27. Samhain with the Kids

Samhain is right around the corner and that means its time for my favorite holiday! Every year I've taken off work for Halloween to prepare for Samhain. This year since I'm not working I won't need to do that. This year, money is tight so we won't be able to do our normal 2+ Jack o Lantern carvings. So I'm looking for some inexpensive ideas for Samhain.

For those readers not in the know. Samhain (pronounced SOW-in, SAH-vin, or SAM-hayne) is the last of three harvest festivals. Its celebrated traditionally between OCT 31st and NOV 1st. It is the second time each year where the veil between worlds is thinner and we are able to communicate with our dead (The first being Beltane). It is a time to honor The Crone and our ancestors.

Sierra (My daughter) and I love to carve pumpkins for Samhain to scare away unwelcome spirits! So every year I spend at least a good day online finding exciting (and free) carving patterns. Perhaps this year instead of mutilating real pumpkins, we'll make our jack o lanterns out of paper. Or maybe we can find some other materials around the house. Anything round like a jar or ball would work. Obviously for those options we wouldn't use any heat source to light it.

Sierra as a Witch

Another thing I've loved to do is come up with an inexpensive option for dressing Sierra up. Last year we bought a witches hat and a wig. She wore an old dress and went Trick or Treating as a witch. By far this was my most favorite costume and it only cost me $5. Unfortunately in the move to Ohio the hat had an untimely death. So we'll need to come up with something new this year. Or perhaps I can convince her to stay home and hand out candy to the younger kids. That would make me a happy momma!

As far as the Samhain ritual, we are going to join up with Inanna's Spiritual Center. I've talked Rev. Lynn to do a ritual at her center. There is a small group that wants it to happen at the center too so hopefully it will be a night of ritual and companionship. I can't wait! We are doing it on the 30th so everyone can go without our jobs (For those who have them) and school interfering.

This is apart of 31 Days of Samhain

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Spiritual Commitment

Over on The Deepest Well, bloggers are talking about spiritual commitment. The question is if you've converted to Paganism from another religion, have you done a commitment ceremony, and renounced your previous faith? Or do you do a mix/mash of both faiths?

Aine says, "The "way" we find is not always our own creation.  
We are not always allowed to customize it. "


I disagree. I "label" myself as Eclectic Wiccan. The definition of Eclectic Wicca is: 

• A group or solitary may use a blend of beliefs and practices from several different pantheons 
• and traditions.
• A group could be an offshoot of an established tradition of Wicca, such as Gardnerian 
• orAlexandrian, but with modifications to their practice that make them no longer that
• original tradition.

• An individual may be creating his or her own tradition of beliefs and practices, and because
•  this system can't be defined as something else, it can be defined as eclectic.
• A solitary may be practicing what he or she has learned from publicly available sources on 
• Wicca, but not be using oathbound, initiatory material, and so recognizes that his or her practice is eclectic.

Now I never claimed another religion. I was lucky enough to grow up in a home where religion wasn't a "Birthright". Though I think my mother just assumed I'd be Christian, she never shoved it down my throat. Her version of teaching religion was throw a bible at me (literally) and say, "read this". I did read some of it, and most of it didn't sit well with me. However before I made the choice to label myself Eclectic Wiccan, I studied many different religions. My husband and other spiritual leaders in my life were instrumental in my education. In college I also took a theology class. 

Most religions have at least a few things I agree with. I find it easy to incorporate portions of many religions into my own practice. One of my biggest disagreements with organized religion is that I felt boxed in. There seemed to be so many rigid practices. IMO, our perception influences our reality. For example, one person might believe sage should be used to cleanse a home. If you don't have sage some might rush out to buy some before they can do a cleansing ceremony. For me, If I don't have sage, I'll use tobacco or some other herb. As long as my perception of that herb is a cleansing scent/smoke then it will do the job I'm performing. 

Aine says, 

"They want a certificate, a title.  They have barely performed a 
successful spell or seen on full turn of the wheel and suddenly 
they are teaching others. "

Well that is true. Everyone, especially but not limited to Americans, want instant gratification. However I don't believe that a "newbie" to the craft is unable to teach others. Yes their experience is limited so they will not be able to teach as much as someone who has been dedicated to the craft most of their life. But what is teaching if not the practice of exchanging ideas? They can certainly share their experience and knowledge thus far. If they are setting themselves up as a "Know it all, been there and done that, Pagan, then they are misrepresenting themselves and should be avoided. I'm certainly not saying that someone who has just completed a year and a day of commitment to Wicca should go write a book or start their own coven. 

I am saying that they can talk with family and friends about what they believe. If something they say influences or teaches the people they are in contact with something new, then all to the good. When I was first starting out one of my outlets was Yahoo Religion's chat. I certainly learned something new every day. I also taught a lot about my beliefs. The exchange of ideas is never wrong unless your misrepresenting the information as "The one truth" or more than you really know. 

Aine says, 

In my opinion, it's too easy to dedicate to something without 
having to forfeit something else.  There is no risk, nothing to lose and because of this, it's too easy to commit.

For me, there was nothing to renounce before committing to Eclectic Wicca. But what a person has been in their past will always be with them. If they truly believe a portion of that path, then no amount of saying, "I renounce thee" is going to change it. My husband use to be a Sunday school teacher. He left Christianity when his church refused to marry his mother and step-father. (Mixed race marriage) Though he claims no religion, he'll tell you that what he believes closely resembles Native American Shamanism. That doesn't mean portions of the bible he once believed is totally unimportant now. Personally, I find most of the 10 commandments to be pretty good rules to live by. 

In closing, I'd like to leave you with this quote. 

"Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach." ~ Tom Robbins

18. What God(dess) do you involve in your Samhain rites?

Source

I don't believe its absolutely necessary to involve a specific deity in rituals. I've mentioned before that I am connected to Isis, but for Samhain I don't really work with her. I don't know why, her connection to life, death, and rebirth is strong. For Samhain, if I'm working solitary, I simply use "The Universal Energy". Or just Lord and Lady. If my husband is working with me, we may use The Great Spirit. All of them work for me. As long as I'm able to connect with that divine energy I don't believe it's important what we call it. 

This is apart of 31 Days of Samhain

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...to know everything, and nothing at all.

First let me say that I have been studying and Practicing Eclectic Wicca for approximately 15 years. In that time I have learned a lot about Wicca and I like to pass on knowledge through various outlets; one being this blog.

Recently I was emailed this from The Pagan Village. It is so true and relates to my point, so I'll share it. The one that really struck home for me is "To be a witch is to know everything, and nothing at all." As we age and become The Wise Woman I feel its our duty to teach the younger generation when they ask and are ready for it. But we should never say to ourselves, "I am done learning". From the day you are born to the day you die, you will learn something new. This is the way of the universe. To not seek new knowledge locks you into one perspective that is narrow and stagnant. Our life must be a positive flow, so therefore we should welcome new perspectives. We don't have to change our beliefs, we just have to learn how others view the world.

Later tonight on the Everything Pagan Page, the admin told us about WitchSchool.com . So to put words to action, I have signed up. I'll be taking Herbalism which I've expressed an interest in learning previously, and Pagan Law which I think would just be good useful information. I'd like to take aromatherapy as well, but I have to be honest with myself and say I'm too busy at the moment. With these courses I'm already overbooked as far as time. I have a 4 month old to take care of, plus writing, and eventually I will need to get a job! Though I'm not looking forward to that day.

So, there you have it. What steps do you take to learn new things about Paganism?


What Does It Mean to Be a Witch?

It's by anonymous.

• To be a witch is to love and be loved.
• To be a witch is to know everything, and nothing at all.
• To be a witch is to change the world around you and yourself.
• To be a witch is to share and give, while receiving all the while.
• To be a witch is to dance and sing, and hold hands with the universe.
• To be a witch is to honor the gods, and yourself.
• To be a witch it to BE magick, not just perform it.
• To be a witch is to be honorable, or nothing at all.
• To be a witch is to accept others who are not.
• To be a witch is to know what you feel is right and good.
• To be a witch is to harm none.
• To be a witch is to know the ways of the old.
• To be a witch is to see beyond the barriers.
• To be a witch is to follow the moon.
• To be a witch is to be one with the gods.
• To be a witch is to study and to learn.
• To be a witch is to be the teacher and the student.
• To be a witch is to acknowledge the truth.
• To be a witch is to live with the Earth, not just in it.
• To be a witch is to be truly free!

A picture of a witchy I-Want-It-Now!

I know it seems like a simple thing, but it really isn't. Its not particularly witchy, but can be with a little tlc. Its a house. Or rather, a home! This is what is missing in our life. Well that, and the funds to get one. I've picked a picture of a lovely little (or not so little) cottage with a lovely garden. Before DH lost his job in DEC we were working on buying a home. Plans fell through though and it was a good thing because we would have lost the house. But it was lovely. 4 bedrooms, in the country, two car garage, and room for the garden I want. Someday I'll get that. Until that happens, I can only dream.

Source

A witchy podcast.

Mostly I listen to rock music. One of my favorites is Godsmack. So here's a few for them, as well as a few folk music selections.

 

Godsmack -  Serenity

Sully Erna - Sinner's Prayer

Witches Chant

The Earth is my Mother

We all come from the Goddess

This last one is Susannah Martin by Touchstone. Since I am related to her, I've loved listening. I believe one of the band members are related to Susannah too. If your unaware of who Susannah Martin was, she was one of the women hung in the Salem Witch Trials in 1692.

Thoughts on the afterlife?

The Phoenix is a perfect symbol for reincarnation. It symbols Life, death, and rebirth and rising above adversity.

I believe that we are here to learn lessons in life so that we can become a more spiritual being. That means, we need many lives (Reincarnation) to achieve this goal. No one is going to learn every lesson in one life. Nor are we going to get every lesson right the first time around. I've talked about Soul Mates before. Basically I believe souls group together. We reincarnate together, we arrange times in our lives where we will meet. Some souls will stay together forever, some for a short time. It all depends on what each soul needs and how we can benefit each other in learning. I also believe once we've learned all we need to, we can choose to become guardian spirits for others. They are there to guide us if we listen.

When you mention reincarnation people always ask about spirits reincarnating in the form of an animal. I don't exclude the possibility. I think if the spirit has something to learn that can't be done in a human form, an animal may be the better option. So yes, I do believe animals have spirits. That doesn't mean that every spirit has been an animal in a past life. Matter of fact I think its more likely they have not.

I've chose to include a picture of a Phoenix for this entry because to me it symbolizes reincarnation perfectly. Its journey from new life and the journey to the end of its life, and then rebirth reminds us of the journey through our lives, and the adversity we face along the way.

Witchy tools: oils.

I use oils in my craft. I use them to anoint my candles mostly. My favorite is dragons blood. I have one bottle of oil that is simply labeled "Goddess". I'm not sure what scent it is but I like it.

Making oils is something I'd like to explore in further depth. I once tried to make rose oil and it didn't turn out well. I had looked up a recipe that said to use olive oil. I used roses I had received as a gift from DH. I let it seep for a few days and unfortunately it didn't turn out well. It smelled like rotten oil. Perhaps I should have used mineral oil. Not sure, but if you happen to know a better way to make it, please educate me!

The reason I anoint my candles is to imbue a certain quality for my candles. So say I want a candle for relationships. I would use a red candle, and anoint it with rose oil while thinking of my purpose.