Newsletter Archive – Issue 9a

27th October 2008

Hi

I have been really touched by the number of emails I’ve received offering sympathy and support at the loss of my Grandmother. Thank you all so very much – it has sincerely meant a lot to me.

Friday we drove down to London for the funeral. It was a quick, quiet service and then we went back to my parents house for something to eat and drink before we set back again. We didn’t stay long because Tabitha was tired and grumpy (i.e. very, very noisy). Most of the day was spent in travelling but it was good to say farewell to my Nan and to catch up with family.

On Saturday we decided on the spur of the moment to go to Hurst Castle. It was originally built by Henry VIII as a fort to protect the south coast from invasion but it got added to over the years. It housed King Charles I before he was taken to the Tower for execution and was used as recently as the 1940s as a station for soldiers during WWII.

The castle is built on a spit and you can walk 2 miles on a shingle beach to get to it or you can take a 15 minute ride in a little ferry. As you can see from the photo we opted for the ferry!

This week it’s Halloween. We already have 2 excited boys ready to go out dressed as a vampire and a skeleton and it’s not even Friday yet! There’s no guessing what the newsletter theme is going to be this week!

What’s happening this week?

• Tuesday 28th – New Moon
• Friday 31st – Halloween/Samhain

A bit of Lore and Mythos – The Origins of Halloween

The origins of Halloween date back  to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sah-win).

2000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France the New Year was celebrated on November 1.  It was a day that marked the end of Summer and the beginning of the dark cold Winter months.

It was the belief of the Celts that on the night prior to the New Year the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred and the dead were free to walk the earth again.  To the Celts this was a night to both fear and celebrate.  When the dead visited they tended to cause trouble and damage crops, but they also inspired the Druids (Celtic priests) so predictions for the future could be made.

In order to appease the dead so that they wouldn’t cause trouble yet would continue to inspire the Druids Samhain was celebrated.  At night sacred bonfires were built where crops and animals were sacrificed to the Celtic deities.  Costumes were worn during the celebration in an attempt to blend in with the dead.  When the celebration was over every family re-lit their hearth fire with a spark from the sacred bonfire that they had brought back.

By the year 43 A.D. the majority of the Celtic territories had been conquered by Rome.  In the course of the four hundred years they ruled the Celtic lands they combined two of their festivals with Samhain.

The first of these holidays was Feralia.  On this day the Romans would commemorate the passing of the dead.  The second didn’t have an official title but it was a day dedicated to honouring Pomona the Goddess of fruit and trees.  Because her symbol is the apple this combination of holidays began the tradition of bobbing for apples.

The influence of Christianity had spread to the Celtic lands by the 800s.  In the 7th century Pope Boniface IV, in an attempt to replace the existing festival of the dead with a church sanctioned holiday, designated Nov 1 to be All Saints Day (a day dedicated to honouring saints and martyrs) and Oct 31 All Saint’s Eve or Halloween.

Interestingly, the church kept the bulk of the traditions of the other holidays.  The only two traditions that it absolutely would not consider was sacrifice and divination.

DIY Magick – Felt Jack O’ Lantern

This is a great project that the kids can do with you (or you do with the kids!).

What you need:

• Orange felt and black felt scraps
• Needle and embroidery thread
• Toy stuffing (I use old tights and socks)
• Fabric glue
• Black buttons
• Green ribbon
• Cloves (optional)

What to do:

• Cut two circles from the orange felt. Sew them together around the edge using running stitch. Leave a small gap to stuff the toy.
• Stuff the Jack O’ Lantern and when it’s full, sew up the gap.
• Glue on the buttons to make your Jack O’ Lanterns eyes and nose, and cut a shape out of the black felt scraps for his mouth. Now use some short lengths of ribbon to make some leaves and a stem.

If you’d like to make this more magickal add some whole cloves to the stuffing before you sew up the gap. This will help dispel negativity and offer protection against any wandering spirits on Halloween!

Recipe for the Week – Popcorn Balls

Paul introduced me to popcorn balls – I’d never heard of them before but they’ve quickly become a firm favourite with the whole house.

What you need:

• 3/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 cup margarine
• 2 teaspoons cold water
• 2 5/8 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 cup marshmallows
• 5 quarts plain popped popcorn

What to do:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the corn syrup, margarine, cold water, confectioners’ sugar and marshmallows. Heat and stir until the mixture comes to a boil. Carefully combine the hot mixture with the popcorn, coating each kernel.
• Grease hands with vegetable shortening and quickly shape the coated popcorn into balls before it cools. Wrap with cellophane or plastic wrap and store at room temperature.

Halloween Tarot Spread

In the Celtic tradition October 31st was the night before the New Year.  As such, it was a time to create goals and plans for the coming year.  Use this spread to contemplate or create your goals and see where they might take you in the next year.

Position 1

Treat bag expectations (what is your goal for the new year?)

When examining this card make sure to determine whether this card represents a small goal leading up to a big one you already have in place or if it’s an all new goal.

Position 2

Costumes and disguises  (who or what should you model in order to achieve your goal?)

Position 3

Tricks (what short cuts can you use from your current life experience to reach your goal?)

Position 4

Treats (what things will come to you free gratis that can aid you in reaching your goal?)

Position 5

Boo!
(what obstacles loom unseen that would hinder or impede your progress)

Position 6

Exorcise (What can you do to remove that obstacle?)

Position 7

Plunder (what riches do you gain from this experience?)

*Note- For position 1 you may either put a chosen card  face up (if you know what your goal is) or place a card face down to allow your intuition to bring a goal to mind.

Special Offer

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Something to think about…

“The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it” (Anonymous)

Friday Freebie Tarot Competition Winner

The winner this week is Sally from the US!  For this weeks competition it’s up to you – pick a Tarot reading, spell or spirit guide drawing – no need for you to enter again you’ll be added automatically.

Enjoy your week!

With blessings

Lyn & Paul

www.wizardandwitch.com

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