| Samhain is coming up fast! While most of
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| | herbs to burn as an offering to my Matron
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| us know Samhain as Halloween, what is
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| | Crone Goddess, and as incense.Also on the
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| this Wiccan Sabbat really about? What
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| | altar, the stones of Samhain, which are
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| ways are best to celebrate the Sabbat?
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| | black (go figure), but especially jet and
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| What special things should one do for
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| | obsidian. I don't personally use hematite
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| Samhain? Why is Samhain so utterly cool?
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| | here because it is so grounding. I like
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| Read on, gentle reader :-)Samhain is
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| | using the hematite afterwards when I need
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| usually pronounced "Sow'an," and is from
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| | to ground my energies.Candle colors,
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| the Celtic "Samhuinn" which means
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| | while not absolutely essential, can be
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| "summer's end." It is one of the doorways
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| | quite important to setting the
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| of the Celtic year - divided into light
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| | appropriate mood. As one could likely
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| and dark, Beltane being the "light." It
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| | guess, orange and black are the primary
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| is the final harvest of the year, and
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| | colors for Samhain candles. One can also
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| thanks are given for the year's
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| | use silver for the Goddess and gold for
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| bounty.Many believe that Samhain and
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| | the God for candles on their altar if
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| Beltane are the two times during the year
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| | they so desire.Once everything is
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| when the "veil" between the seen and the
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| | together, cast your circle as you choose,
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| unseen is at its thinnest. This is the
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| | call your quarters if that is part of
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| magical time when laws of time and space
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| | your practice, and perform your ritual.
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| are suspended, and one can communicate
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| | What ritual, you ask? While Kestra is
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| with departed loved ones. On the night of
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| | always one to suggest you write your own
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| Samhain (October 31) people often light a
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| | rituals, I suppose I'll share one of mine
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| single candle in their windows to guide
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| | with you, as a guide, or as a "yuck, I
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| their loved ones home, and set an extra
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| | don't want to do anything like THIS."We
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| place at the supper table for
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| | welcome our beloved dead
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| them.Samhain is also the time when the
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| | With offerings that they be fed
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| Crone and her Aged Consort are honored,
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| | Let them hear this sacred night
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| this being a time for Dark Magic (not
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| | Our love for them brought through this
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| "evil," just dark), and to honor the Dark
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| | rite
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| Mysteries. Remember, without Dark there
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| | We ask their guidance through this year
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| cannot be Light.So, what should you do
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| | And that their blessings settle here
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| for your Samhain ritual? First, gather
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| | May their knowledge reach our ears
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| things that you feel are symbolic of
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| | May their message come through
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| Samhain. Pumpkins or other gourds,
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| | clearLight the herbs, and meditate for a
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| apples, besoms, or even pointy hats are
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| | time, waiting for any message that may be
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| useful articles to set the mood. If you
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| | sent.After you feel you've waited long
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| happen to have the friendship of a black
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| | enough, or after you've received a
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| cat, ask her to participate with
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| | message, thank the Dead, and anyone else
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| you.Next, gather the herbs that are
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| | you invoked, take down your signal as you
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| special to the Samhain Sabbat. Not all of
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| | normally would, and end the ritual.After
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| the herbs that correspond with Samhain
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| | your ritual is complete, you may wish to
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| are easily available, and at least one
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| | ground using some of the foods associated
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| takes preparation beforehand (as in
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| | with Samhain, such as pumpkin pie, apples
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| soaking mandrake for two weeks or so
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| | (definitely), nuts, mulled wines (yum
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| before you can shred it properly for
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| | yum), pork, beef, or chicken.Kestra is a
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| use). The herbs that I personally use are
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| | Wiccan Priestess, Master Herbalist, and
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| mugwort, motherwort, broom flower,
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| | Reiki Master, offering the best in
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| belladonna (also known as deadly
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| | practical information, unique and useful
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| nightshade), mandrake (European mandrake,
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| | altar tools and ritual supplies. Please
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| not American mandrake, which is a
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| | check out her offerings at Guaranteed
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| completely different plant used for other
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| | to not be your "same ole" Wiccan shop.
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| things), and white sage. I use these
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