Oct 31 -  Pronounced Sow-wen - originally a season beginning at Full Moon, lasting to end of October. Most important Sabbat in Wicca - Witch's New Year, the month of the Red or Blood Moon. Samhain means summer's end (Irish Gaelic - samhraidhreadh). Celebration of hags and crones who bring the wisdom of the ages as well as death, destruction which we see on the earth around us.  Known as the Feast of the Dead; modern name of Halloween is a contradiction of Hallowed Evening. Though death is very much a part of the symbolism, it is the triumph over death and the belief that physical death is not the final act of existence that is the central theme. Time of reflection and honoring of those who have walked before us; veils between the worlds are very thin this night and communication with Spirits very strong. Time of divination, time to strengthen karmic ties, time to remember those who were tortured during the Burning Times, the Holocaust. It is the fourth fire festival and third/final harvest.  Heralds transition and change - we deliberately change our reality with our dress and costumes - masks were powerful bewitching tools in the festivals of old - often those of animals as this was both the hunting and rutting season. Dances were an invitation to the spirits of the hunted animals to provide food for the winter. Bonfires were lit on hilltops at sunset on Oct 30 - the word balefire comes from the root bal-boon which means extra. The balefire serves the purpose of giving more light and warmth, of containing the energy of the dead deities, ushering in the light of the New Year and purifying the community.  October was the cider making month - symbols of immortality, the Isle of Avalon or Isle of Apples/the Summerlands was the place to which souls would go to rest and rejuvenate before rebirth.  Wassailing the apple trees was performed to magickally ensure that the trees would bear abundant fruit the following year.  Wassail is from the Anglo Saxon was hal meaning good health. Apple bobbing, candies apples are still a part of Samhain tradition. In Wales they were ritually buried at Samhain to feed the souls in the Underworld. The God and Goddess are reunited in the Underworld and rest together.

Ceremonies involve honoring departed souls, journeying to Underworld, death and rebirth themes, divination, meditation, scrying, Spiral Dancing, mask making, games, sympathetic animal magick, storytelling, croning ceremonies. Candles are black to represent the Crone and darkness, incense is mugwort/sweetgrass/rosemary, altar cloth is black. Wear all of your magickal clothing and jewelry, get out your crystals, spheres, tarot cards, runes - work magick!

Traditional foods are apple and pumpkin dishes, sweets, fun foods.

OB134         Samhain Oil        $9.95

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