Themes of death, spirits, and visits from the Otherworld are celebrated throughout October, culminating on October 31st, Halloween. Hallowe’en is a contraction of All Hallows’ Eve (Hallow is another word for Saint), which is the first night of the three Christian Holy Days: All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day. This week […]
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Jack-o’-lanterns
One of our favorite Halloween traditions is carving a jack-o’-lantern. Jack-o’-lanterns were originally meant to mimic the will-o’-the-wisp: a ghostly light, like a lantern, that floats through swamps and bogs tricking travelers off the dry path and getting them lost in the marshes. Folks thought the lights were otherworldly, a lure used by a spirit, […]
Read More...Samhain and the sacred bonfire
On Samhain, all the fires were doused and then relit from a special, sacred bonfire. What is on fire for you right now? What do you feel a burning need to do? Where is your energy flaring with sacredness? Define what you want, and where you want to go. How can that vision support and […]
Read More...Samhain
Halloween has its roots in the early Celtic festival Samhain (pronounced Saw-win). Samhain was one of the four seasonal festivals of the Gaelic people of Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. Samhain marked the beginning of winter, Imbolc the beginning of Spring, Bealtaine the beginning of summer, and Lughnasadh the beginning of Fall. For […]
Read More...Imbolc
Imbolc, pronounced EM-bolgk, is an ancient Irish festival marking the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Imbolc was celebrated in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man on February 1st and 2nd, or when the ewes were lambing. It is one of the four Gaelic festivals: Samhain in autumn, Imbolc in winter, […]
Read More...Appalachian Folk Magic: Healing, Death and Planting by the Signs
Appalachian folks blended ancient Celtic rituals from Scotland and Ireland, Protestant Christianity, and African traditions with teaching from local Native Americans into a unique mixture of witchcraft, religion, and earth magic. And, for the most part, they didn’t seem to see any problem with their variety of practices, as they understood it all came from the Divine.
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