Tag Archives: pagan

Sabbats: Samhain

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Samhain is usually celebrated on October 31st (April 30th in the southern hemisphere).  I have heard it pronounced both “sahm hayne” and  “sow-een”. This is my explanation of this holiday.  It may or may not work for you and your path.  There are a number of things that this Sabbat usually celebrates.  fall-wreaths-2380990hd-64_1000

  • The final harvest
  • Days growing shorter
  • The end of the wheel of the year
  • The thinning of the veil between our realm and the spirit realm
  • Death (sometimes rebirth, but usually that’s saved for Yule)
  • Honoring our ancestors
  • Honoring those who have crossed over into the spirit realm

That’s a lot of things to celebrate, so it’s not surprising that many people celebrate it in different ways.  Here are some ways that I and others celebrate it culturally.

  • Carve pumpkins or gourds to protect the home (I have also heard the explanation that these light the way for your ancestors to visit).
  • Make and eat foods that are harvested around this time where you live.  In the northeast United States where I live, it’s mostly Hope-Cemetery-Barre-Vermont-Viewspumpkins, winter squash, and apples. Warm apple cider is always a favorite!
  • Do divination for the coming year.
  • Visit the graves of loved ones who have passed.
  • Create an altar with photos of your ancestors.
  • Light a candle in your window to honor your ancestors.
  • Tell stories about those who have passed.
  • Make art with fallen leaves (this obviously doesn’t work if you don’t live somewhere where the leaves change).
  • Decorate your altar or living space with symbols of the time of year.

Here are some ideas for Samhain rituals.

  • Bindings
  • Cord cuttings
  • Endings of any kind
  • List things you no longer want in your life and burn the list
  • Honoring the ancestors
  • Guided meditations
  • Shadow work
  • Make peace that you will one day die
  • Invoking a Crone Goddess (for the experienced only)
  • Divination for the coming year

Please remember that your celebration and ritual can be as simple or complex as you want and have time for. How do you celebrate Samhain?

Samhain-2011

Book Reviews

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Here is a list of book reviews I have done on Pagan topics and spirituality.  It’s going to take some time for me to get a substantial list going, but here is what I have so far.  Please comment if there is a book you would like me to review.Bookshelf1

13 Original Clan Mothers by Jamie Sams

Empowering Your Life with Wicca by Sirona Knight

Sabbats by Edain McCoy

The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall

The Simple Sabbat by M. Flora Peterson

Book Review: The Simple Sabbat

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Title: The Simple Sabbat – A Family Friendly Approach to the Eight Pagan Holidays

Author: M. Flora Peterson

Pages: 154

The first 22 pages were filled with information about the author, table of contents, dedication, prologue, and introduction.

The first chapter of 2 pages explains the wheel of the year. Chapter 2 delves into ritual circle formats. It offers a family-friendly version of rituals.

The remaining chapters are on the Sabbats. Each Sabbat offers the following sections: time, meaning of the season, God, Goddess, colors, altar, activities, an incense recipe, an oil recipe, a food recipe, a ritual, and sometimes a craft. There are also a few pages for notes at the end of each chapter.

The book really ends on page 138, but there are several pages about the author’s other books.

Verdict: 7/10 – I liked a lot of the activity ideas. There were a lot of references to her YouTube channel (probably too many references) for craft ideas and more recipes. Many of the rituals weren’t terribly family friendly. I guess it depends how old your kids are. I would have liked to see more ways to involve your family in ritual. There was also just one to two sentences describing the purpose of each holiday. If I were a beginner, I would have liked more information.

I also tried the recipe for skull bread. They tried to make it accessible for vegans or those with allergies, but mine didn’t taste or look very good, despite my baking experience.

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Sabbats: Imbolg

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Imbolg (pronounced phonetically) is also referred to as Imbolc. It is a mid-winter holiday celebrated on February 1-2 in the northern hemisphere or August 1-2 in the southern hemisphere.  It seems to be the least practiced and least understood of the sabbats.  Imbolg celebrates the following:imbolg 2

  • halfway point through the winter
  • the sun starting to return
  • ewes and goats starting to produce milk again
  • some signs of spring returning (depending on where you live)
  • some people call it Brigid’s Day and honor her

Here are some ways that I and other people I know celebrate this holiday culturally:

  • lighting candlesimbolg 1
  • clean your home
  • cleanse your home
  • do guided meditations
  • do inner work
  • make crafts
  • unplug all electronics for the day
  • light your home by candlelight for the night
  • make and eat foods made with milk and dairy products
  • read books to improve your spiritual knowledge
  • feed animals who might be struggling through the winter
  • take a walk in the snow (if your locale permits)
  • create a corn dolly
  • create a protective sigil
  • de-clutter your home

Here are some ideas for Imbolg rituals:

  • Call for the return of the sun
  • Bless holiday-appropriate foods and eat them
  • Meditation
  • Inner work
  • Honor the Goddess Brigid
  • Cleanse your ritual tools
  • Protection spells

Please remember that your celebration and ritual can be as simple or complex as you want and have time for. How do you celebrate Imbolg?

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