 | Ravenhawks Magickal & Mystical Places and Ravenhawks' Academy of Magick and Mysticism wish you a Blessed Samhain and a Happy Halloween we have sent this email to you because you indicated that you wish to receive our Newsletter. If you do not want to receive further mailings from Ravenhawks, you may unsubscribe now scrolling to the bottom of this email and clicking on the unsubscribe link. |
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News  Ravenhawks Magickal and Mystical Places has a new home on the internet. You will be able to shop and take advantage of specials in time for the Celtic New Year. The new site will be up and running by October 31st.
Other news Lady Dyanna has published her book: Twin Flames and Twin Souls a guide for Soul Based Relationship it is now available on Amazon.Com
Finally Ravenhawks's Academy is now accepting students our first year classes are suitable for students age 10 and up. Requirements is that you have access to a computer and a thirst for knowledge. We are also accepting applications for instructors so if you have knowledge to share let us know. Guest are Welcome.
Ravenhawks' Academy |
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The Village Crafters Gallery 5th Anniversary The Village Crafters' Gallery cordially invites you to attend their 5 th.Anniversary Celebration on Saturday Oct.13 and Sun. Oct.14 Please join us for our special Tent sale outside and in-store specials. Everything will be on sale From 10% to 50% off !
Refreshments will be served and all customers may enter our contest to win some of our wonderful prizes.
visit our website |
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Samhain~Halloween  Many of you have received my newsletters in past years so you have seen the full information of this special Holiday. For those who have not I will repeat some of the important information.
Samhain is pronounced sowen, soween, saw-win, saw-vane or sahven, but not sam-hayne.
Other names for Samhain include Samhuin, Samain, Saman, Oidhche Shamhna, Hallowe'en, Halloween, Hallows, Hallowtide, Shadow Fest, Allantide, Third Harvest, Harvest Home, Geimredh, Day of the Dead (Feile na Marbh), Feast of the Dead, Spirit Night, Candle Night, November Eve, Nutcrack Night, Ancestor Night and Apple Fest, Oíche Shamhna, All Hallow's Eve, Hallontide, Old Hallomas, Hallowmass, Martinmas, Martinmass, Shadowfest, Nos Calan Gaeaf, and All Soul's Day.
October 31 is when many pagans and most witches celebrate the Greater Sabbat commonly called Halloween or Samhain (a corruption of 'Sainfuin- sain meaning summer and fuin meaning ending). It is a cross quarter day, situated between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice. Astrologically, Samhain marks the rising of the Pleiades. November 1 is the actual date of Samhain but like other Celtic derived festivals it is celebrated on its eve. November 1 is New Year's Day for the Celts as it was for the Babylonians.
Another day that is thought to be derived from Sanhain is All Soul's Day. This is actually a Christian holiday that was first celebrated in 993 A.D. Originally the Romans celebrated their Ferralia, in February. They visited the graves of their relatives to offer up prayers and sacrifices were made at bonfires. In trying to convert the 'heathens" of the time the Church decided to change the date of this festival to November the second and changed its name to All Souls Day.
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Samhain~Halloween Customs and Practices  Again Many of my readers have seen this information before so here it is again.
This major festival has several aspects. It is considered the third (meat) harvest, New Year's Eve, the Day of the Dead (the dead are honored as they were by the ancient Celts & Egyptians and even now in Mexico) and a night that the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds is thinnest. It is thought that divination is easier and more powerful, the fairy folk create mischief on this night, and that our lost loved ones are nearer to us (and thus easier to contact) for this reason. One reason to contact those who have passed on would be to strengthen our karmic ties to them in order to be assured we will incarnate in our next life with them.
Rituals on this night generally include remembering and honoring loved ones and ancestors. You may also celebrate reincarnation and another tradition is called the "dumb supper". This entails that while feasting on all the wonderful items available at the last harvest a place is set for departed family members. You might set photos or other mementos upon the table and tell stories or jokes and remember wonderful times shared by you and those who have passed on to their next great adventure.
It is not unusual to ask your ancestors' spirits to aid and assist you in whichever form/s of divination you prefer to use. Some of most common and oldest forms of scrying used are fire or flame, and mirror. You might also try a dark bowl or cauldron filled with liquid, crystals, pendulums, runes, tarots or reading tea leaves. Guided meditations or astral travel for the purpose of past life regression and/or for the purpose of knowing or learning something specific from one's ancestors, are very successful on this night.
Also on this night we note the absence the Sun (the god), who will be reborn at Winter Solstice as the Child of Promise. The Crone is called upon for comfort; the dying God is mourned. The Sun God's power is at it's weakest, and the Moon Goddess' power is at it's strongest. (remember this when doing any magickal working on this night or even at this time of year)
This is the time when cattle and sheep where brought in from summer pasture, all but breeding stock being killed for winter food and to make fewer mouths to feed. The last fruit was picked, except that which would be left for the Sidhe, and the grain was already gathered and had been processed for fodder, flour, and beer. Fishermen put up their boats and stored their gear. Debts would be paid up. Young people who hired out as farm or herder help would return home, as would the warriors of the Fianna and any Bards or poets traveling about would find a household to attach themselves to. Many of the people would begin preparing for the long, dark winter of living almost constantly indoors in often crowded conditions. Farmers and other workers would be preparing to change their summer occupation in for one of gathering wood for the next year giving it a year to dry, much as their descendants would well into the 20th century.
The festival itself is a fire festival and would be celebrated with bonfires, feasts, and the killing of the livestock for the feasts and to be cured for later at large gatherings as well as smaller local ones. The Gods, Sidhe, and Ancestors would be welcome and fed in ritual, as they would be by individuals at home and hall. Divination was important, for not only was this a major turning point in the year but such things would be easier with the nearness of Otherworldly help. The fires of the old year would be extinguished to be replaced by new ones.
Story telling started at this time and in many chieftains' halls it was mandatory that a story be told every night during the dark half of the year --from Samhain to Beltaine. After all, except for an hunting expeditions and the fixing of weapons and tools, there wasn't a lot to do at this time; while temperatures in the British Isles are kept relatively mild by the Gulf Stream it is dark and rainy most of the days during the winter months.
What about those horrible Witches every where and the annoying Trick or Treaters? Well, this is the time of year that the Scots believed that the Cailleach, the Hag, arises from stone to walk the Earth. She actually had a blue-gray or almost black face . She is an important supernatural being in Gaelic myth. This is the time of year to honor the goddsss in her Crone form. And yes, Cailleach was often considered both scary and reverently comical, for winter was a fearful time and best faced with humor. Considering leaving some water for Her as She is thirsty when She awakens.
The other modern annoyance for some Pagans, Trick or Treat, seems to have been started in Antiquity by young people who disguised themselves and requested hospitality from all they met this have been a practice at all Fire Festivals in some variation. It is always important for us to Treat them well, we can never be sure that one really is a costumed child and we don't want to deal with one of Their Tricks if they should be our Ancestors or a supernatural entity. There is also speculation that this might have been a way for widows and orphans to procure their winter stores.
The "Trick" aspect that we still have when young people vandalize and create general chaos irrespective of getting "Treats" is of some antiquity; in Scotland at least, the youths would break things, tear up gardens, and run rampant to destroy the past year This represented the actions of the Otherworldly beings and rendered that which was left useless to humans, therefore only of value to those of the Otherworld. Samhain is really the time in between two years and is therefore a time of Chaos, a time when the Otherworld rules. Afterwards a new order would be created for the New Year.
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Correspondence of Samhain~Halloween  The Plants and Herbs of Samhain~Halloween:
Apple, Cedar, Cherry, Elder, Eucalyptus, Holly, Horse Chestnut, Lime, Orange, Palm-Date, Oak, Peach, Pear, Pine, Plum, Quince, Rowan, Sandalwood, Willow, Witch Hazel, African Violet, Agaric, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cinnamon, Coconut, Cuckoo-Flower, Cyclamen, Deerstongue, Devil's Bit, Elderflower, Garlic, Ginger, Grape, Hemp, Huckleberry, Kalbs Cross, Lavender, Liquorice, Mandrake, Mint, Myrrh, Nettle, Nightshade, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Raspberry, Rhubarb, Saffron, Sage, Sarsaparilla, Sassafras, Sloe, Star Anise, Strawberry, Sugar Cane, Tea, Tobacco, Vanilla, Witch Grass, Wolfsbane.
Colors associated with Samhain~Halloween: Black, Brown, Gold, Orange, Red, Silver, Yellow
Stones associated with Sanhain~Halloween: Amethyst, Asbestos, Beryl, Bloodstone Cat's Eye, Coal, Coral, Carnelian, Danburite, Fossil, Herkimer, Jasper, Jet, Marble, Mother of Pearl, Obsidian, Onyx, Petrified Wood, Pumice, Quartz, Rhodonite, Smoky quartz, Salt, Tourmaline-Pink.
Incense and oils you can use any of the following scents, either blended together or alone: Cedar, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Lavender, Lime, Mint, Myrrh, Orange, Sagebrush, Sandalwood,
Copal, mastic resin, benzoin, sweetgrass, wormwood, mugwort, sage, or patchouli.
Animals and mythical beasts: Stag, cat, bat, owl, jackal, elephant, ram, scorpion, heron, crow, robin, Phooka, Goblin, Medusa, Beansidhe, Fylgiar, Peryton, Erlkonig, and Harpies.
Gods and Goddess Associated with Samhain~Halloween:
Any figure of the Goddess in her Crone aspect, as well as Gods of death; such as: Hecate (goddess of fertility, moon magick, and the witches' protectress, Morrigan (Celtic
godess of death, Cernunnos (Celtic fertility god), Persephone (Greek goddess who dies and is reborn every year after being tricked by Hades), Arawn (Welsh King of Hel), Gywnn Ap Nudd (King of Faeries and of the underworld), Macha (Irish mother of life and death, one of the triple goddesses of Morrigu), Scathach/Scota and Osiris (Egyptian god who dies and is reborn every year. Full Listing of Gods and Goddess Anubis, Arianrhod, Astarte, Baba Yaga Beansidhe (Banshee), Belili, Bran, Cailleach Beara, Cernunnos, Cerridwen, Crone , Dark Lord & Lady, Demeter, Hathor, Hecate, Hel, Horned God, Inanna, Ishtar, Isis, Kali, Kore, Lakshmi, Lilith, the Morrigan, Nephthys, Odin, Osiris, Oya, Persephone, Pomona, Rhiannon, Tlazoteotl
Symbols for Samhain~Halloween: apples, autumn flowers, acorns, bat, black cat, bones, corn stalks, cauldrons, colored leaves, crows, death/dying, divination and the tools associated with it, ghosts, gourds, Indian corn, jack-o-lantern, nuts , oak leaves, pomegranates, pumpkins, scarecrows, scythes, waning moon.
Foods of Samhain~halloween:apples, apple dishes, cider, meat (traditionally this is the meat harvest) especially pork, mulled cider with spices, nuts, pomegranates, potatoes, pumpkins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, roasted pumpkin seeds, roasted pumpkin seeds, squash, corn, cranberry muffins and breads, turnips, beets, ale, herbal tea (mugwort).
Activities of Samhain~Halloween:On Samhain, Honoring the Dead, Dumb Supper, Carving Jack O'Lanterns (and then baking pumpkin pie!) , Making Masks representing the Gods & Goddesses of Samhain, Making a besom , Divination, And most importantly, don't forget to leave milk and honey out for the Faerie folk.
Spell Work of Samhain~Halloween: release of bad habits, banishing, fairy magick, divination of any kind, candle magick, astral projection, past life work, dark moon mysteries, mirror spells (reflection), casting protection , inner work, propitiation, clearing obstacles, uncrossing, inspiration, workings of transition or culmination, manifesting transformation,creative visualization, contacting those who have departed this plane
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Notions Potions and Spells Herb /Plant of the Season:Oak
Gender: Masculine
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Deities: Dagda, Danus, Jupiter, Thor, Zeus, Herne, Janus, Rhea, Cybele, Hecate, Pan, Erato
Botanical name: Quercus robur
Magickal uses: Magickally, the Oak represents strength and protection. It teaches persistence and endurance. Known as the King of the Forest, the mighty Oak is traditionally associated with strength and courage. It grows to a huge size and great girth and is a very long-lived tree spanning centuries.
Offering its gifts of protection, strength and courage, Oak makes wonderful magickal tools to last a lifetime or even a special heirloom to be passed down for generations.
Sacred to the Druids and the Greeks, the oak is a tree of strength, protection and durability. It represents inner fire, courage and nobility of spirit. At the Greek oracle of Dodoni, the god Zeus speaks by rustling the leaves of the sacred oak. Many Germanic and Celtic tribes made truce and administered justice under the oak, and the Yule log is traditionally of oak as well. As it both attracts lightning and yet seems resilient to it, the oak is sacred to many storm and wind gods, and its power to stand to lightning's transformative power may have something to do with its meaning in the Ogham, where it is Dur, "door" an Ogham of transformation, the ability to step through the door and create change. Dur is the turning point in the Oghamic calendar, falling at summer solstice, with Tinne (holly) in the next month, representing the transition from the oak to the holly king. The acorn symbolizes the huge potential in small things.
Uses: Protection, Health, Money, Healing, Potency, Fertility, Luck
Medicinal Action and Uses---The astringent effects of the Oak were well known to the Ancients, by whom different parts of the tree were used, but it is the bark which is now employed in medicine. Its action is slightly tonic, strongly astringent and antiseptic. It has a strong astringent bitter taste, and its qualities are extracted both by water and spirit. The odour is slightly aromatic.
Like other astringents, it has been recommended in agues and haemorrhages, and is a good substitute for Quinine in intermittent fever, especially when given with Chamomile flowers.
It is useful in chronic diarrhoea and dysentery, either alone or in conjunction with aromatics. A decoction is made from 1 OZ. of bark in a quart of water, boiled down to a pint and taken in wineglassful doses. Externally, this decoction has been advantageously employed as a gargle in chronic sore throat with relaxed uvula, and also as a fomentation. It is also serviceable as an injection for leucorrhoea, and applied locally to bleeding gums and piles. Healing Pyorrhea/Gingivitis--tea made from equal parts of white oak bark, taheebo and lemon grass.
Stone of the Season:Jet
Energy: Receptive
Element: Earth, Akasha
Planet(s): Saturn
Deities: Cybele
Herb(s): Lavender, Sage.
Power(s): Protection, Anti-nightmare, Luck, Divination, Health. Brings success, prosperity, happiness, Enhances dream process.
Jet is organic in origin. Like coal, it was formed from the remains of wood immersed in stagnant water millions of years ago, then compacted and fossilized by the pressures of burial. Jet is black or dark brown but may contain pyrite inclusions, which have a brassy color and metallic luster. Jet takes a good polish and is often faceted. When burned or touched with a hot needle, it exudes the characteristic smell of coal. Found in England, Spain, France, Germany, Poland, India, Turkey, the former USSR, China and the USA.
Jet was popular for mourning jewelry in the 19th century because of its somber color and modest appearance. and it has been traditionally fashioned into rosaries for monks. Jet has also been known as black amber, as it may induce an electric charge like that of amber when rubbed. Jet is grounding and balancing, and as it also carries a negative electrical charge, is good for drawing power and knowledge to the bearer. it helps to tap into the ancient wisdoms and transformative powers of the Earth. It is also helpful in stabilizing finances. It can protect the wearer against illness and violence. This is the stone witches use for protection from negativity.
Healing PROPERTIES: Reveres body as temple. Cleanses aura. Provides comfort. Benefits headaches, asthma. Dispels migraines, illness, deep depression. It is a calming agent.
Color of the Season: Orange
Planet: Sun, Mars, Mercury
Day: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Element: Fire
Chakra: Second, Spleen Chakra
Properties:controlling runaway emotions, promoting personal creativity, increasing memory, career, legal issues, healing nervous disorders, balance and neutrality, organization, travel, writing, business transactions and obtaining information. Cooperation. Can enhance breaking of spells or to bring about a quick change.
Most Important Associations:
Dependency/Co-dependency/Independence. Shock. Trauma. Deep insight and ecstasy.
Symbolic Meaning: Harmony. Beauty. Art. Divinity and renunciation. (The robes of Buddhist monks are orange.) Sexuality. Trust.
Spiritual Meaning: Insight. Individuation. Devotion. The need to belong.
Mental Meaning: Wisdom. Indecision. Patience and perseverance. Deep insight. Lack of self-worth. Dependency/co-dependency/independence. Interdependence.
Emotional Meaning: Wisdom. "Gut feelings." Spontaneous wisdom. Camaraderie. Sexuality for pleasure and joy, not with the intent to conceive. Hysteria. Depression. Excitement. Extraversion. Shock. Trauma. Joy. Deep delight.
Physical Associations: Ovaries. Intestines, small and large (also constipation). Spleen (it is said that the colour orange can bring the spleen and its function into balance). Gall bladder (often someone who has difficulties with the gall bladder cannot stand oranges). The colour orange has to do with food intake and assimilation.
Incense
numbers = part= teaspoon, tablespoon or cup measure
Simple Psychic Protection Incense
Frankincense 1/4, Oregano 1/2, Lovage 1/4, Cloves 1/2, Ginger Root (ground) 1/4, Sandalwood 1/2, Star Anise 1/4
Fall Incense
1/4 part Oak, 1/2 part Pine, 1/4 part Frankincense, 1/4 part Cinnamon, 1/4 part Cloves, 1/2 part Rosemary, 1/4 part Sage, 1/2 part Pomegranate
Protection Oil
1 dram olive oil
1 dram Patchouli oil
1 tsp. broken pieces of Mandrake Root
1 dram Cinnamon Oil
3 heaping tsp. coarse sea salt ground very fine
1 dram Myrrh Oil
In a clean metal bowl, mix the olive oil, sea salt, and mandrake root. Mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Transfer the mixture to a clean sterilized jar. Using a dropper, add the essential oils. Swirl the essential oils into the base oil/salt/mandrake mixture, don't stir. Gently rotate the oil clockwise. Store the oil away from heat, light and moisture in an airtight glass bottle.
End Negativity and Give Hope Incense
1 part Thyme, 1/2 part Rue, 1/2 part Sweet Woodruff, 1/2 part Cloves
Transforming Negativity:
White Candle
Black Candle
Casting The Spell
Light your white Candle visualize protective light surrounding you and all aspects of your life. Now Light the black candle and Say 3 times:
Now all Negative Energy directed at and surrounding my life is blocked and transformed into positive energy that serves the greatest good of this reality, humanity, the universe and my life.
Let the candles burn until they burn out.
Autumn Conjuration
This spell requires a trip to the park or a walk in the woods. Take a plastic bag and collect all the large, beautiful leaves you can find (not the dry, crumbly ones). When you get home, you will need the following:
An iron
Glue
Spread the leaves on a table. Hold your hands over the leaves and say:
My life is filled with abundance
And all my needs are met - and more.
Keep repeating this chant until you hands grown warm. Finish by saying:
Autumn harvest, bring to me
Abundance, joy and laughter.
So mote it be!
Put the iron on the lowest setting and smooth out the leaves. Glue the leaves together in circles or ovals to create autumn place mats.
Source Halloween Silver Ravenwolf
Halloween: Silver Ravenwolf |
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Foods of Samhain~Halloween Apple Pancakes
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 tbs. sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1tsp. salt
2 well beaten egg yolks
2 cups milk
2 tbs. butter/margarine, melted
1 cup finely chopped apple, peeled and cored
2 stiffly beaten egg whites.
In a large non-metal bowl, sift together all the dry ingredients. In a smaller bowl, combine the milk and egg yolks. Pour mixture into the dry ingredients and stir well. Stir in the butter/margarine and apple. Fold in the egg whites. Let the batter set up for a few minutes. Cook on a hot griddle or in a large frying pan, using 1/3 cup of batter per pancake. Use a spatula or spoon to spread batter evenly. Remove from heat, dot with butter, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and roll up into log. Top with slightly heated applesauce and a dash of cinnamon.
Makes 12 pancakes.
Cranberry-Pumpkin Cookies
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 cup pureed cooked pumpkin
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup cranberries
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets.
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla, egg and pumpkin.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and add to mixture. Mix until until well blended.
Cut the cranberries in half and stir into mixture. Add orange peel and nuts.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Makes 3 dozen cookies
Samhain Cider
Ingredients:
2 quarts apple cider
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/2 cup apricot brandy
Instructions:
In a large pot, combine the apple cider, confectioner's sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger. Simmer slowly on low heat for about 15 minutes. Take care that the cider does not boil. Add the apricot brandy and then serve the cider while it is still warm. Refrigerate any leftover cider.
Note: I have used apricot nectar instead of brandy and it wasn't too bad.
Yield: 8 servings
Source: Dunwich, The Pagan Book of Halloween
Pumpkin Muffins
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 stick butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
2/3 cup cooked, mashed pumpkin
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons molasses
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves or allspice
Instructions:
In small bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy and pale. Beat in eggs and buttermilk until well-blended. Add flour mixture to form a batter. Preheat oven to 375ºF. In medium bowl, mix pumpkin, brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves until well-blended. Stir into the batter. Ladle batter into 12 2 1/2-inch greased muffin cups and bake for 15-17 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes, then cool on rack.
Yield: 1 dozen
Source: Dunwich, The Pagan Book of Halloween
Elder Flower Fritters
Ingredients:
1 egg
1 teaspoon rose water
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons brandy
1 cup self-rising flour
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups elder flowers, freshly picked and cleaned
Instructions:
Mix egg, rose water, honey, and brandy in a bowl, then stir in flour and cinnamon. Should be thick like pancake batter. (Add flour if it's too thin, and add more brandy if it's too thick.) Fold in the flowers. Fry like pancakes, OR drop by the teaspoonful into a deep-fat fryer until golden brown. Serve with orange water sprinkle and fresh lemon, or dip in sweet cream
Source: Patricia Telesco, A Kitchen Witch's Cookbook
Garlic Pork with Chestnuts
Wrap a dollar bill around a chestnut and place it in your purse to attract money
Ingredients:
1 pound chestnuts
11/2 pounds boneless pork loin, cut into cubes
1/2 stick butter
1/2 teaspoon sage
Pinch of Thyme
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1 cup sherry
3/4 cup hot water
Salt and pepper to taste
Parsley for garnish
Instructions
Skin chestnuts by making a cut along the flat side of each one and dropping them into a pan of boiling salted water . Boil for about 5 minutes. Chestnuts must be peeled while hot, so only tke out a couple at at time. Remove both the outer shell and inner skins. In a fresh pan of water simmer the peeled chestnuts for about 15 minutes until they are tender. Gently brown the pork loin in the butter. Transfer to a casserole dish and add the chestnuts, along with the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook in the oven for 2 hours at 300 degrees, stirring ocasionally. Garnish with parsley and serve.
Serves 2
Source Joanne Asala Celtic Folklore Cooking
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Crafts for Samhain~Halloween Scrying Mirror
take a small photo frame, cleanse, remove glass and paint with black enammel,leave to dry.
if you wish you empower your mirror by , writing a spell or runes on dark paper or parchment for enhancement and protection and truth. place this on the painted side of glass and then glue on black felt around the edges so no light gets in or the glass gets scratched . place back in frame check for complete blackness.
do a concercating ritual before using.
you can also take a photo frame that is frameless and set it into your own designed frame. do not use for other purposes , and keep covered when not in use with a dark cloth
Floating Candles
buy a cheap bag of apples carve a hole big enough to insert a tealight and float the apples in water , buckets , bowls large containers, glass dishes etc
Besom
To make a besom you will need:
A four foot dowel one inch in diameter
ball of twine
scissors
straw or other long strands of pliable herbs
Take the straw, or another herb you have chosen for the bristles, and allow them to soak overnight in warm, lightly salted water. The water softens the straws to make them pliable, and the salt soaks out former energies.
When you are ready to make your besom, remove the straws from the water and allow them to dry a bit, but not so much that they lose the suppleness you will need to turn them into your besom.
Find a work area where you can lay out the length of your dowel, and begin lining the straws alongside the dowel. Starting about three inches from the bottom, lay the straws, moving backward, along the length of the dowel. Begin binding these to the dowel with the twine. You will need to tie them very securely. You can add as many layers of straw as you wish, depending on how full you would like your besom to be.
When the straw is secured, bend the top straws down over the twine ties. When they are all gently pulled over, tie off the straws again a few inches below the original tie. Leave the besom overnight to allow the straw to dry
The dowel part of the besom can be stained, painted, or decorated with pagan symbols, your craft name, or any other embellishments you choose. Dedicate your finished besom in your circle as you would any other ritual tool
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Children's World
Spooky Pumpkins (Luminaries)
What you'll need:
Glass jars (we used canning jars available at the grocery store)
½ yard orange fabric
Scraps of yellow fabric, small amounts needed
Scissors
White craft glue
Old paintbrush
Small bowl
Water
Black felt
Tea light candles OR miniature flashlights
How to make it:
Begin by washing the jars and removing labels, if any. Dry completely.
Cut or rip orange fabric into strips approximately 3” long and 1” wide. They don’t have to be perfect.
From the yellow fabric, cut out eyes, noses, and mouths to put on your pumpkin faces.
Make a decoupage mixture by putting equal amounts of water and white craft glue into a bowl and mixing together.
Using your old paintbrush, apply some decoupage mixture to a small section of the jar.
Place the orange fabric on top of the glue, then apply a small amount of glue mixture on top of the fabric, securing it to the jar.
Continue with this process until the jar is completely covered in orange fabric. Overlap pieces as you go so that there are no open gaps.
Apply yellow facial features to your pumpkins with this same method and allow to dry completely (overnight is best).
When jars are dry and can be handled without damaging your work, measure out a piece of black felt to fit around the mouth of the jar.
Cut out the piece of felt and glue around the outside of the rim.
Place a miniature flashlight or a tea light candle inside each jar. (Make sure an adult lights the candle, and display it in a safe place.)
Tips:
Flashlights are safer than candles, so if possible use this alternative. Miniature flashlight will fit nicely into a jar and, provided the batteries are fresh, will burn all night long.
This can be a rather long project. It’s perfect for a rainy day when kids can’t play outside. You may want to cut the fabric scraps for them ahead of time and have them invite friends over to do the project with them.
Only small amounts of yellow fabric are needed and aren’t even completely necessary. You may also use black felt for the facial features as the yellow is only visible during the day and not at night while the pumpkins are illuminated. If you use yellow, don’t purchase anything larger than ¼ yard, unless you plan to use it for another project. Look for remnants on sale at the fabric store or ask a friend if she has any lying around you can have. Yellow felt is also an inexpensive alternative.
These jars can also double as fun holders for wrapped candy during the daytime hours.
Grocery Bag Ghost
What you'll need:
Plain white lid (from a margarine container, for example)
3 black construction paper circles for eyes and mouth
2 sheer white plastic grocery sacks
2 white pipe cleaners
Scotch tape
Glue stick
Black yarn
Hole punch
How to make it:
Glue eyes and mouth on front of lid.
Cut off any writing, graphics and handles from grocery sacks. Lay them on a flat surface. With scissors, shred 2" strips up sacks leaving at least a 1" area intact next to the seam.
Glue the pipe cleaner/chenille stem into the seam.
Turn lid over onto a flat surface. Bend and insert the pipe cleaner/seam into the ridge around the bottom half of the lid. Tape to secure in place.
Repeat with the second sack and pipe cleaner, and insert in the ridge around the upper half of the lid.
Punch a hole through the top of the lid. Thread a length of yarn through the hole appropriate for hanging.
Some kids prefer to have a loop on the end of a foot and a half so they can hold on and run with them. They "fly" nicely and appear as though the kids are being "chased" by a little ghost
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Book Review:
Halloween Night
Category: Halloween Books for Kids
Age: toddler, preschool, kindergarten, elementary
Halloween Night is a Who Done It, for little ones. Each page has a poem, and the answer is found on the following page; however, if you look closely, clues to the answers are painted into the scenes. Halloween Night has a playful rhythm that flows, and the watercolor illustrations are bright, and colorful! Arden Druce, the author, doesn't overreach, and she is wonderfully descriptive, "...who can spin shimmering webs with a swirl and a twist?" For a short, 24-page book, this work carries quite an impact. Altogether, there are only 20 sentences, which takes less than 2-minutes to read, but the combination of good writing, and beautifully rendered artwork makes for a fabulous book. Adults will like this book, because it's fun to read aloud without being scary, or violent.
Witches Hats
You will need
Keebler fudge striped cookies
Hershey Kisses
a tube of orange decorator icing
Turn cookies upside down so that the chocolate side is up. Use the orange decorator icing to pipe around the hole in the center of each cookie. Place an unwrapped Kiss on the icing circle. Finish by piping around the base of the kiss and drawing a little bow.
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Poetry Corner O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
- Robert Frost, October
When gentians roll their fingers tight
To save them for the morning,
And chestnuts fall from satin burrs
Without a sound of warning;
When on the ground red apples lie
In piles like jewels shining,
And redder still on old stone walls
Are leaves of woodbine twining;
When all the lovely wayside things
Their white-winged seeds are sowing,
And in the fields still green and fair,
Late aftermaths are growing;
When springs run low, and on the brooks,
In idle golden freighting,
Bright leaves sink noiseless in the hush
Of woods, for winter waiting;
When comrades seek sweet country haunts,
By twos and twos together,
And count like misers, hour by hour,
October's bright blue weather.
- Helen Hunt Jackson, October's Bright Blue Weather
Tonight as the barrier between the two realms grows thin,
Spirits walk amongst us, once again.
They be family, friends and foes,
Pets and wildlife, fishes and crows.
But be we still mindful of the Wee Folke at play,
Elves, fey, brownies, and sidhe.
Some to trick, some to treat,
Some to purposely misguide our feet.
Stay we on the paths we know
As planting sacred apples we go.
This Feast I shall leave on my doorstep all night.
In my window one candle shall burn bright,
To help my loved ones find their way
As they travel this eve, and this night, until day.
Bless my offering, both Lady and Lord
Of breads and fruits, greens and gourd.
- Akasha, Samhain Ritual
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Samhain Tale The Wild Hunt
Tonight the hunt rides, Gwynn ap Nudd and his hounds hunting the souls who belong in his world, he is accompanied by the Great Mother in her guise as the White Lady and The Great Father in his guise as Herne The Hunter. The hunt has been missing from this reality for over a hundred years. There is much to do tonight as the hunt rides the winds of time. I listen as the wind howls past my house blowing so hard that it causes even the inner doors to rattle. This is not a night to be out when the hunt rides it is wise to be inside. It is a beautiful night the moon though not full is lighting the night sky. If you listen closely you will hear the howling of the hunt thinly disguised this night by the howling of the wind as they ride by. Tonight is a special hunt the souls that belong to Gwynn ap Nudd’s realm has wandered this level uncheck because their home has been overrun by entities from a dark and desolate place. They forced those who lived in the underworld to the surface and took over their realm because it allowed them easy access to this Gaia.
Tonight the reclaiming of this reality and the underworld begins those who do not belong to Gwynn ap Nudd’s realm and this realm will be hunted through the night not allowed to rest or to hide they will be found no matter where they are and chased from this realm and the under world it will be quite a ride. The Great Father and The Great Mother joins this night’s hunt to push the interlopers from their realms into the nowhere and the nowhen.
The hooves of the three great steeds two black as the night and one a winter white strike sparks from the earth as the hounds surge about their hooves they wait restlessly for the hunt to begin. A rider approaches he sits his prancing snorting beast defiantly many unnamable things surge about him and his horse. As he approaches the horses cease to prance and the hounds cease to dance about their hooves. The defiant rider halts as he sees the three riders awaiting his approach. Gwynn Ap Nudd raises the horn that hangs at his hip to his lips and blows, a long shrill sounds shrieks from it. The defiant one wheels his horse and spurs him upward looking back over his shoulder his surprise is clear to see as the three take to sky behind him and his horde. The hunt is in full flight the baying of the hounds make an unforgettable sound. The unmaking of the interlopers and the destruction they have brought upon this realm and the underworld will begin this night. It will be a long night as the hunt rides the night sky doubling back often to pick up strays the hounds fan out once more and the chase is on, as beings of Chaotic evil and evil realize they are no match for the hunt. They flee shrieking before it even the most powerful of demon will run tonight or be destroyed. Those that are caught by the hounds are torn to shreds. They look back over their shoulders as they run filled with dread. It is usually they who bring the fear and despair wherever they go but not tonight.
Tonight they stink of fear as they run for their lives. Unlike the inhabitants of the underworld whose souls are immortal if one of these of chaotic evil is caught he is done, destroyed forever and this is what they fear. They are pushed across the night by the light of the Great Mother and the Great Father. The baying of the hounds change as a being of Chaotic evil try to join those who belong to Gwynn Ap Nudd realm it is surrounded and herded into the press of fleeing chaotic evil howling it’s anger and fear. A minor distraction the hunt rides on into the night, The Winds of Time move slowly tonight as they are controlled by the Great Mother and there is much to do. Do not despair if this night seem overly long to you, it is much longer for those who are being hunted. Tonight is a proper Samhain. The Crone rides this night as does the Winter King and the King of the Underworld. Before them they drive all that is frightful, harmful, negative and destructive on this realm into the nowhere and the nowhen. Beware if your intent is to harm the children of Gaia or to harm Gaia. Beware if you aren’t fair with the children of the Great Mother for the next hunt may find you trying to keep a step ahead of it. It is not just about souls who have strayed to long from the other worlds it is about those who don’t belong. You know who you are, you know that you have gone to far. The fate of this realm hung in the balance and the battle has raged long and it has been an unfair fight until tonight. I brace myself as my steed is swept along with the racing pack surging around it front and back. This is no place for a mortal soul but one does not disdain an invitation from the Lord and The Lady. I look down there is no ground there is only clouds and the surging bodies of the hounds. A voice speaks calmly in my head “have no fear, for you will wake in your own bed”. Remember this night and tell the tale and tell it well. “The Lord and Lady have returned to Gaia to restore the balance. Love balances hate, Light balances dark, action balances rest, the male the female, and truth balance lies. The God balances the Goddess and thus Gaia is balanced”. Tell them this my child the voice of the Lady said. The Lord looked back at me and soft music filled my head my steed was gone I thought to scream but awoke hugging my pillow it was only a dream. But wait there was a slim wand of willow beside my pillow and the light of the moon on a silver band still graced my hand. These gifts they had said you will need to ride upon a faery steed.
by Lady Dyanna Wyndesong
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