Merry meet all,

I have a real treat lined up for you, my darling ghouls. I’m including links to more of the wicked blog posts from Halloween Haunts, I am also reposting ten posts from past Samhain posts here for your perusal. Then for the final touch, some news about what is going on in the paranormal world. First, we begin with Halloween Haunts.

Halloween Haunts: I Hear Dead People: Communicating with My Father (and Others) in Spirit by Valerie E. Weich

Halloween Haunts: Why Do We Like Being Scared? by Marlena Frank

Halloween Haunts: Halloween: The Holiday That Made Me by Samantha Arthurs

Halloween Haunts: Frights For a Good Cause by Robert P. Ottone

Halloween Haunts: I Dare You to Play (Paranormal Games for Halloween) by Brooke MacKenzie

Halloween Haunts: Crawl Space by Juliette Kings

I love being a member of the Horror Writers Association. The many other talented writers who share their works here make it worthwhile. I love reading all their blog posts during the magickal month of October. I am happy that I can share it with you, dear ghouls. Ok so now we move on to the top ten past Samhain posts of my own to share with you. 

Past posts about Samhain Oct.29, 2016

Merry meet all,

As Samhain draws ever near, we start preparing for the most famous night of the year. Here are some recipes to help you on your way to celebrating October 31st. The ingredients can be found in your kitchen or thrift store.

I found a stunning cauldron at an antique store. The cauldron was fired in a forge. I shall dedicate it on Samhain eve.

INCENSE

Sage, salt, mugwort, sandalwood, sunflower seeds, rosemary, rue, pumpkin seeds, cedar, mandrake, juniper, oak leaves, acorns, almond, and cinnamon. You can mix these together and empower them in a bowl. Burn this mix on hot charcoal.

CIDER

Empty one whole jug of cider in a stainless steel pot. Add 1 apple cut into small chunks, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 whole orange, sliced and a pinch of nutmeg. The trick to this is to let it steep so the fruit absorbs the decadent flavor.

CANDLES*

If you make your own candles, consider adding pumpkin spice essential oil for a tangy zippy scent.

PUMPKINS

Pumpkins are not just for soups. Add the notorious pureed fruit (that you pureed in your own kitchen, right?) to gingerbread, cookies, breads and pies. Save the seeds for roasting. Mmmmmm Or paint your pumpkin teal green to show you support people with food allergies! Compost your pumpkins in your garden to add nutrients to the soil.

BREADS

Gingerbread Gingerbread was my late grandfather’s favorite recipe. I baked a loaf with a seasonal twist. Here is a recipe.

• 1/2 cup of white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 egg
• 1 cup molasses
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp clove
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup hot water
• * Optional: pumpkin puree

In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the egg and molasses mixture. Use an electric mixer. In another bowl, sift together the flour and spices. Blend into the creamed mixture. Stir in the hot water. Add the pumpkin puree and beat it all with the electric mixer well. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour in the oven. Allow to cool.

POTPOURRI

Sage, salt, mugwort, sandalwood, sunflower seeds, rosemary, rue, pumpkin seeds, cedar, mandrake, juniper, oak leaves, acorns, almond, and cinnamon.Chinese lanterns miniature pumpkins and gourds add a decorative element. Mix together in an attractive dish. Store covered. Add essential oils and blend well. Open the jar to release the spicy autumnal scent.

I hope you enjoy these recipes. I wish you many Samhain blessings.

Past post #2 Oct13, 2018

Today’s post is about foods to enjoy at the time of Samhain. I know pumpkins immediately come to  mind but they are not just for carving. 

Pumpkins can be baked into breads (yum!), into cookies, and soup. I always buy a few pumpkins to cook with not just carve. There are plenty of them in stores. I want a couple white ones too. White pumpkins make me think of ghosts. 

Apples are popular now. Apples can be made into applesauce, pies, and apple crisp. Which reminds me, I have plenty of rhubarb in the freezer. Mm I might bake rhubarb cobbler with apple. 

The popular spices and herbs for baking during the autumn season are: cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, basil, clove, anise and orange. Add lavender to cookies. Another fun thing to try is Halloween cookie cutters. I have a wide range of cookie cutters in the shapes of moons, coffins, bats, pumpkins, tombstones and witches. Add sprinkles, frosting, or even  natural food dye for ghoulish delights! 

Cocoa will keep you warm this fall. Cocoa can be combined with espresso in coffee or a batch of brownies. 

Nuts like walnuts, sesame seeds, coconut, dried fruit and almonds add health and flavor to your food. Mix up a batch of tasty morning granola with the ingredients mentioned in this post for some health and immune boosting breakfast. Some popular recipes to try are pumpkin bread, soups, stews, other dark breads, and root veggie recipes. Doesn’t this all sound good? 

Gather some lentils too for lentil soup or save your potatoes and get a leek or two from the local organic farmers market for an invigorating bowl of potato and leek soup. I love my cauldron pot. It looks like a cauldron pot. I brew many a soup or stew in that pot. I use a blender that my Mom owned since I was a baby. I puree the soups, pumpkin or squash in it and it still works like a charm. 

Cooking food from scratch has some advantages. It is more effort to be sure. You have control over what ingredients go into your food. You can freeze the soups for later use. Empower your meal with energy for health or other things. You can see how it’s made and add your own special touch to the recipe. I personally prefer to be a die hard slow cooking kitchen witch, concocting my own recipes and know that I am not adding too many processed food ingredients.

My witch hazel tree flowered! I also gathered herbs from my garden such as calendula, lady’s mantle, leopard’s bane, woodruff, and lamb’s ear. 

When you are done cooking, relax and let the dishes soak in the sink. Perform divination while you sip hot herbal tea. You can choose to divine by guessing the shape of clouds floating by. Or peel an apple all in one piece. Drop the peel on the floor. The shape the apple peel forms is the letter of your future lover’s name. At midnight, slice an apple into nine pieces. Nine is a mystical number. When you come to the ninth piece after eating the pieces, toss the ninth piece over your shoulder. The face of your lover should appear in the mirror. 

Scry by peering into a cauldron of spring water. It is optional to add drops of olive oil. Drop melting beeswax into the water in the cauldron and divine things by studying the shapes of wax on the water surface. 

There are other methods of divination, such as studying candle flames, studying the blue part of the candle flame, the way that incense smoke floats and rises. You can divine autumn leaves or see if you receive messages from the wind in the trees. It doesn’t have to cost anything to perform divination or be complicated or dangerous. It should be fun and magickal. That is the point of it all. Put your energy into it and be open to impressions. 

Enjoy the magic of Samhain!

Past post #3 Oct. 13, 2018

I have a few projects to try here that are eerie fun and won’t break the bank. Let’s add some ghoulish fun to your afternoon!

POT OF GRAVEYARD SOIL

Gather a terracotta plant pot, a Popsicle stick, gray clay, graveyard dirt and a paintbrush. First clean the terracotta pot until it is spotless. Paint it black and add a few coats of paint to take care of the streaks that may show through. Let it dry. While the pot dries, visit a graveyard to gather the soil. Try to be discreet to avoid questioning glances from normal people. Remove the insects and return them to where they were. Go home with your soil and return to the black plant pot.

Now shape some grey clay into the shape of a headstone/ tombstone. You can etch in with a tool you have nearby the shape of a cherub or skull onto the headstone. Add the Popsicle stick to the clay and bake it in the oven or allow to air dry if you are using self-hardening clay. Fill the black plant pot with soil and then settle the clay headstone into the pot of soil. The plant pot acquires a very spooky urn feeling. Enjoy your ‘urn’ and add it to your Halloween decorations.

BLACK BAT MOBILE

Gather a branch from outdoors about twenty inches in length. Take a branch that has fallen on the earth, not from a living tree. Be kind to the tree. Remove any twigs from it and leaves. Discard them and bring the branch indoors. Paint the branch black and let dry. Then obtain black bristle board and a bat template. You will also need a hole puncher, scissors and string. Cut out the bats from the bat template using your scissors. Make as many as you wish. Hole punch each black bat made from the bristle board. Loop string into the holes and string the black bats onto the branch. Knot the ends of the loops and arrange the black bats on the branch as you desire. Hang the black bat mobile over a mantle or at a window.

SAMHAIN INCENSE

2 parts cinnamon, 1 part ground cloves, 1 part dragon’s blood resin, 1 part hyssop, 1 part patchouli, 2 parts rosemary, 1 part sage, and a dash of sea salt. Add your ingredients to your mixing bowl one at a time. Measure carefully, and crush your ingredients in a mortar and pestle. As you blend, channel your intent into your herbs and resins. Try chanting an incantation like this one:

The veil is thin, the moon shines bright, I blend these herbs on Samhain night,/ Celebrating life and death and rebirth/ With these herbs from the cold earth/ I call upon my ancestors to bless and protect me this night. 

Store your incense in a labeled and sealed jar. Tie a ribbon around the jar and add a charm for a magical look. Use within three months so it remains charged and fresh. 

 PUMPKIN CANDLES

Buy a small pumpkin and cut off the top of the pumpkin. Scoop out the insides and save the seeds to roast. Consider what size of pumpkin you want. Gather your supplies together. You will need wick, wax, scissors, metal wax discs, a spoon for scooping out the flesh, a double boiler. 

Melt the wax in the double boiler. Secure the wick in the pumpkin to the bottom of the pumpkin’s inside. Keep the wick straight as you can.

Add scent or color to the wax in the pot. It is best if you dedicate a pot to candle wax. Stir before pouring. Once you’ve poured the wax, make sure the wick is centered and straight. Prop the wick up. 

Once the wax has cooled, you might notice a small indentation around the wick where the wax sunk. Fill it in with some remaining wax from the pot. Trim the wick to 1/4″ long.  If the inside of the pumpkin starts to burn, extinguish the candle. 

PAINTED PUMPKINS

While we’re on the subject of pumpkins, give this a try, I saw the coolest picture on Facebook of a pumpkin painted black decorated with a crescent moon. To paint your own pumpkin (any way you want- try a triple moon!!), you will need a pumpkin! painter’s tape, and spray paint. 

Mark your design on the pumpkin with a pencil then cover with tape where you don’t want to paint. Spray the pumpkin with the spray paint of your choice. Allow it to dry for several hours before removing the tape. Paint where you removed the tape. Admire your artistic pumpkin. 

ORANGE CANDLES

This will make your place smell beautiful. Use a lemon or an orange and cut it in half. Eat the middle portion (of an orange), and leave the center-core like stem intact. Pour kitchen oil like organic olive oil into the orange just below the top of the stem. Light stem. It will burn for hours and smell beautiful. 

ORANGE INCENSE POWDER

Buy some oranges- the smaller ones are perfect for this project. Peel several oranges and cut the peels into several smaller pieces. Put the peels on a cookie sheet and bake the peels in the oven. Make sure the peels are face down.  Let the peels dry for 3 to 4 hours, checking on the peels every 15 minutes. Turn off the oven, letting the peels dry overnight. Grind to a powder with your mortar and pestle to a powder. Store in a pretty jar. 

Have some spooky fun with these enchanting crafts!

Past post #4 Oct.17,2018

Samhain is an ancient holiday honored by the Celts and Druids. It occurs between sunset of October 31st to November 1-2, it is halfway between the vernal equinox and winter solstice. People honored the dead, dressed up in costumes ( a tradition we still follow today).

So the veil between the worlds is what separates the unseen world from the seen world. It is the divider between the world of spirits and the living. Though some days at least in my home that veil wears thin and it occurs any time of the year. It is widely believed that the veil is thinner at Samhain.

Samhain is a time closely associated by many cultures as a season of death. Once October arrives, there is no season or holiday that is more thought of as the Death season than fall. We sense the shift in the energy, a crispness in the air, and adorn our decks with decorations that correspond with Death.

If you notice that your kitty, whether you have a black kitty or not, is staring at a spot more often than most times, it is probable there is a spirit around. Cats are psychic and more psychic than us mere mortals. Cats also guard a home and can even guide spirits over to the next realm. It is a tradition in some countries to let a cat inspect a home and cleanse it of any negative energies before the people move in. I would love to try that idea some time.

I encourage you all to try to reach out to spirits/ ghosts. Well don’t contact anything nasty. Never summon anything you can’t banish. It never goes well. But there are other friendlier less malovelent spirits in the astral realm that often want to guide or aid those they loved when they were alive. It is the ideal time to try though this can be done any time of the year.

Past post #5 Oct.7, 2020

I made a corn doll to represent my gratitude for all the blessings I have received over the year. I’ll tell you how I made the doll so you can make your own. 

Gather together two skewers, Kleenex, rubber bands, a hot glue gun and glue sticks, corn cob husks (dried but not stiff), fabric for the dress, and yarn for the hair. If you want, you can watch a tutorial on youtube on how to make a basic corn doll. Here is how I made mine:

I glued two skewers together to form a T – for the body. I trimmed the skewer I laid across the first skewer. The horizontal skewer formed the arms. The vertical skewer formed the body of the doll. If glue doesn’t hold it together, use duct tape. Then, I used quilt batting to form the head and laid a Kleenex over the batting. I secured the Kleenex over the batting using a rubber band. I pushed that down the skewer till it reached the skewer laying cross ways. Then I layered on the corn husks which I first soaked in warm water. I used a hot glue gun and rubber bands to form the body of the doll. You can also try this cool trick for the hands of the doll. Twist a corn husk in itself then lay it over the doll cross ways. Tie it there with string or a rubber band. Then turn the husk over itself. This should give the look of those lovely billowing puffy sleeves. I trimmed the excess. 

Once you have created the doll to your satisfaction and everything is lying securely, it is time to embellish the doll. I fashioned a witch hat for her. I also had a stash of orange yarn which I used to make her hair. I hot glued the yarn to her whole head to avoid any ‘bald’ spots then glued the witch hat on to her head. It looks so cool! I trimmed the long ends of her hair to keep it even. I bound her in a black tube dress. I stitched on black lace at the collar and pulled her body through. Then I stitched the sides of the tube dress and even stitched on an apron. Her husk arms show but I plan to embellish her hands and add a dress soon. This is my corn doll in the photo below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am really in the mood for Samhain. Yesterday afternoon, I was busy crafting up a storm! I thought I would share my own crafts with you to get you in the mood for our fave spooky Sabbat. I painted gourds, created a cool garland and conjured a candle. I will share here in this post how it was all done. So grab your craft supplies and a coffee!

The pumpkins were the easiest craft to do. Gather newspaper for the paint so it doesn’t stain everything else, flat paintbrushes, black acrylic paint, a palette or dish to hold the paint, and a pumpkin. The picture above shows the gourds when the paint dried. Brush a coat on being sure to cover over all the green or original orange coloring. Get the paint into every spot. Let the paint dry between coats. Leave the gourds on the newspaper in an area where they won’t be disturbed  to dry. Then store them with your other Halloween decorations. Black, orange, gold and white colors are good choices. 

Yes that is an Ouija board mousepad peeking out the photo there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Garland The garland was a bit harder to do. I had a thick stack of brown paper lunch bags just sitting there in a linens basket. I really wanted to do something special in terms of decorations this year. I cut out a 7-inch square of the lunch bags and thought about how I would decorate them. Paint each square orange. I decided that the papers would spell out ‘Trick or Treat’. Each bag or paper would be one letter except for “OR’.  Hole punch the top right and left corner of the bag to work the string through later. Measure the bags. Each one should be seven inches long roughly. Measure with a pencil or other marker 5 inches vertically. Then mark that on the bag. Don’t make the markings too obvious. Cut the bottom of the lunch bags to form a point. See the photo to see what I mean. The edges of the paper curled. So I cut out typing paper using one of the painted lunch bags as a template, and painted them black. When the paint dries, I will glue the black papers to the orange papers, remembering to hole punch the black pieces. When you string them up, be sure to have all the letter papers in the right order before you begin. Leave plenty of string. Don’t cut the string till you are sure you like how it is all arranged and you have hung the garland up on a mantle or window. One more tip: Have the black painted papers facing out not in. 

Here are a few more suggestions on how to decorate your home for Samhain. If you don’t have any cobwebs, cheesecloth is a good second choice. Save and paint fake (unless you are me and I save, clean and bleach chicken bones). Paint them gray, white or black. Arrange them for a Halloween/ Samhain centerpiece on your table or mantle. Let the guests wonder if they are real. Use fake vampire teeth to act as a napkin ring.

Lay a white tablecloth down on your table. Layer a black spiderweb lace tablecloth over the white cloth. Set down a black tray or a gold tray, depending on your preference. Then arrange all your beautifully bewitching painted gourds around a (fake-up to you-) human skull or animal skull. Tuck in the bones, maple leaves, gemstones, and maybe some sphagnum moss if you have it. Arrange tall black taper candles in used wine bottles behind the skull. Now you have a charming and magickal centerpiece on your table sure to spark conversation!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Past post #6 

Today we are going to look at how to contact spirits, cleanse a sacred space for the ritual, and how to protect yourself.

You can start to create a safe, protected space by first physically cleaning your living space and second, setting up the ritual space. Shower or bathe to purify yourself and remove any negativity. This step opens you up to the ritual. Use Epsom salts and no soap to purify yourself for the ritual. 

Put on a protective amulet or talisman that you hold sacred. Wear a ritual robe or loose clothing. Smudge your living space with sage, frankincense, rosemary, and/ or sandalwood. Asperge the corners of your living space with saltwater. Use your besom to sweep any lingering negative energy away and open the door of your home to cast the energy away from your space. This initial step may seem like a lot of work, but it is worth it and is important. This will help you create a boundary. If you don’t go to all the work, you may end up with more trouble than you were prepared for.

If you plan to sit during the ritual or stand at an altar, you should still erect a circle or triple circle. Not all spirits are good. It is vital that you set up sacred space and a defensive boundary to shield yourself. Light a white candle and consecrate, cleanse and dedicate the candle to the purpose of the ritual. Anoint the candle with oil. Use a sturdy candleholder to support the candle. Let the candle continue to burn. The spirit may be attracted to the heat source.

It is vital that you are in a proper frame of mind. Do not perform this is if you had an argument with a spouse or neighbor. Turn off the phones. Meditate first to open your chakras, and get you in the frame of mind.

Meditate with the intent of being calm and grounded. Ground and center yourself. Put a shield around yourself. Again, all this work is to protect you. If you have a spirit guide or animal totem, ask for their guidance during this ritual. They may rescue you from trouble at the last moment.

Setup your ritual/ seance space. Use light colors. Goth black is too dark and may attract darker energies into your living space-and refuse to leave. Use the washroom before you begin. Invite a friend over to keep you company and maybe help if things get out of hand. Say a prayer, cast your circle, and meditate again. Close your eyes and clear your mind. Do not use oiuja boards. They never bring good energy. I do not believe in them and refuse to ever have one in my home. They are more trouble than they are worth.

Open your chakras. With the white candle burning, the ambient incense wafting in the air, and maybe soft music playing, and your protective shields up and cast circle, you are ready to begin. Ask for a message from a loved one/ ancestor/ deceased relative. You must concentrate on communicating with a higher energy/ positive energy. You may recieve messages from many spirits. It is better if you do this with a friend or a group of people, unless you are SURE you can handle it by yourself, at which point you must be experienced. If you attract a malevolent entity, and this may happen, in spite of your shielding and circle, send it away. Be firm. Say something like, “You are not wanted here, but we thank you for your presence. Now it is time for you to move on.” If it refuses to leave, end the seance. Recast your circle and strengthen your shields. They seek vulnerable people. Strength is the best defence. This is why it is imperative that you are careful, cast a strong circle, and know how to draw a shield around yourself long before trying something like this. 

At the end of the seance, thank the spirits and help them move on to the Light. Asking spirits to show up and give you messages and not help them to the Light is not showing respect. They need to be helped, too. So show respect and offer a prayer. Smudge your home with sage to remove the unwanted lingering energies. Open the door to symbolize their exit. Close the door and let the candle and sage die down. Ground and center yourself and be sure that your home is clear of energies. You will know, because you will feel a change in the vibrations in the room. Sit down and ground yourself with some food and a drink. Do a visualization to feel your roots reaching into the earth and drawing up energy.

Once grounded and centered, and your home space is free and clear, you should perform something to take your mind off the ritual. Go out to a movie, call a friend, or walk outside. Do not stop till you feel good. Put out the candle before leaving. Sprinkle salt on your windowsills to keep them out and pour steeped sage tea around your property to ward away negative energies.

Remember to focus on positive vibrations and Higher energy.

Past post #7

How to throw a Halloween Soiree by Heddy Johannesen

First create spooky invitations for all of your friends, whether furry, human or undead. Or jazz a Facebook party event page and invite them there. Plan it ahead of time. Then enter your kitchen, summon your inner kitchen witch and throw open your cupboards. After a good scrub clean, evaluate what ingredients you have. Then brew some good munchies for your party ahead of time.

Then dig up your best Halloween decorations from last year. Or if you are like me and other weird people, you left your decorations up all year from the last creepy shindig. A black spidery tablecloth topped with black dishes, cutlery and black goblets are purrfect. Put them on the table and see your table set come to morbid life. Prepare a meal such as a hearty soup with fresh baked pumpkin bread and coffin cookies or chocolatey cupcakes. You did store your goodies next to the cold body parts in your freezer right?

Light candles, burn incense such as frankincense or mugwort (good for psychic divination), and sip spicy cider. Save some for your guests! Clean the house from top to bottom, including last year’s cobwebs. Kick long dead Aunt Em out the back door. No one will ever suspect and I won’t tell!!

Adorn the Halloween tree in the corner with the bats from the cellar and play Halloween tunes on the CD player. When your guests stroll in the door, they will be amazed but you’re not done yet. Entice them with spicy cider, carved pumpkins and offer a deck of tarot cards or share a tea leaf reading. Every guest could get a turn at their fortune being told. Set the table with bowls for that hearty stew you brewed and keep the pet bed in the bedroom? Wait- you don’t have a pet. Oh, the neighbor’s demon dog, oh throw him a human bone to gnaw on. He’ll be fine.

By now, the guests have feasted and settled. But you’re not done yet! Time to wake the dead! Bring out the Ouija board for the not faint of heart. Or burn a black candle dipped in mandrake essential oil and begin scrying to gaze into the future or spirit realm.  Cue the organ music in the background! Eat Halloween candy till your teeth rot and gulp ale while you wait for Houdini to materialize in your boudoir.

Don’t be surprised if your ancestors show up at the soiree too. They remember us and will guide us through life. Leave an offering of ale, apples or coins to avoid angering the spirits. Halloween is a magical time and pleasing the guests whether alive or dead should be what a party is all about, especially at Halloween. We are all blessed and we receive more guidance through life than we think, not only from the living, but from the dead if we are but aware of them. I wish you all a magical Halloween.

Past post #8

Samhain is almost here!! Grab your broomsticks, it’s time to fly!!

I am busy preparing for a party on Friday night. I baked well ahead of time and stored the yummy treats in the freezer. I would love to know what you have all conjured or brewed for Samhain. I also plan to hold an ancestral supper next week too. My dress project has been postponed.

There are just  not enough hours in a day for me to accomplish everything. But I may make your travail a little easier with some awesome totally do-able and affordable tips here for your own eerie Halloween gathering!! So get on your broomsticks and grab that cup of mocha!!

I like to buy good sized pumpkins ahead of time. By month’s end, only the soiled pumpkins remain at the stores. Never put them in the fridge. After Samhain  has passed, put your pumpkins in the garden to compost and nourish the soil.

You do not have to spend tons of money. I repeat, you don’t have to spend tons of money.

Buy black paper Halloween themed napkins, black plates and even black plastic cutlery at your local thrift or dollar store. Store them until needed. Even better, keep the ones still in reusable condition for next year.

Yes you can use acrylic paints on glass jars. I coated a jar with black paint within three days. I painted the inside of the jar with grey paint. Now it truly looks like a potions jar!

Bake ahead of time and store the food in the freezer. Haul your witchy goodies out just before the party.

If you want Samhain party decorating ideas, visit your local library for crafts books. Read them ahead of time so you can plan and create crafts. Use whatever craft supplies you already have on hand.

Stones and fallen tree branches are great free decorating supplies. Twigs and branches can be painted black for a spooky effect. Tape black bats or spiders to the branches and twigs. The spiders and bats can  be made from black cardboard paper.

I created my own cool book of shadows from a plain journal. I used magazine paper, painted it black on both sides, let it dry and then covered one side of the page with glue. I glued the page (now serving as a cover for the journal) to the journal cover. I stapled it where it didn’t stay down. I then did a stencil on the new book cover of a Celtic knot design and with purple marker, wrote in the words Book of Shadows. With grey acrylic paint, I worked in a grey spider web and a black spider on the cover. The journal looks really cool. And it hardly cost me a thing. I just used my imagination.

A party is a good time to put those witchy brooms and cauldrons that hide in the corner to use. Arrange your cauldron and besoms in one corner of your kitchen. But try putting something eerie, green and bubbling in the cauldron to create interest or burn incense. Hang the brooms up or cross them over a doorway no one will  use.

Make your own spooky party music mix!!

Roasted pumpkin seeds in a cauldron bowl are a great attraction. Recipes on the internet are free and available everywhere!

Score a cool Halloween black lace spiderweb tablecloth from the local dollar store. The ones I have are so nice they could be used any time and not just to adorn a table. I even got a Halloween black lace spiderweb table runner from the dollar store. If you really know how to look, you can get some great stuff there.

A black lace spidery tablecloth might look great over a plain white tablecloth! For an interesting centerpiece, arrange a fake skull, candelabra, (use melted crayons for red blood effect), dried flowers, black plates, pumpkins, wine glasses, cauldrons, a stack of plates and those cool Halloween napkins you scored earlier. It would stimulate discussion but also function and hopefully save on dish washing later. People really want the food.

For a sparkling cider, pour a jug of cider into a pot, and add rose petals, oranges with the peel, apples (chopped), and cinnamon sticks. This brew will warm your guest’s hearts and leave them begging for more. !

Still  not sure what to do with your black candles and incense bits? Well do remember fire safety. Consider if pets and kids are around. Burn candles but maybe leave curious Felix the cat in another room. Black draws in energy and does reflect Samhain but your apartment burning down and you getting evicted is NOT COOL! Keep candles away from curtains. Use glass covers for the candles if you can. Never leave candles unattended.

Or make your own cool Samhain essential oil brew and burn it in a nice oil burner to fragrance the room! Make your own spice mix and sprinkle it in a nice pot to fragrance the room. Use dragon’s blood, rosemary, frankincense, cinnamon, star anise stars, cloves, nutmeg, allspice and lemon for a pumpkin-ish delightful potion!

If you have lots of brown paper bags around, they are useful too! Trace and cut out an eerie black cat, spider or bat onto black paper or color the paper black. Then adhere them to the front of the paper bag. With a pair of scissors, cut up the tops of the paper bags. Store candy or party favors in the bag. Tie with a ribbon. Offer them to guests when they leave.

Those are some great tips on how to have fun and save money.

Past post #9

8 Paranormal Games You Should Never Play

Are you tired of playing those usual boring board games you’ve been playing for years? Are you looking for something more thrilling? More adrenaline? More hair-raising, bone-chilling, and blood-curdling games? If you answered yes, then read on for the most scary paranormal games ever played.

You don’t need to be a staunch believer in the supernatural to be able to play these. Just being a thrill-seeker is enough. What this list will do to you as a person, we don’t know.

But what we know is that those who have ever played these have vowed to never ever try them again. It’s all fun and games until you figure out that you’re playing with a demon.

Elevator to another dimension

This game comes from Korea, and playing it is said to take you to an entirely different universe, via the elevator you’re in. All you need is a building with elevators and 10 floors. Just make sure when you board the elevator, you’re alone.

Once you’re in the elevator, you visit the floors in this sequence, 4,2,6,2,10,5. It is said that when you reach the 5th floor, a woman will enter, provided you did the ritual right. The woman will ask you where you’re going but you should remain silent. Don’t reply her. Then the elevator will automatically ascend to the 10th floor, instead of going down to the ground floor. When you get to the 10th floor this time, you can leave and you’ll be in an entirely new world. Once you’re tired of the new dimension, you can enter the elevator again and come back to your own world using the same combination.

The real scares happen if you answer the woman, nobody who’s ever talked to the woman has lived to tell the tale.

Three kings ritual

Another famous game, it’s said to enable you to tap into another dimension. You need to play this is a particularly large room, like a court room. And there must not be any natural light in the room, so you’ll do well to try this in a basement. All you need for the game is a candle, two mirrors, three chairs and some object from your childhood.

Once you’ve kept all these things in the basement, you leave the door open and go sleep in your bed. Make sure you go sleep in your own room. You will need to wake up at 3.30AM and go to the room where you set up the things, if they’re all still in their place, you can carry on with the ritual. You should sit on the chair you kept and wait for 3.33AM, with the candle lit in your hand. Don’t let the candle die out and don’t look in the mirror, instead look at the darkest corner in the room.

If you’ve done everything right, you’ll feel a presence in the room at exactly 3.33AM. It should talk to you about your past. Some people have even said this game puts you in a lucid dream.
We can’t know until you try and share the experience. If you dare.

Ouija Board

The Ouija board is probably the most famous amongst these. The Ouija board has numbers and alphabets written on it. It’s said the board was made to summon spirits from the supernatural dimension, and it’s said that some have actually been able to summon Lucifer himself! ( Nope- not trying that one!)

Most of the researchers working on the paranormal have advised against casually using the Ouija. They say it’s a doorway to unknown dimensions and you never know what will happen if you casually use it. It’s said once you have summoned a demon or spirit, you should never ask it for proof, such as blowing candles out, or moving an object. If you do, you’ll be giving the demon permission to enter your world, and that, my friend, is something you don’t want.

One man hide and seek

The one man hide and seek originated in Japan and is originally called the Hitori Kakurenbo. It’s a game where you’re playing hide and seek with a spirit-possessed doll. You need to take a stuffed doll, remove the stuffing inside and fill it with rice. Add a part of yourself in the doll, such as a hair or a fingernail. You need to sew back the doll with a red thread. And wrap the doll with the red thread.

You need to give the doll a name, and keep it in a tub or basket filled with water. Then you should go on and turn off the lights in your house, fill your mouth with salt water and go back to look for the doll, which you may not find in the tub now. You’ll need to look for it and when you find it pour the salt water over it and burn it. And then hide. And wait. But those who’ve tried it say you won’t have to wait for long before you know someone’s looking for you in the house.

Midnight game

The most popular and commonly played game on this list, the Midnight Game takes you to extremes if you want to play. It’s believed to be an old pagan ritual that was originally used to punish those who disobeyed religion. Playing this game, you summon the Midnight Man and you need to keep running from him until 3:33AM. Make sure you don’t get caught for unspeakable horrors await if you lose.

 

It’s not very complicated to play this game, and it can also be played with more than one person. Just remember that those who’ve played this have strictly advised against the idea of playing it again. Some have reported hallucinating for days after playing and living in fear and misery for the rest of their lives.

Daruma – san

Daruma-san literally translates as ‘Bath Game’. It’s another game that comes from Japan. You summon a ghost or a spirit in this one too and try and evade it. The ritual for this however differs greatly. You go to the bathtub, entirely naked, with all the lights in the house turned off. You sit in the bathtub facing the tap and start washing your hair. While you’re washing your hair, you keep repeating these exact words ‘Daruma-san fell down’, over and over again.

Soon you will see an image of woman standing in front of the bathtub, facing you. She falls down on the tap and injures her eye. You keep on repeating the words and finish washing your hair. Once you finish washing your hair, you need to say these words just once, “Why did you fall in the bathtub?” Then leave and go sleep because the actual game will start the next day. You will constantly feel a presence near you but you need to keep some distance between yourself and the presence. You will always be on the run. In case you feel the presence is too near, you need to turn around, imitating a slapping movement with your hands and say “kitta!”

The hooded man

The Hooded Man is almost like the Elevator game. It takes you to another dimension. This time, you’re accompanied by the Hooded Man. You need to cleanse yourself before you can start playing this one. Burn a sage and spread salt on your front door to begin the ritual.

At night the same day, you need to go and call for a cab. Once the cab comes, you sit in it, close the doors and go to sleep. You will wake up at 3:30AM, look at the time and fall asleep again. But this time when you wake up, you’ll see a Hooded Man behind the wheels and the road you’re driving on will be unfamiliar. If some other passengers climb in the cab you should never pay attention to them.

You can keep on travelling in this new world, or you can simply whisper in the Hooded Man’s ear that you’ve reached you destination. Once you whisper these words, you’ll fall asleep again and wake up in your house.

Closet game

This game is more scary than the rest because here you’ll not be summoning a ghost or a spirit, but a full-fledged demon. For this ritual, you need to stand inside a dark closet and hold up an unlighted match. Then say out loud, “show me the light or leave in darkness.” If you hear someone whispering near you ear, light the match instantly. If you fail to light up the matchstick soon enough, it’s said that the demon will drag you into a deep dark abyss, from where there is no return.

The same can happen if you start looking around when you hear the whispering. You just need to light up the matchstick. When you light up the match, you need to step out of the closet making sure the match doesn’t burn out or blows off. But from that day on, you need to be very careful while looking for things inside you closet since now it’s haunted by a demon!

SOURCE: tapoos.com

http://www.ftwinsane.com/8-paranormal-games-you-should-never-play/

I hope this scares you out of trying these games for shits and giggles. When you check that dark corner of your bedroom- and we all want to feel safe in our homes, right? Right- and a demon stares back, well… I speak from personal experience. The Otherworld is not a nice place. If something does end up becoming a serious problem in your home, buy some sage, a cross, even a pentacle, get a priest, scatter salt at your doors and windows, and just pray it leaves. I have witnessed spirits in my home. They have made me feel uncomfortable. It is not a game. But I hope that was fun to read!

Past post #10

I’m excited to share a few awesome tips with you. my dear readers, on how to preserve your pumpkins! We all love to carve pumpkins whether it be goofy or ghastly. Samhain is almost here! So put on Nightmare before Christmas or Monster Mash, sip cider, and whip out your pumpkin carving tools. 

Before you carve, set down newspaper on your countertop or table, depending on where your workspace is. Wash, dry and put away the dishes. Create a clean workspace. It is so much easier. Now the way I do this may not be your way but fret not. Get everything clean and fresh. Ok let’s get to work. 

Before you carve your orange squash, there a few things you can do that will preserve your pumpkin for much longer – and help you get your money’s worth out of the pumpkin. You will need bleach, water, the pumpkin, a large bowl and a timer. Mix a few tablespoons of bleach to water and fill the bowl with the mixture. It may have to be a large bowl to hold the pumpkin. Put the pumpkin in the bowl. Set your timer for twenty minutes. When that time is up, dip your pumpkin upside down to remove any extra water from it. Let it dry. It should dry quick. You can also add a silica gel pack to the inside of the pumpkin. When the pumpkin has dried, then brush it all over with a mixture of vinegar, lemon juice and water.  This helps your pumpkin maintain it’s freshness for a lot longer. 

Then you know the drill – etch in your design with a pencil or a sharpie pen. Then carve your pumpkin! I hope you have fun with it. It is meant to be fun. 

When your eerie jack o lantern has outlived its usefulness, don’t toss it in the trash. Instead, compost it in the garden. The pulp and fleshy stuff I pulled out of the pumpkin was added to my garden. You feed a lot of insects and critters. Yup they will love you for it.  I roasted the seeds. 

It goes without saying be careful with candles. 

I wish you all a merry Samhain!

Blessings, Spiderwitch

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