Samhain
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Samhian, All Souls, All Hallows Eve, Halloween
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Samhain, pronounced 'Sow'ain', is the most important sabbat in the witches year. It begins and ends
the Whell of the Year the same way that New Years does the conventional calender. As soon as it starts
to get dark on October 31, Samhain begins. The celebration usually either begins or peaks around midnight.
Celebration most often takes place on November 1, the first day of the new year, or November 2 if commitments
overrun.
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The reputation is that Samhain is linked with death, spirits of the dead, and with all sorts of 'spookyness'.
The festival mark the time of the year when the winter months are definatly on their way. It was used
as a time for people to take stock of what supplies they they had for the winter. They would count the
grains they gathered and how many animals they had. People would assess what animals would last through
winter and slaughter those they felt wouldn't make it.They would have great feasts for Samhain, after
all this was the last time they would have fresh food until spring.
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On the Celtic calender, Samhain is know as a intercalary day, a day outside the 'normal' year. This
when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is thinnest.Witches set aside a special
Samhain feast for spirits they have invited, for those who care to join us.We don't summon spirits to
be with us, we feel it is not right to disturb the peace of thos ewho have died before. It is tradition
to light a candle in the mindow, so tht the spirits might find thier way to you. This is the origin of
Jack--o-lanterns.
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It is also beleived that this is when the Wild Hunt begins, The Horned God rides with his hounds and
gathers souls who linger and have become unwary. The Wild Hunt continues throughout the monthes of winter.
There are many ways of celebrateing the Wild Hunt, The most common for a solitary witch is to set a
personal goal you can dedicate to the Horned God. Try to plan your challenge in advance and aim to complete
it on or around Samhain, being in a position to make your offerign as soon after the feats as possible.
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This is the time of the year when the Goddess takes on the role of the Crone or Wise One, we look
to her for wisdom and guidance. Divination is a form of her wisdom, tarot, Dark Mirror or other forms
of scrying are popular and widely accepted.
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