Hallows Everyday 16

An Herbal Ritual For Remembering the Dead

This ritual may be performed on or near Hallows/Samhain or when

someone you know passes. I found this on the internet years ago, but

no author was listed; I have made a few adaptations. 

If you cannot obtain some of the herbs, simply use 

another with similar properties and make the 

change in the prayer.

Gather the following for the ritual:

A tea light for each person to be remembered

rose petals, bay, oregano, parsley, elder,

rosemary, basil

Cast your circle using rose petals and rosemary to define it.

Be sure to clear the space well beforehand. 

Arrange the tea lights on your altar along with photos

or other remembrances of the dead.

Light a tea light and call the name of the person 

you are honoring.

Stand at your altar and  recite this prayer:

The wheel of life turns,

The cycle of life continues.

Those beyond life, beyond the veil,

You are remembered today.

Gifts of love and hope

are offered with love and honor.

To those I remember,

To those I do not,

to all those I have lost.

Hekate, guide them home with Your torches.

Persephone, take them in Your gentle embrace.

My dead You have taken,

The Fates have cut their threads,

And now spin and weave the threads anew.

May the wheel turn and begin again.

I give freely these herbal offerings,

May they be acceptable and assist you.

(as you recite, scatter the herb to the wind)

Rose petals for love,

Elder to guide your journey,

Bay for strength,

Parsley for honor,

Basil for peace,

Oregano for happiness,

and Rosemary for remembrance.

So mote it be!

Sit now and remember your beloved dead.

Let the peace of the ritual embrace you. Perhaps

perform some divination to receive a message.

Let the candles burn out. Open your circle.

(adapted from a ritual found on the internet, author unknown)

Blessings dark and deep!

Hallows Everyday 15

http://simplesue.tumblr.com/post/565006803/fortune-telling-tea-cup-i-need-one

Dink a cup of tea and consider your question. Finish the tea and 

peer into the cup, observe...

One leaf alone, alone you'll be,

Two together, the altar you''ll see;

Three in groups, your wish you'll gain,

Four, a letter from a loving swain; 

Five, good news a letter will bring,

Six in a row, an engagement ring;

Seven together, great fortune awaits

For you, so say the Tea-cup Fates;

Bring you company, great and small;

Tea leaves many and dotted fine

Are of bad luck the surest sign;

Tea leaves few and clean the rim,

Your cup with joy o'erflows the brim.

Hallowe'en Hilarity, 1924

Blessings dark and deep!

Hallows Everyday 14

Go to the garden where the beet patch grows full

on Hallowe'en night and begin to pull.

At the stroke of twelve if a beet is straggly,

sad lot for thee.

But if smooth and round, a happy life thine will be.

(verse from a vintage Halloween postcard)

Blessings dark and deep!

Hallows Everyday 13

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.

~ author unknown ~

Blessings dark and deep!

Hallows Everyday 12

You will notice I am behind in my Hallows Eveyday posts. I have spent time in the Smoky Mountains and didn't have internet access as I had anticipated, so... getting caught up.

We sit around the cauldron fire

and pour our blessings in,

Each of us allows with us,

the blessings to begin..

When we leave the fire's light,

the embers glow within,

And with this light,

Mama Spinner...

Calls Her children in.

- from Weaving The Battle by Kate,

found in Spindle & Broom, Vol. 1, # 13.

Blessings dark and deep!

Hallows Everyday 11

The Crystal Gazer

Sarah Teasdale

I shall gather myself into myself again,


I shall take my scattered selves and make them one,


Fusing them into a polished crystal ball


Where I can see the moon and the flashing sun.

I shall sit like a sibyl, hour after hour intent,


Watching the future come and the present go,


And the little shifting pictures of people rushing


In restless self-importance to and fro.

Do you ever gaze into a crystal sphere or a bowl of inky water? I find scrying to be haphazard for me. Sometimes I get excellent results and others, nothing. It never discourages me, I justt know that for this particular issue, scrying will not give me the answer; I move on to another type of divination.

When I do scry, if with a crystal sphere, I cleanse it well with a damp cloth that has been dipped in a tea of sorts - water in which certain herbs have been steeped. I wipe it well, dry it, and ask its assistance. For scrying with a bowl of liquid, again, I use a tea made with various herbs that I have found to be helpful, as well as a bit of ink. Each seer must brew her own blend and it should not be shared.

The most important part of scrying is to be sure to cleanse your space well and make it sacred so only those you are willing to have in your space can come through. This is something I learned many, many years ago when I didn't do this - of course, I was very young and knew very little. It did cause some excitement and took a bit of work to clear up the mess!

At this time, when the realms are more open and communication between the living and the dead is easier to accomplish, remember to take good care.

Blessings dark and deep!

Hallows Everyday 10

THROUGH THE GATES

 by Tasha Halpert

The way was dark, lit by no stars,

The Moon had hid her face,

Faint wisps of fog trailed round my feet,

I did not know this place.

A bell rang out, it sounded twelve,

I was quite mystified.

Twas midnight of All Hallows Eve

How came I here? I cried.

Then as I looked, the fog dissolved,

Revealing to my eyes

A moonlit meadow bright as day

And a beautiful surprise.

For everywhere I looked I saw

The Folk both fair and fey

Come dance with us, they called to me,

Come join us while we play.

Come be with us, come dance with us

We'll crown you this night’s queen,

I started toward their company,

The fairest I'd ever seen.

Be careful, Lass! Who’s voice was this?

Should you join the dance, I fear,

You'll never more return to home,

And you'll dwell forever here.

I gazed into his blue, blue eyes,

And saw what there did shine.

My heart grew full, I fell in love,

And wished he could be mine.

His love enfolded me in bliss

That filled my heart to stay

No longer did I yearn to be

With the Folk both fair and fey.

The power of love is great dear lass,

The unicorn tossed his head.

Now let me guide you past the gates,

Before the night has fled.

Together then we left behind

The dancers fey and fair,

And side by side went down a path

That led I knew not where.

Yet I trusted him, I followed him,

His love surrounded me.

His horn ablaze with golden light

Shone forth to help me see.

It seemed we wandered on and on,

And yet, scant time had passed,

Until I heard his gentle voice,

Now, here you are, dear lass.

My own dear garden, Blessed Be!

He'd brought me safely here,

I'll not be leaving home, I said,

All Hallows Eve next year.

The sun was rising through the mist.

It twinkled on the grass.

The unicorn bowed his stately head.

Now I must go, dear lass.

My heart squeezed in my chest, tears welled,

Oh, tell me can't you stay?

Though I would, dear lass, you know,

I must be on my way.

Farewell, I cried, my thanks, Dear Heart,

When may we meet again?

In dreams, dear maiden, look for me,

Though I cannot tell you when.

The mist was gone, and so was he,

What a glorious, gladsome morn!

Forever I knew, I'd lost my heart,

To the gallant unicorn.

*********

Blessings dark and deep!

Hallows Everyday 9

Here is a recipe for a Hallows charm bag for drawing money which is begun on the new moon, October 12th, and then finished on Hallows.

Hallows Charm Bag For Drawing Money

9 pumpkin seeds

a spoonful of dried basil

a spoonful of dried dill

a spoonful of ground cinnamon

a spoonful of dried ginger

9 allspice berries

9 whole cloves

3 drops of olive oil

3 coins

a small citrine, aventurine, or clear quartz crystal

a green or orange charm bag or pouch

a 17 inch red ribbon

black felt tip pen

On the night of the new moon before Hallows, mix the herbs,

spices, and 3 drops of olive oil.  Enchant by raising energy

and moving the energy into the mix. Say this chant 9 times:

East and west, south and north,

Prosperity and riches, I bring forth!

Draw a dollar sign on each side of the pumpkin seeds with the

pen, then add them to the herbs, spices and olive oil. Place all 

into the  charm bag. Hold the coins and stones in your hand, 

enchanting and repeating the chant 9 times. Place them in 

the pouch, tie with a red ribbon. On Thursday, following 

the new moon, hold the bag in your hands after raising energy, 

say the chant 9 times, moving the energy into your pouch. 

Tie nine knots: one for beginnings, 2 for money, 3 for abundance, 

4 for stability, 5 to open the way, 6 for luck, 7 for success,

8 for blessings, and nine to seal the spell.

Place the charm bag in a special place, better your seasonal altar,

until Hallows. On the Holy day, light your sabbat candle or need fire. 

Hold the charm bag over the flame and say the chant

9 times more. Hold it and fill it with more strength and power.

Gives thanks, then place the bag in your handbag, on a prosperity

altar, or any other place that is of financial significance to you.

(adapted from a spell found in Halloween by Silver Ravenwolf) 

  

Blessings dark and deep!

Hallows Everyday 8

Joy, Rejoicing in the present

from The Halloween Oracle by Stacey DeMarco

I am standing here, now, in the present.

While my spirit is within, I am in this body now,

I am on this Earth now.

Here is where I belong at this time.

Here is where I can find pleasure, joy, wonder,

Simply if I choose to do it.

Ah, another interesting card today, but then this oracle is always interesting. This subject is a little pet peeve of mine. I listen, most days, to people who are on a serious spiritual path, they are working toward "ascension", being in the Universe. They all seem to forget how important THIS life, THIS planet, THIS time, is for them. I remind them. And so... I will remind you too.

You have no doubt read that sentence, "I am a spiritual being having a human experience." True, we are spiritual beings and that that seems to be everyone's focus, being a spiritual being. The part where we are having a human experience gets lost. A lot of people are way out there, off the planet. Honestly, many times I have no idea where there heads are.

Here's the deal, real simple: you are in this body, here on this earth, at this time, make the most of it. Be here, now, in the present. There is so much to experience, enjoy, learn. Yes, there are tough lessons, bad days, but the truth is, it is up to you, YOU can make the difference about how you experience life. 

Everyday I wake up with two choices, I can be happy or I can be unhappy. I choose happy; not fluffy, out of touch with reality, but just appreciative of what is here, now. You may see a trend with the cards that have been turning up so far in the Hallows Everyday divination. Look outside, there is always something beautiful to see, hear, touch. Look inside, there is plenty there to appreciate and find joy in. Hey... you woke up this morning!  All around us is everything we need.

When this card is presented to us, it heralds a time of more happiness and joy in our lives, a very good omen, indeed! Actively seek out that which gives pleasure, build more of that which gives joy and laughter in our lives.

It isn't complicated. A dear friend brought me a bag of acorns from her trip to New York. Each was perfect with its little cap. They were a bit damp in the plastic bag she put them in, so I put them on a plate and dumped salt over them; in a couple of days they were dry. A couple of the caps fell off so I glued them on. I look at them each day and find such joy in them. They remind me of my childhood in New York when I always collected acorns; the memories of autumn. A simple thing that brings pleasure. Then, I have a glass of apple cider, another very simple pleasure. Sometimes I make mulled cider, other times I drink it straight, but it always brings me joy. A cup of tea in the evening while I stitch or weave or read. A chat with my hubby or a friend, or just listening to music, or the quiet, or the purr of Sterling B. It's all good. I can always find the good even when I am experiencing a bit of depression or anxiety, I work to make it so. And so, my advice to you is... do the same, make your joy.

Blessings dark and deep!