it more power but I can't honestly say this is true unless that collective is all focusing at the same time on the same thing. If that makes sense lol

So for all intent and purposes you could devise your own symbols but the meaning would need to be clearly defined, remembered and only you can give them power. This is why many adopt traditions of others.

Scott Cunningham's symbols have been around a long time. They are clean simple lines.

Ooooohhh!! Look at the stuff you can find :) I shall have to come back to this!

Sorry for the late notice. This is an inclusive NYC Beltane celebration:


All are welcome to join us for the Annual Backyard Garden
Beltane Celebration

Saturday May 4th, 2013

Gather with Us to Drum and Socialize at 1:00 pm

Maypole Dance Starts at 2:00 pm

Remember to Bring 9 Yards of Ribbon and Food or Drink to Share
Backyard Garden on the Corner of Hamilton Avenue and Van Brunt St Brooklyn, N.Y.