Crafty Kitchen Witch

  Another indisputable symbol of Samhain is the witch's besom.  The besom is the witch's broomstick, and though it is not a tool of paganism in the modern sense, it was often utilized in the magickal practice of the Middle Ages.  Like the cauldron, the besom was an everyday household object and could not be held up as a sign of witchcraft in the courts.  This fact elevated their prominence as magickal tools, often taking the place of wands and staves.       Because of this association it is not surprising that they quickly became objects of magickal protection.  Besoms were often placed near the hearth of the home to protect the opening, and many pagans still believe a besom at the fireplace will prevent evil from entering.  If negativity is a problem, just take your besom and visualize yourself sweeping these feelings out the door.  Using the besom to sweep away negativity from a circle site was common practice, one still observed ...

Communing with Your Ancestors: A Samhain Meditation As we come to the End/Beginning of the next Turn of the Wheel of the Year, a personal, private meditation on those who have come and gone before us can give us perspective and direction as we start on yet another cycle. In a room where you feel most comfortable, on a couch, in a chair or on the floor, day time or eventide, in front of a window, or beside a fire, make yourself comfortable. Patchouli incense, or maybe you have a favorite oil that you can warm in a pot, throw some herbs on the fire, wear a perfume that has meaning to you, or to someone who has passed through the veil, some candle light, or sunlight, whatever it is that makes you most comfortable and connected with those you wish to remember.  Music can bring back memories, recent or old.  While you may want to have this remembrance of someone special, you can use it to connect with all your ancestors, not just someone specific. You may want to have pictu...

Let's face it; Halloween is a major commercialized holiday. So how do you find something meaningful to pull out of all the mainstream commercialism for your Sabbat celebrations? What do you do when most of the people around your family don't understand the ancient traditions they unconsciously uphold? Take a close look at the history behind the holiday, then create new traditions for your family to enjoy year after year. You don't have to reject the mainstream; just teach your children why modern practices exist. Samhain (also known as the Festival of the Dead or All Hallows' Eve) is a time for us to release the spirits of those who have died during the previous year and for us to honor our ancestors. It is customary to set an extra place at your supper table on Samhain Eve in honor of the departed. This is not a scary time, rather a time when the veil is thin and we can spend time with the spirits in warmth and love. Here are some activities to try ...

Calling all Ancestors Samhain Samhain  Calling all Ancestors Samhain Samhain  Calling Your Wisdom in Samhain Samhain  Calling Your Wisdom in Samhain Samhain The Veil is Thin.  We call your Wisdom In.  The Veil is Thin.  Calling all ancestors. Samhain Calling all Ancestors Samhain Samhain  Calling all Ancestors Samhain Samhain  Calling Your Guidance in Samhain Samhain  Calling Your Guidance in Samhain Samhain The Veil is Thin.  We call your Guidance In.  The Veil is Thin.  Calling all ancestors. Samhain *** Tis near Halloween When witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers, "tis near Halloween.

Purpose: to honor the ancestors and friends whom have gone before us. This ritual also gives honor the witches and pagans that died before us in the Burning Times. Materials: One large black candle in a high sitting holder Birthday candles (white) Sand Cauldron God and Goddess candle. Procedure: Gather all the supplies and place them on the alter table. Put the sand into the cauldron. Cast the circle. Call the quarters. Invoke the deities. Say: Crone, Goddess of the Cauldron of rebirth, on this night when the weil is thin we invoke you. Lady of the summerland, matron of death and rebirth, in this rite we honor you and our ancestors. We invoke yea wise crone! So mote it be! Lord of winter and of shadowed sleep, co-ruler of the under world we invoke thee! So mote it be! Light the black candle. Say: We light this candle to all the witches and pagans that died in the Burning Times. We honor their sacrifice for our freedom. So mote it be! We call our ancestors and...

Samhain is more than tricks and treats; it's a sacred night in which we teach our kids to honor their ancestors. Excerpted with permission from "Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions" by Starhawk, Diane Baker, and Anne Hill (Random House) On the night of Samhain we honor our ancestors and visit our beloved dead. Often we hold a feast to "feed the ancestors" and connect to our shared history. But try telling children they are going to miss trick-or-treating, costumes, and hauling home sacks of candy, just to sit home and talk about the past. We'd hear the howls all the way to Hawaii! Families have different solutions for Halloween. In my family, there is a surge of energy that belongs to that special time and adds power and relevance to our worship. It's a wave we have to catch if we want to ride. The adults in our home never accept invitations to secular Halloween parties. Our family treats Samhain as a sacred day spent with o...

This is by far my most favorite time of year, so do take some time to sit a spell and enjoy it with me )0( Blessed Samhain and Happy Halloween Pumpkins aside, the month of October is just as much about Halloween, kids, candy, and playing dress up, but that doesn't mean adults can’t join in on the fun! While the little ones are out trick-or treating, moms and dads can make plans to channel their inner ghoul at a grown-up costume party, before bedtime with these deadly cocktails! Whether you’re a bourbon, cognac, scotch whisky or tequila drinker, below you’ll find enough reasons to spook your taste buds!  Basil Hayden’s Spiced Pumpkin Sour  2 parts Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon 1/2 BasilHaydenPumpkinSpiceSourpart Fresh Orange Juice 1/2 part Lemon Juice 1/2 part Maple syrup  1 spoon Canned Pumpkin Puree  3 dashes Angostura® Bitters                                 ...

15 Haunted Places for Halloween Day Trips We searched the country for creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky Halloween destinations. These 15 towns deliver on their names. By Deborah Long Taber Andrew Bain / flickr Moundsville, West Virginia There are two types of Halloween mounds: One is the delicious coconut candy bar. The other is the tumulus or Hügelgräber , a.k.a. the burial mound. You'll find both in Moundsville, the spooky destination named after Grave Creek Mound, a 2200-year-old Native American tomb. And while the local history is a key attraction, the big kahuna is the epically unsettling, gothic-style West Virginia State Penitentiary . Reminiscent of Shutter Island 's mental hospital, the stone leviathan has been host to riots, fires, escapes, and 36 murders since its 1866 construction. Today, visitors tour the hallways daily , and brave adventurers can even spend the night. Come Halloween , there’s a haunted house a...

It's inarguable that modern life affords us with many wonderful Conveniences the ancients never had, like electricity, telephones, and heating. With the planet Uranus, the computer genius, now in Aquarius, there's a lot More to come. Unfortunately, although these advances in communication and Technology have pulled us closer together intellectually, they've drawn us farther Away from our spiritual selves, and we've lost a great deal of the connection The ancients had with our mother, the Earth. One of the most important traditions we've lost is the concept of the Eight seasons. Yes, eight. Ancient peoples realized that the earth was Alive, and therefore in a constant state of change. They knew that those Changes occurred far more often then four times a year, and that, in fact, The Earth made a transition that was quite noticeable about eight times a year, Or every forty-five days. It makes sense, too, if you think about it. Take summer, for example. The Sun ...

The way was dark, lit by no stars, The Moon had hid her face, Faint wisps of fog trailed round my feet, I did not know this place. A bell rang out, it sounded twelve, I was quite mystified. ‘Twas midnight of All Hallows Eve How came I here?” I cried. Then as I looked, the fog dissolved, Revealing to my eyes A moonlit meadow bright as day And a beautiful surprise. For everywhere I looked I saw The Folk both fair and fey “Come dance with us,” they called to me, “Come join us while we play. “Come be with us, come dance with us “We’ll crown you this night’s queen, I started toward their company, The fairest I’d ever seen. “Be careful, Lass!” Who’s voice was this? “Should you join the dance, I fear, You’ll never more return to home, “And you’ll dwell forever here.” “I gazed into his blue, blue eyes, And saw what there did shine. My heart grew full, I fell in love, And wished he could be mine. His love enfolded me in bliss That filled my heart to stay N...

Tuning in to any energy is the ability to quiet the mind, allowing your inner self, or intuition, to perceive truth. By practicing this art, we develop a sensitivity toward inner information and the ability to condition our mind to listen on a much more subtle level. This developing can allow us the ability to sense energy and actually perceive on an even more subconscious plane. Techniques are vast and varied and include personal energy work, meditation, yoga, qi gong, visualization, physical exercise, prayer or your own personal techniques, all of which can be used in calming and clearing the mind and achieving clearer perception. Greater self control and self balance, awareness, inner peace and connective energy to the source of truth are all important in the path to attunement. As our minds are conditioned to listen in silence, responses come quicker and clearer to us. Crystals Associated with Intuition The power behind Earth's minerals can be felt the minute you put...

Be-Witching Samhain Recipes for The Celebrants! By: Lisa Gove Break Studios Contributing Writer These traditional side dish Samhain recipes will fill the house with the rich scents of fall. Use fresh fall fruits and vegetables to make these side dishes live up to their full potential. Samhain is a traditional Celtic holiday that is full of rich hearty dishes. The Celtic New Year/Halloween/Harvest Festival— what better time of the year to get together with friends and feast on these traditional Samhain recipes? Ah Samhain! Cheese Stuffed Apples Side Dish for Samhain You will need:     1 3 oz. package softened cream cheese     4 medium apples     1 1/3 oz. Apple Cheddar Cheese     1 T. dry white wine     Beat both cheeses with the wine until smooth.     Core apples, and hollow out. Leave apple shells that are about 1/2 inch thick.     Fill apples with cheese mixture and chill for two to three hours...