Sabbat Discovery - Samhain (Part 2)

Samhain   Yule   Imbolc   Ostara   Beltane   Litha   Lammas   Mabon

Samhain Deities

Death is rarely so apparent than it is at Samhain. The skies have gone grey, the earth is brittle and cold, and the fields have been picked of the last crops. Winter looms on the horizon, and as the Wheel of the Year turns once more, the boundary between our world and the spirit world becomes fragile and thin. In cultures all over the world, the spirit of Death has been honoured at this time of the year; some of the deities who represent death and the dying of the earth.

The Lord at Samhain

The God is awaiting rebirth.

The Sun God

The Sun has descended into the realm of the Underworld; the forces of the underworld were in the ascendancy. The Lord of the Underworld, unfettered from the control of the sun, now walks the earth and with him travels all those other creatures from the abode of the dead. Ghosts, fairies and a host of other non-descript creatures go with him.

The Holly King & the Oak King

Many people consider Samhain the Oak King’s death. However, many celebrate it as his death and rebirth. It is not a rebirth. He is dead until the Winter Solstice! This is a time for darkness to reign. The days get shorter and the nights grow longer. This is a time for us to withdraw and hide in solitude. This is why the ‘holiday season’ can be very difficult for many to endure as we start celebrations before the Winter Solstice. At this point the Oak King, and all light, is dead and we must retreat to the Holly King’s realm, underworld, to be reborn.

The Lady at Samhain

The Goddess is at rest.

Mother Earth 

We transition from October to November when the Wheel turns to Samhain. The earth is wilting and cold winds are encroaching. It is time for Mother Earth to rest and restore – to hibernate until Imbolc.

Whilst the land is enveloped by the approach of Winter, and the veil which conceals Summerland thins, Mother Earth sleeps, dreaming of the abundance of Spring when she is reborn from mulch of autumns past.

This is by no means a complete list of deities associated with Samhain but they are certainly the more prominent ones and I urge you to research the more obscure and less known. I adore the energies of Samhain and that is largely because of these divine beings; deities associated with the Underworld, those that correspond to darkness, death and decay; they embody the essence of late autumn. Never shy away from this apparent ending because the beauty it holds is spectacular… our Northern hemisphere is aglow with autumnal splendour as the Gods and Goddesses of our various cultures and pantheons display their colours and wield their powers over the seasons. Rejoice in them, glory in them and don’t forget to jump in the puddles!!!!

Sabbat Discovery – Samhain (Part 3)

Sabbat Discovery - Samhain (Part 1)

Samhain   Yule   Imbolc   Ostara   Beltane   Litha   Lammas   Mabon

Observed: Sunset 31^st October – Sunset 1^st November

The Celtic New Year

This Gaelic festival marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter.

Associated with: All Saints' Day; Hallowe'en; All Hallow's Day; Calan Gaeaf; Shadowfest

Samhain is known by most as Hallowe’en, but for Wiccans and other Pagans it is considered a Sabbat to honour the ancestors who came before us. It is an auspicious time to contact the spirit world because the veil between this world and the next is at its thinnest during these days of darkening skies and chilling winds…. so cast your circles, light your candles and take full advantage of the cleared mists that so annoyingly separate us from the unseen ones.

In Wicca

Wiccans celebrate a variation of Samhain as one of the yearly Sabbats of the Wheel of the Year. It is deemed by most Wiccans to be the most important of the four ‘greater Sabbats’. Samahin is seen by some Wiccans as a time to celebrate the lives of those who have passed on from this world and often involves paying respect and homage to ancestors, family members, elders of the faith; the opposite point of the wheel to the spring festival of Beltane, which Wiccans celebrate as a festival of light and fertility.

Wiccans believe that at Samhain, the veil between this world and the afterlife is at its thinnest point of the whole year, making it easier to communicate with those who have left this world.

Traditions

Wearing costumes and masks (or ‘guising’) may have been another way to befuddle, ward off or even represent the  harmful spirits and fairies. Guising or mumming was common at winter festivals in general but was particularly appropriate to a night upon which supernatural being were said to be amongst us. Before the 20^th century, guising at Samhain was done in parts of Ireland, Mann, the Scottish Highlands and islands, and Wales. In Ireland, costumes were sometimes worn by those who went about before nightfall collecting for a Samhain feast.

Guising and pranks at All Saints isn’t thought to have reached England until the 20^th century, though mumming had been done at other festivals. At the time of mass transatlantic Irish and Scottish immigration, which popularised Halloween in North America, brought with it the strong tradition of guising and pranks from the Celtic lands. Trick-or-treating may have come from the custom of going door-to-door collecting food for Samhain feasts, fuel for Samhain bonfires and/or offerings for the spirits and fairies. Alternatively, it may have come from the English All Saints/All Souls custom of collecting soul-cakes.

Samhain was once and to Pagan paths still is one of the four main festivals of the Gaelic calender; traditionally, a time to take stock of the herds and food supplies; cattle were brought down to the winter pastures. It was also the time to choose which animals would be slaughtered for people to survive the winter. This custom is still observed by many who farm and will raise livestock because it is when meat will keep since the freeze has come and also since summer grass is gone and free foraging is no longer possible.

As with the other three Gaelic seasonal festivals, there is evidence that bonfires were lit on hilltops at Samhain which is one of my favourite places to visit in a Samhain meditation... the chill breeze through my hair at altitude as smoke curls and twists through the air, weaving around and between a coven of witches as they chant and cast into the fire.

Beings and soulds from the Otherworld were said to come into our world at Samhain. It is still the custom in some areas to set a place at the Samhain feast for the souls of the dead and to tell tales of one’s forebears. However, the souls of thankful kin could return to bestow blessings just as easily as that of a murdered person could return to wreak revenge.

Another belief of Samhain is that those mischievious fairies would steal humans and so fairy mounds were said to be avoided. People took steps to warn off these harmful spirits and fairies – they would stay near to home or if forced to walk in the darkness, turned their clothing inside out or carried iron or salt to keep the fairies at bay. Offerings of food were left at the door for firies to dissuade the fairies wrath and keep you in their favour during the coming year.

Sabbat Discovery – Samhain (Part 2)

Wittering On 02/09/15 - Update

Well, once again I have failed to deliver on my promise of more witterings over the last few months but as I threw myself so heavily into my studies last year, I have needed to take time to regain my energy and equilibrium. I am pleased to say, however, that I have once more been receiving inspiration and guidance and I am writing again… my Book of Shadows is growing thicker and I am working on blog posts to share with all my lovely followers.

Currently under creation are:

• The final two meditations of my Rune Magick post for Raido
• My Sabbat Discovery on Lammas (slightly late)
• Part 3 of Circle Casting

All to be posted during September

To be started:

• Sabbat Discovery – Mabon
• Several new Reflecting on… posts - big subjects such as Love and Death; some common Craft adages; a breakdown and examination of The Wiccan Rede
• Magickal Days – Mondays
• Rune Interpretation – Kenaz

Book of Shadows

Something I would like to share now is what I have been working on privatelyfor my Book of Shadows - my Element Correspondence pages. Copies of all 5 of these will be available from my Etsy shop from November – price to be determined.

They include:

Alternative Names; Polarity, Associated Direction; Energy type; Symbols; Pentagram Point; Chakras; Qualities; Associated Deities and Aethral Beings; Season; Tattwa; Colours; Zodiac Signs; Senses; Animals; Magickal Tools; Herbs; Trees; Plants; Tarot Suits/Cards; Magick; Associated Ritual Activities.

Sabbat Discovery - Lammas

Samhain   Yule   Imbolc   Ostara   Beltane   Litha   Lammas   Mabon

“Summer’s end is nigh, for today is Lughnasadh”

The sun is setting on summer as the wheel turns to Lammas, mourn its ending and celebrate the autumn nights drawing in. Lammas/Lughnasadh is celebrated in the month of the Barley Moon at the beginning of August when the sun is at its hottest. Though the earth is dry and parched, the harvest season is upon us with its bright reds and yellows.

As the Wheel Turns

Lammas is the festival which falls between the Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox. It is the first of the Harvest celebrations and is opposite on the wheel to Imbolc, which begins the spring celebrations. This is the time to celebrate the ending of summer days and the oncoming cool of the autumn. However, there is more than the harvest to celebrate at Lammas; it has a pseudonym in the Celtic traditions: Lughnasadh and the namesake God of Lughnasadh is Lugh – the Skilful God. This time on the wheel is His time, honour Lugh at Lammas to honour a Celtic heritage.

Harvest Hub

Lammas is a celebration of the first harvest; the golden hue of wheat deepening in the fields, the ripening of fruits in orchards and groves and the rich green summer vegetables being picked. Reap what has been sown; gather the grain, the wheat and the oats and use them. Use them to nourish, use them to craft for the celebration of Lammas is to rejoice in the magick of the Sabbat which brings us the abundant gifts of the divine union between the sun and earth - such a bounty that this festival was created around it.

Lugh Love

Lugh is the most prominent deity at Lammas; in Celtic traditions, the Lammas Sabbat is named for him: Lughnasadh. He is known as the Sun God, High King an Bright God of the Tuatha de Danaan and the sacred day of Lammas/Lughnasadh is an auspicious and ideal time to honour Him most whole-heartedly. Be you a descendant of Celtic heritage or a follower of its traditions, Lugh is Lord and Master of this day and should be treated as such. Revel in the mastery he wields over skill and craftsmanship; sing his name as you dance with sunflowers, as you decorate your home with wheat sheaves and place a wreath of golden poppies in your hair.

Traditions

Corn Dollies

Corn dollies are created from a very old practice called wheat-weaving. This practice, like many in pagan traditions, was started with the hope of abundance. The corn dollies of old would be made by farmers from the last few strains of a bountiful harvest; they would weave the strains in hope of capturing the spirit of the wheat. The following Spring, the farmer would plant that weaving/dolly and make it the first grain planted with the wish of a bountiful harvest.

      

Making Corn Dollies is a fun activity to do with children and though the point of them is based in magickal protection, the making of them is highly enjoyable and builds the excitement level for altar decorating. Personalise them with decorations, even a naming rite for children to perform could be incorporated into Sabbat happenings.

There are many instructional videos on youTube regarding how to make them but these are my favourites:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV12nUgKK_k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAJDWY6BwlE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwwxVbtdjGo

Hand Fastings

Much like Beltane, Lammas is a traditional time for Hand Fastings; this is credited to Lughnasadh, which is the Celtic celebration of the first harvest. In it’s most literal translation from Gaelic, Lughnasadh reads as Marriage of Lug – he who is the celebrated God of the Harvest and ‘nasadh’ meaning to give in marriage. This is perhaps why the tradition of being wed during the hot days when summer is beginning to give way to autumn is so popular – to revel in the heat and the headiness of the Sun God’s waning reign.

With this in mind, a hand fasting at Lughnasadh is a wonderful way of not only honouring Lugh but also having an abundance of harvest decorations at your wedding celebration. Golden light that mirrors the sheaves of earth’s bounty and the passionate heat that is ingrained in the air.

Activities

I partake in the fruits of the First Harvest,

So that I might share in the wisdom it offers.

The traditions of Lammas go back centuries and epitomise the time of Harvest; golden fields of wheat that shiver in the late summer breezes; bronzed sheaves ploughed for an abundance of flour. It stands to reason then that one of the most sacred symbols of the Lammas festival is bread – loaves and biscuits and cakes. Baking is a form of alchemy and I have here provided several recipes which make a delicious feast respectful of Lammas traditions.

Bread Baking

I have collected many recipes devoted to all the sabbats over the years but I am posting a selection of my favourites to my second (recipe) blog. Please take a look if you are in need of baking inspiration for the celebration of Harvest.

Lammas Breads

Covenstead Bread

Loaf Blessing

I considered several ways to approach this blessing but as grains are a gift from the earth and are a direct result of exposure to all the elements, an element blessings seemed the most fitting to bestow thanks and positive energy on the spoils of their harvest. I used crystals as element representations this time but I have included other options which are effective alternatives.

Preparation

Start by gathering together your items:

·        Circle casting items

As this ritual is being performed during Harvest time, I cast a circle which mirrors the abundance of colour and bounty the harvest is famous for and will usually draw the energy of my altar out to create my magickal boundary or use a single strand of wheat to cast a golden light; a physical circle could be cast with grains, the quarters could be marked with element/direction decorated corn dollies. Be creative, be inspired, set a harmonious and bountiful intention.

·        Element items (must be safe to consume)

As I am currently very taken with crystals as a representation of the elements, this is the example I am using for the ritual; a tumble stone of each should be gathered.

Earth: Amazonite/Pentacles/Isa I

Air: Citrine/Swords/Ansuz A

Fire: Carnelian/Wands/Soweluz S

Water: Lapis Lazuli/Cups/Laguz L

·        The loaf or other baked goods to be blessed

Method

1)         Ground & centre in your usual manner or add a harvest flair; there’s no such thing as too many correspondence.

2)       Cast your circle; I personally cast a harvest circle for this rite and because I am using the elements for the blessing itself, I make a substantial effort in calling the quarters. My ‘Advanced Quarter Calls’ can be found HERE (still to be added).

3)       Now, place the loaf on your altar or focal platform. With each element crystal at its corresponding cardinal point – North/Earth; East/Air; South/Fire; West/Water.

4)      Ring a bell five times or light your working candle and four others or do both if the mood takes you; this highlights the beginning of ritual.

5)       I like to invoke deity here and to include the magickal touch of autumn, I specifically using the Autumn Goddess Charge: (http://acantharayne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/autumn-goddess-charge.html).

Ring your bell once or extinguish one of you candles to close the invocation.

6)       Visualise them creating a cage of energy above and below the loaf to create a sphere of delicate elemental light. I touch each crystal to ‘activate’ it’s beam of energy being released and recite:

Earth energies of bounty

Grow abundant light

Above, below my sustenance

Be present this Lammas night

        

Air energies of knowledge

Breathe abundant light

Above, below my sustenance

Be present this Lammas night

Fire energies of strength

Burn with abundant light

Above, below my sustenance

Be present this Lammas night

Water energies of wisdom

Flow with abundant light

Above, below my sustenance

Be present this Lammas night

Ring your bell once or extinguish one of you candles.

7)       In turn, from your Earth crystal, place each one upon the loaf from top to bottom and as you place each one, recite:

Abundant light of the Earth

Send blessings, one, two, three

Your first, I’ll hold within my heart

The second on this loaf impart

Your third will, for the year ahead

Provide your bounty to keep us fed

Abundant light of Air

Send blessing one, two three

Your first, I’ll hold within my heart

The second on this loaf impart

Your third will, for the year ahead

Provide your bounty to keep us fed

Abundant light of Fire

Send blessing one, two three

Your first, I’ll hold within my heart

The second on this loaf impart

Your third will, for the year ahead

Provide your bounty to keep us fed

Abundant light of Water

Send blessing one, two three

Your first, I’ll hold within my heart

The second on this loaf impart

Your third will, for the year ahead

Provide your bounty to keep us fed

Ring your bell once or extinguish one of you candles.

8)       Release deity with a simple incantation:

I am a witch of the physical plane

I watch the earth’s cycle of wax and wane

I am the witch; in circle I stand

The Goddess beside me, holding my hand

Ring your bell once or extinguish one of you candles.

9)       Remove your crystals and place them back at the cardinal points.

10)     Slice the loaf into 7 – I chose 7 because Lammas is the seventh Sabbat if you count Samhain as the first. Use the middle slice as an offering to the Goddess; bury the crusts in the earth after the ritual closing. If you adapt this to a coven ritual, the coven will partake of the remaining slices at this moment or at a Lammas meal after closing the circle; any bread that is not being used by the coven or the individual practitioner can be left out for the birds.

Ring your bell one last time or extinguish your working candle. 

11)         Close your circle; ground and centre.

12)       Lastly…

a)       Collect your crystals and place them into a spell pouch to use in another element blessing.

b)      Clean up any breadcrumbs and bury them with the crust ends of the loaf.

Wittering On... 14/05/15 Update

Seasonal Loveliness

My Book of Shadows

There are as many uses for herbs in magick as there are for crystals, colour, runes, meditations, and essential oils. A myriad of books have been written on all of these subjects and yet herbs constantly bring a special kind of magick and awareness: they provide aroma and texture to workings, they give a plethora of properties and magickal applications. The pestle and mortar – an ancient tool of grinding for both food and for magickal purposes. I mention this because I am expanding the Herbal section of my Book of Shadows and wanted to share the new title page. I will be posting on herbs as I complete entries for my BOS.

Still to come…

The other posts I have promised in earlier witterings are being developed and will be published in the coming months. I am finally concentrating on the workings which will complete my Raido magicks and intend to complete that post by the end of May. I have two more posts to finish for my Celtic Tree series and have several ‘Reflecting On…’ posts to… reflect on. Also, I will be researching and publishing articles on colours, totems, crystals and much information on the Summer Solstice (Litha, Midsummer) and Full Moon magick.