The Modern Merlin’s Corner: Samhain 2024 Special Edition
Welcome to a day filled with frights, ghosts, spirits and spooky vibes. This is Halloween. This is Samhain. A sacred day of honoring our dead, our ancestors, and helping the dead with unfinished business move on. This is a time to celebrate the cycle of life, death and rebirth. It’s a time to cast witcheries; protective and baneful; beneficent and malevolent alike. Let your inner Witch out, because it’s our season!
The Dead Roam Among Us
As I write this, an eerie, cool, yet warm, wind blows, making leaves fall all around. It’s the breath of the spirits coming to visit us, whether with good intent or ill. This Samhain feels more potent than the last few I remember. Perhaps because of the Scorpio Dark and New Moon tonight and tomorrow morning. All of the spirits are out and about today, can’t you feel it? There’s a thickness in that wind, as if the spirits are speaking. Mischief from not-so-nice spirits is afoot, and protection is needed. I know I’m decked out today, with multiple rings, bracelets, pendants and gemstones.
A Westerly Wind Blows
After taking a break from writing and my various other Samhain activities, I went to a few stores in my area, and perused the Halloween and Fall decor sections. I found a Jack O’ Lantern Shirt, as well as other various trinkets to include in my spell work and rituals tonight.
The wind, which at some points is howling, is blowing from the West, the direction of the departed souls, and their realm, which is known by many names: the Underworld, Hades, the Otherworld, the Otherside, Hel, and the like. This wind once again cements my belief that this Samhain is somehow different; the stars are aligning in ways and in signs that lend to a supernatural feeling. Hijinx are all about in my little town, with people celebrating (or not) with less-than desirable attitudes, especially on the road. When I speak of hijinx, I don’t only mean practical jokes and pranks; I’m referring to some less-than-friendly spirits, and energies that often times make their presence known as the day progresses on Samhain, and once the sun has set, as it has now.
The westerly wind is still blowing, and I hear the spirits speaking to me through it; in the leaves rustling along the ground, in the wind itself howling, and in the feeling in the air. The westerly wind brings the ancestors, the departed, and entities that have never been corporeal, have never taken physical form. The westerly wind should be embraced, and cautioned, as not all spirits are our friends!
Jack O’ Lanterns and Spooky Vibes
Jack O’ Lanterns are the most recognizable symbol of Samhain and Halloween; in times past, faces were carved into different produce to drive away evil spirits on the night of All Souls. Pumpkins, being the seasonal staple here in the States, is the most commonly seen produce used for Jack O’ Lanterns. Pumpkins themselves bring prosperity and abundance, and if the Jack O’ Lantern is made alongside ritual with intent, can be extremely protective. Even those like myself who live in apartments where they might be stolen or ruined, can get in on it as well. There’s electronically lit decorations that can go outside, and you can even find some metal ones that are lanterns with tea lights. The key to Jack O’ Lantern Magick is that it’s lit somehow, and that the face is there, with intent to drive away evil spirits. I speak from experience using this method.
Familiar spirits for the witch, like Bats, Owls, Black Cats, Spiders and the like are out and about on this spooky night; my black cat, Lucky, sits on the window sill observing the dusk and nightfall, listening to the Westerly Wind bringing the spirits for a visit. Homemade food cooking in the oven for the Dumb Supper, and candles and Jack O’ Lanterns lit, my one-bedroom apartment has taken on the life of the witch’s home on this Samhain. In the past week, I’ve seen Bats, Owls, and many Spiders while I’m out and about, reminders of the witchy day that is now upon us. Spiders weaving their webs as I weave my spells, I leave their webs up so they can have their home, and their webs have protective powers for my home. The Bats and Owls feed on nuisance insects and pests, and Lucky observes all at night.
Ideas for celebrating Samhain on a low-budget, and with low energy
- Have a private Sèance. Get the spirit board out and talk to the spirits. Just make sure you’re protected from the not-so-friendly ones
- Do divination-any kind
- Scry into water, a black mirror, a regular mirror, or even the flame of a candle
- Cast spells-protection and banishing work well, especially with the Dark Scorpio Moon upon us this evening
- Meditate
- Induce a trance, and meet me at the Sabbath!
What Am I Doing Tonight?
Well, I’ve got a private Sèance planned for myself, as well as some scrying and divination. All after my Dumb Supper with the ancestors and spirits. After that, I’ve got a few spells to cast, and then I’m using my Belladonna ritual oil from The Poisoner’s Apothecary to induce trance, and fly to the sabbath tonight. I hope to see some of you there 😉
I hope you’ve enjoyed my short entry, weaved with wonder, awe and magick, and that this Samhain blesses you and your family.
Samhain and Halloween Blessings,
~The Modern Merlin
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Author Bio:
The Modern Merlin has been a Polytheist and Animist Pagan, Witch, Sorcerer, Wizard, Druid, Mystic, Ceremonial Magician, Occultist, Shaman, Seer and Soothsayer for 15 years, worshipping and casting magick with deities and spirits from many cultures, including Ancient Greece, Rome, Norse & Germanic, Celtic, Egyptian, Sumerian, as well as many Faeries, Nymphs, Dryads, Ancestors and other nature and land spirits and spirits of place. He has experience in the Left and Right Hand Paths, working with both hands as needed. He currently practices Necromancy and Deathwalking, as well as Traditional Witchcraft, Druidry, Hellenism and Ceremonial Magick, incorporating all of them into a cohesive practice, with some shamanic touches. He studies and practices Astrology as well as Tarot and other forms of divination such as Runes, Palmistry and Ogham. He has a personal blog where he shares Astrological, Pagan, and other magickal wisdom for free! He gives readings and other spiritual services on his Facebook Page, The Modern Merlin, as well other free informational posts for everyone to see!
