Samhain Workshop
Samhain/All Hallow's Eve/Halloween
October 31, Northern Hemisphere April 30, Southern Hemisphere
Hag
I whisper of the darkest hour, followed by no dawn. I sigh of blindness, barren, bent, the Undead and Unborn. I weave the great black spider's spell in caverns underground Clothed in loss and long-gone lives I haunt the barrow-mound. I am coal and I am bone, grey drizzle on cold stone. Come to me in your despair, naked, broken, and alone. I cackle, mock, and turn my back, I jab you with my claw. Now clasp to your skin my hackles dire... - I throw wide the bright door.
Time: October 31st
Samhain marks the end of the Celtic year. It marks the beginning of the Witches' New Year. The God finally dies and awaits his rebirth at Yule. It's called "Summer's End."
It is a time to reflect between now and Yule, a time to let go of bad/old habits, pains, or relations, a time to give thanks to one's ancestors by invitong them to join in the festivities.
The veils between the worlds begin to thin at Mabon and are now at their thinnest when it is easier for a spirit to cross over. Meals were left on tombstones, beginning at Mabon, so that the spirits would come back in happy moods. Many people will leave a plate of the spirit's favorite foods on their grave on All Hallow's Eve.
Names:
Feast of the Dead Celtic New Year Day of the Dead (Mexican Traditions) Feast for Ancestral Spirits (can be done solo or as a group)
The Goddess is in her Crone Aspect as Winter takes over the land, each day sees less light, it grows colder as the land grows bleaker.
Samhain is a reminder that where there is light there is also darkness and vice versa, in dark emptiness, lies the source of life (i.e. waste turns to compost which nourishes new plants).
People say they hear more "voices in the wind" at this time of year. They also report an increas in supernatural phenomena and ghostly activity.
Samhain is a very old/ancient fire festival that honors our ancestors, their wisdom, and knowledge.
The Church appropriated Samhain, in its attempt at obliterating the Old Ways, as All Hallows' Eve (10-31), All Saints' Day (11-1), and All Souls' Day (11-1 and 11-2).
The custom of Trick-or-Treating goes way back to European children dressing up and demanding a treat in lieu of performing a trick on someone.This custom is now heavily commercialized with costumes being sold as early as August in some places. This custom let children get in touch with their darker ides, understand it, and release it.
Samhain fires were used for ritual purification, good luck, good cheer, and even some sinister events. It is speculated that, in olden days, human sacrifice was offered at this time. Some say it never happened.
This is considered the best time to do any sort of divination because the other dimensional veils are so thin. Listen to your intuition! Pay attention! It is a good time to learn a divinational art. Keep a journal of your divinations.
Samhain is a time for facing ourselves, for reflection on our darker sides. Plant ideas for the new year in your brain at this time. It's a time for honouring darkness.
Samhain Goddesses
All Crone/Underworld Goddesses
Anglo-Scottish: Nicnevin Babylonian: Ishtar Celtic: Morrigu/Morrigan Egyptian: Bast Finnish-Yugoritic: Kalma Greco-Roman: Fortuna Greek: Cassandra, Eris, Hecate, Psyche Hebrew: Lilith Hindu: Kali Indian: De vanyani Irish: Babd, Bronach, Bebhionn, Kele-De, Macha, Crobh Dearg Irish-Scots: Caillech/Cailleac Norse: Edda, Frigga/Freya, Hel, Mari-Ana Persian: Al-Ilat, Mara Polynesian: Hakea Roman: Pamonea Russian: Baba Yaga, Dolya Scottish: Carlin, The Queen of Elphame Semitic: Husbis hag Slavic: Marzana, Zorya Vechernaya Sumerian: Inanna Teutonic: Brunhilde, Elli, Frau Holde, Hela Tibetan: Remati Welsh: Rhiannon Welsh Scottish: Cerridwen
Samhain Gods
Aryan: Samana Aztec: Xocatl Egyptian: Am-hleh, Sek Het, Nefertum Etruscan: Eite-Ade European: Great Horned God, Find Greco-Roman: Pluto Greco-Phoenician: Kronos/Cronus/Chronus Greek: Hades Lapp: Naderha Maori: Rangi Native American: Corn Father, Coyote Brother Norse: Heimdall, Loki, Odin Roman: Dis Teutonic: Woden Voodun: Ghede Welsh: Arawn
Ritual Oils
Basil, Frankincense, Lilac, Clove, Patchouli, Camphor, Yarrow, Eucalyptus, Cypress, Myrrh, Coriander, Peppermint
Mythical Creatures
Baen, Sidhe/Banshee/Bainshee, Erlkonig, Fylgiar, Goblin, Harpies, Medusa, Peryton, Phooka/Pooka/Pookha
Key Actions
Return and Change
Plants And Meanings
Apple Wisdom of the Crone Mugwort Death of the God Gourds Reflection on our place in the Wheel of the Year Sage Honoring the Dead Allspice End of Summer, New Year (Celtic) Catnip Celebrating Reincarnation
Symbols
Fall Leaves, Pine Cones, Acorns, Snakes, Pumpkin Seeds, Cauldrons, Spider Webs, Berries, Spiders, Masks, Jack-o'-Lanterns, Balefires, Besom/Broom, Waning Moon
Foods
Zodiac Scorpio (Water) Ruled by Pluto, God of the Underworld. Scorpions may walk where Angels fear to tread. Very sensitive and thus, very vulnerable people. Feelings run deep, can have very great concentration, endurance, and insight. Chakra The Base Chakra at the very tip of the spine. Related to survival, belonging, instincts, and linjks with the natural world. It is associated with the "Flight or Fight" adrenal glands. This is where our gut instincts, our animal responses, come from. Colors Red > the color of life-blood, danger, life via menstruation which reflects lunar phases.
Fall yellows, oranges, reds, blacks (void, mysteris, crone), browns, pine green, golds Incense Frankincense, Myrrh, Galangal, Bay, Sandalwood, Wormwood (unpleasant smell)
*sandalwood, bay, and wormwood increases psychism in scrying* Other Names Hallowmass, Third Harvest, Samonios, Martinmas, Day of the Dead, Samhuinn, Feast of Spirits, Samana, All Saints' Eve, Celtic Winter, Hallowe'en, Festival of Pomona, Santos, Vigil of Saman, Vigil of Todos Animals Bats, Cats, Dogs, Owls, Spiders, Rats Stones Obsidian, Onyx, Carnelian, Opal Attunement Teas (Individual or Blended) Angelica, Apple Cider, Catnip, Indian Hyppo, Sage, Valerian Taboos Travel after Dark, Eating grapes or berries Activities Traditional Activities Back to Classes
Divination
Past Life Recall
Meditation
Spirit Contact/Channeling
Drying Winter Herbs
Carve Pumpkins/Turnips
Mask Making > Everybody wears a "mask" to cope with
different situations in life. The donning of a real
mask lets us temporarily take on the persona of the
God/Goddess, an animal, a deity, or some other being
(werewolf, vampire, mummy, etc.)
- Bury 13 apples after the harvest is completed to
ensure the viability of next year's crops
- Elder is associated with the German Goddess Hela,
Queen of the Dead. It bleeds red sap when cut -
like menstrual blood - and so is symbolic for
femininity and the Goddess. Flutes of this wood
supposedly summoned spirits.
-Pumpkin carving started in the United States.
In European countries, turnips were carved instead
and they were harder to carve. Jack-o'-lanterns
had faces cut in to them to scare away evil spirits.
The light within it was used to draw good spirits in.
The light within was also used to scare away evil
spirits and to symbolize that life still exists
hidden in the earth in seeds, bulbs, and tubers.
These are placed facing out from a home with these
words: Only enter in Love and Light!
-Cut an apple in half and share it with your lover to
ensure enduring happiness in love.
-Cure warts by rubbing them with a green elder twig,
then bury the twig sothat it will rot and the warts
will disolve with the twig.
-Peel an apple in a spiral, if you can do it without
breaking it - then throw it over your left shoulder
without looking. The shape it makes is the initial
of a future lover or mate.
-Substitute cider for cockerel's blood and spill it
at the four corners of a house for protection
-Scry using a mirror, crystal ball, or a bowl of liquid
-Tell ghost stories
-Take a haunter tour