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The more reading and research I do into Halloween, the more contradictions I find and the more lovely myths and stories are exploded. In fact, Halloween, perhaps even more than Christmas, is a mishmash of many different traditions and customs and stories that were similar or sort of related or occurred about the same time. So I will leave it to you, if you are feeling very scholarly, to read books such as “Death Makes a Holiday” by David J. Skal (very informative) and “Halloween” by Nicholas Rogers (another good one) as well as looking into all of the many books devoted to the new version of Paganism, Wicca and otherwise, that speak of the holiday. I’m going to stick to my old method of sharing with you what I feel is important about the holiday. I chose to call it Halloween. This is because Samhain is mispronounced by about 90% of the people who use the word, and rather than get all huffy about semantics and history, I’ll stick with a word I know I’m pronouncing right. Most modern Pagans celebrate Halloween as the Witches New Year, with suitable festivities; costumes, parties, feasting, & ritual. Costumed festivities are especially enjoyed by pagans. I believe this is because so many of out cannot be “out” in our daily lives, depending on the amount of Christian suppression in our area (and yes, it definitely exists). So on Halloween, we get to dress in our witchy finest. We are less IN costume, than finally OUT of costume! And just a note – the further back you look into illustrations of the early 1900s and late 1800s the more colorful witches outfits are. It was apparently the Wizard of Oz, with its version of the witch all in black with conical hat, that set the mold for the witches costumes from there on out. Personally, I would like to reclaim colors in witch’s costumery. After all, we know the importance of color in ritual, in meaning, in magic, in correspondences. The very “traditional” colors of Halloween – orange and black – have meaning. Orange is for the New Year – a color of hope and abundance and action, and Black for the old year that is leaving us – absorbing and taking with it the memories we’ve made. Halloween is the third and last of the harvest feasts. Apples are in season now, and have long been symbols of love. They are also special to pagans because if you cut an apple in half through the center, you will find a pentagram shape. Pumpkins and gourds are also ripe now and have become part of the feast since it came to the shores of North America, where they are common garden produce. Just a word or two about the Jack-0-Lantern, because I have a warm spot for this legend. The origin seems to be with a story about a prankster by the name of Jack. He played so many tricks, even on Satan and God, that when he died neither of them would allow him to come to either heaven or hell. And so he was doomed to walk the earth as a spirit. He hollowed out a turnip (pumpkins not being available in Europe), and put a lit candle in it, to light his way. When the legend came to America, pumpkins were handier, and so replaced the turnip. Easier to hollow out and put a candle in, I’m sure! But to begin with – had nothing to do with Halloween. The year is turning now – nights are longer than the day and the harvesting is done. Now is the time to see what we have harvested. To evaluate and set aside seeds for next spring and decide how we will make what we have last through the winter. Life and death are closely intertwined now. The fruit we harvest will sustain life through winter, and begin new life in spring – yet what we see around us is dead plants and trees dropping their leaves. Though there may still be life safely tucked beneath the ground. The wildlife migrates to friendlier climes, or is busy harvesting and stuffing themselves before a long winters hibernation – a sort of little death in itself. Now more than ever the close relation of life to death is visible. The veil between the worlds is thin. How easy to believe the dead return to visit us this time of year. Make them welcome, set out their favorite meal or drink or treat and honor them by setting their photos on your altar. Remember the dead, by living well and honorably as their worthy descendants. This is the atmosphere in which spell casting and fortune telling becomes stronger. Spell casting to beg the assistance of those who are in the spirit world. Fortune telling – to explore the depths of our own spirits, or to seek advice for the future. Winter is the time of the turning in, when we will study and perfect ourselves from within. Now, at the eve of winter, is the time to discover what directions we should turn our studies to. Reading the tarot, tea leaves, scrying with crystal ball or clear water, meditation, there are many forms of divination and you will discover through experience which works best for you, and over time, perhaps even change from one method to another as you, yourself, change and learn and open to more information and sources. With those things in mind, here is how I celebrate Halloween. If there is a costume party – I’m there! A few times I’ve even gotten to play hostess. My home altar is decorated with photos and mementoes of my own honored dead, as well as their favorite foods, drinks and treats (yes, I include my dead animal friends). Many candles of orange and black are burning, and two especially large ones are set aside to light for the ritual. Because we enjoy drinking alcohol, I pour the first drink to the Lady as a libation. Normally I pour it on the ground outside my home. I speak to the Lady and the spirits, thanking them for all the many blessings they have shared with me and mine, and promising they will always be honored in my home. And then – we party! Depending on where we live, I also thoroughly enjoy pouring all sorts of wonderful candy and treats into a huge plastic bowl shaped like a cauldron, and handing out goodies to all the neighborhood kids who trick or treat. The ritual I celebrate at midnight for the New Year follows: On a slip of paper, write down something that you would like to see go, something to release, something to resolve. On another slip of paper write something positive that you wish to bring into your life in the next year. It can be a matter of personal growth, something you would like to learn, or something material. Light the two large candles, black and orange, side by side in fireproof containers. Chanting “as the old year wanes and passes away, let this, too, wane and pass away”, focusing on what you wish to release or eliminate, set that slip of paper on fire from the black candle and allow it to burn away. Watching it as it is consumed, think about how it is being burned out of your life and will pass away with the old year. Chanting, “As the new year comes to us, growing in pleasure, joy and knowledge, may this, too, come to me” and focusing on what you wish to bring into your life in the new year, set that slip of paper on fire from the orange candle. Allow it to burn away in the fireproof container and think about how your wish is being released now to the spirits who will bring it to you, or assist you in your growing process. We finish the evening with the tarot readings, for ourselves and anyone else who desires one. If I have spell work to do I do it last. Just personal preference. Traditionally, Halloween is a time for love spells, and for various sorts of scrying to find the one you will love. I happen to disapprove of love spells on general principles (more about that elsewhere on this site) but it would be a great time for spells that are to banish problems or fears, for protection, or for self improvement, bringing good things into your life.
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