Excerpt from
SIMPLE SABBATS
FOR THE BUSY WITCH: simple ways to celebrate the passing of the seasons
Samhain—October
31
Though many look to October 31 as
Halloween, Pagans from around the world call it Samhain (Sow-en), a time to
remember their ancestors and to celebrate the start of a new year. This period
is well suited to practicing divination, working on transitions of all sorts,
candle magic, protection magic, and working with or contacting those who have
passed on.
October is often one of the busiest
months of the year in a Pagan household.
The fun of Halloween, creating
costumes for the family, school events, and getting the household and property
ready for the coming cooler weather keep us hopping. Sometimes there are not
enough hours in the day to breathe, much less to plan a way to honor the season.
Here are a few simple ways to celebrate.
Ritual:
5 Minutes Alone
This simple
Samhain ritual lets you honor those who came before. If you have a few extra moments,
add your favorite form of divination and see what the coming year will bring!
Items Needed:
• Your ancestor altar
• Lighter or matches
• A glass of apple cider
• A small snack, such as
gingersnaps or a sliced apple
1. Sit before your ancestor altar
and take a few deep breaths. Think about those who have passed on—their
struggles and how they’ve affected your life. Think about how blessed you were
to have them in your life.
2. When you feel centered and
ready, light the candle on your altar and say,
I light this
candle in honor of Samhain and to recognize the changing season. I
honor the Lord
and Lady and my ancestors and give them thanks. On this night,
when their
spirits walk among us and magic is in the air, I ask my ancestors for
their blessings
and ask them to watch over my family and home. So mote it be.
3. Sit for a moment or two. Drink
your cider and eat your snack, being sure to leave some on your offering plate.
Let the candle burn for as long as you safely can.
Small
Group Ritual
This ritual is
just the right length to do with a friend or two, your partner, or the whole family.
Just gather round and share the time together.
Items Needed:
• A candle
• A lighter or matches
• Scraps of paper
• A pen or pencil for each
participant
• Your cauldron or other
heat-safe container
• Cider and cups
• A plate of cookies
1. Gather everyone, and sit down
somewhere comfortable with all of your ritual items. Begin with a simple deep
breathing exercise to get everyone centered.
2. When everyone’s ready, light
the candle and say,
On this fall
night of Samhain, we celebrate the turning wheel. As the seasons change, so
goes the cycle of death and rebirth. Tonight we mark the death of the old year
and the birth of the new. We make these pledges to ourselves and to the Lord
and Lady.
3. At this time, each person
should write down any resolutions that they’d like to make for the new year or
any plans for new beginnings that they’d like to put into motion.
4. Go around the circle, and one
at a time each participant can choose whether to share what they’ve written out
loud. The paper is then lit on the flame of the candle (younger participants
should be assisted by an adult) and placed in the cauldron to burn.
5. When everyone has finished,
pass around the cider and cookies and enjoy each other’s company. Everyone
should save a sip of the cider and a bit of his or her cookie. When it’s time
to finish up, take the cooled ashes outside and bury them in the ground. Leave
your food offerings nearby.
For the Kids
There are usually more than
enough Halloween activities going on in October for the kids. But how do you
get them to understand what Samhain is really about? Create something fun to
draw their attention while you count down the days!
Grab some orange construction
paper and cut out thirty-one pumpkin shapes; number them 1 to 31 on one side.
On the other side, write a short fact about Samhain, or paste on a picture of a
loved one who’s passed or share a fun fact about that person. If you like,
staple or tape a small treat to each pumpkin, such as a piece of candy, a coin,
a small Halloween eraser, or something like that. Starting on October 1, find a
place to stash the pumpkin where you know your child will find it. Pack it in
their school lunch, stick it in their sock drawer, or prop it up by their
toothbrush. On Halloween morning, tape the last paper pumpkin to a real pumpkin
and help them carve a face in it so that it can guard your home that night.
October 19 Interview,
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Blooding Book Reviews
Mrs. B’s Guide to Household Witchery: Everyday Magic, Spells, and Recipes
By Kris Bradley
By Kris Bradley
Genre: New Age/ Wicca
Publisher: Weiser Books, an imprint of Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC
ISBN: 978-1-57863-515-3
Number of pages: 224
Word Count: 49,000
Cover Artist: Jim Warner
Book Description:
For domestic goddesses everywhere—add some magic and fun to those mundane household chores with Mrs. B.'s Guide to Household Witchery. Whether you're sweeping the floor, making a meal, or cleaning out that junk drawer, domestic witch Kris Bradley, creator of the popular blog, Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom, will show you how to create spells and magic to bring happiness and balance into your home.
Bradley offers ideas and solutions to make the most out of everyday items, activities, and obligations. From Anchovies to Broccoli, and Wine to Yeast, from sweeping the floor to blow-drying your hair, you can change your outlook on life with a pinch of knowledge and a dash of magic! The book includes simple rituals, spells, and ways to connect with the spirits that watch over your home and family. Includes an appendix of herbs and a complete materia magica from the kitchen pantry.
Mrs. B's Guide to Household Witchery features:
Room by Room: How to create magic while you cook, set up a family altar in the living room, or do a junk drawer divination
The Elements for the Domestic Witch: a primer on the 4 elements and how to balance them in your home
The Domestic Witch's Herbal: Magical uses for every herb and food in your pantry, as well as instant magic with prepackaged spice mixes
Simple Sabbats for the Busy Witch: simple ways to celebrate the passing of the seasons
Magical Recipes: More than 100 recipes and spells
About the Author:
Kris Bradley is the magic behind the popular blog Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom (2500 readers). She helped establish The Sisterhood of the Triple Goddess coven in Keyport, NJ and is a legally ordained minister, in addition to being a witchy wife and mother. Her work on domestic witchery has been featured in PaganParenting.org and as a national column for Examiner.com. She lives in Keyport, NJ.
Website: http://www.krisbradley.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KrisMrsBBradley
7 comments:
Looks to be a great book. Love the cover :)
Magic of the most interesting and powerful kind - everyday -
I love Mrs. B's blog. I'm sure I'll love her book even more.
I've had this one on my goodreads to read shelf since joining that network . Looking forward to reading it
Whose home doesn't need more happiness and balance? I want more!
This looks like a great book! I suspect I'll be buying a copy, despite the fact that I have written a few books on the same topic :-) It is always nice to see what ideas someone else comes up with.
Nice activities to try.
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