Samhain (Halloween) is one of the most fantastic Pagan Sabbats (holidays). It is the Witches' New Year and the turn of the wheel is most celebrated at this time.
Summer is truely gone at this time, and the related growing season. The welcoming of Winter is just around the corner. We fully realize that the Sun God is dying and that the nights are getting longer. During this time of the year, the Moon Goddess is the dominating figure - hence we welcome and honor Her as being so.
Common practices include looking back upon the last year and rituals that help to promote a happy and healthy New Year. We also recognize the havest from the last "growing season" - the harvest can be prosperity, health, love, and other bounty .. and should not be limited to just "foods".
We find that the veil is thinnest between the living and persons that have passed on. At this time we honor them (usually relatives and families), "say goodbye", and "say hello". We offen set plates of food on the table for our friends and relatives that have passed on. This is done to honor them and to promote the belief that no one or no thing should be left out of the "bounty" from the past year (Many believe that this is where "trick or treating" originated from) .
You will find that because the veil is thinnest, divination can be very powerful at this time. Deceased ancestors and other spirits are easiest to contact. Rituals to honor the dead are performed on this night, and divination is at its high point. Scrying into fire, glass, or a dark bowl is a popular method of contacting the dead on this night, and guided meditation for the purpose of past-life regression is successful on this night as well. Spirits will help you in divination, and you may also wish to contact the recently departed to strengthen your karmic ties with them if you wish to help ensure that you will be together again.
It is an Irish-Wiccan (or Wittan) custom to place black candles in the windows for protection against evil spirits and to leave plates of food out for the spirits who will come and visit you on this night.
The Crone is called upon during this night, the dying God is mourned, and we reaffirm our beliefs in the oneness of all spirits and in the knowledge that our own physical deaths are not a finality.
Other names for this Sabbat include Halloween, Shadowfest (Strega), Martinmas or Old Hallowmas (Scottish/Celtic). Samhain is the Celtic name for this Sabbat. .
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