Hallows Everyday - 4

I have gone out, a possessed witch,

haunting the black air, braver at night;

dreaming evil, I have done my hitch

over the plain houses, light by light:

lonely thing, twelve-fingered, out of mind.

A woman like that is not a woman, quite.

I have been her kind.

I have found the warm caves in the woods,

filled them with skillets, carvings, shelves,

closets, silks, innumerable goods;

fixed the suppers for the worms and elves:

whining, rearranging the dis-aligned.

A woman like that is misunderstood.

I have been her kind.

I have ridden in your cart, driver,

waved my nude arms at villages going by,

learning the last bright routes, 

survivor where your flames still bite my thigh

and my ribs crack where your wheels wind.

A woman like that is not ashamed to die.

I have been her kind.

- Anne Sexton -

Devotional Activity: This is a time of remembrance, of our Ancestors of Blood, but also the Hidden Company, especially those who were accused of practicing the old artes and put to death. We should never forget the innocents, the midwives, the healers. Choose one night a week and light a candle for them from now until November 13th, remembering all of them. What were their lives like, did they love, were they lonely, did they take pleasure in the various tasks of their days? And... did some practice charms and spells, did they heal and hex? Perhaps the dead will speak if you remember.

Blessings dark and deep!

Hallows Everyday - 3

Autumn woods, western North Carolina

Ashtree, ashtree, throw me if you please,

Throw me down a slender bunch of russet-gold keys.

I fear the gates of Fairyland all be shut fast

That nothing but your magic keys will ever take me past.

I'll tie them to my girdle and as I go along,

My heart will find comfort in the tinkle of their song.

(from "Alms For Autumn" by Rose Fyleman)

Devotional Activity: A Walking Meditation: Take a walk at twilight and collect three leaves from the ground. Feel their energy as you walk, breathe in the fresh air, breathe deeply into your belly. Let your senses open fully, especially your psychic senses. Take your time, let yourself become part of your surroundings. Can you feel the change of season, the settling of the land, plants, trees? Connect with that energy and allow it to flow through your body. After a while, when you have fully sensed that settling, ground the energy into the earth and return home. Take a sewing needle and some red thread, stitch the leaves together and hang on your altar or shrine to keep a bit of that settling energy in your home. These are your keys to the season. Burn the leaves at the Winter Solstice.

Blessings dark and deep!

(Photo and A Walking Meditation copyright 2014 E A Kaufman)

Hallows Everyday - 2

I heard this whisper and I wondered,

I heard this laugh and then I knew.

The time is getting near, my friends,

The time that I hold dear, my friends,

The veil is getting thin, my friends,

And strange things will pass through.

The veil is getting thinner.

(author unknown)

Devotional Activity: Once a week in the evening, from now through Hallows, take your tarot or oracle deck and ask for a message from your Ancestors. Light your Ancestor candle, set out a little goblet of Their preferred libation, and recite a blessing invoking your Ancestors' protection. Focus your mind, perhaps taking yourself into a light trance, then ask for a message, shuffling your cards all the while. Draw a card when you feel ready and see what They have to say. Keep a record of your messages and any thoughts and/or experiences during this time in your journal. Extinguish the candle and leave the libation on your Ancestor altar until the following night when you will take it and pour it onto the ground outside your door. 

Blessings dark and deep!

Hallows Everyday - 1

Welcome once again to my Hallows Everyday series of postings. I believe this is the third year I am indulging in this wonderful countdown to that most sacred of days, Hallows, Hallowmas,  or Samhain, whatever your tradition may call it. I consider the entire time from the Autumn Equinox to about the 13th of November to be the Hallowtide season.

This year, along with the poetry, historical tidbits, humor, or whatever I feel like posting, I will include a small devotional practice to add to your own devotions, be they daily, weekly, or haphazard.   Join me if you will and leave a note about your experience if you are so inclined, I'd love to hear about it. So, let us begin with some autumn poetry.

The leaves of red, bright gold, and brown,

To Mother Earth come tumbling down,

The breezy nights, the ghostly sights,

The eerie, spooky, far off sounds

Are signs that it's October.

from It Must Be October by Pearl N. Sorrels

I live in South Florida where we have no Autumn, no turning leaves, no discernible change in weather. Oh, how I miss the Autumn! And so, I make Autumn inside Toadstool Condo - the scent of simmering spices touched by the kiss of apple; pomanders drying in bowls of spices add to the warm and comforting aromas. Apple cake bakes, spiced tea brews, a fire in the hearth, autumn and Halloween theme stitching add to the atmosphere made merry by the Hallows decorations.

The shrine for the goddesses I am devoted to has been decorated as well; branches, acorns, sheaves of wheat, candles of orange, gold, red, brown, and black. My Ancestor altar has been cleaned and rededicated, and decorated for the season. After all, this is the time They are most active.

Devotional activity: Dedicate an orange candle, preferably scented with spices of the season, to your Ancestors. Light it each night, or just once a week, letting Them know They are welcome. Leave a little offering of cake or cookie, bread or a bit of your dinner. Let it stand on the altar until you extinguish your candle, then take the offering outside and leave it in some special place: the base of a favorite tree, a hedge, garden.

Blessings dark and deep!

Persephone

Haunting.



Blessings nine!

The Lady of Shalott

Sharing a link to a post about the curse upon the Lady of Shalott and some ideas about what it means to women, for women, and the Lady herself. Very interesting.

http://preraphaelitesisterhood.com/lady-of-shalott-our-modern-version-of-the-curse/comment-page-1/#comment-286764

And... just because... Loreena McKennitt's version of the Lady of Shalott

Blessings nine!

Making Oil Lamps

So... you'd like to have a beautiful oil lamp... or three... or nine... for your altars and shrines, but many of them can be expensive. I have gathered here a few video tutorials about making your own lamps from various bottles and jars.

You have a number of options when it comes to the bottles and jars, just use your imagination. Find colored bottles, plain glass bottles or jars, and decorate them with glass paints, beads strung on wire and molded onto the bottles, ribbons, etc. Just remember to use common sense and practice fire safety.

Enjoy!


I found this one easy and interesting, but would not use plastic bottles. This is simple and basic. His intro is a little manly-man with the bullets, etc. but very quick so just grin and bear it.



Another by the same person as above, Jiujitsu2000, that shows how to make a simple oil lamp with an oil/vinegar cruet that can be purchased at any store very inexpensively.



Canning jars with standard oil lamp tops, including the little screw thingy to adjust the wick. These can purchased for very little. Decorate as you see fit. Hurricane shades can be purchased for these which is wonderful when ritual is outside and the wind kicks up, which generally happens after calling the element of air. ; )

Note: don't bother referring to the video channel where she learned about these, Ben has removed his videos.



Any crafter worth her stash can come up with variations on the theme. Another option is really easy, just buys the lamps at garage sales, Goodwill, Salvation Army, or other second hand stores, or big box stores. I live in South Florida and we sometimes get hurricanes and tropical storms so I have a good supply of lamps purchased for a few few dollars each and which have lasted years. That being said, I like the idea of keeping my ritual items separate from daily use items. I also like the idea of decorating and then dedicating individual lamps to my particular goddesses, ancestors, and spiritual guides.

Here are some photos gathered from the web which show to tops of bottles and canning jars as well as some seasonal decorations.

I would be sure to remove all labels unless you have something really special and appropriate.

Use standard wick or 100% cotton yarn as show in the first two videos.

 Standard canning jar lamp.

 Blue canning jar lamps, possibly vintage jars.

 Caps and lid

Something special for the winter holidays.

Oh, but what about oil, you ask. Well, again, you have many options; the standard paraffin lamp oil, some of the finer more refined lamp oils, scented lamp oils, and olive oil. I've used olive oil in a clay lamp and like the way that worked. In the jars and bottles or hurricane lamps, I use a good quality paraffin lamp oil. I don't go for the inexpensive when it comes to oil.

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Again, USE COMMON SENSE and FIRE SAFETY. Wipe up oil drips and spills, wipe the bottles and jars of any drips of oil before lighting. Do not leave lamps unattended or where children or pets can reach them.

Blessings nine!

Eartha Kitt's "I'd Rather Be Burned As A Witch"

While perusing Facebook this morning, I saw this on Judika Illes page and thought I must share. Enjoy!




Blessings nine!

Scarborough Fair

A rather wonderfully haunting version of Scarborough Fair by Nox Arcana, lyrics by Joseph Vargo. Lovely graphics too.

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?


Yesterday holds memories in time.


Remember me to the one who lives there,


She once was a true love of mine.



Tell her to think back upon younger days
.

Yesterday holds memories in time.


And seek yonder crossroads where we parted ways,


Then she'll be a true love of mine.



Tell her to follow the path to the shire.


Yesterday holds memories in time
.

For there she'll find her heart's true desire
,

Then she'll be a true love of mine.



Tell her to come to the old willow tree.


Yesterday holds memories in time.

Where spirits of lost love yet whisper to thee,


Thou art still a true love of mine.



Tell her to gather three lilies of white.


Yesterday holds memories in time.


To place at my headstone, beneath the moon's light,


Then she'll be a true love of mine,


For ever she'll be the one true love of mine.


"Scarborough Fair" lyrics and arrangement © 2012 Joseph Vargo

www.noxarcana.com

Blessings nine!