Tag Archive for Samhain

Carved Apple heads

shrunken heads shrunken heads

These fun apple heads are great to make with children and make an interesting Samhain decoration and they are very simple to do. This craft originated in the USA and has been used to make dolls for Halloween celebration. The fun thing about shrunken apple heads you never know how they will turn out until they are completely dry. Items required- Fresh apples (larger the better) from your own tree if possible Vegetable Peeler /Knife and/or Pumpkin Carving Kit (for carving) Lemon juice Salt Wire, sticks or string Peppercorns, whole cloves, peas, beans or similar items for eyes Rice, barley or other grains or seeds for teeth Bowl Instructions Peel the apple and leave stalk and a small area of peel for a hat. Carve a face in to one side of the apple (2 eyes a nose and a mouth at least), remembering to make the twice the size as the apple will shrink by half when dried. Mix lemon juice with salt (1 cup of lemon 1tsp salt) in a bowl and soak the apple in the liquid for about 5 minutes insuring that the surface is completely covered as this will prevent rotting. Pat the apple dry and decorate with Peppercorns, whole cloves, peas, beans for eyes and Rice, barley or other grains or seeds for teeth if you so choose. There are a number of ways of drying the slow away is to leave in airing cupboard for 7 days but the process can be speed up by placing in oven

The Wheel Of The Year

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The Wheel of the year is basically a calendar of the 8 festivals called Sabbats celebrated by Wiccan’s and some other pagan paths. The wheel looks like a cartwheel with 8 spokes marking the sections of the year. The wheel is in 2 sections the first is the Quarters know as “the lesser Sabbats” or “quarter days”, these quarters mark the movement of the sun through the year with the vertical spokes marking the solstices and the horizontal spokes marking the equinoxes The second section represents the cross quarters “cross-quarter days,” “fire festivals,” or “Greater Sabbats”, these are a mix of Gaelic and Germanic festival but basically or from my understanding the cross quarters are the cycles of life and death. The truth be told the Wiccan Wheel of the Year as been made up and in fact at the very starting of Wicca only the Cross quarters where celebrated online pharmacy without prescription it was the Bricket Wood Coven that added the quarter days basically because the wanted more meeting They did this while Gerald Gardner was away although he did not object to the additions as this brought Wicca closer to Gardner’s Long time friend Ross Nichols’s Neo druidism groups the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. Although this Wheel has no historical value in terms of reclaiming the Craft it is a valued addition to Wicca and in other pagan paths. For me the wheel is a great source of meditation, understanding of life and death, a reminder of the cycles in

World Wide Samhain Gathering

Samhain Recipe Samhain Recipe

Title: World Wide Samhain Gathering Location: Soknedal, Norway Link out: Click here Description: This gathering is for pagans, heathens etc who have been in the game for a while. Those who are comfortable discussing things with others who might have a completely different opinion on how things should be done, and who don’t need a lengthy explanation on the meaning of regular expressions. I hope no one feels offended by that. More info will be published on Heksebua. http://www.heksebua.com Date: 2010-11-07 We’re arranging a new gathering for Samhain. Samhain Gathering This gathering is for pagans, heathens etc who have been in the game for a while. Those who are comfortable discussing things with others who might have a completely different opinion on how things should be done, and who don’t need a lengthy explanation on the meaning of regular expressions. I hope no one feels offended by that. More info will follow shortly. To sign up, go to http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=100946429964772 after signing up on Facebook, please register here, since there are some additional questions we need you to answer: http://bit.ly/SamhainTreff Written by Linda Ursin Cyber Cauldron Shop Find Chakra Poducts Green Aventurite Chakra Energy Generator £34.99 Moonstone Chakra Energy Generator £34.99 Rose Quartz Chakra Energy Generator £34.99 Clear Quartz Chakra Energy Generator £34.99 The Seven Healing Chakras Workbook £14.09 The Chakras in Shamanic Practice by Susan Wright £17.61 A Chakra and Kundalini Workbook by John Mumford £24.68 Chakra Clearing Book and CD £15.26 Chakra Art Cotton Print Cloth £10.99 Floating Chakra Gems Pendulum £9.99 Related articles

The Legend of Jack of the Lantern

Samhain Recipe Samhain Recipe

The Jack ‘o’ Lantern is a symbol, which has strong association with Halloween and it is in common lore that we get the mythical character “Stingy Jack” who the Jack o lantern is accredited to. The tale of “Stingy Jack” Centuries ago in Ireland. There was a man who was known for being a drunkard, a manipulator, a liar . The worst of all society, and this man was known as Jack the Smith or Stingy Jack. The tales of Jack’s deeds, found their way to the devils ear unconvinced and somewhat envious of these tales. The devil set out to see if the rumours were true. Jack was wondering through the countryside, in his usual drunken state. We come across a body along its path some say he went to help, while others say. He went to rob the body. As he draws in to the body. The body turns to reveal the face of the devil. Instantly, Jack realises the end is near, the devil has finally come to collect his soul. Jack makes one final request the request for a last drink to which the devil agrees. Finding no reason to refuse the request. The devil makes Jack to the local pub where he served with many alcoholic drinks. When Jack has had his fill your requests. The Devil to pay the tab during the discussion over the bill. Jack manages to you convince the devil to transform himself into a silver coin. So that he can be the bar bill. Surprised

Samhain Recipe Ultimate Caramel Apples

Samhain Recipe Samhain Recipe

1 cup water 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup heavy cream 10-inch square piece of Styrofoam 6 prescription pills online lolly sticks or small wooden dowels 6 Red Delicious or Golden Delicious apples 3 ounces white chocolate 3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped 1/4 cup chopped nuts In heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine water and sugar. Over low heat, stir mixture gently until sugar is completely dissolved. Increase heat to medium low and cook, without stirring, until mixture is a dark amber colour. Remove from heat and carefully stir in heavy cream (mixture will bubble up and spatter a bit, then subside.) Set aside to cool and thicken. Cover Styrofoam with waxed paper to catch caramel drippings (this will be a stand for caramel apples). Insert lolly stick into bottom centre of apples. Dip top half of each apple into thickened caramel. Insert bottom of lolly stick into Styrofoam, allowing apples to stand upright so caramel runs down sides of each apple. Refrigerate to harden. Meanwhile, melt white chocolate in top of double boiler above gently simmering water; stir until smooth. Transfer melted chocolate to pastry bag fitted with small writing tip. Drizzle thin, random strips of white chocolate over each caramel apple. Repeat melting and drizzling with semi-sweet chocolate. Sprinkle with chopped nuts. Cyber Cauldron Shop Mystical Talismans and Amulets Tetragrammaton to Attract Divine Guidance & Knowledge £7.99 Fortune Talisman for Good Fortune £7.99 Sir Gawain’s Glyph for Stability and Inner Harmony. £11.99 Sigil of Bether – Lapis Lazuli Pendant Prosperity & Abundance £24.99 Charm for Happy

Samhain poem or chant

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Sunsets and I hear deaths call, distant friends out side my walls, coming closer and even closer still, lost friends and family who died while ill. I take a knife and carve a face and illuminate and set a place the final feast that all must eat and face the death we all must greet. Alone in silence I hear the chatter about the things that don’t matter, a reminder of the years that past, rejoicing that it not my last. The fire burns orange and black, it now the time to look back, at the lives and loves we have lost, the time to count the emotional cost. In sadness this is not done, it now the time for Samhain Fun, So bob for apples and trick and treat, for old friend your sure to meet. Gather close the ones you love and look upon the moon above, While remembering days that have past, enjoy the party and have a blast. By Draco of the dragonstar Related articles Samhain: Festival Honouring the Ancestors (brighthub.com) Samhain (socyberty.com) Wiccan Symbols, Spells & Rituals (brighthub.com) On Being godless (renaebair.com)

Samhain Ritual

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Place an apple and pomegranate upon the altar. There should also be a “planted” pot of earth for each participant – these may be arranged on the altar as well, if there is ample space. Instruments of divination may be placed within the Circle perimeter for use during the ritual if you wish. Arrange the altar as usual and decorate with Autumn leaves, pumpkins, etc.

The Circle is cast and purified the Circle in the usual manner. Dancing around the Circle in a shuffle step (deosil), all chant three times:

The Moon is bright, the Crone is old
The body lifeless – the bones so cold
We all live and pay our dues
To die in ones and threes and twos.

Death, dance and play the harp
Piercing silence in the dark
The Woman’s old with withered limbs
Death beckons Her to dance with Him

As She accepts the Dance of Death
The Earth is cooled by ghostly breath
To lie in dormancy once more
To have Her strength and life restored

Go to the Western Quarter and draw an invoking pentagram with the athame to open the gate. Then evoke the dead by saying:

All ye spirits who walk this night -
Hearken! Hearken to my call!
I bid you in our Circle join!
Enter! Enter – one and all!

Samhain

Samhain Recipe Samhain Recipe

Samhain means “Summer’s end”, and is known by many different names: November Eve, All Hallows Eve, Hallowmas, Feast of Apples, Night of Spirits, Halloween and the Feast of the Dead. In the Gaelic languages of Ireland, Samhain is also known as “Oíche Shamhna”, in Scotland “Oidhche Shamhna” and in Wales “Nos Calan Gaeaf”. Depending on where you come from, Samhain also has many pronunciations; like in Ireland it is pronounced “sow-in”, in Scotland “sav-en” and in Wales “sow-een” Samhain is one of the greater Sabbats and falls on the 31st October and is originally a Celtic festival. Samhain marked the end of the harvest, the end of the “lighter half” of the year and beginning of the “darker half”. For our ancestors winter was a time of famine and hardship, especially for the sick and elderly as many will fail to survive the following winter months. Samhain at the start of the winter season and the beginning of the Celtic New Year was therefore a emotional time to honour those who had died before them. To pagans and witches alike Samhain is a celebration in honour of our ancestors, much as they honoured us in the days before we were born. As the wheel of year and of our lives continues to turn so will they honour us again, for time will come when we too cross the divide and take up our own place beside them. Samhain is one of the most popular days in the pagan wheel of the year and is it

What is Wicca?

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Wicca is an earth-based Spiritual path, based on reviving the ancient pagan religions of pre-Christian Europe. Wiccan’s have a strong belief in the forms and forces of nature and that the divine source exists on all planes and is both male and female. Wiccan’s see aspects of life and nature as being sacred. Wiccan’s will attempt to attune themselves to natural rhythms of nature and cycle of life so they can communicate with the divine form. Wiccan’s will use rituals and rites, which are a mix between ancient text and modern ceremonies as well as shamanic practices to achieve this commune with the divine force. For Wiccan’s the divine form / force is divided in to two parts the two parts are considered to be equal and opposite (up-down / left-right / good bad / summer-winter etc.). These two halves created the balance in the universe and manifest as a Goddess(s) and God(s). By manifesting the power in two deities (Goddess and God), the natural balance of opposites, cause and effect are retained, e.g. Summer/winter, light/ dark, life and death etc    Although Wiccan’s may name their deities Wiccan’s believe that all goddess’s are but one goddess and all gods are but one god. The reason a Wiccan will call on a deity by name is to focus the aspect or nature of the persona that that aspect of the divine portrays. Wiccan’s believe that with the will of the divine and through magickal workings such as spells and rituals you can bend the unlimited

Wassailing

wassailing wassailing

There are basically 2 forms of wassailing one is a form or carolling and one is related to the apple orchards of the Summerland’s (Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire) referred to as Orchard-Visiting Wassail. Both these types of Wassailing take place on 12th night ((eve 5th /) 6th or 17th of January depending on how traditional they are). Twelfth Night marked the end of a winter festival that started on All Hallows Eve — now more commonly known as Samhain / Halloween. The singing wassailing is traditional associated with wishing good health upon a household these tidings of joy and good health where rewarded with gifts of food and drink. Wassailers would announce their arrival to a property by singing “Here We Come A-Wassailing”, and this singing was an offering of peace and friendship and on greeting the householder would show that come in peace would sign “we are not daily beggars that beg from door to door but we are friendly neighbours whom you have seen before.” And begging was considered to be disgusting Wassailing became an acceptable form charity giving. Peasants would sing to the lords of the manor exchanging wishes of good will and health. The Orchard-Visiting Wassail seems to have a much deeper but more local connection and has a pagan feel. The Orchard-Visiting Wassail is a drinking and singing ritual designed to wake the apple trees used to make cider and insure they produce lots of fruit. Still practiced to day in many Orchards in Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire