MORRIGAN:

MERRY MEET AND WELCOME TO WICCA 101!

Tonight's class is on Samhain. I will begin with some history and folk lore, basic information and then open the floor for discussion

Will someone please log as back up for me just in case of disaster?

FireHeart:

Done

MORRIGAN:

also... I'm doing this sans macros... so be patient with me {G}

Windaly:

logged on here

PAniteowl:

logging

MORRIGAN:

Halloween, also known as: Samhain (Celtic), Shadowfest (Strega), Martinmas or Old Hallowmas (Scottish/Celtic) is the Pagan New Year. It marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. This is the time to enjoy the final bounty of harvest, yet also prepare for the coming winter months. Though different traditions celebrate this on different days, they all pretty much stand for the same purpose.

For Witches it is the time when the veil that separates the two worlds is at it's thinnest, thus allowing the souls of the dead to co-mingle with those of the living. This is a time to welcome and honor those who have passed over. In many cultures people parade to cemeteries to clean and decorate the graves of family members and set out a feast for the departed to enjoy

In Anglo-Saxon times the entire month of November was associated with the cult of the dead. Cakes were baked and given to callers and food was left at cross roads for the dead. In the fields, fires were lit and burning brands carried around the perimeters while families prayed for the dead. Fires were said to light the souls journey to the other world, and hilltop ritual fires were also lit at dusk to protect the village from harm in the coming year. Stones were thrown into the flames of these fires, but if the person failed to find their stone in the ashes the next day, it was said that they wouldn't live to see the next year's bonfire

The following poem speaks on the tradition of giving cake to callers and hints at the roots of our present day Halloween tradition of candy/treat begging by children dressed as demons. Sort of an ancient "Trick or Treat". {g}

Samhain is also associated with the Festival of Tara celebrated in Ireland. In Celtic times it was held every three years and lasted a fortnight. Any man who had committed violence or robbery was put to death... sacrificed by fire. All fires in Ireland were extinguished on October 31 and burning straw or blazing brands were held aloft to banish old evils and welcome the New Year. A great candle was lit from the last of the fires and the rites were held in candlelight. In the morning the people received the consecrated fire from the Druid priests and re-lit their hearth fires. (OK... I'm a bit confused on this as I thought this is what they did for Beltane. However that is what my reference stated: Eleanor Hull quoting Silva Gadelica translated by S.H. O'Grady)

Today in Mexico they celebrate what we call Samhain as The Day of The Dead. The day is spent preparing various foods in offering to those who have passed on. Bread is formed into the shape of bones, skills are shaped from sugary candy and sometimes skulls are shown emerging from pumpkins. The towns are decorated with skeletons. Shop front windows are painted with either comical scenes or more somber ones. Graves are cleaned and decorated in many ways. When the time comes to take the offerings to the cemeteries, there is a grand parade with a lot of music and dancing. The food is set out and the dead are given the chance to partake or the essence of the offering before the celebrating and feasting begin. There is chanting, singing and laughter among all. Many times the visit to the cemetery ends in an all night long candlelight vigil in order to more intensely interact with the spirits, who won't be back until this time next year.

OK, that's some basic history and folk lore for you. But, what does Samhain mean to us today, and how do we celebrate it? I know there are some newcomers to the craft here tonight, so I'll go ahead and offer some of the better known information and then open up the floor for discussion. I know that Red Deer would like to discuss the importance of the veil and he is much better suited to do that than I am. And there are also many of you out there with more experience and information than I have so I will be brief.

Since Samhain is our New Year this would be the time to look closely at the past and make goals for the coming year. It should be a time to banish negatives, resolve old grievances, clear up debts, or tear those that you hold against others up. In other words, wipe the slate clean and make ready for the New Year. It is an excellent time for beginnings of course and so would be a good time for self dedication or initiations or even a time to dedicate your child to a specific guardian or deity. It is also a time to honor your ancestors... To discover your "roots" so to speak, and it is a time to study the dark aspects of the psychic world and the dark Gods and Goddesses.

Spiritual work that should be done around Samhain involves all types of divination. All psychic skills, abilities or talents should be exercised during this time. Scrying in smoke, candle flame or mirror for example. The colors on your altar should be red or black. Foods can include: pomegranates, pumpkins, or other squashes, deep root veggies, hazel nuts and apples. I say apples because the Apple Tree (along with the Hazel Tree) is one of the seven sacred trees of the Irish grove. The Hazel Tree is a symbol of wisdom, and the Apple Tree of immortality. It is said that the Apple Tree led the soul into the land of the immortals who fed with the fruit of life and everlasting happiness. Often the festivities of Samhain were held in apple orchards and apples, sugar, ale and hazelnuts were part of the fare. To drink: ale, red wine or a red herb drink such as hibiscus or rose hips spiced with cinnamon, all spice cloves etc. Incense: mugwort, mandrake or sage. During your ritual take time to speak with relatives who have passed on; feel them, hear what they have to say to you. Also offer up your personal sacrifice, something that you don't wish to carry with you into the new year, ie a bad habit, relationship or though form etc. When your ritual is over, take the food offering from your alter and place it at a cross road a three way cross road. OK... that's it. Samhain according to Morrigan. {g}

The floor is officially open to questions and discussion and general information gathering. You all still with me?

PAniteowl:

Good input Morrigan {G}

SlvrWolf:

Still here.

pixelite:

still here

MORRIGAN:

thanks. I did try. {g}

Azrael:

me too =) that was great, glad I got to log it all

Red Deer:

tried good chatty

Codalynx:

it is a waxing moon under the sign of Scorpio tonight{from a while ago I stopped typing that was cool info

melilot:

good time to quit smoking chatty?

Nestor:

Great job Chattie

PAniteowl:

In my family .. it was a time of reflection

MORRIGAN:

good time meli

MORRIGAN:

thank you Nestor

Azrael:

I'm assuming that money isn't something you'd use for the personal sacrifice to not carry into the new year? =)

MORRIGAN:

are there any questions?

Refer man:

isn't Samhain the sacred night of most covens?

Tashkent:

Yes

MORRIGAN:

not unless you want to be poor next year Az

PAniteowl:

The time of Samhain had many aspects

MORRIGAN:

Red Deer... can you touch on the veil for us?

Red Deer:

What makes Samhain sacred - after all it is one of the two highest Sabbats of the year?

no takers?

Refer man:

it is when we are closest to the dead!

Red Deer:

anything specific on Samhain in mythology?

PAniteowl:

RD... the veil is thinnest at this point

Red Deer:

aye, PA it is

Codalynx:

are there any Celtic witches in here

Red Deer:

The mythological significance is much dependent upon your orientation...

Azrael:

Does Hades have any mythological relation (or story) to Samhain?

PAniteowl:

The place between is very narrow, and psychic adepts are enhanced

Red Deer:

For all, it relates to sunset... as sunset heralds the end of a day and the beginning of another (night STARTS the day)

PAniteowl:

psychic {G}

Red Deer:

Samhain signifies the slide into winter... the end of the year and beginning of another... It is the time when the Holly King sires the new Oak king or, if one god for the solar year, the time when his blood is spilled in sacrifice before he is reborn at the solstice

melilot:

I never realized our year - death and dying start it off

Red Deer:

Either way, old ends and new begins... But what's all that got to do with the veil, and with magick and Scrying at this time?

MORRIGAN:

something has to die for it to be renewed meli

Refer man:

and all debts resolved

Red Deer:

only if you actively resolve them Refer

melilot:

I know chatty I just never realized it until just now {G}

MORRIGAN:

{g}

Red Deer:

If we look at many mythologies... the intensely magickal times are the between times... between sea and shore (sea foam)

melilot:

I've always looked at it as a celebration and thanksgiving time for what we had been given and what was to come

Red Deer:

between earth and water, between day and night... between old year and new

MORRIGAN:

well... it's the mysteries the quiet of the moment right before the next moment or movement

Red Deer:

In the between times, all the "natural" laws become weakened

yup chatty when movement stops in the physical, even the least Talented may perceive the psychic

Nestor:

the space between the beats of nature

Red Deer:

The "veil" - or that which normally separates natural from "supernatural" is "thin"

MORRIGAN:

and so any divination that you attempt this night will be heightened

Red Deer:

Spirits easily return - or, depending upon your view, are more easily perceived... and yes, any magickal workings are all the stronger at the between times... therefore, this is one of the most magickal times of year and especially twilight of the eve...

Azrael:

Is Samhain calculated to a certain day according to other days? (like a certain time before or after solstices or equinoxes) or does it just depend on the tradition?

Red Deer:

Most call it 1/4 of the way from Mabon to Yule... hence its designation as a "cross quarter" day

Nestor:

all the above Azreal --yes it depends on the tradition in which manner the "cross-quarterdays" are fixed

Red Deer:

Many state the cross quarters are the most ancient holidays... but there is a paradox here... you can't figure them out without knowing the solstices and equinoxes....

Nestor:

some use the normal civil calendar --October 31 others it becomes the midpoint between the solstice and following equinox and others just use the date when 15 degrees of the sign of that festival is reached

MORRIGAN:

now, I have a question

Red Deer:

yes?

MORRIGAN:

in some of the material I read it stated that Samhain was Hekate's festival. I took that to mean the dark deities in general since not all follow that pantheon. Do we actually call on the dark ones?

Red Deer:

need to understand your usage of dark, Chatty... Dark as in gods of decay and dissolution

Nestor:

that notion would only have arisen in the later part of the 17th century and among those know Greek mythos but not the Celtic folk traditions

Red Deer:

or as in evil?

Refer man:

I have a comment.

MORRIGAN:

it's a general usage red. yes as in decay and dissolution

Nestor:

Hekate was a Goddess with her own day of the month in the Greek calendar

Red Deer:

yes, IMO it is important to understand, revere and call upon the dark gods in that sense... Very different from calling upon evil

MORRIGAN:

right. got it

Nestor:

quite true Red deer

Red Deer:

I will call upon the Lady of Death to ease my transition (or the crossing of loved ones) into old age and death... but not to harm others

Red Deer:

I give thanks for the Lord's sacrifice of self in order to be reborn, and to turn the Wheel anew

MORRIGAN:

OK, thank you for that perspective. I was a bit confused

PAniteowl:

agree with RD

Red Deer:

and I, personally, believe the Lady Herself dies as well to be reborn

MORRIGAN:

one or two of the rituals that I read were rather... intense

Red Deer:

this be an intense time, Chatty

PAniteowl:

Excuse me .... may I comment?

Red Deer:

{shocked} you need permission?

PAniteowl:

Hehehe

MORRIGAN:

I'm beginning to appreciate that Red. I never really understood what it was all about last year

PAniteowl:

The time of all hallows is indeed special. I was taught that you answered your door and shared with whomever was there for it was the souls of the dead returning to ask that you remember them

Red Deer:

in sympathy with the Gods' sacrifice of self, PA

PAniteowl:

Not just that RD but these were the ancestors

MORRIGAN:

and is that the meaning behind the trick or treat thing?

PAniteowl:

from whom you could learn, and from whom you received validation

Red Deer:

aye - I see the Gods as ancestors as well

PAniteowl:

yes Chatty

PAniteowl:

yes, RD

SlvrWolf:

Food was also left on the door steps for the deceased who might be passing by

PAniteowl:

and when they had left "this" place, they were still connected to us and we to them. It was a calling to the blood and it was a sense of family and tradition preserved. It was more that we were allowed to see them, if we should choose

Red Deer:

... set a place at table for them

PAniteowl:

and if we "treated" them right, we in turn, would receive their continued support from the other side

yes, RD

Refer man:

I was taught it was a time to reach the dark ones, not to embrace them, but to learn from them.

PAniteowl:

I was not taught the "dark" aspect, only that the "other" side was different from where we are now

Refer man:

we are of different beliefs.

PAniteowl:

Also, I was taught that they came to us in disguise, so that we would not be frightened of seeing them as they had been

MORRIGAN:

well PA I never really cared for the label "dark" anyway.

PAniteowl:

{G} yep, Chatty

Refer man:

but they are mentioned in every belief

MORRIGAN:

to me it comes down to understanding that death isn't something to be afraid of

PAniteowl:

many people refer to passing through the veil as going to the "dark" side, but to me, it was never a dark place, just another place

Refer man:

no it isn't

PAniteowl:

Those who fear death, see it as dark and foreboding... I view it as a natural transition

MORRIGAN:

that the spirits don't smell of the grave, nor do they wail at us in sorrow for their passing

Nestor:

death is simple a rebirth into the life of the Summerland

MORRIGAN:

I agree with that PA

Refer man:

I didn't say a dark place

SlvrWolf:

Death is a harsh word. I like "preparation for re-birth"

MORRIGAN:

{g} pagan PCness?

Refer man:

my point was lost

Red Deer:

lol

PAniteowl:

The veil works both ways ... sometimes it is those who have gone before who need us to validate and do something for them {G}

Red Deer:

aye

Nestor:

we go to sleep to this world and open and awake to the life in the Summerland and then the process is repeated when we come here

Red Deer:

to me, 'tis another balance...

PAniteowl:

You may be tricked or treated into doing something that the others need to accomplish but are limited since they have passed on

Red Deer:

like that between light and dark, male and female, positive and negative

algiz:

we all must go through these cycles of life to get to the higher

Red Deer:

this one is physical vs not

Refer man:

I concentrate on my life here

PAniteowl:

yes, RD .. the balance again {G}

Refer man:

and what all this means "now"

Red Deer:

In the dark half of the year, the physical languishes within the earth's bosom just as in death, we rest in the Summerlands - until reborn

PAniteowl:

and the emotional, reflective time begins in the dark of the sun

MORRIGAN:

so the physical balances the spiritual during this time of year.

PAniteowl:

Yes chatty {G}

MORRIGAN:

as opposed to how active we are physically in the summer and spring, the fall and winter become more of a reflective and study time for us. I'm slow... but I'll get it eventually.{G}

well folks... it's ten after by my clock. Are we all winding down now? No pun intended.

Refer man:

I guess so!!!!!

Windaly:

I learned a lot... thanks all

MORRIGAN:

you're welcome Windaly! Glad you came.

Windaly:

{s}

MORRIGAN:

I take it no one else has any questions or comments then?

Nestor:

Thanks Chattie, PA, and Red Deer --once again a great job from the 3 of you!

Red Deer:

excellent Chatty

PAniteowl:

Good job Chatty {G}

MORRIGAN:

yes, thank you all for your participation and help! I couldn't have done it without you two!

PAniteowl:

Thanks Nessie {G}

SlvrWolf:

is class over?

Refer man:

thanks all and salutations

MORRIGAN:

OK, I'm officially cutting the logs here

PAniteowl:

Logging off

MORRIGAN: