NIGHTSTORM

wishes you all a wonderful Samhain season. May you be surrounded by loved ones, both seen and unseen, and may your Samhain fires burn brightly throughout the new year!!!

Happy Samhain !!!

"SAMHAIN HISTORY"

SAMHAIN (ALSO KNOWN AS HALLOWS EVE OR HALLOWEEN) IS CELEBRATED ON THE LAST DAY OF OCTOBER THROUGH NOVEMBER 1ST, AND IS THE ANCIENT CELTIC/DRUID NEW YEAR, THE BEGINNING OF THE CIDER SEASON, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL THE WITCHES' SABBATS. SAMHAIN CELEBRATES THE END OF THE GODDESS RULED SUMMER AND MARKS THE ARRIVAL OF THE GOD RULED WINTER. (THE NAME SAMHAIN MEANS "SUMMER'S END.") IT IS THE TIME WHEN SPIRITS OF DECEASED LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS ARE HONORED, AND AT ONE TIME IN HISTORY. MANY BELIEVED THAT IT WAS THE NIGHT WHEN THE DEAD RETURNED TO WALK AMONG THE LIVING. IN MANY PARTS OF ENGLAND, IT WAS BELIEVED THAT THE GHOSTS OF ALL PERSONS WHO WERE DESTINED TO DIE IN THE COMING YEAR COULD BE SEEN WALKING THROUGH THE GRAVEYARDS AT MIDNIGHT ON SAMHAIN. MANY OF THE GHOSTS WERE THOUGHT TO BE EVIL, AND SO FOR PROTECTION, JACK-O'-LANTERNS WITH HIDEOUS CANDLE LIT FACES WERE CARVED OUT OF PUMPKINS AND CARRIED AS LANTERNS TO SCARE AWAY THE MALEVOLENT SPIRITS. IN SCOTLAND, THE TRADITIONAL HALLOWS JACK-O'-LANTERNS WERE CARVED OUT OF TURNIPS. AN OLD BELGIAN SAMHAIN CUSTOM WAS TO PREPARE SPECIAL "CAKES FOR THE DEAD." A SMALL CAKE WAS EATEN FOR EACH SPIRIT HONORED WITH THE BELIEF THAT THE MORE CAKES YOU ATE, THE MORE THE DEAD WOULD BLESS YOU. ANOTHER OLD SAMHAIN CUSTOM WAS TO LIGHT A FIRE ON THE HOUSEHOLD HEARTH WHICH WOULD BURN CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE FOLLOWING SPRING. HUGE BONFIRES WERE LIT ON THE HILLTOPS AT SUNSET IN HONOR OF THE OLD GODS AND GODDESSES, AND TO GUIDE THE SOULS OF THE DEAD HOME TO THEIR KIN. IT WAS ON SAMHAIN THAT THE CELTIC DRUIDS TALLIED THEIR LIVESTOCK AND MATED THEIR EWES FOR THE COMING SPRING. SURPLUS BREEDING STOCK WERE SACRIFICED TO THE GODS AND WICKER EFFIGIES OF PEOPLE AND HORSES WERE BURNED AS OFFERINGS. IT IS SAID THAT LIGHTING A NEW ORANGE CANDLE AT MIDNIGHT ON SAMHAIN AND ALLOWING IT TO BURN UNTIL SUNRISE WILL BRING ONE GOOD LUCK; HOWEVER ACCORDING TO AN OLD LEGEND, BAD LUCK WILL BEFALL THOSE WHO BAKE BREAD ON THIS DAY OR JOURNEY AFTER SUNSET. THE DIVINATORY ACT OF SCRYING (CRYSTAL GAZING) AND RUNE-CASTING ON THE MAGICKAL NIGHT OF SAMHAIN ARE WICCAN TRADITIONS, AS IS STANDING BEFORE A MIRROR AND MAKING A WISH.

"THE SAMHAIN RITUAL"

IT IS TRADITIONAL TO FAST FOR A WHOLE DAY BEFORE PERFORMING THE SAMHAIN SABBAT RITE. AFTER A RITUAL BATH IN SALT WATER TO CLEANSE THE SOUL OF IMPURITIES, PUT ON A LONG, WHITE CEREMONIAL ROBE (OR IF YOU PREFER WORKING SKY-CLAD DO SO) WEAR A NECKLACE OF ACORNS AROUND YOUR NECK AND AN OAK LEAF CROWN AROUND YOUR HEAD. CAST A CIRCLE NINE FEET IN DIAMETER, USING WHITE CHALK OR PAINT. PLACE 13 BLACK AND ORANGE CANDLES AROUND THE CIRCLE AS YOU LIGHT EACH ONE SAY:

SAMHAIN CANDLE OF FIRE SO BRIGHT CONSECRATE THIS CIRCLE OF LIGHT

IN THE CENTER OF THE CONSECRATED CIRCLE, ERECT AN ALTAR FACING NORTH. ON THE CENTER OF THE ALTAR, PLACE THREE WHITE CANDLES. (ONE TO REPRESENT EACH PHASE OF THE TRIPLE GODDESS) TO THE LEFT (WEST), PLACE A CHALICE FILLED WITH APPLE CIDER. TO THE RIGHT (EAST), PLACE A CENSER OF HERB INCENSE. BEFORE THE CANDLES (SOUTH), PLACE AN ALTAR BELL, A CONSECRATED ATHAME AND AN APPLE. RING THE BELL THRICE. TAKE THE ATHAME IN YOUR RIGHT HAND AND SAY:

HEARKEN WELL YE ELEMENTS AIR, FIRE, WATER, EARTH BY BELL AND BLADE I SUMMON THEE ON THIS SACRED NIGHT OF MIRTH

LIGHT THE INCENSE AND THE THREE WHITE ALTAR CANDLES AND SAY:

THREE CANDLES OF SACRED WHITE I DO LIGHT IN HONOR OF THE,O GODDESS ONE FOR THE MAIDEN ONE FOR THE MOTHER ONE FOR THE CRONE

O GODDESS OF ALL THINGS WILD AND FREE STRONG AND LOVING, FAIR AND JUST THIS SACRED TEMPLE I RAISE TO THEE IN PERFECT LOVE AND PERFECT TRUST

TAKE THE ATHAME IN YOUR RIGHT HAND AND DIP THE BLADE INTO THE CHALICE AS YOU SAY:

I OFFER TO THEE, O GODDESS THIS NECTAR OF THE SEASON

RETURN THE ATHAME TO THE ALTAR. PICK UP THE CHALICE WITH BOTH HANDS AND POUR A FEW DROPS OF THE CIDER ONTO THE APPLE AND SAY:

BLESSED BE THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAVE JOURNEYED BEYOND TO THE DARK WORLD OF THE DEAD I POUR THIS NECTAR IN HONOR OF THEIR MEMORY MAY THE GODS BLESS THEM WITH LIGHT, BEAUTY AND JOY BLESSED BE! BLESSED BE!

DRINK THE REMAINING CIDER AND RETURN THE CHALICE TO ITS PLACE ON THE ALTAR. RING THE BELL THRICE AND THEN UNCAST THE CIRCLE BY PUTTING THE ORANGE AND BLACK CANDLES OUT STARTING IN THE EAST AND MOVING IN A COUNTER CLOCKWISE DIRECTION. TAKE THE APPLE FROM THE ALTAR AND BURY IT OUTSIDE IN THE EARTH TO NOURISH THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN THE PAST YEAR. THE RITUAL IS NOW COMPLETE AND SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY DIVINATION AND/OR THE RECITING OF GODDESS INSPIRED POETRY AND SUCH

THE TRUE SPIRIT OF SAMHAIN IS GIVEN LIFE IN THIS TAPESTRY WOVEN OF SWEET MEMORIES BY THE WONDERFUL WITCHES AT THE WITCHES VOICE.COM

The smell of fresh apples tickled my nose as I unwrapped the package that had just arrived from our friends Christina and Derrick. Along with the rosy nuggets of sweetness came the memories of Samhains past and for a few moments, I was lost in time.Samhain for Fritz and I has always been a mixture of merriment and deep reflection; a strange brew of parties and gatherings mixed with sadness, reverence and a deep longing to be alone with our thoughts. For many others who celebrate the season, we would guess Samhaintide is probably the same bittersweet experience for them.One of my favorite memories is of sitting in a friend's kitchen on Samhain night-long after the other circle members had left-with a few close kindred souls. As the candles flickered and shadows skittered across the ceiling, we brought out all the divination tools in the place.Tarot cards of all kinds lie on the big oaken table alongside divining rods, runes, crystal balls and magick mirrors. Each of us was gifted in one area of divination or another, but that night we also tried some other forms that we hadn't considered using before. Not only did we give and receive some powerful readings that night, many of us also received the gift of new vision, a new way to look at the world not only through another venue, but also through another person's eyes. Years have passed, but I still remember the faces glowing around that table, the whispers and gentle laughter and the circle of understanding formed by bringing such very different people and talents together on a very special Samhain night.One of the recurring themes In most all religions is that "the dead hear you when you think of them". Fritz and I rather like that idea. We take some private time to honor friends and family members who have passed on by thinking of the best times, the happiest times and the times when that person left us with something that not only changed our lives, but changed our hearts and spirits as well.It is never too late to say, "Thank you!" It is never too late to say, "I Love You." They will hear you.So as we get together with our friends and family this coming week, we will circle and party and do our rituals to honor the Old Ones and enjoy the 'fruits of the season." And then we will also pause to remember and welcome in the spirits of all those whom we have loved and those who have loved us. Together again, we will remember.This is also a time when we at TWV like to remember and thank all of the many friends and sponsors for their continued loving and generous support during the past year. The press reports have been predominantly favorable, the awareness campaigns have been highly successful and it is all because each of you has- in ways both grand and small- come forward. By writing letters, pointing folks to educational web sites and materials, talking to people in your own towns and cities and by supporting organizations like TWV and others, YOU have made a difference this year.The Witches' Voice Staff wishes you all a wonderful Samhain season. May you be surrounded by loved ones, both seen and unseen, and may your Samhain fires burn brightly throughout the new year!Happy Samhain & Beltaine (Southern Hemisphere)Wren, Fritz, Peg & DioThe Witches' Voicehttp://www.witchvox.com----

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