22. Samhain Divination. Draw one Tarot card and tell us how it relates to your life.

Source

The 6 of cups: This card represents opening the heart to the simple pleasures of life. This card reminds us to follow the simple joy of youth and innocence. It teaches us to be in harmony with natural forces and allow old friends to enter our life again.

This card makes a lot of sense to me. This year has been all about change and getting back to my husbands (and mine) childhood homes. Though my family in Ohio is not on speaking terms, I do still consider Ohio to be "The homeland". Really, I have two home states, because although I will gladly bitch about how backward Kentucky really is, I've grown fond of it over the years.

As far as the "simple pleasures", well I could read that in a lot of ways. Earlier I said I want to live like a gypsy. That would involve bringing the simple pleasures back to our life. We wouldn't have access to things like cable TV or the Internet. Both things Dh and I both love and find it difficult to live without. Yet there is a certain health benefit (Both spiritual and physical) of unplugging and being closer to nature. I've long said that I believe embracing our faith more and getting back to nature are going to be how Dh's mental illness is maybe not cured, but controlled.

I suppose what will be will be. I'm trusting in the Lord & Lady to guide us. I'm sure she will. But like anyone now, I'm impatient to get things moving! I have a feeling around the first of the year things will turn around for us. Which isn't soon enough for me. But we shall see.

This is apart of 31 Days of Samhain

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3. What do I wish to teach people about Samhain?

Samhain (Pronounced Sow- in or Sam - Hayn) is the witches New Year. However some do not celebrate the New Year till Yule. Samhain is the last of the three Gaelic harvest festivals and a time to honor our ancestors. For this reason its often associated as the dark time. This does not mean evil. Wiccans recognize a balance in nature. Without light, you cannot have the dark and vice versa.

Samhain is often observed on October 31st - Nov 1st. Divination is performed to communicate with the dead since it is believed that the veil between the spirit world and our world is thinned during this time. Because of this thinned veil the spirits are known to return to their kin. To avoid unwanted spirits, everyone dresses up and begs door to door for treats so the spirits cannot tell who is alive and who isn't.

Many years ago I wrote a small marriage vow renewal for Samhain. With celebrating the New Year I feel it is appropriate to celebrate new life as well. So this is why I chose that time. Unfortunately we just never got around to doing it for some reason. I'll share what I wrote here. This is by no means a complete ritual. But as I've said before, I don't like sharing my complete plans. I feel you should do the rite yourself. If you have no experience in doing that, you need a mentor.

Vowel Renewal at Samhain

To open this circle I walk thrice about. No evil shall enter nor dwell about. (Said 3 times walking clockwise to open circle)

Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, I call to you now to bless this rite. Join us and be known.

(Corners called)

Ancestors, Listen to my call. I welcome you now to the circle I have drawn.
(Name ancestors)

Samhain is a time to honor our ancestors that have passed. But with death there is life. Which is why I have chosen this time to renew my love for you Lance. From the moment I met you I have loved you. These past __ years have been my dream manifested into reality. I renew those vows now and ask that Aphrodite bless our union with many more blissful years together.

(DH repeat or say own vows)

Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, I thank you for your blessing. May your gift remain in our hearts. Go now, and blessed be.

(Corners released)

To close this circle I walk thrice about. No evil shale remain nor dwell about. (Said 3 times walking counter clockwise to close circle)

This is apart of my 31 Days of Samhain

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A picture of a tarot or oracle card, and its meaning.

I use Ralph Blum's Rune card tarot deck. Its the only deck I've ever used and honestly I only use it to get me started on a reading. Then I just go by intuition. The card I like best is The Journey (Raidho).  It has a picture of a mountain with an R symbol around it.

I like this card because I feel that life should be about the journey, not the destination. If your not happy in life, change it. Don't say you'll wait for later because life is not a guarantee. This card teaches us to take pleasure in the now. 

Here is Raidho's meaning.

Raidho: (R: Wagon or chariot.) Travel, both in physical terms and those of lifestyle direction. A journey, vacation, relocation, evolution, change of place or setting. Seeing a larger perspective. Seeing the right move for you to make and deciding upon it. Personal rhythm, world rhythm, dance of life. Raidho Reversed or Merkstave: Crisis, rigidity, stasis, injustice, irrationality. Disruption, dislocation, demotion, delusion, possibly a death.