Samhain

Image found here

from Irish Samhain [ˈsˠaunʲ], cf. Scottish Gaelic Samhuinn [ˈsavɯɲ], Manx Gaelic Sauin and Old Irish Samain [ˈsaṽɨnʲ] — "summer's end", from sam meaning "summer" and fuin meaning "end") is a festival held on October 31–November 1 in Gaelic cultures. A harvest festival with ancient roots in Celtic paganism, it was linked to festivals held around the same time in other Celtic cultures, and continued to be celebrated in late medieval times.

Samhain marked the end of the harvest, the end of the "lighter half" of the year and beginning of the "darker half". Many scholars believe that it was the beginning of the Celtic year. It has some elements of a festival of the dead. The Gaels believed that the border between this world and the otherworld became thin on Samhain. Bonfires played a large part in the festivities. People and their livestock would often walk between two bonfires as a cleansing ritual, and the bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into its flames.^[5]

The Gaelic festival became associated with the Christian All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, and has influenced the secular customs now connected with Halloween. It continues to be celebrated as a religious festival by some Neopagans.^[3][4][6]

Samhain and an t-Samhuinn are also the Irish and Scottish Gaelic names of November, respectively.

(wikipedia)

As we run back and forth between parties and trick-or-treat and trying to hold serious ritual and celebrate the thinning of the veil, remember to keep things separate. Not all spirits are benevolent and not all gods and goddesses are receptive to being called upon if you haven't introduced yourself previously. If you cast a circle, make it a strong one, call on elements and deities that already know you. Experience the thinning of the veil, but do so with caution and respect.

I plan to do ritual at midnight, the mundane activities will all be over and the power is stronger.

Enjoy the night, everyone.

Samhain is approaching

In my personal practice I tend to focus primarily on the major Sabbats. There is a primal response and at the same time a mystical quality to the shifts of the balance of this planet at time of the equinox and solstice.

But the cross quarter celebrations are also important. They are known as the Fire Festivals and are intended to be just that...festivals.

So I suggest that you think of this approaching Samhein in that way...a Fire Festival. Plan accordingly. Contrary to some things that you will read...try NOT sitting around in meditation and attempting to commune with the ancestors. Instead, invite them to a party. Cast a strong circle, call the Elements for protection, call dark goddesses to open the veil, sing, dance, turn the music up loud, light candles, burn a fire if possible, dance and dance some more. Call the ancestors to join you and celebrate the last of the three harvest festivals.

New Moon Ritual

If you are doing the repeating New Moon ritual...here is the link.
http://apagantapestry.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-moon-ritual-for-new-beginnings.html

Daily Practice

There is always talk on the pagan blogs and podcasts about daily practice. Do you or don't you, why or why not, how to if you want....

Do I have a daily practice? Well, yes and no.
I spend time each day offering time or myself to deity. I spend time each day acknowledging the presence and importance of the elements. I offer casual conversation and my beliefs are part of my life, 24/7.
However, do I perform ritual everyday, no matter how long or short, how complex or how simple?
The answer to this is no, in spite of my very best intentions, plans and the energies that pull at me.

I hear and read many people in similar circumstances who chide themselves for being too busy or a little lazy or not dedicated enough.

I have always felt that this was not the answer. Maybe those answers apply to some, some of the time. But there is more to it for some of us, for many of us.

T.Thorn Coyle wrote about this recently and her words helped me put into words the feelings that I have about this.

Fear.
Fear of the unknown. Fear that those powers are really real. Fear that taking that last step, that moving from 99.9% dedication to the goddess to 100% commitment will set in motion unstoppable changes in our lives. So we dither on the edge of the precipice.
I think there is a special, individual, unique time that we are each invited to step off that ledge.

'when you have come to the edge of all light that you know
and are about to drop off into the darkness of the unknown
faith is knowing one of two things will happen:

there will be something solid to stand on
or you will be taught to fly'

Patrick Overton

NASA will bomb the Moon 10/09/09

More info here

I have always been a sci-fi fan. I think exploring the galaxy is our destiny. I wish we had a less destructive mentality about it.

additions to the blog

I added a couple of widgets to this page that you might enjoy. The are feeds from two other great blogs; Pagan News.com and Hedgewitch Inn.
I found the Pagan News.com widget at Candles & Wicks and while I was installing it I also found that Hedgewitch Inn had one. They are at the bottom of the page so that they can run in a larger size and both have lots of good info that changes daily.
Thanks to Candles & Wicks for finding this great widget.

Full Moon and raising energy

Music is a great way to raise energy for a ritual or spell. This is one of my favorites from Blackmore's Night and seems to be just right for a Full Moon Ritual.

Moon....

The very best site I have ever found for information on Full Moons and New Moons.
I am going to find a place for this in my sidebar.

Light Weaver