Samhain
ALTERNATE NAMES & SIMILAR OBSERVANCES:
Halloween, All Hallows Eve, Hallowmas, Hallowtide, Samhain, Samhuinn, Ancestor Night, Nos Galan Gaeaf (Welsh), Shadowfest, Festival of the Dead, Feast of the Dead, The Day of the Dead (El Dia de los Muertos)
October 31/November 1
When the sun reaches 15 degrees Scorpio we reach the cross-quarter between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice. Outside work should be completed by now and everything prepared for Winter to come. This is a time of rest, reflection of the past year, and gaining knowledge. Scorpio is symbolic of Death, Rebirth, Transformation, Introspection, Intuition, and Hidden Knowledge. Samhain or Samhuinn (pronounced SOW-en) is Celtic for "summer's end". There is no deity with this name or the name Sam Hain.
This is a time of honoring our ancestors and others who have passed into the spirit world. The doors to the spirit realms are wide open now, therefore allowing for very powerful divinations and spirit communication. Some cultures set a place at the table for their passed loved ones, or place an offering to appease the spirits. Photos or other symbols or mementos of our ancestors or passed loved ones are set on the altar to pay homage. This is also an ideal time to work on ridding negativity or negative habits from our lives. The Goddess mourns the death of the God, only to have him be reborn at Yule, the Winter Solstice. A classic reminder that Death is only an ending to allow for a new beginning...Transformation.
Correspondences
HERBS/FLOWERS/INCENSE:
Chrysanthemum, Cypress, Dittany of Crete, Mullein, Thistle, Wormwood, (Belladonna- poisonous do not use unless you have extensive herbal knowledge and experience! )
COLORS:
Black, Grey, deep Purple, midnight Blue, Orange
SYMBOLS/DECORATIONS:
Photos/mementos of ancestors or passed loved ones, The Crone, Waning Moon, Lanterns, acorns, seasonal foods, herbs, flowers, dried leaves; symbolic animals; Other symbols of death: skeletons, skulls, ghosts, coffins, graveyards, etc.
FOODS:
Apples, pears, pomegranates, pumpkins, turnip, squash, potatoes, rutabagas, beets, hazel nuts, cranberries, nuts, grains, breads, cakes, cider, mulled wine, beer, ale.
GODS/GODDESSES:
The Crone (aspect of the Goddess), Cailleach Bheur (Celtic), Macha (Celtic), Morrigan/Morrigu (Celtic), Hecate (Greek), Lilith (Hebrew), Ammut (Egyptian), Ereshkigal (Babylonian), Ereshkiga (Sumerian), Kali (Indian), Arawn (Welsh), Gwynn Ap Nudd (Welsh), Saturn (Roman), Cronus (Greek), Anubis (Egyptian), Osiris (Egyptian)
RITUALS/ACTIVITIES:
Divination; communicating with spirits; honoring elders, ancestors, and spirits who have passed; setting a spot at the table for ancestors/passed loved ones; leaving food offerings for spirits; carving lanterns to carry or set on porches from ghords, turnips, potatoes or pumpkins; sharing your riches or crop with others; banishing negativity; rituals for menopause (for those entering the Crone phase of life); bobbing for apples; dressing in disguise, visiting neighbors for "treats".
ANIMALS/CREATURES:
Domestic cats, Hounds, Jackals, Crows, Ravens, Owls, Beetles. Creatures symbolic of Death
GEMSTONES:
Jet, Obsidian, Onyx, Hematite.
TAROT CARDS:
Death, Chariot
© 2004 GypsyJaguar
Chrysanthemum, Cypress, Dittany of Crete, Mullein, Thistle, Wormwood, (Belladonna- poisonous do not use unless you have extensive herbal knowledge and experience! )
COLORS:
Black, Grey, deep Purple, midnight Blue, Orange
SYMBOLS/DECORATIONS:
Photos/mementos of ancestors or passed loved ones, The Crone, Waning Moon, Lanterns, acorns, seasonal foods, herbs, flowers, dried leaves; symbolic animals; Other symbols of death: skeletons, skulls, ghosts, coffins, graveyards, etc.
FOODS:
Apples, pears, pomegranates, pumpkins, turnip, squash, potatoes, rutabagas, beets, hazel nuts, cranberries, nuts, grains, breads, cakes, cider, mulled wine, beer, ale.
GODS/GODDESSES:
The Crone (aspect of the Goddess), Cailleach Bheur (Celtic), Macha (Celtic), Morrigan/Morrigu (Celtic), Hecate (Greek), Lilith (Hebrew), Ammut (Egyptian), Ereshkigal (Babylonian), Ereshkiga (Sumerian), Kali (Indian), Arawn (Welsh), Gwynn Ap Nudd (Welsh), Saturn (Roman), Cronus (Greek), Anubis (Egyptian), Osiris (Egyptian)
RITUALS/ACTIVITIES:
Divination; communicating with spirits; honoring elders, ancestors, and spirits who have passed; setting a spot at the table for ancestors/passed loved ones; leaving food offerings for spirits; carving lanterns to carry or set on porches from ghords, turnips, potatoes or pumpkins; sharing your riches or crop with others; banishing negativity; rituals for menopause (for those entering the Crone phase of life); bobbing for apples; dressing in disguise, visiting neighbors for "treats".
ANIMALS/CREATURES:
Domestic cats, Hounds, Jackals, Crows, Ravens, Owls, Beetles. Creatures symbolic of Death
GEMSTONES:
Jet, Obsidian, Onyx, Hematite.
TAROT CARDS:
Death, Chariot
© 2004 GypsyJaguar
References:
Starhawk, The Spiral Dance
Mike Nichols, The Witches' Sabbats
Raven Grimassi, The Wiccan Mysteries
Janet & Stewart Farrar, A Witches' Bible
D.J. Conway, Celtic Magic
Silver RavenWolf, To Ride a Silver Broomstick
Scott Cunningham, Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
Henry I. Christ, Myths and Folklore
Cliffs Notes on Mythology
Also see:
Magic - Wheel of the Year - Imbolg - Vernal Equinox - Beltane - Summer Solstice - Lughnassadh - Autumnal Equinox - Samhain - Winter Solstice - Days of the Week - Elemental Correspondences - The Moon - The Sun - Altars and Ritual Tools - A Basic Spell - True Love Spell - Ideal Career Spell - Protection - Herbs and Oils for Protection - Symbolism - Colors
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