Happy Thanksgiving!

A Happy Thanksgiving 

to you and yours!

May you never hunger, may you never thirst.

May the Goddesses bless you with all you need

to sustain you in good health and happiness.

Blessings dark and deep,

The Witch of Stitches

The Daughter of a Northern Shaman

Although this is only a trailer of the film, it looks incredibly interesting. True shamanism.



Blessings dark and deep!

All Hallows Eve

For on Hallowmas Eve the Nighthag shall ride,

And all her nine-fold sweeping on by her side,

Whether the wind sing lowly or loud,

Sailing through moonshine or swathed in a cloud.

- Sir Walter Scott -

Blessing to you on this sacred night.

May you taste the mysteries the Great Mother offers.

May you ride the ghost-roads safely and return

home with the wisdom you seek.

Blessings to you,

Blessings dark and deep.

The Witch of Stitches

Hallows Everyday 30

Today, a video about Samhain with good music and lovely images, as well as some interesting information. Enjoy!




Blessings dark and deep!

Hallows Everyday 29

Yesterday I did not want to post Hallows Everyday. I learned that Layne Redmond had passed and I wanted to pay tribute to her instead. It occurs to me that since Hallows is about honoring the dead, I did, indeed, do that.

Layne, it seemed from what I read, spent her last months doing what she loved, working on the revision of her book, When The Drummers Were Women. In a video I saw of her, she appeared to be happy, almost joyous. I didn't know her personally, only from her writings, Facebook, and especially, her music. I know she was with people who loved her and took care of her. Really, I thought she would just go on. Instead, at this sacred time, she left. If one can choose, this seems the perfect time.

We are in the Autumn of the year, the quiet time when all that dies lays to rest. So the dead sleep, but come spring, all that dies will be reborn, and in that we, the living, can take comfort.

Samhain Evening Prayer

Lady, You are Prophetess and Queen.

The Final Harvest has been met;

the land lies sleeping, expectant.

In the Winter stillness

You will conceive tomorrow's hope.

Receptive and quiescent, 

Your dream unfolds as a counterpoint

to the Dark Night that will enshroud us all.

Life and Death are balanced.

Endings and beginnings are wrought.

Your blessing weaves all into a holy tapestry,

complete and irrevocable.

by Galen Gillotte,

from Book of Hours, Prayers To The Goddess

Blessings dark and deep.

Heartbroken...

Layne Redmond

Just heartbroken. Layne Redmond passed away this morning. She was an inspiration and a beautiful person. Blessed journey, Layne, may Hekate guide you. 

Hallows Everyday 27

Photo credit: Chris Veverka

Samhain Broom Blessing

Hand to hand, blood to blood, bone to bone,

We gather around this sacred home.

One by one we link our brooms

As we circle during the Waning Moon.

Besom, Besom, blessed be with protection and prosperity.

On Samhain Night we sweep away

the old and bring in the New Year.

A Witch's tool for circle and home,

hang upright at your door.

This spell will keep your threshold safe

as long as it hangs in its place.

And so we will it, so mote it be.

copyright 2002 Betty Banos Prat

Tonight I took one of my apprentices to a ritual with very experienced witches, and we honored the Ancestors for Samhain. This was a group of witches I have known for many years, all experienced, and some brought family members so it was a rather informal, but moving rite. This is not how I generally work my rites, but it seemed perfect for this evening. We created a beautiful ancestor altar, honored and made offerings to those now passed on, and made a little magick.

My friend, and facilitator of this ritual, Betty, created the Samhain Broom Blessing rite some years ago; she gave her consent to share it here. We each brought a new cinnamon broom along with the old one that had been blessed last year. The old brooms were burned in a fire and the new ones blessed with the above prayer. These new brooms, like the old ones last year, will hang near or on our doors to bring prosperity and protection in the coming year.

I had a lovely night and am off into the arms of Morpheus as I have a ritual of my own to finish tomorrow for the coming week's Hallows Rites with apprentices and witch friends. 

Blessings nine!

Hallows Everyday 26

Hehe!!!

Blessings nine!

Hallows Everyday 25

I adore Bette Midler and love the movie Hocus Pocus. I think Bette did a fabulous job as Winnie. Of course, I love her version of this song too! Enjoy!





Blessing nine!