Samhain Blessings To You
Wanted to take this time to wish you a Blessed Samhain!! Tis my favorite time of year!!! Yes, some people will make comments to me saying I look like "Halloween" and the funny fact is, well I live Halloween 24/7. It's just my thing! Surprise!!
Best thing everyone can do is embrace what truly makes them happy... and for me, it's dressing in black clothes and having my house look like the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland, and so it is so!
I enjoy Fall so much so, that my Hubby and I even got married on October 11th!! We actually celebrated our 22nd Wedding Anniversary & 26 years together this year!
Happy New Year Witches...
As the Wheel turns another year, I wanted to take the time to wish all my fellow Witches a Happy New Year, Blessed Samhain to you dears!! The Year ends and begins yet again! Make it a memorable one!
What is Samhain???
Samhain is a Gaelic festival that marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the dark half of the year.
Samhain means: "Summer's End".
This celebration is honored on October 31st at sundown till November 1st.
During this time the veil becomes very thin between life here on earth and the spirit world. As I said above, this is my favorite time of the year!!
It's the season of the Witch, and we Witches get all giddy during this time!!
During Samhain it's the perfect time to remember those who have passed on before us and celebrate their memory. It's a good time to celebrate the end of summer and to get ready for the winter months upon us.
Samhain is the Third and Final Harvest in the cycle.
It's the midpoint between the Autumnal equinox and the Winter solstice.
Did you know that Halloween is short for All Hallow's Eve which is celebrated on October 31st. They both have roots in the end of harvest celebrations of the ancient past (Samhain) .
Other Names for Samhain:
November Eve
Feast of the Dead
Feast of Apples
Hallows
All Hallows Eve
Best Ways To Honor Samhain...
1. Enjoy a feast with family and friends.
2. Nature Walk (enjoy the sights, sounds, aromas of fall)
3. Decorate Your Alter with Fall like things (acorns, candles, leaves, apples, cornstalks, putka pods.)
4. Gather Photos for an Ancestors Altar to honor our passed loved ones.
5. Visit a cemetery of our loved ones, recall memories of them and leave them an offering.
6. Light a White Candle to help guide Spirits to the Spirit World. State the following Spell: "With this White Candle burning so bright, please help guide our Spirit Friends into the Light, Their physical job on Earth here is done, the Spirit World awaits you and here you come."
7. Hold a Seance by taking sometime to go into a meditative state, cleanse your space. With Crystals to protect you (Blk Obsidian, Shungite, Blk. Tourmaline) prepare some black candles, and your favorite Crystal ball. Enjoy some Scrying time to see what messages await you as this year comes to a close and the New Year is here!
8. Have a Tarot Card Reading to gain more insight to what things you should be focusing on as the year comes to a close!! (P.S. If your looking for a Reader...I do Tarot Reading and would love to enlighten you!!)
The original Jack-o-lanterns were carved out of turnips and cabbages? True story! They used what they had in abundance back in the day.
The carvings of pumpkins, gourds and other fruits of the harvest season is still practiced today!
It is said what started the practice of carving pumpkins
(Jack-o-lanterns) was rooted in the belief that Spirits and Ghost would wander, especially during this time as the veil was thin. The lanterns glow was meant as a beacon for the Spirits of the dearly departed, the scary faces carved were meant to scare away any spirits who had ill intentions.
What ever you decide to do.... enjoy it! All the best to you and yours this Samhain and here's to another amazing New Year!!
Sending you...
Light, Loves & Lunar Hugs,
Bridget M. Shoup, CMP
"The Crystal Healing Gypsy"
(909) 851-4305