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Weekly PathWalkers.Net e-Newsletter #104 :: PathWalkers.Net Interactive :: Helping you along your path
Find a magick wand of oak, holly, ash, rowan, birch, hazel, elm, hawthorne or willow.
Let this be the traditional time that you make candles for the coming year, infusing them with color,
power, herbs, and scent depending on its purpose.
Samhain , pronounced “Sow-en”, is the Sabbat 6 months from Beltane, and the most important Sabbat.
Together Beltane and Samhain cut the Witches year in half. In addition Samhain is the last of the three
harvest Sabbats. This holiday is considered the Witches New Year, representing one full turn of the
seasonal year. This day is a celebration of the end of the Goddess ruled Summer and marks the arrival
of the God ruled Winter. The name Samhain means “Summers End”.
At one time it was believed that the ghosts of all persons who were destined to die in the coming year
could be seen walking through the graveyard at midnight on Samhain. Perhaps this is because it is on
this night that the veil between this and the spirit world is weakest. Many of the ghosts were thought to
be of an evil nature and so for protection, jack-o-lanterns with hideous candle-lit faces were carved out
of pumpkins and carried as lanterns to scare away the malevolent spirits.
Samhain is also the Celtic/Druid New Year, the beginning of the cider season, and a solemn rite and
festival of the dead. At this time Witches honor deceased loved ones who have journeyed to the
Summerland. It is not uncommon for the celebration to include a feast for the dead. For example in
Belgium an old custom was to prepare " Cakes for the Dead " , small white cakes or cookies. A cake
was eaten for each spirit honored with the belief that the more cakes you ate, the more the dead would
bless you.
It was also customary to light a fire on the household hearth which would burn continuously until the
first day of the following Spring. Huge bonfires were lit on the hilltops at sunset in honor of the old
Gods and Goddesses, and to guide the souls of the dead home to their kin.
Samhain is also the time of the year for getting rid of weaknesses. On a piece of parchment write
weaknesses or bad habits you would like to loose. Meditate on these weaknesses and how your life will
be improved on loosing them. Then burn the parchment paper, preferably in the ritual fire, thank the
Lord and Lady, and continue on with your celebration.
Traditional Pagan/Witchy foods for this holiday include:
Apples
Pumpkin Pie
Hazelnuts
Cakes for the Dead
Corn
Cranberry Muffins and Breads
Ale
Cider
and Herbal Teas
At the family dinner you could set an empty place for those who have departed who were dear to you.
In this way you both honor the departed and teach your family about how a real Witch celebrates
Samhain. If you are planning on a Samhain Ritual let all participants know they can, and when they
can, state aloud the name(s) of loved departed ones they wish to remember. In doing so the departed
individual(s) are honored and thanked for the special way they touched the participants life. What could
be more beautiful on this night when the veil between worlds is at its thinnest? At the same time the
Lord and Lady should be thanked for a bountiful harvest.
Samhain, or Witches' New Year, the Last Harvest. This holiday is known by many names. For most of
the general population in the United States is is called Halloween. It is also known as: "The Feast of All
Saints Day", "All Hallows", "Hallowe'en", "Mischief night", and many other names. For the Witch, it is
a holiday where we honour our dead friends, relatives, ancestors, and even pets who have passed on.
We remember them by putting an extra plate at the dinner table for them.
This is also the night on which the veil between our world and the spirit world is at it's thinnest. This
isn't to say we all whip out the Ouija board and bother resting souls (most of the Pagans and Wiccans I
talk to don't have much good to say about the Ouija board. Some have never even touched it before).
Some do try and contact their ancestors, but some prefer to just honour them with a prayer, and a place
at the table. This is also when it is traditional to celebrate the last harvest before the falling of Winter
snow.
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