At the Crossroads of History, Wishing Us All a Blessed Samhain

I’m the hallow-tide of all souls passing,
I’m the brilliant releaser of all ache,
I’m the quickener of the fallen seed-case,
I’m the look of snow, the strike of rain.
I’m the hole of the winter twilight,
I’m the hearth-fire and the welcome bread,
I’m the curtained awning of the pillow,
I’m endless knowledge’s golden thread.
by Caitlín Matthews, from Tune of Samhain, Celtic Devotional: Each day Prayers and Blessings

We have come to a different turning of the Nice Spherical, and the Celtic yr’s finish is now upon us. On this present day, we stand on the gateway between the previous, which is totally and without end gone and the brand new, which has not absolutely arrived.

It’s now that our beloved lifeless are remembered. Right here the veil thins and Thriller comes upon us, prepared or not.

There may be so little in our Western secular tradition that even remotely prepares us for the irrevocable powers of Life, Dying, and cthonic transformation, as they overturn the high fashion masks, plastic pumpkins, pointy hats, and chocolate bars.

That superficiality is being relentlessly uncovered in all its corruption and failure, and nothing will ever be the identical, regardless of how a lot Wall Avenue and Washington may want for it to be.

We’d do properly to study from the knowledge of different cultures, who take this threshold time to honor and have a good time their Ancestors.

For as soon as once more, we’re coming into the darkish half of the yr. What should you, no less than momentarily, stepped away from the artifice of our tradition, and listened to the whispers of your forebears? For there are treasures on this liminal time, bittersweet as they might generally be.

What’s Samhain?

The Nice Sabbat of Samhain (pronounced SAH-wen, SAH-ween, or SOW (rhymes with cow) -wen) is the third and last harvest, marking Summer time’s finish.

It’s the celebration of the New Yr in each the previous Celtic calendar and in addition in lots of traditions of the Craft. Within the Northern Hemisphere, this marks the midpoint between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice (though by strict astronomical reckoning that falls on Nov. 6 this yr (in most time zones).

Samhain is the alternative level of the yr from the celebrations of life and fertility of Might Day, or Beltane, which our pals beneath the equator are celebrating in the present day.

A most merry Beltane to all our pricey pals within the Southern Hemisphere!

A Witch’s View of Human Nature

As most educated folks know, neither Witches nor Samhain have something in any way to do with “devil,” who’s strictly a Christian invention. Whereas our tales have loads of tricksters and even a couple of nasty villains, there isn’t any entity of supernatural evil within the beliefs or practices of Witchcraft or Paganism.

Extra tellingly, most Witches and Pagans do not consider within the delusion of basic wrongness being on the coronary heart of the world, or human nature.

We particularly reject the notion of “unique sin” and the next everlasting punishment of all humanity, or that the “fall” was attributable to the inherent wickedness of Girl.

For millennia, Western civilization has been haunted and manipulated by the fear {that a} taint of evil lurks in even essentially the most harmless of us.

Sadly, the fallout from that is that most individuals are alienated from, and deeply afraid of, the pure cycles of residing, growing old, and dying. And but a morbid fascination with violence, loss of life, and horror are central to standard leisure pastimes.

For our ancestors, in addition to in cultures not dominated by the Abrahamic religions, whenever you eradicate the concern that there’s a stain of evil or accursedness dwelling inside each single one in every of us (mediated solely by the Church), then you may have a very completely different relationship to the actual fact of loss of life, in addition to the Earth Herself.

Dying might carry deep grief to these left behind, however it’s not the grotesque horror that we’ve turned it into, in our trendy, “enlightened” instances.

Quite the opposite, we sense that the boundary that lies between the residing and the departed, and between what’s previous, current, and future has grow to be skinny.

This isn’t a spooky, terrifying factor to us. Consensual actuality shifts, and different dimensions are revealed, enabling us to welcome and commune with our beloved lifeless, in addition to our Otherworldly guides and contacts.

Origins

Halloween and All Saints Day have their origin within the historical Celtic feast of Samhain. The All Saints ceremonies had initially been within the Springtime, however the Catholic church, in an try and stamp out the Pagan rites of Samhain, superimposed it to that point.

We don’t, the truth is, actually know what went on at these most historical rites, because the smart Ronald Hutton reminds us.

Within the trendy Gaelic languages, the title of the feast means “summer season’s finish.” Within the trendy Brythonic languages, it means “the primary day of winter.” It’s the finish of the top, the start of the start. The Celts honored the intertwining forces of existence: darkness and light-weight, night time and day, chilly and warmth, loss of life and life.

Celtic knotwork artwork represents this intertwining. The previous ones noticed time as continuing from darkness to gentle. Thus, the Celtic day started at nightfall, the start of the darkish and chilly night time, and ended the next nightfall, the top of a day of sunshine and heat.

Equally, the Celtic yr started with An Geamhradh (“an gyow-ragh”), the darkish Celtic winter, and ended with Am Foghar (“am fu-ghar”), the Celtic harvest. So Samhain marks the start of each An Geamhradh and the brand new Celtic yr.

All through historical past and throughout cultures, this can be a time for making peace with each other, and with the inevitability of loss of life.

This could have been the third and last harvest of the rising season, with Lughnasadh (Aug. 1) being the primary harvest of grains and Mabon (Equinox) being the ultimate harvest of fruit and veggies. Samhain marked the blood harvest of cattle, pigs, and different animals that needed to be culled with a purpose to survive the encroaching Winter.

Thus, tales with a theme of the loss of life and the transformation cycle, in addition to rituals honoring and welcoming the spirits of our beloved lifeless Ancestors are central to our rites.

Our Magical Legacy

Whereas the revelry of Halloween might be enjoyable, it’s not Pagan. As an alternative, Halloween is a commercialized, secular occasion. It’s amusing that some conservative church buildings try to “clear up” what they concern is the Pagan affect of this night time by having “Fall Harvest Festivals,” since that’s really a lot nearer to the Pagan observances.

This night time is our most holy, reflective, and deeply sacred time.

So to my pals who like to celebration, costume up, and carouse on this night time, take pleasure in. And maybe you may reserve the astronomical cross-quarter date as your non secular celebration.

Both means, we’ll be bidding welcome to our beloved departed ones by freshening their resting locations if close by, adorning our altars of their honor, getting ready their favourite meals, maybe internet hosting a dumb supper, and lighting candles to indicate them the way in which.

We assessment the previous yr’s triumphs and shortcomings, and we might burn symbols or precise gadgets in our bonfires representing that which we want to launch for good.

The Begin of the Wild Hunt

This can be a time of nice energy, after we might search knowledge by way of divination and sacred contact with the Otherworlds.

It’s a time to ponder our personal ephemeral existence on this Center World of life, and to just accept with grace our place within the Spiral Dance of life and loss of life.

Our predecessors took Samhain fairly significantly. Any crops not harvested by this present day have been recognized to belong to the “Shrouded One” and left alone.

Ancestors not honored right now might be anticipated to plague the residing with sick luck. Thus, tonight is a vital time to set a spot on the desk for the one that you love lifeless, and provides choices to those that have crossed over to the Summerlands.

Probably the most fierce Faery races, led by the Lord of the Faery, Finvara, King of the Lifeless, trip forth, starting on this night time, with the hosts of the lifeless, sweeping up all of the souls of those that have died inside the previous yr.

Generally referred to as The Wild Hunt, this fabled exercise continues till Xmas, so watch out for darkish, lonely locations within the night time, lest you be taken by mistake.

We Honor the Crone

On this sabbat, along with giving our honor to the Gods of the Wild Hunt and Gatherers of Souls, like Gwyn ap Nudd, we provide our devotion to the Divine Female in Her kind because the Underworld Goddess and the Previous One, together with the Morrighan, Demeter, Hel, and Orchil.

This yr, as we observe the cresting tide of fascism with its emphasis on misogynist, racist, authoritarian cruelty, I implore every one in every of you studying this to name upon your Wisest Ones, They who guard knowledge, justice, and democracy. They may embody the Goddesses Columbia, Justitia, Libertas, and Athena.

And by all that’s holy and good, I urge you to VOTE (and urge your pals to as properly).

And on this present day particularly, because the final day of the month is at all times sacred to Her, allow us to name upon mighty Hecate, who advocates for the downtrodden and marginalized, on behalf of moms and youngsters, and is our personal Goddess of the Witches.

The Burning Instances

As well as, on this present day, we keep in mind all these males, girls, and youngsters who’ve been burned, hanged, imprisoned, crushed, drowned, tortured, starved, and murdered as Witches.

The Witch hunts throughout The Inquisition and European wars of faith peaked between about 1580 and 1630, however there have been over three centuries of terror, with an estimated complete of 40,000–100,000 folks executed. Principally girls.

However let’s be clear.

Witchcraft continues to be misunderstood and persecuted throughout the globe in the present day. In some nations, together with so-called “trendy” ones, suspected Witches are nonetheless routinely put to public and torturous loss of life. Alas, these persecutions are on the rise once more, for when concern and ignorance tip into the intense, scapegoats grow to be targets.

As Venture 2025 and the MAGA manipulators search to create an authoritarian theocracy, we Pagans and Witches have quite a bit to be involved about.

Thus, we’ll proceed to try for justice and understanding for all in peril. And we vow:

By no means once more the burnings! And hangings. And drownings. And torture.

The Wall of Remembrance in Salem, Massachusetts

Dates of Execution from America’s REAL Witchhunt –
(And, frankly, screw those that have just lately tried to trivialize this time period for his or her self-pity and ego!)

I invite you to recollect them aloud in your rites on this holy day:

• Bridget Bishop (June 10, 1692)
• Rebecca Nurse (July 19, 1692)
• Sarah Good (July 19, 1692)
• Elizabeth Howe (July 19, 1692)
• Susannah Martin (July 19, 1692)
• Sarah Wildes (July 19, 1692)
• George Burroughs (August 19, 1692)
• George Jacobs Sr. (August 19, 1692)
• Martha Provider (August 19, 1692)
• John Proctor (August 19, 1692)
• John Willard (August 19, 1692)
• Martha Corey (September 22, 1692; spouse of Giles Corey)
• Mary Eastey (September 22, 1692)
• Mary Parker (September 22, 1692)
• Alice Parker (September 22, 1692)
• Ann Pudeator (September 22, 1692)
• Wilmot Redd (September 22, 1692)
• Margaret Scott (September 22, 1692)
• Samuel Wardwell Sr. (September 22, 1692)
• Giles Corey (September 19, 1692) – Pressed to loss of life, the one such execution on document in America. Final phrases, “Extra weight!”

Died in jail

• Ann Foster — convicted and died in custody in December 1692
• Mercy, toddler daughter of Sarah Good
• Sarah Osborne— died in jail (Might 10, 1692) earlier than she might be tried
• Roger Toothaker – died earlier than trial (June 16, 1692) in all probability as a consequence of torture or maltreatment
• Lydia Dustin – discovered not responsible however died in custody

Convicted however escaped:

A Few of the Beloved Lifeless of 2024

This yr, numerous precise Witches, Pagans, and different non-traditional magical folks crossed the veil. My because of Rebecca Crystal of the Church of All Worlds (C.A.W.) who tracks these annually. These are a couple of of our luminaries. We take a second to thank them and want them blessed journeys:

• Arthur Goheen, 12/10/1938 – 1/13/2024:  Church of All Worlds; founder Pals of Annwfn.
• Diane Darling, 5/19/1951 – 1/23/2024: Edited Inexperienced Egg 1988-1994; editor PanGaia and Inexperienced Man. In triad marriage with Morning Glory and Oberon 1982-1994, she was a significant determine within the early polyamory motion, and later LSD psychonaut. An ordained Priestess of the Fellowship of Isis, she known as herself a “Buddheo-Pagan.”
• Ed Fitch (Ed Sitch), 4/29/1937 – 2/24/2024: Initiated Gardnerian by Ray Buckland. One of many creators of “The Pagan Approach;” an editor of The Waxing Moon journal based by Joseph B. Nilson in 1964, later renamed The Crystal Effectively.
• Don Wildgrube, 7/20/1938 – 4/8/2024: One of many earliest and most devoted CAW members in St Louis, with complete household within the late Nineteen Sixties. Hosted West Nest conferences.
• Francis Andrew Dalton III, 7/27/1954 – 4/14/2024: Organizer of CraftWise, a Pagan convention (1995-1999), Water Steward, Brushwood Folklore Heart (23 years), beloved Husband and Excessive Priest. Pals recall that Frank was a compassionate, mild, candy soul with a core of metal.
• Brian A “Trebleheart” Morse, 5/7/1961 – 5/8/2024 Identified for his soulful taking part in, main rituals, readings, guided meditations, and his beneficiant spirit. At all times sharing his knowledge and light-weight with others.
• MaryAnn Wilson, 1/26/1952 – 6/3/2024: Artist, a musician (mandolin, in addition to vocals, guitar, and bodhran), and lover of all issues classic. She by no means failed to talk up towards injustice and devoted her appreciable abilities and nice coronary heart to creating the world a greater place for everybody no matter race, faith, gender or sexual id.
• Woman Marybeth “Pythia” Witt, 4/2/1952 –  6/22/2024: Co-founded the Coven of the Floating Spiral in 1975 with Peregrine and Thaelia as a “Witchmage” custom that follows an eclectic path.  In 1985, Woman Pythia co-founded the Ohio Native Council of the Covenant of the Goddess.  In 1989, she took over as 2^nd officer and arranged the 1989 Grand Council and Merry Meet held in Circle Pines, Michigan. She is remembered as a poet, a jeweler, a superb astrologer, and psychic.
• Ruthann Amarteifio, (Woman Ruthann), 5/22/48 – 7/16/2024: Devoted Pagan chief, trainer, and elder, together with Arch Priestess of the New Aeon Church Worldwide and the New Aeon Custom of Wicca (previously the Correllian Nativist Custom, Vice President of the Board of Administrators, and Head of the Orders of Gaia, Daughters of the Goddess, Fireplace Keepers, and Earth Walkers. She was the founder and Chief Priestess of Akasha Temple in Illinois and Arch Priestess of the Temple of Astral Mild in New York. She was a member of many pagan organizations, together with the Fellowship of Isis, Chrysalis Ministries, Earthwise Gyre.
• Rhiannon Renee Rock, 10/3/1959- 8/2/2024: Proprietess at Driving in Love, proprietor at Moon Struck Magick, Crystal Sound Therapeutic Artist, devoted to the Consciousness Evolution of the Planet.
• Dagonet “Dag” Dewr (secular title, Duke Anthony Egbert), 2/28/1968 – 5/1/2024: Co–founding father of the Pagan Satisfaction Venture and served as each Membership Coordinator and Government Director. Dag contributed to males’s emotional improvement as a 29-time occasion staffer and an elder within the ManKind Venture. Helped edit newWitch journal (2001-2006) and authored Sacred Paths for Trendy Males in 2007.

And eventually, and most pricey to my very own coronary heart, in addition to to all who attended SpiralHeart Witchcamp throughout the Buffalo Hole, WV years:

• Kathie Conn (magical title Ayramaia). 5/10/1955 – 4/24/2024:
  
  Kathie was a beloved member of the Camp Ops group for a few years at Buffalo Hole, retaining the whole lot operating easily and dealing with each form of state of affairs with grace and creativity.She based the primary Dying Cafe in Northern Virginia and along with being a Feri/Reclaiming Witch, she was dedicated to Mary Magdalene. Her humor, enthusiasm for all times, and love of the wonder in all issues made her a cherished buddy to me and numerous others.

Might they relaxation in energy. Hail the vacationers.

Gone and Misplaced Without end

As well as, we grieve for the waves of extinction now catapulting our biosphere into spoil.

In response to a report updated just this month, the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, is sounding the alarms concerning the mass extinction occasion underway throughout our planet.

WWF’s 2024 Residing Planet Report particulars a median 73% decline in wildlife populations since 1970.

The report warns that, because the Earth approaches harmful tipping factors posing grave threats to humanity, an enormous collective effort might be required over the following 5 years to deal with the twin local weather and nature crises.

Which jogs my memory that I’d be remiss to not point out the numerous numbers of people and wildlife which have perished, or whose lives have been shattered, as a consequence of disasters triggered by the local weather apocalypse now underway. Heavy alone coronary heart this yr are our pals and neighbors in Western North Carolina.

Who may you add to this record of the Beloved Lifeless?

Mild a candle to information your cherished ones that they might be part of you this night time. Communicate their names, and inform them of your life because you final met. Provide them refreshment. And provides because of your Ancestors, who noticed you of their goals.

Weaver, weaver weave their thread
Entire and powerful into your net;
Healer, healer, heal their ache,
In love might they return once more.

We merry meet.
And merry half.
And merry meet once more.
What’s remembered lives.

Blessed be.