Tag: Religion and Spirituality

A Solitary Samhain

A Solitary Samhain

 

Many covens and circles celebrate this most sacred of pagan holidays as groups, often opening their circles to non-initiates and others who wish to participate. I find myself preferring a solitary ritual, perhaps with some socializing earlier or later in the evening. For me, much of the meaning of Samhain suggests such a practice, though traditionally it is a communal celebration.
Samhain is pronounced as sow-in (in Ireland), sow-een (in Wales), and sav-en (in Scotland). It marks the end of the harvest, the end of the year, and the death of the god. Self-reflection becomes not simply a custom, but a necessity. One cannot (or at least should not) allow the Wheel of the Year to turn without some kind of examination of what has occurred. How have I spent the last year? Did I grow or remain stagnant? Did I live according to the values I claim to embrace? These are questions which must be addressed in solitude and solemnity.
Just as Samhain ends the old year, it must begin the new, though many witches do not celebrate the New Year until Yule. Reflection should continue during this dark time, but reflection should be accompanied by a growing sense of the changes to be made and the light to be sought. I sometimes make many lists during this time — lists of what I have accomplished and what I still want to accomplish, things I have neglected and those I have tended, and other similar lists. Samhain symbolizes both the past and the future, illuminated by the cycle of the seasons, forever linked as steps on the journey we must all make.
The Goddess tells us: “And you who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.” We must look inside ourselves for self-knowledge and for the spirit that will sustain us in life’s trials. Silence is one of the keys to seeking truth, for we cannot hear the answers in the midst of this noisy world in which we walk everyday, nor in the noise of holiday celebrations however joyous.
Samhain is also said to be the time when the veil between the living and te dead is thinnest, allowing us some communication with those who have departed. How befitting this is for such a time of endings and beginnings. Reflections on death can be as instructive as the self-examinations just mentioned.When we think of those who have died, it reminds us of time passing by and of things we could have or should have done. These reminders, coupled with our lists of past and future actions, encourages us to take our New Year’s resolutions far more seriously. We know our time is limited, and most of us have much to do in our alloted time. Most of us have to make a living somehow, but death reminds us that we had better spend some of that time in pursuit of our other dreams lest they be lost in the struggle merely to survive.
Samhain Ritual
The Samhain rituals I follow change a little from year to year. I don’t like to have a set of mandatory words or actions that might prevent me from exploring new possiblities in meaning. However, I do include the traditional Samhain rituals of sharing a feast (even if I am alone) and some form of divination. Since it is best that you write/say your own words in performing rituals, I will only include an outline here.
Prepare your house or room
Use black and orange candles, pumpkins (carved or not) and other traditional “Halloween” items if you wish (most are actually traditional for Samhain).
Prepare a table for the Feast of the Dead. It should be covered with a black table cloth and set with black dishes (black paper plates will do just fine). Place a chair at the head of the table, drapped in black cloth, to represent the spirit. The spirit’s place is set with a plate with a white votive candle on it. Set places for each of the dead that you hope will join you., and place black votive candles on their plates. Plates for the living (in my soitary ritual, just one) are empty, of course, awaiting the feast food to be served.
Food preparation
My feast is usually very simple: bread, fruit, nuts, and juice or wine. If you’ve invited living guests, it is common to make the feast potluck. However, since the actual feast will take place in silence, try not to have too many things that would have to be passed or requested.
Light the candles and turn out the lights
Call the quarters (ask the Guardians of the Watchtowers to witness and protect your circle).
Cast a circle (use whatever method you’ve been taught).
Invite the deities
There are certain Goddesses that I always invite to my rituals. It seems especially important to invite them on Samhain, as I will want to thank them for their help during the past year, and of course, ask that they continue to help me in the coming year. If the departed loved ones were especially close to any deities, I invite them as well.
Feast of the Dead
Light the candles on the plates of the dead and the spirit. The feast should take place in silence so that you can think about your departed friends and relatives. Think of their passing and your hopes for their joyous return. If someone is recently departed, try to put aside your sadness and think of that soul as well and happy in the presence of the Goddess.
Speak in silence an invitation to these loved ones, asking them to join in your feast. Use your own words for this. You know these individuals and can speak to them in a way to which they are likely to respond.
Sit at your table and eat the food you have brought to it. Feel the presence of those who have joined you and rejoice in their presence. Allow them to speak to you of whatever they want to communicate. Take as long as you wish at the table, listening to those you have invited and speaking to them in silence.
When the feast is over, thank your spirit guests for coming, bid them farewell, extinguish the candles on the plates, and leave the table.
Banishings and Resolutions
Now is the time to bring out one of those lists! Before Samhain, write a list of things from the last year that you want to banish: bad habits and addictions, unkind feelings toward others, unkind feelings toward yourself …. anything you do not want to carry over to the New Year. Light a black candle and burn the list, asking the Goddess and God to help you get rid of these and all negative things in your life. If you prefer, you can put about 1/4 cup of alcohol in a cauldron, light it, and burn the paper there. Speak to the deities (you can speak aloud now) about your sincere wish to remove these things from your life. Use a banishing chant, if you wish.
Now you should speak to the deities about those things you want to bring into your life in the New Year. I do these things rather informally, but there are many poems and prose pieces in books that you might want to use. Asking the deities for future rewards must be accompanied by resolutions as to how you will accomplish your goals. They will help you if you are sincere in your efforts to help yourself.
Divination
Because the two worlds are so close at Samhain, it is the perfect time for divination. I prefer to use a cauldron of water for scrying, since the cauldron seems to fit the mood of Samhain (not to mention Halloween tradition). You may prefer Tarot cards, a pendalum, or runes….whatever method worksbest for you. Obviously, the goal of this divination is to see what lies ahead in the next year.
Meditation
All of my rituals include some form of meditation. This is when I ask my personal Goddesses to guide me, advise me, and generally keep me on the right path. I also use this time to thank them in a more personal way than by reciting a poem of thanksgiving. At Samhain, I thank them for all theirgifts in the last year and ask them to continue helping me in the New Year.
Sometimes this part of the ritual takes the form of a shamanic journey in which I am taken to a far away place (sometimes familiar, sometimes not) and where I may be given signs that will help me know what I should do (either in general or in specific situations). Take as long with your meditation as you need.
Thank the Deities
Give thanks to the deities you have invited by offering them food. I usually say something like “all things come from the Earth and to the Earth they must return.” Whatever food and drink I offer (usually bread and wine), I eat a little and save the rest to place or pour on the Earth later.
Open the circle
Thank and dismiss the Guardians
Blessed Be!
A word about invitations to the dead
For my solitary Samhain Feast of the Dead, I invite not only departed humans but special animals as well. I doubt that this is customary since the feastis usually for one’s ancestors. However, when one of my beloved pets has passed away, his or her passing leaves an empty place in my household and in my life, just as the passing of a person would. I choose to believe that the Goddess takes these creatures and cares for them as She would any human. They are far purer in heart than any human could be, and their love is perfect and unconditional. Surely their spirits deserve whatever rewards await the rest of us. So, at Samhain, I invite these loving creatues to join in my feast where I can once again feel their presense and their uncomplicated devotion to those they love. In their honor, I also invite either Bast, the Egyptian Cat Goddess, or Diana, Goddess of the hunt and mistress of dogs, both wild and tame.

Wiccan Samhain

Wiccan Samhain

 

SAMHAIN (pronounced saw-an), commonly referred to as Halloween, is a religious holiday celebrated by Wiccan and witch. The festival traditionally is a feast for the gathering of the family in love and remembrance. All the family including one’s ancestors.
Wiccans do not regard physical death as an end but merely one more event in a continuing progress of the soul’s in its path toward fulfillment of divine destiny. Because of these beliefs, it is only natural at this time of year to invite our beloved ancestors to remember and to celebrate with us.
If you do not find these beliefs in conflict with your own personal beliefs, please join us in the following ritual of thanksgiving and remembrance.
Whether you join with us or not, May you walk in the Light of the Lady and know the Wisdom of the Lord.
Blessed Be.
The clergy and members of the United Wiccan Church.
***

After you have shared the bounty of your harvest with the children of your neighborhood (candy, etc) and the house has settled down for the night, disconnect or turn off your telephone so that this state of serenity will continue uninterrupted.
Prepare a special feast of whatever foods reminds you of a special departed friend or family member, or of past family gatherings. While you are preparing this feast think of all of the good times you had with them.
When the feast is prepared, set your holiday table with a special place of honor for the departed friend or family member.
Decorate the table and room as you would for a holiday dinner with the family, add those special things that are important to you and your family (flowers, candles,etc.) If you have a picture of the loved one, it is nice to place it at their place at the table.
Speak to that special person and invite them to join you in this celebration and time of remembrance. It is completely appropriate to say grace or offer any prayer that you feel is fitting.
THE FOLLOWING IS DONE IN COMPLETE SILENCE:
Serve the meal remembering to serve your honored guest (or guests) first. If wine or other alcoholic beverages are served, it is recommended that they be kept in moderation as you and your guests need to have a clear head.
Now sit down to the table with your loved ones and enjoy your feast. When you address them in your mind, always see them as well. (Try not to say in your mind, “if you can hear me…”, etc.). After the meal, the time of silence is over. Do whatever you normally do at a family holiday gathering (clear the table, play games, sing songs, etc.). Enjoy the companionship.
When the evening is over, or in the morning if you wish to make it an all night party, thank your invited guests for being with you and for making your celebration a special one.
*** There are a few words of caution that we will offer.
1. If this ritual does not feel right for you, do NOT do it. Follow your instincts.
2. Remember that crossing over does not necessarily change a person, so if you could not get through a meal in peace with them while they were alive, you will probably have the same problem with their spirit.
3. Do not ask your guest to grant you wishes or do you favors. It is rude to invite a guest and then make it obvious that a favor is the reason they were asked, not because of love and respect. Spirits do NOT like rudeness! Besides, spirits often forget that you are limited in ways that they are not. If you ask them for $1,000, it may come as an insurance settlement after a painful break in your water pipe with all the delight in cleaning up the mess from ensuing water damage.

TO KNOW – TO WILL – TO DARE – TO KEEP SILENT

TO KNOW – TO WILL – TO DARE – TO KEEP SILENT

To Know, To Will, To Dare and To Keep Silent, make up the four principles to
what is known as The Witches’ Pyramid. These principals are very important to
successful spell working. But what do they actually mean?

1. To Know
Know your correspondences. Research what kind of spell you are going to
perform. What the spell requires. Why you need a certain candle color or oil,
or why you are using a particular herb. Different Traditions do have
different correspondences for color, plants, oils etc. Learn the moon phases
and timings. The more you learn the more focused your energy will become,
adding to the power of your spell work.

2. To Will
This relates to you. You must have confidence in your spell for it to work.
You must believe that magick does work. You need to be focused on what you
are doing totally. Your spell needs your energy to work. If you do not
provide your spell with the right energy, then your spell may not work, even
backfire. Just having the props, without the will, will give you
unpredictable results.

3. To Dare
Make a list, before doing the spell, on exactly WHY you are doing the spell.
Are there mundane ways of reaching your goal. Will the spell actually
accomplish what you want. If you have mixed emotions or purpose, than this
can compromise your spell working. Know exactly why you are doing the spell.
Be very clear in your own mind why you believe a spell will achieve the
result you require.

4. To Keep Silent
Once you have performed your spell, you should not mention it or dwell on
whether your spell has met it’s objective. Let the spell, do its work. Don’t
waste energy worrying if a spell is going to work or not. That energy can be
better used elsewhere. Don’t talk to another about your spell either. This
may weaken the strength of the spell if the other person questions or
undermines your ability or whether the spell will work.

These principals may differ from tradition to tradition, but basically what
it boils down to, is having the confidence in the power within you. Believing
in your magick. Follow the basic principals and your spell work will succeed
every time.

ALL ABOUT SPELLS

ALL ABOUT SPELLS

The spell is at the heart of folk magick. it is simply a ritual in which various
tools are purposefully used, the goal is fully stated (in words, pictures or
within the mind): & energy is moved to bring about the needed result.

Spells can be as simple as reciting a short chant over a fresh rose while
placing it between 2 pink candles in order to draw love; forming & retaining an
image of the needed result in the mind; or placing a quartz crystal in a sunny
window for protection purposes.

To perform effective magick – 3 necessities must be present: The Need, the
Emotion & the Knowledge.

It has been said that magick was the first religion, & that if you lovingly
utilize the forces of nature to cause beneficial change, you also become one of
them.

It is these powers that have been personified as Goddesses & Gods. Attuning with
them is a spiritual experience & is the basic of all true religion.

COMPOSE THE RHYME OR WORDS OF POWER

Clearly state your need.

Clearly state all dimensions of your need (enduring love, rather than just love;
complete protection, rather than just physical protection; etc.).

If possible, mention some of the tools that you’ve decided to use in the spell
in your words of power or magickal rhyme. Indeed, for some spells, these words
may help you to structure the entire rhyme or chant.

Use hypnotic words (those beginning with ‘s” or containing a “z”) for psychic-
awareness, love, healing spells; Use potent, strong words for protection spells.
match the words to the type of ritual you’re composing.

Don’t expect the words to simply flow from you. Work at it & work with them.
Your psychic mind knows what you need.

EXAMPLES:

“I ask in the name of (Goddess & God or The All) that I, Morgan, be granted
(state desire)…I ask that this be correct & for the good of all people. So
mote it be. In no way will this spell reverse, or place upon me any curse.”

“In this night & in this hour, I call upon the Ancient power. O Goddess Bride &
Consort Bright, I ask thee now to bring your light.”

“I have a need that must be met. I ask thee (name of deity) that I obtain the
perfect (whatever it is) for (reason).”

“I ask the Universe to lend the power of all the correct astrological
correspondences so they may enter this circle now to obtain my desire.”

“Therefore, I specifically draw toward myself the (desire) without affecting the
free will of all & harming none.”

“I now proclaim this spell is done. The (desire) is mine! In no way will this
spell reverse, or place upon me any curse! As I will, so mote it be!”

“In this sacred space & time, We call now the Old Ones; the Goddess of the moon,
seas & rivers; the God of the rayed Sun, of valleys & forests; Draw near us
during this, our circle.
——————————————————————————–

BREAKING A SPELL

First Saturday after Full Moon or on a Full Moon; One white & One black candle
for balance; Props: protective nature (amethyst, apache tears or smoky quartz)

– Say:

“One the Eve of ( ) I cast a spell & the effect I created I must now quell.
Specifically ( ) May this spell be lifted & I now be gifted Specifically with
( )”

——————————————————————————–

SPELLS TO BIND
A binding spell is the act of grasping the negative energy that is propelling a
person or thing & stopping it. In a way, you are negating the unhealthy energy.

The most important thing to remember when conducting a binding spell is that you
must control your own violent emotions of hatred or fear. The binding spell is
for protection only, not for harm. This is not easy. The Goddess to be employed
is Aradia, Queen of Witches. Be sure you are honest in your intentions. Aradia’s
symbol is the red garter. If you desire justice call upon Maat, she who balances
the scales. However, you must be sure that your own hands are free from violence
& hatred, lest she weighs the scales for you as well! Her symbol is the pure
white feather.

The binding itself is a very simple matter. A poppet can be sewn to represent
the malicious person. Fill it with earth (grave dirt if you can find it),
rosemary, sage, a piece of smoky quartz & a piece of amethyst. Also enclose a
piece of the person’s fingernails, a lock of hair, or another personal item.
Handwriting can be enclosed if you have nothing else. Photos can be used also.
If your intention at any time during the ritual is to harm that person, remember
that you will only bring harm upon yourself – so be very, very careful.

If you can’t do the ritual right away, store the doll (with the head still open)
in a white cloth. During the ritual, you will sew up the head while connecting a
psychic link. Then you will proceed to sew arms & legs of the doll together. You
will finish by wrapping the doll mummy-fashion with a black ribbon. Bury the
doll when you have completed the ritual.

A person can also be bound using mental capabilities.

Placing a sample of a person’s handwriting & copper tightly in an old bell jar
is a way of stopping malicious gossip. When the danger is over, burn the
handwriting.

——————————————————————————–

WORKSHEET FOR SPELLS & FORMULAS

* Type of Spell or Formula:
* Date & Time Made:
* Reference:
* Astrological Phase:
* Specific Purpose:
* List Of Ingredients &/or Supplies Needed:
* Specific Location Required:
* Date, Time & Astrological Phase When Used:
* Results:
* Deities Invoked During Preparation &/or Use:
* Step By Step Instructions For Preparations &/or Use:
* Additional Notes:

——————————————————————————–

RITUAL RECORD SHEET

* Type of Ritual:
* Date & Time made:
* Moon Phase & Astrological Correspondences:
* Weather:
* Physical Health:
* Purpose of Ritual:
* Tools & Other Items Required:
* Deities Invoked:
* Approximate Length of Ritual:
* Results of Ritual:
* Ritual Composition:
* Additional Notes:

——————————————————————————–

Living The Life Of The Witch – Dedicate to the Craft

Dedicate to the craft

 

Your Magickal Name

When you are ready to dedicate to the craft you will be asked for a Magickal name.  Do not take this lightly.  Toy name speaks volumes about you.  Your  mundane name may be as common as John or Mary, but your magickal name will be unique to you.  As you progress in the magickal community, this is the name you  will be known by.

How do you go about getting you magickal name?  It will come to you.  Perhaps in a dream you will hear the Goddess call you by your name.  A friend may  see a quality about you can give you your name.

Don’t worry too much about your name – it will come.

When you dedicate it is the first step in changing your life path.  It is like you are being reborn.  With the new birth you are entitle to a new  name..

Dedication

How this ceremony is done will depend if you will be self dedication as a Solitary or as a member of a coven.  In either case the dedication is similar.

You will take a ritual bath.

Prepare you circle

Close the circle

Dedicate to the Goddess

Take your magickal name

Light silver candle

Dedicate to the God

Light gold candle

Drink wine and eat cakes

Release the Lord and Lady

Open the circle

Take remaining wine and some of the cakes outdoors and return some of it to the Earth.

Remember

Remember, you magickal name is who you are and who you hope to become

Your magickal name is Special.  Usually only yourself and members of the magickal community will know it.

By dedicating you are inviting the Lord and Lady into your life.  This is a very special moment.  Savory it.

If all you get out of the dedication experience are words – reconsider you actions.

 

 

 

More Fantasy Comments

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – October 10

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – October 10

“I think that’s what unity is – knowing one another and coming together and working with no conflict.”

–Chief Alan Wilson, HAIDA

When we are aligned with spiritual values, we cannot be in fear or conflict. When we are aligned to spiritual values, we have the Creator whispering solutions in our ears. Unity is one of the spiritual values. When we value unity we value solutions. If we think this way, then we have no conflict within ourselves.

Great Spirit, let me see through Your eyes.

Feng Shui Tip for Oct. 10 – ‘Bring Your Teddy Bear to….’

On ‘National Bring Your Teddy Bear To Work and School Day’ let’s look at what Feng Shui says can happen when you leave any symbol of a bear at home. This philosophy states that any symbol of a bear can be used as an energetic protector of your home, especially if placed immediately inside the main entrance. Bears symbolize strong energies, courage and potency. Secret Shui says you can prevent your home from being broken into or robbed by keeping a representation of a bear in your ‘Helpful People’ area. Other secret Shui says that positioning an image or symbol of a bear in the ‘Children’ area can promise the birth of a strong and healthy boy. So if you don’t bring your Teddy to work or school today, leave them at home to protect your hearth.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com