Samhain suggestions

Samhain Incense Recipe
3 Parts Frankincense

2 parts Myrrh

1 Part Rosemary

1 Part Cedar1

Part Juniper
Crush all ingredients together until ground to a fine paste, tis best to use a Mortar and Pestle for this if you have one available. Burn upon lit charcoal blocks within a fire proof container.

Suggested Altar Decorations
Seasonal items should decorate the Altar, as is usual. Grains, turnips, pumpkins and dried flowers are appropriate (being the Final Harvest Festival). Some extras that you may also wish to consider are things like apples, tarot cards, runes, hazel nuts, divination wands and a plate of food to be left outside for the wandering spirits. A yellow candle with a sun painted on it is a worthy representation of the dying God. The Altar cloth is black, the Altar candles should be red and black.

Suggested Ritual
Cleanse yourself and your space in your normal manner. Invoking both the God and the Goddess. Once this is done, light the God candle.

Say: "On this night when the dead once more walk freely among the living, we pass into darkness and do so willingly, for we know that it is simply the turning of the wheel. We give thanks to the God and the Goddess for the bounty that They have provided us over the summer. On this night , the Lord of the Hunt, the Lord of the Sun passes away from us. We realize, however, that it is simply the cycle of life, and we wait for that time when the Sun will once more be born of the moon.

As this candle represents the Lord of the Sun, so does it's blowing out represent the passing of the Lord of the Sun." Having said this, extinguish the God candle.

This candle is not to be lit again until Yule. Now is the time to invoke the crone aspect of the Goddess by saying: "Goddess of the stars and of the waning moon, Goddess of magic and wisdom, whisper in my ear whatever you may and trust that the knowledge will be wisely used. Lend your power to my spells and rituals and trust that they will result in no harm to any of your creatures, great or small."

Now is the time for any magick or seasonal activities which you had planned to perform this evening, and things such as drumming and chanting, carving apples or pumpkins, divination (with the Tarot, runes, wands, hazelnuts, or a pendulum) or Scrying in fire, smoke or water are all popular on this Sabbat. After any Magick is finished, then celebrate with Cakes and Ale, before banishing the sacred circle.

Take the offering dish outside, and bury the offerings in the earth.

Remember to leave a plate of food outside for wandering spirits!

PS - I also leave a little sweet cream and a sweet treat for the Fairies.

Magickal Water to bring Peace to a troubled home

When the home is beset by constant levels of conflict among family members it is likely that hostile energy has suffused the home. Fortunately there is a simple and inexpensive remedy for this problem which makes use of the cooling energies of a number of different enchanted waters.

Add the following to a large glass bottle with a close fitting lid.-

Two Parts Rose Water-

One Part Sea Water

One Part Rain Water-

One Part Spring Water-

Three Parts of Alcohol-

A Tiny Mirror or Piece of Mirrored Glass

The alcohol may be cane, wood spirit or methylated and is essential as it prevents the mixture turning sour. Alternatives to rose water are anyone of the essences of lily of the valley, lavender, gardenia orgeranium. The mixture should be gently stirred, keeping in mind the mirror in the bottle. The following chant is then said over the mixture, preferably by the light of a blue candle:

"Powers of the sea, powers of the rain, powers of stream and field be yeto the right of me and to the left of me. Be ye before and aft and all about. Flood thy peace into this liquid of the art and bring harmony, blessed concord and tranquility to my home. So mote it be."

At this point you may add a single fresh white rose to the bottle. Walkabout the home with a small dish of the water, sprinkling a little about in each room. Pour a little into a saucer and place it beneath the beds of particularly restless family members to calm and pacify.

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