Guest Author - Leslie Ravenwing
Samhain (pronounced Sow-in) is one of the most misunderstood holidays of our religion. This is the one time of year when Pagans, Wiccans, and Witches are most associated with Satanist and Satanism in general. Wiccans and Pagans do not worship the Christian Devil or Satan. How can we worship someone we do not believe in? During this time of year is when we can reach out to other religions to dispell (no pun intended) those falsehoods that are spread about us.
Samhain is the time my family and coven honor those who have died and our ancestors. The family altar contains pictures of our relatives. My husband and I tell stories to our children of each of the relative who has been placed on the altar. We leave an extra plate of food at the dining room table during dinner which is later taken to the backyard and placed under the offering tree.
It is important to teach our children to not be afraid of the spirits they may see this night. Samhain is when the veil between our world of existence and the world of the spirits is thinnest. It is very easy for our loved ones to pass through to pay us a visit at this time. This is also the time of year when the Old King dies protecting us from the bad spirits, and the Crone Goddess mourns him greatly during the next six weeks.
Activities for Samhain
-Make a jac-o-lantern! This has been a custom for over thousands of years. They were designed to frighten away evvil spirits who were following decesed loved ones and blocking the way back to the land of the living.
-Drink warmed apple cider spiced with cinnamon to honor the dead.
-Since this is also the Pagan New Year, this is a day to make New Year Resolutions. Write them down on paper and burn them. The smoke will take them up to the Gods.
-Bury apples in your yard for the spirits passing by on their way to be reborn.
-Do divinations for the year to come.
-Make a spirit candle to burn. Anoint a white candle with patchouli oil. Say: With this candle and by its light, I welcome you spirits this Samhain night." Place the candle inside your jack-o-lantern. If you don't have one, leave it on a table near your entry way or in the center of your dining room table.
-Burn wormwood in your censer. Wormwood attacts good spirits and is nice to burn if doing divination.
