Tag Archives: Samhain

September 18, 2016 · 9:01 pm

Halloween Haunts 2016

Cemetery

Merry meet all,

From October 1 through to October 31 the Horror Writers Association is hosting an online event to celebrate the season of Halloween and help connect horror writers with horror readers. Most HWA members will participate in this eerie blog event. The blog posts, giveaways and book excerpts will be posted. This also helps raise the profile of the HWA, and gives the members the much needed exposure for their writing.

The blog event was a big success last year and they hope to make it a success again this year. If you want to contribute to the blog, and you are an active fearless member, you can send a blog post here and find the specific submission guidelines here: https://horrorwritersassociation.submittable.com/submit/64037. You can read past posts here on this web address: (http://horror.org/2015/10/).

I enjoy the blog event Halloween Haunts. I participated last year and I was quite proud to. I wrote about performing an ancestral supper and this year I wrote about honoring our beloved dead with a small photo and candle. I honor Samhain in October and like that I can write about Samhain to show readers the wonder of the thousand year old traditional Sabbat.

I encourage you all to see what the Halloween Haunts blog event is all about in October. I shall be promoting the event here on my blog and my other social media outlets. There is also an events page for Halloween Haunts at this address: https://www.facebook.com/events/547494652114305/. Celebrate thirty one days of Halloween blog events, excerpts and book giveaways from some of today’s best horror writers (yes, me too). Updates on the event will be posted on the event page on Faecbook regularly.

Enjoy some frightful reads during the magical month of October! Pen your own horror stories. You never know, you may be the next Mary Shelley!!!

Blessed Be, Lady Spiderwitch )O(

 

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November 12, 2014 · 12:28 am

Story

cropped-eerie-moon.jpg

Merry meet all,

I am proud to announce that I won a contest to have my entire paranormal novel edited for free!! I receive the edits before Yule. I just have to sit tight and wait for the editor to edit the novel and for me to make the appropriate changes. 

I am waiting in addition to that to hear if I pass muster to make it into the Writers Federation mentorship. My novel sample is under consideration there. This would be a huge step forward for me. I am crossing my paws that I make it. 

In the meantime, I am currently working on a proposal for the ms if I don’t get into the Mentorship and then would be able to market it to publishing companies. My poem Over a Blood Moon is slated to be published in the Eternal Haunted Summer Ezine and the editor interviewed me. I just completed reading and reviewing two successful amazing pagan titles for Moon Books. Moon Books published a book titled Naming the Goddess, a devotional gazetteer and my essay titled ‘Sedna: The Inuit Sea Goddess’, which was originally published in Eternal Haunted Summer Ezine, is in the book. Circle magazine reprinted my essay about Persephone in their latest issue. Essential Herbal magazine published an article of mine about herbs as gifts for well being for the holiday season. I am not bragging, just trying to show you all what I’ve been up to. 

I was busy this Samhain, carving pumpkins, brewing mulled cider, baking breads, attending an awesome herb workshop and public Samhain ritual, and attempting a botched dumb supper in honor of those who passed before me. I was a Corpse Bride this year. I froze and perhaps that was appropriate. October 31st happened so fast I don’t know how I breathed. I made a botched orange pillar candle that smells like pumpkin spice. 

I’ll include the link to the upcoming and sure to be exciting Winter issue of Eternal Haunted Summer ezine when it launches! I was reading the ‘Penguin Book of Witches’ and at first reading, found the book to be so witch-bashing. Now I’m not so sure. I think it is an excellent historic account of the witch trials in Europe and Salem. I want to buy the book again and reread it. Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/Penguin-Book-Witches-Katherine-Howe/dp/014310618X Read it and decide for yourselves. 

I hope you all had a magical and devilishly delightful Samhain!!

Blessed Be, Lady Spiderwitch 

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October 30, 2013 · 10:01 am

Jack O’ Lanterns Safety

Witch

Merry meet all,

I bought a cool pumpkin to carve yesterday. Have you all got a pumpkin to carve? I hope so. Mmm can’t you all taste the roasted seeds already? 

Remember to burn candles and incense safely this Samhain. There is nothing romantic about the Fire Department arriving at your charred doorstep. Believe me. Every year we hold a Samhain Rt on the Commons and every year, some stupid muggle calls the Fire Department out of sheer ignorance. Um, we have a permit. The Fire Dept visited me to tell me I can’t burn resins in my cauldron anymore if it sets off my smoke alarm. So yesterday I bought a book titled Incense Magick by Carl Neal. I plan to read this book cover to cover and learn from it. I admit to having only a limited knowledge but now I will hopefully be able to avoid disaster. 

I have another tip for you. I always compost my expired pumpkins in my garden. I don’t put them in the compost bin once they have served their duty for Samhain. I let the pumpkins rot, which takes months, and the pumpkins add nutrients to the soil. So green your pumpkins!!

Steep sage tea in a teapot and sprinkle it around your house. This creates a safe space and energy to keep out unwelcome spirits during Samhain. I wish  it could keep away nasty people. But steeping sage tea and pouring it around your property creates a boundary. I do this every Samhain and will do that either today or tomorrow. 

Samhain is meant to be fun. So be safe and smart. You will enjoy Samhain even more!

Here is another spooky true tale of a ghost:

I can’t remember if it was Samhain last year or the year before that. I strolled down the hill to view the full moon on Samhain Eve. I wish the moon was full this Samhain. I strolled along the shore to enjoy the moon. I saw a man seated on a bench not far from me. As I approached him, he vanished into thin air. I went straight home. 

 

 

Blessings,

Lady Spiderwitch )O(

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October 23, 2013 · 1:40 pm

Samhain Ritual

Mabon altar 2

Merry meet all,

Samhain is days away!! I bet  you’re excited. I am. Samhain is magical and bewitching. 

Samhain means “summer’s end”. It is an ancient Celtic festival and celebration. The word Samhain originates as ‘Samhuin’. The earth recedes and the greenery dies back. The cold dark half of the year rules now. They brought in their cattle and sheep. They celebrated and honoured the dead. 

To perform your own ritual or rituals if you prefer, to honour the dead, try this. Decorate your altar with a black velvet altar cloth and black and orange candles. You will need a few sprigs of rosemary and black, orange and red ribbons. If you can, perform the ritual outdoors. 

Say aloud:

Samhain is here, we are in a time of transition. The winter approaches and summer wanes. This is the time of the Dark Mother, a time of death and rebirth. 

Place the rosemary on the altar in an offering bowl. Say:

Rosemary is to remember our dead, who have passed through the veil. We will remember. 

Light the black candle and say:

The Wheel of the Year spins once more, as we cycle into darkness.

Next, light the white candle and say:

The darkness shifts into the light. We will celebrate its return once more. 

Hold out your ribbons- one white, one black, and one red and say:

White for light, black for death, red for rebirth. We bind the ribbons together as we bind life. 

Now bind the ribbons together. As you weave, focus on the good memories of those who you loved and lost in your life. Chant while you bind the ribbons.  Leave the bound ribbons on your altar. 

Don’t get too sad if you have family members who passed away. I always remember my grandfather but I know that it can be a hard time for some. Seek out your friends and have fun this Samhain. 

Blessed be,

Lady Spiderwitch )O(

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October 21, 2013 · 4:45 pm

Spooky Samhain Tail

Mist

Merry meet all,

Since you are either not brave enough or too busy to share a short horror story on my blog, I thought I would tell you all a true scary story or two. I do however, invite you all to continue sharing your terrifying tails, or tales here. You can post comments or put your story in the comment section for this post if you want. 

The stories have to be true. That is the one rule. This one is. It’s spooky. 

I was seated in the dark quiet living. Ok imagine an old Victorian home with all the spooky stuff. Ok I watched a movie and bored, I turned the movie off. I sat there quietly.  It was dark and quiet. Too quiet. I became uncannily aware that a restless earthbound spirit was behind the couch, watching me and waiting for me to be aware it was there. A dark almost formless shape. It seemed sort of human like. I sat there, still, and then got off of the couch. It came from behind the couch. Now the couch was against the wall, near large windows. The mantle and fireplace were on the other side of the room. The French doors were open (Thank the Goddess.). I got up and looked at a ghost. It was male, with a dark cloak or dark shadow around it. It’s eyes bore into my soul. I didn’t like that. Nor did I like the weird energy spreading through the room. Yikes! I had enough and fled. The spirit or whatever followed. And you think that was scary? Just wait. I fled up the large stairs to go upstairs. I felt like the Devil was on my tail. It breathed down my neck. It didn’t want me to get upstairs. My limbs felt like lead. I felt it right on my neck and had to force my body to go up the steps. I made it and as a grown woman, still ran into my Mother’s room. She is solid as a rock. I woke her up, much to her annoyance. The thing is, it followed but when I got to her room, the power of my Mom’s love halted the spook in its tracks. We said a prayer and it has not bothered me since. I will swear an oath in the courtroom that the story is true.

Please share your own terrifying bone chilling tales here!! Don’t be shy. 

 

Blessed Be,
Lady Spiderwitch )O(

 

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October 21, 2013 · 10:56 am

Samhain Rituals

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Merry meet all,

The wind sings in the trees. The sun sparkles over my street, casting a bright glow on the leaves. The blue sky is clear. It’s a beautiful October morning. A lively morning for October.

Samhain Prayers. Samhain is the time to honor the dead and a time for death and rebirth. Light a candle and meditate on what this time means to you. Record the experience in your Book of Shadows. Here is an example of a prayer:

Corn has been shucked, 
grain has been threshed, 
herbs have been hung to dry. 
Grapes have been pressed, 
potatoes have been dug, 
beans have been shelled and canned. 
It is the harvest season, 
and food is ready for winter. 
We will eat, and we will live,
and we will be grateful.

Now  who can resist a Samhain ritual? I can’t. Use black and orange candles, a black velvet altar cloth, a cauldron, red candle for fire, clean candleholders, a silver athame. Velvet is such a sensual material. This is the time to go all out on your altar. The magic works better if your altar area is clean and fresh. You can celebrate Samhain as part of the ancestor ritual or do it separately. Place a photo of a loved deceased one on your altar. 

Decorate your altar with pumpkins, gourds, a skull- crystal, if you can, roots and berries, and grave rubbings. You could use graveyard irt. Be sure to get the dirt ethically. Be respectful. Usually at Samhain many Wiccans Pagans perform a dumb supper. You solemnly honor the dead and your loved one who passed. If you are sharing the meal with family members, you can choose to speak during the ritual. 

Set the table with a dark-colored plate and set mead, wine, dark breads, and cheese on the table. Serve yourself and the other family members. Set an extra dinner plate for the ancestors. Light the candles. A serving of each food goes on the ancestors’ plate before the family members or yourself. Remember that you don’t speak during the dumb supper. Leave the food as an offering for the spirits outside. 

Let the candles burn down and leave the wine on the table for your ancestors. Think of what family means to you and what traditions you always enjoyed. You can do a separate ritual for pets. You can follow this ritual with a seance. 

Blessed Be,

Lady Spiderwitch

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October 18, 2013 · 10:58 am

Blood Moon of Samhain

Thunder Moon July 2013

Merry meet all,

This rainy morning I was in my garden and I decided to harvest the tiny carrots. I fed the carrots to my pet guinea pig/ animal familiar Magic. He devoured them in seconds. I knew he would because the carrots were organic. He squeaked for more but that was all I could offer him. I put the soil from the pot on to my garden. The soil is full of nutrients for the garden. I trust Magic enjoyed his free organic breakfast of carrots and carrot tops. I harvested a pea and shallots. The single tomato was in too bad form to keep so I left it to compost in the garden. 

Tonight is the Blood Moon of October. The Blood Moon is powerful. Tonight there will be a lunar eclipse. The moon is at 25 degrees Aries. The Blood Moon is also known as the Shedding Moon or Falling Leaf Moon. 

The colours that correspond with the Blood Moon are dark blues, black and purples. The gemstones that also correspond are obsidian, amethyst, and tourmaline. Apples and yew trees correspond and apple blossoms, pennyroyal, mint, catnip, and sweet annie. Herne, Apollo, Cernunnos, an Mercury are right for the Full Moon. The Elements of Air and Water correspond with the Blood Moon. You can invoke these elements or decorate your altar tonight with these herbs and gemstones. 

Tonight would be the perfect time for divination. It is close to Samhain. Consider contacting your ancestors or a deity. If you read Witches Book of the Dead or Nocturnal Witchcraft, you can get some great ideas on how to set up an altar and contact spirits in a fun and still safe way. 

May the Goddess bless you with a magical Blood Moon

Blessings,

Lady Spiderwitch )O(

 

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September 28, 2013 · 11:23 am

Cerridwen the cauldron

New Cauldron- Cerridwen

 

Merry meet all,

I finally have my large cauldron home. I’m proud to own such a beauitful cauldron. I plan to do many magickal spellworkings with the cauldron. The cauldron is so big and heavy that I had to take a cab to get it home and even then, it was hard carrying it up the steps to the door and to my apartment. 

I have already cleansed and dedicated the cauldron. The cauldron is home in time for Samhain. What witch doesn’t want a big cast-iron cauldron to work spells with? I do, I do. The cauldron is shown in the photo above. The cauldron is also already pre-seasoned. 

The cauldron is a symbol of the Goddess, the womb of the goddess, and representative of mystery, magick, the water and fire elements. A Witch can scry using water or oils in a cauldron. A Witch can burn incenses and resins too. I am sure I will have many wonderful magickal workings with my cauldron. I named her Cerridwen, which I feel is appropriate. 

It’s 33 more days to Samhain! I will be prepared!

Blessings,

Lady Spiderwitch

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August 26, 2013 · 11:51 am

In anticipation of Mabon

Litha Crafts- Fire Incense

Merry meet all,

An early chill is in the air. The gardens wind down in preparation for fall. Halloween merchandise haunts the store shelves. Yup, no doubt about it. Our favourite time of year is almost here. To celebrate summer’s end, I am attending a workshop led by Starhawk this weekend. I can’t wait for this retreat and I promise to blog all about it. 

If you are searching for some inspiration on how to celebrate the upcoming Sabbats, feel free to peruse my past blog posts about Mabon and Samhain. They brim with ideas and suggestions on how to enjoy Samhain, find a costume, decorate for the Sabbats, and lots more. 

Enjoy the last of the summer warmth. When the chill creeps into the air, the leaves turn, you will know it will be time for the harvest. I always look forward to harvest time. My tomatoes are growing well, I have a new pot of green peas started, and carrots. I wish they would grow faster before the frost arrives. Mother Earth takes her time though. I spied potato leaves. I might get a potato or two before the killing frost. I saved my fern from death. The fern is growing new leaves. I will miss my garden this winter. 

I have a large black cauldron on hold at the local awesome metaphysical store Little Mysteries here. I hope I get to bring it home in time for Samhain. That would be cool because I will dedicate it at Samhain! That would be really cool. I plan to use the ultra large cauldron for spellworkings, charms and as a censer. It is too large for scrying but I am sure I can find ways to use it. Once I get it home, it will never be moved. It is that large. At least, until moving day. 

Blessed Be,

Lady Spiderwitch )O(

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August 22, 2013 · 9:15 am

Protective Mugwort

witches-round-the-altar2.jpg

Merry meet all,

It’s 70 more days to Samhain!! Are you excited? I am!! It’s time to be preparing for Samhain. Samhain is the traditional Celtic Witches New Year. I feel a little chill in the air this morning. 

The day of the Full Moon, I harvested a large stalk of mugwort. The mugwort is drying on a towel in my kitchen. Mugwort can be used in divinations, dream work, teas, incense, to cleanse crystal balls. It can be used to smudge a ritual area. Mugwort’s versatility for magickal spellworkings makes it a popular herb. 

I listened to a podcast by Selena Fox on Pagan Circle podcast. She talked about mugwort and its many magickal uses. I enjoyed the podcast and since I am growing organic mugwort in my kitchen witch’s magickal herb garden, I can make the most of the traditional witch’s herb. Also, trimming the mugwort allows it grow back, which is another bonus. It will soon be time to harvest your bounty from your herb garden. I hope you have a great harvest of herbs, flowers, and vegetables. I also hope they were organic and free of harmful pesticides. You retain more nutrients and the volatile oils of some of your plants by keeping them organic. The veggies, herbs, and flowers I grow are as organic. I used organic soil too. 

Now the moon is waning. The next Sabbat in the Wheel of the Year is Mabon, a magickal time in its own right. Waning moon is the time to draw away from you that which no longer serves you. Banishings and purification spells are good to do now. I steeped mugwort tea and poured it on the ground deosil in a circle all around my apartment. We had to dig up tree roots here to get them out of the pipes. There was lots of upheavel. The tea circle will now replenish and strengthen the energy here, cleanse away the negative energies, and protect the area. I was up 6 am to pour the tea. I am sure I might look strange to onlookers walking in a circle pouring out tea from a teapot. I like to be discreet when I do that. I also want to do this at Samhain. 

I also recommend smudging your home on the inside every full moon. That strengthens the magickal shield inside your home. Autumn, or the Fall season, is the best time to stock up on magickal provisions. My pantry is almost empty. I intend to stock up on herbs and other magickal tools for spell workings this season. 

Blessed Be, Lady Spiderwitch

 

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