Happy Halloween!

Samhain is the "Feast of the Dead." The Celts would celebrate by placing food on doorsteps and tables to honor the spirits of the dead. On this night, the veil between the realm of the living and the realm of the dead is lifted,making communication with spirits easier. The Dark Mother- the crone- and her aging consort, the Dark Father (the god and goddess) were honored on this night also. Pagans today still celebrate Samhain both to honor the god and goddess, as well as the deceased.

Samhain (pronounced Sah-ween) is the last Harvest festival of the year. The Earth rests so that her fertility can be renewed. The god leaves the Earth for now. It is thought that if you burn an orange candle and let it burn until sunrise, you will have good luck. Traditionally fires were lit now to help guide the god on his journey.

Samhain begins the wheel.It is a time of darkness but also a time of great possibilities.The nights are getting longer, and the future is uncertain.With the death of nature around us, we recognize the death of the God, the Lord of the animals and living things.The harvests are in and the Goddess is heavy with child.She is the crone, mother of all that lived and will live.As crone, she is the keeper of wisdom long since passed and knowledge not yet revealed. This was the night that the old God died, returning to the Land of the Dead to await rebirth at Yule, and a time when the Crone Goddess would go into mourning for her lost son/consort, leaving her people in temporary darkness.

This is the New Year, and a time for letting go of the old and looking ahead to the new. It is the festival of endings and transformation.

On this night of Samhain we mark your passing
O Sun King, through the sunset into the Land of the Young
I mark also the passing of all those who have gone before
And all who wil go after. O Gracious Goddess, Eternal Mother, You who gives birth to the fallen,
teach us to know that in the time of the greatest darkness there is the greatest light.