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Samhain

Samhain

Samhain

October 31ST to November 1st (northern hemisphere)30 April 30th–1st May (southern hemisphere)

It seems that recently more and more people are learning the history about the origins of this season celebrations, as they are learning that Halloween was rooted in many pagan festivals it opens up the conversation.  I am so excited that I can have wonderful conversations about these wonderful celebrations with others who are genuinely interested.  I hope I am able to make this interesting and that you learn something you really enjoy. 

Samhain which is pronounced many different way, however most used is sow-in 

ˈsɑːwɪnˈsɪn/Irish: [ˈsˠəuɪnʲ] Scottish Gaelic: [ˈs̪ãũ.ɪɲ] 

Older forms of the word include the Scottish Gaelic spellings Samhainn and Samhuinn. In Manx Gaelic the name is Sauin.

This celebration is heavily connected to the Gaelic lands, and Celtic origins. It is thought to be part of the utmost importance from the earliest period that has been researched. 

The main reasoning behind Samhain is that at this time the veil of both realms was it’s thinnest, thus  Aos Sí, the ‘spirits’ or ‘fairies‘ need offerings to make sure that they will help survive the winter and have a successful harvest.

The Roman Catholic holy day of All Saints (or All Hallows) was introduced in the year 609, but was originally celebrated on 13 May.[92]  (This is a very interesting tidbit since that is the day I was born. ) It was then changed in 835 to November 1st.

In some Wiccan practices this is the time to celebrate their ancestors, family, friends, pet, and all loved ones who have passed on. They have some of the same rituals as stated here.

Ways to Celebrate

There are many ways that you can celebrate, the main thing is that the way you celebrate it needs to resonate with you. Following your path is yours, and all that we explain here should be considered as a tool to help guide you only. There is not true or false way. 

  • Special bonfires or even a small personal fire in a pit. Fires have been one of the ways to help celebrate by protecting and cleansing. 
  • Offerings of food and drink, left for the spirits. 
  • Having feasts where the souls of the family are asked to join in since they are thought to come to revisit looking for hospitality.
  • Mumming ( Folk plays) and guising ( dressing up) This is where the trick or treat came from since in most cases they did this for exchange of food.

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Sources

Outline Guides

Reminder that this is just to help you get your flow started.  If you wish to change any of this you should. 

  1. Rules,  manifesto,  or tenets of the code you with to bring to your path.
  2. If you have chosen a deity you wish to follow or just your personal development you wish for yourself. 
  3. List your goals,  cravings,  whims,  core desires,   and feelings.  Where you see your life if all these are manifested. 
  4. Intention manifest a to do list that logs the magick work you are doings in preparations of manifesting your wishes.  For examples a daily schedule for practicing including how,  where,  when,  and the intentions of each work. 
  5. Magickal references 
  • Ingredients you use the most or ones you will need most for your workings. 
  • Chants, and mantras 
  • Spells
  • Charts
  • Crystals and Gems
  • Herbology 
  • Tools 
  • And anything you wish to focus on. 

6. Other handy materials 

  • Annual lunar calendar
  • Recent Tarot reading notes
  • Recent readings notes

Extra Mentions

I will be releasing a digital Book Of Shadows along with a Planner Of Shadows.  If they become a best seller I will then make them completely customable to you individually. 

Sources

  • The Complete Book of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland
  • Wikipedia page on Book of Shadows

History

The book of shadows is not something that is too deep in the Pagan and magickal world, the community used to gather and to learn and communicate between tribes. However,  when the time of witch prosecution the need to hide all evidence from those who may have had the power to accuse them of Witch Craft.  We all should know about now that in most cases the witch hunts were political in the way that people would place the blame on others they might have had a feud with or just didn’t like them in general.  However,  even if this was the case witches,  pagans, and heathens could not risk this.  Many covens took to splitting up,  and only meeting each other in the shadows.  So the Book Of Shadows was born.  Although,  it was not that easy.  The first time a BOS entered history was when Gerald Gardner,  the “father of Wicca”, first introduced the Book of Shadows to people that he had initiated into the craft through his Bricket Wood coven in the 1950s.

Prior to the BOS storytellers in many forms which may include bards,  and poets would travel around spreading local myths,  and news.  There was also mentions that a few of them would gather in one place to go over everyone’s stories to see which one was in the majority so that one tale would be the one to tell from now on.   

After such times the new ritual of the Book Of Shadows remained in the Craft,  leading each Coven copying it and recopying it as it was passed down to future Priests and Priestesses.  This would make the BOS the Coven’s book,  which tended to be large and full of all previous knowledge.  The coven members would make their own books to keep notes on their own specialties for examples herbal lore,  astrology,  healings,  and so many more.  The Coven leader would hold on to and protect the BOS which held the rituals and rights to protect themselves.  The member’s books were sometimes called a witch’s book. 

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