Samhain-November 1st 2011

HecateGoddess of Witches . Associated with Isis . Thought to give
instruction to the arts of alchemy . moon goddess . triple goddess .
Associated with magick, witchcraft, crossroads, walls, gates, and doorways .
torch . sword . dogs . thunder shrieks yells and barking dogs are heard upon her travel...



I had a wonderful ritual last night on the eve of Samhain. I'll get to that later. 1st I must say how enlightened I am to have just learned the truth of Hecate today. I (and I have no idea why) thought she was evil. I don't have a reason for thinking that. Now that I have learned of her history I have the overwhelming feeling that she is deeply sacred. An extremely important Goddess. I want to know more about Hecate and Morrighan...

Now for last nights ritual. Interesting! I used what words came to me. I'm not huge on planning. So, I didn't write out my ritual word for word. I'm a wing-it sort of person. *lol* Drives my sister insane. Guess I truely am a hedge witch. *hee hee* I also used parts of Scott Cunningham's samhain ritual from his renowned book: Wicca - A guide for the solitary practitioner. And also borrowed from Ann Moura's samhain ritual. I didn't cast a circle. But I think that I will tonight. I had also decided that it would not be necessary for me to do a naming ceremony. But then all of a sudden at the end of my ritual, I was gazing into the flame of my black candle that I created myself with different shades of orange dripping down it. All the words just came to me. And I claimed my name bestowed to me through dream.

For my rememberence of the dead part of my ritual I spoke to my grandma. I let her know how much I love her and how proud she would be of me if she were here to see all that I've done and all that I've become. Continued on to say that if she would like to come through the doorway just for tonight for a moment, she is welcome to do so. Then I sat silent for a moment with my eyes closed memories of her and I swirling around in my head. Just then I started to hear this loud crackling sound. I tried to not break my visualization. But I did look. And a dried rose i used to decorate my samhain candle came into the bottom of my candle. How I have no idea. Since I didnt put any roses near the wick. But it was so perfect since my grandma Jennings loved roses. She had a rose garden. And my grandpa picked a fresh rose for her everyday and brought it in and it was put into a special goblet glass of water.

I also said good-bye to the past year of bad thoughts, terrible experiences, sadnesses. Wrote down on a piece of parchment paper the thing I would like to rid myself of most. And welcomed the new year, new joy, new experiences, new knowledge in the coming year and welcomed happiness.

I also incorporated samhain correspondences such as black and orange candles. I had another candle on my altar which I also made and it turned out w/ an image of a black cat on 1 side. It was suppose to just be a swirly design with dark candle coloring. *lol* My altar cloth was black with gold triple moon in the middle. and a pentacle in the center. I made my own incense. Not so sure I'm very crazy about the scent though. It may end up in the trash. *lol*
Ingredients: broom wood, red sandalwood, mugwort, patchouli, rosemary, yarrow, myrrh resin, flax seeds, frankincense resin, 11 drops of cedarwood oil, 2 drops of ylang ylang oil.

My ritual was performed at 12:30 at night. Wind blowing. A cauldron in my window burned an orange candle. Which when it was extinguished the wick kind of has a crescent moon shape to it. And the glitter inside the candle all went to 1 side to also make a crescent moon shape. ??
I also had candles in other windows in my home to guide the spirits.
Today is perfect. cold, somber, snowy/rainy dreary! Very calming and comforting.



Some of my Samhain / Halloween Pics:

My 1st Samhain
October 31st 12:30 a.m.
Samhain Altar
Stones: moonstone, carnelian, garnet
candles: black and orange - handmade by me

Samhain Candle Cauldron
placed in my bedroom (magickal space) window next to my altar.



Cauldron Candle
I thought it was interesting how the wick shaped like a cresent moon
after being burned.



Then I noticed how the glitter all went to one side forming
the shape of a crescent moon too. As you can see the
glitter started out all over the entire candle.
(look around the edges)

The next few pics are of my grandkids Evey (11) & Dante (7)



The Thinning of the Veil...

Samhain - pronounced [Sow-In]
Observance Date: October 31st-November 1st
Moon Phase: Waxing
Waxing Moon: Draw your intents, wants & desires to you.


I feel as though my own veil into myself is actually thinner today. I feel like so much is so clear. Feeling full of energy and happy. Is it that I am more intune with nature and the universe now than ever before. Because of all of the knowledge I have gained over the past 7 months? Is it because it is the witches new year and the veil between the other world and this world is thinner. A door is open...


Samhain is a time to connect with our loved ones who have passed into the other world. Our ancestors, pets, familiars, family members. It is a time to remember and pay respect to those who have walked this well worth path before us. A time to remember those who suffered the burning times and at all other times to I believe. It's not just at the 'burning times' that witches suffered. I think this is a good time to remember all who have suffered at the hand of others. Whether it is any kind of slavery, religious unjustice. This kinds of things happen every day still. As I look back at american history we have not been a kind and understanding people. I do not understand the forefathers. Why do we not like and why are we cruel to people who are not are exact duplicate? I am speaking of going into another country and kidnapping people and making them our slaves. Why? I don't get it. I am also speaking of all of the cruelty reaped upon the native americans. Who I feel were here before the white man. I feel very close to the native american culture. They were (are) truely in tune with nature. Respected the land. And all we did is destroy and steal from them. I also speak of the injustices that are done in modern day. People are still ridiculed, fired, ... for their beliefs today.


Okay, got a bit off course there. But I wanted to get that off my chest. *lol*


Today I am going to make moon cookies for the 1st time. I don't know if any tricker-treaters will want them. As home-baked goods are frowned upon. But it is something that I feel strongly about today. Home baking, family, crafts, feels like a theme of today for me. I'd like to make some herb bread too. And making fried chicken for supper. It will be a very early supper. I don't want my grand kids Evey and Dante having candy for supper!


I didn't think I would feel any different today, than on any other day of the year. But I feel very loved. Like Isis has her arms around me letting me know I am loved. And that I am going in the right direction. I keep getting goosebumps. *lol*


I intend to put candles (safely) in my windows of my home to guide and welcome spirits of  the other world. I will have a big ritual. I have a lot of ground to cover. I'll probably go out trick or treating with my grandkids too.


I'm SO glad that I'm all better from being sick! It's like a miracle. I've never gotten well so quickly. And I've always had to go to the doctor to get well. But its like a real miracle that I actually got well without any antibiotics. What a blessing.