Sacred Harvest Fruits

The Samhain (pronounced Sow-wane) is the ancient Celtic New Year. On Oct 31, the last night of the old year, the veil between the worlds is lifted and ghosts and spirits roam the night.

How do Witches celebrate?

Like all the other folks! We dress up in our New Year's Eve finery and party down at the Witches' Ball! Some witches like to dress spooky in the old Celtic tradition, and other modern Wiccans like to dress like beautiful gods and goddesses or fairy sprites or magickal symbols because they believe that the costume they wear on this night symbolizes the energy brought into the New Year. Some witches like to play it low key on Samhain and stay home with family, close friends, or coven members. They practice quiet meditation and ritual to prepare themselves for the coming year. They use divination to communicate with the ancestors and spirit guides for advice on the coming year.

On the Autumn Equinox (Sep 21), the power of the pagan god is cut down and symbolically buried in the earth to seed and fertilize for the coming spring. The time between Samhain (Oct 31) and the Winter Solstice (Dec 21) is the time and rulership of the Crone. It is the night of Hecate; Queen (and Goddess) of the Witches. She is honored with chants and a spiral dance to raise Her cone of power. It is also traditional to draw down the Goddess into a Priestess of the Coven. The Priestess serves as a channel to receive and speak the words and messages of the Goddess.

There are two foods which are sacred to Her and associated with the Autumn Harvest. The first is the apple and the sacred power symbol of the witches is hidden within the core of the fruit. Cut an apple in half horizontally and you will find the pentacle inside. Make a wish and eat half to empower your body and soul. Offer the other half to the Goddess. Leave as a libation under a tree. The second sacred fruit is the pomegranate. This represents the blood and womb of the mother. It is said that Persephone ate 3 pomegranate seeds to enter the underworld. Many witches are superstitious about eating too many seeds because they do not want to pass through the abyss. It is important to know that in other middle eastern mythologies, the pomegranate represents prosperity and well being and it is tradtional to eat as many seeds as possible. Open the fruit and offer half to the Goddess. Eat as few or as many as ye will.
Blessed Samhain and Happy Halloween!

MABON MAGICK

The Mabon or Autumn Equinox has arrived and the Harvest Season is in full swing. One of the strongest symbols of this Sabbat is the SICKLE. It is used to trim the grain and the word itself means "to cut". In the Wicca, the sickle is a magical tool used to symbolically cut down the Sun God and return him to the earth. His reign is now over as is symbolized by the shortening of the days. Although a somewhat mournful rite, we realize that his rest in the earth will bring rebirth just as seed planted in the womb brings gestation and new life.

The sickle is used to separate the wheat from the chaff. It is a tool that can cut away all that is useless and harmful as well as gather and reap all the fruits and rewards of the hard work we have done throughout the year.

THE SICKLE MEDITATION can be done any time between Sep 23 and Nov 1. Begin by visualizing any obstacles, fears, or dangers that you face and see yourself cutting them down with the sickle and pushing them away from you with the POWERFUL sickle in your right hand.

This harvest season is less difficult than last year, when loss of lives over a wasteful war and loss of lives and livelihoods due to hurricanes caused an enormous amount of stress and grief to this nation and the world. This year, many are still dealing with grief and recovery which potentially decreases the good that can be gleaned. In regard to this, it becomes even more important to visulize the cutting away of negative and baneful energies that deplete the harvest.

Now take three deep breaths and imagine all you have worked hard for, and everything you are thankful for. Imagine the good you have and the good you hope and wish for - take all these images and gather them up in the CRESCENT of the sickle. Pull them towards you with the sickle in your right hand. End this ritual visualization by saying a prayer of gratitude in your own words to the God and Goddess.

The 22nd/23rd of this month is the NEW MOON. It is not just any old new moon because according to lunar (13 month) calendars, it is the first new moon of the year. It is also Rosh Hashanah or the Jewish New Year and on the 24th, Ramadan begins. These three days are extremely powerful for cleansing and rebirth. It is also an important time to gird or seal yourself with strength so that you don't lose what you have already gained.


To increase, strengthen and protect your assets (both spiritual and material) or to draw and renew abundance, take a TRES LECHES BATH on the NEW MOON . Fill a tub with water and add one cup whole milk (cow's), one cup goat's milk (easily found in health food stores), and one cup coconut milk. Soak for a minimum of ten minutes and then wrap yourself in a white towel or bathrobe and air dry. Do not soap or rinse off for 8 hours after this soak. It is best to take at night before retiring. (If you do not have a bath tub, you may mix 8 quarts water with one cup of each milk into a bucket and pour over your head and shoulders while standing in the shower.)

Got Milk?! It is a very powerful ingredient to work magick with. Milk is sacred to the Moon and the Mother Goddess and contains energies of nurturing, sustanance, protection, and prosperity.
Blessed Be! Happy Healthy Bountiful Harvest!

Blessed Fall

Blessed Autumn and in this time we begin our preparation for the Witches New Year and Great Sabbat of Samhain. The image of the snake reminds me of the change of the coming season. May we be blessed to shed what is old and outdated and no longer serves us just as the serpent sheds it's skin. May we also emerge into the coming season with a new skin renewed strength, and wisdom. May the Serpent goddess, Lilith, and the goddesses of Wisdom, Hecate, inspire and enlighten you in this season.

Photo of Lexa and her familiar Angel taken for Interview Magazine in 1984 by Christopher Makos

BLESSED BELTANE

Here are some photos from Nancy Venus's
13th Annual Beltane in the Park

Lady Venus (Lexa) was pleased to teach an astrology workshop
and thanks all the wonderful folks who participated.














The Beltane is one of the Great Sabbats of the
Witches and Pagans and is celebrated on May 1.




























Faires, nymphs, gnomes, elves, wee ones, and even belly dancers LOVE the MAY!















Worshipers sing and dance while wrapping ribbons around the maypole. The May Pole symbolizes the Phallis. Originally, ribbons were red and white to symbolize the blood of the Virgin.














In modern times, ribbons of all colors are used. Nowadays the ribbon color symbolizes the color you wish to weave into your life for the year.















This time marks the fertility of the earth. A May Queen and King are chosen as representatives of the God and Goddess.





























Sometimes those "gods" need to be tied down so they don't run away!





It was a great Beltane Celebration
thanks to Copper Cauldron, Nancy Venus and John C.
We ran our ribbons round the maypoles,
danced the Spiral Dance, and jumped the Beltane Fires
for blessing,fertility, creativity, power, and prosperity.



photo credits: Lexa/John C.