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    Samhain Correspondences

    Other Names: celtic ~ Summer’s End, pronounced “sow” (rhymes with now) “en” (Ireland), sow-een (Wales) – “mh” in the middle is a “w” sound – Greater Sabbat(High Holiday) – Fire Festival Oct 31-Nov 1(North Hemisphere) – Apr 30-May 1 – The Great Sabbat, Samhiunn, Samana, Samhuin, Sam-fuin, Samonios, Halloween, Hallomas, All Hallows Eve, All Saints/All Souls Day(Catholic), Day of the Dead (Mexican), Witches New Year, Trinoux Samonia, Celtic/ Druid New Year, Shadowfest (Strega), Martinmas or Old Hallowmas (Scotttish/Celtic) Lá Samhna (Modern Irish), Festival of the Dead, Feile Moingfinne (Snow Goddess), Hallowtide (Scottish Gaelis Dictionary), Feast of All Souls, Nos Galen-gae-of Night of the Winter Calends (Welsh), La Houney or Hollantide…

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    Hally’s Hints

    Energetic Shifts Over the past couple of weeks there has been a real feel of increased sensitivity and at first I was convinced it was my female being rolling with the flow of natural evolution. However, as the week became two weeks and now hinting into three the increased sensitivities and the clarity to awareness are yet to be dulled. So, I decided to ask around and see if this was just me. Was it? It was then I realised that there are energetic shifts occurring. Some of us will feel it more than others and sometimes at different times. It can be because of the journey each of us…

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    Wicca 101

    Grounding and Centering Grounding and Centering is a very basic concept, that isn’t just a Wiccan thing. It’s something you can find outside of witchcraft, and well established and and widley practiced…..they just might not call it the same thing. Grounding and Centering in something practiced in Yoga, to help align your Chakras. It’s practiced in meditation, in the Catholic Church through saying “Hail Mary’s,” and so on and so forth. Grounding: There are many different ways to ground out your energy. Some people use a candle, others use breathing techniques. I use a beach. Imagine standing on a sandy white beach, ankles in 3 or four inches of crystalline…

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    HearthBeats: Crafts from a Kitchen Witch

    Hey Guys and Gals.. I am sending out some crafts and ideas… Thought it might be interesting for Samhain Besom You will need: 4ft dowel- 1″ in diameter or a tree branch of the same approximate size, ball of twine, scissors, straw, thin willow twigs, broom corn or pliable herb stock. Take the straw or other herb stalk that you have chosen and soak overnight in luke warm salted water. The water swells the stalk slightly for bending without breakage, and the salt dispels former energies. When ready, remove stalks from the water and dry for just a bit. Not too much or the stalk will stiffen up, again. Place…

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    Pagan Parenting

    Parenting our Parents At this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere we are reminded of the slow period of life.  The heat of summer gives way to crisp nights,  leaves fall from the trees and circle our feet and the days get shorter.  As parents we see infinite youth in our children’s eyes, autumn to them is a time for fun, school and heralds the approach of winter celebrations and snow play. As Samhain approaches I am always reminded of our ancestors and elders.  They are the keepers of the family stories and the example of the autumn and winter phases of life’s circle.  How do we as pagans…

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    Rebel Rede

    Yin Yang: Finding the Balance-Part II Last month I wrote about the Chinese concept of yin and yang. I was inspired to write that article based on my own journey from a masculine-based religious practice to a female-based spiritual practice. One way Pagans try to find balance within their spiritual practice is to work with both male and female deities. This is only way example of balance though. Being a balanced witch does not simply mean working with both male and female deities. In fact there can be Dianic witches who are much more balanced than their Pagan counterparts. We need balance in all areas of our lives whether mundane…

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    Spellwork Through Poetry, Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: What is poetry Objective: to define poetry as an art form and a tool; to become familiar with the kinds of poetry we will be working with for the remainder of the class. What is poetry? “poetry is literature in metrical form” is what you will find in the dictionary. That barely scratches the surface of what poetry is. poetry really is something that is almost impossible to define, it is so varied from form to form, author to author, that it if definition-less. While we can’t make a nice definition wrapped in a little bow, we can discuss what poetry is. poetry is, in many critics’ opinions,…

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    Goddess Cards

    CERRIDWEN Samhain/Halloween Samhain (pronounced “Sow-en”) or Halloween is the most magical night of the year! Celebrated on October 31st, beginning at sundown, it is the greatest of the four Pagan Sabbats that divide the ancient calendar into winter, spring, summer and fall. Samhain means “end of summer.” The summer reign of the Goddess is now over; the Winter King is on his way. In ancient days, Samhain was the Celtic New Year, a time of gathering in for pastoral folk. Crops were harvested and stored. Animals were driven in from summer pasturage and slaughtered for food, or housed in barns and pens. People came home to ride out the harsh…