My most favourite tradition at Samhain is travelling to Pioneer Lang Village for their Spooky Halloween Night.  This year I arrived at my destination well past twilight.  My plan to take a few snapshots of an entity roaming the grounds amongst laughter from the kids of all ages dressed as ghosts, ghouls, witches, vampires and princesses was not likely.  Instead of allowing my tardiness to upset me, my friend Rob and I went with the flow.  

Out in the fresh, crisp air, we talked and walked along the dirt road past the tractor drawn wagon ride, crafts, face painting, magic show and slightly scary carved pumpkins exploring what it was like a hundred and fifty years ago.   Rob and I entered the dimly candle lit general store.  Young and old had gathered for a palm reading.  

Palmistry is the belief that the hand - more particularly the lines and other markings on the palms reveal both character and the future - fingers reveal hidden characteristics and the palm shows the events and direction of a person's life.  

Four girls around the age of six pushed their way to the head of the line.

The two adults accompany them stood back tending to their youngest in a carriage and a female family friend or member took pictures.  No one paid any attention when the last child in the group put her tiny hand turned to have her palm inspected in the Reader's hand.  Looking down the gypsy woman ran her index finger along the life line to see beyond the present.  She took a long pause seemimg to weigh her next words with great care.  I happened to catch her say of a tragic event that would occur.  During the later years of the young child's life there was a break.  She would suffer a life or death experience - a health problem would cause the point of death which she would bounce back from but not one hundred percent.  

The precious information given was lost on the child's close family.  I'm sure if they had heard of the grim spectre of death it would stir up all kinds of fears and feelings.  

Because readings fall under the class of entertainment most people don't take the predictions seriously.  It is not up to the Reader to convince people that what they say is true - time will reveal what will come to be.

( At the same time as the child's palm reading I had a family member living a life or death situation.  I believe that the gypsy woman's  message was also meant for me.  My father had been worried about the health outcome.   The message for me was that my family member would bounce back but not one hundred percent.    On November 1st, I was informed of an operation that took 8 1/2 hours and it looks like they got everything harmful out as well. )

Halloween orgins date back 2000 years ago to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (prodounced sow-in).   October 31st is the Great Sabbat Samhain and fire festival.  Samhain means "end of summer" and is an ancient Celtic festival that celebrates the beginning of winter, marked by death and is considered to be the Witches' New Year.   

  In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honour saints and martyrs.  It is believed that the pope was attempting to replace Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday.  The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hollowmas (from Middle English Alholwesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually Halloween.  

November 1, the Day of the Dead (also celebrated by some on November 2) the dead were thought to return to earth.  People would leave food on the tables for them and would usually stay indoors.

The Celts called it Samhaïn, which means Night of the Druids. It marks a time dedicated to exploring the future with, the help of the Ancestors, all the loved ones who have passed on to the Spiritual World.

It’s a very special, unique time, the only day of the year when the border between the material and immaterial worlds becomes as fine as a veil, allowing men and women with a pure heart to enter into contact with the Higher Spiritual Forces, and benefit from their protection.

During this very rare exchange, the Druid Spirits send "magic energy" into your life, enabling you to be Lucky, find Love, stay healthy and obtain great good fortune.   All the "prayers" and sacred gestures you apply are to trigger the intervention of the Higher Spiritual Forces in your favor.   

There’s nothing complicated you need to do, as the Spiritual Forces guide you straight to success and happiness.  

Samhain is the Witches' New Year. We project correctness, health, and love for the coming year. At this time, the world of the living and that of the spirit are closest to each other. We honor the ancestors and invite them to join in our celebration.
 
Witches do divination for guidance. Witches also choose this time to release the "old" in order to allow for the "new". We move from here toward a time of inner growth and introspection as we approach the coming Winter months.  

If you have just been through a difficult period in your life, full of anxiety, fear, and moments of discouragement or doubt now is the time to open your heart and mind to those in the unseen world and ask for guidance.

The name Jack in Jack-o-Lanterns perhaps comes from the story of "Jack the Irish Villain", a man rejected by good and evil who wandered the world forever looking for a place to rest.  His only warmth came from a small candle in a rotten potato.  Irish immigrants brought with them to North America the Jack-o-Lantern tradition, but turnips were scarce so the pumpkin became a good replacement. 

A prominent emblem of modern Holloween festivites, the pumpkin was long revered as a symbol of fertility and protection againts evil.  Today's grotesque hollowed-out pumpkins, lit from within by candles, were orginally intended to protect revellers by scaring away any evil spirits abroad on the particular night.  Nowadays, this function seems to be increasingly forgotton as popalar mythology revels in tales of pumpkin monsters and pumpkin-headed demons, leading successive generations of children into the mistaken belief that pumpkins themselves represent evil and may be in league with witches, vampires and so forth.  

In keeping with the orginal idea that pumpkins bestowed protection against evil was the old tradition that they were best planted on Good Friday.  Once growing, they should never be pointed at: to do so inflicts the power of the evil eye and stunts their further development.  

Witchlore suggested that pumpkin seeds could be consumed to calm an excessively passionate nature, and that when mixed into a paste with oil and rubbed on the skin they eradicated freckles.   Cassell Dictionary of Witchcraft David Pickering  Pg. 216                                  




Here are some common superstitions that have long been a part of the folklore around this time of tear:  

Burning candles inside a Jack O’ Lantern keeps evil spirits away.   If you don’t burn candles on Samhain, you will suffer bad luck the rest of the year.  

If you gaze into the flame of a candle on Samhain, you will be able to see the future.  

If you hear footsteps behind you on this night, do not turn around to see who it is or you could be confronted by the personification of Death and pass away! 
 
If you allow a fire to burn out on Samhain, you will have bad luck the rest of the year unless it is relit by a priest.  


If you see a spider on Samhain, then it is likely that the spirit of a dead loved one is watching you.  

If you want to meet a witch on this night, put your clothes on inside out and walk backwards.  

If you give out nuts to children on Samhain, you will be protected from the Devil.
 
  If you ring a bell on Samhain, then the dark spirits will be scared away! It’s a good thing that a lot of doorbells are rang on that night.
 
If a bat flies around your house three times on Samhain, you will die within the year.

To ward off bad spirits, bury animal bones in your front yard.  

If the flame of a candle flickers and turns blue, there is a spirit in the room.  

If a crow caws at night on Samhain, then death is very near.  

All souls in purgatory are released for 48 hours to roam the earth on Samhain.  

If you float egg yolks in a bowl of water on this night, you will see patterns that will tell you about your future.  

If you eat a hazelnut on Samhain night and fall asleep, you will dream of your future spouse.  

The first person to go apple bobbing and successfully catch and entire apple in their mouth would also be the first to marry.  

Knocking on wood on Samhain will keep bad luck away.  

Gazing into the flame of a candle on Samhain will allow you to see your future.  

If you look down and you are casting no shadow at all, then you are in danger of having an evil spirit steal your soul.  

If you walk backwards down a staircase holding a mirror and candle, you will see the face of your future wife or husband.  

If you blindfold yourself and go out into the garden on Samhain and pull up Kale, the roots will tell you whether or not your future wife or husband will be tall or short, old or young, or healthy or unhealthy.  

 
  Summer is almost at the point where the season is merely a memory.  During the Autumn months the temperatures are trying to cool while the wind sweeps the leaves trying to change color as it moves the treetops.  Autumn is the balance between summer's light and winter's dark.  The season approaching is one that draws us inward and makes us reflective. 

 To Witches October 31st is more than trick or treating.        Know as Samhain (sow-een) to the ancient Celts, is the day on which the Celtic New Year and Winter begins.  Samhain is the end of one year and the beginning of the next.  A time for change, and a time to look to the future.  It is the perfect moment to be in touch with Spirit Guides and vision of the way you want you life.  The veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is at its thinnest point of the year making communication easier.       

To prepare for the ritual bathe in salt to purify the mind, body, heart and soul.  Dressed, slip in your pocket a picture of the person you will request to speak with or your Spirit Guide.  Indoors or out the summoning of spirit is carried out in dawn or dusk in the glow of flickering lights of candles.       

A secluded place is necessary, free from interruption, and then the magical circle is drawn out.  The reason for this is to avoidance of contamination from unfriendly spirits.       

Pause before you say what's on your mind.  Focus on the lit candle wick and slowly breathe in and out to connect with the ebb and flow of the universe.       

The universe is comprised of an invisible energy which is synchronized and flows without static.  Interlaced threads move from side to side, intersect, sends out ripples and generate a current.  Energy swirls around and around in its own inevitable rhythm of waves or vibrations on a vast range of different frequencies.  The magical energy is, above and below heaven and earth, and inhabits all living and non-living things.  The endless energies can be tapped into. 

 Acknowledge what you have already been given.  You have many blessings to be thankful for.  If you woke this morning with a healthy body you are blessed.  Some people didn't while others didn't wake at all.  

Say aloud:       
I am thankful for the wonderful things in my life.  I am grateful for all those mundane bounties that can be taken for granted which makes my life more stable - a home, heat, hydro, resources to pay bills and food in the fridge.  I appreciate my family and friends cooperation to make my life more peaceful; for mutual consideration and respect.       

I pray that peace be with my fellow citizens of my community, my country and the world at large.        Call out to your Spirit Guide bidding to appear.       

Spirit Guide who intervenes in my life with guidance and sympathy please come hither.       

I am never afraid of what I know - participate in the process of learning and teaching, to fulfil my potential through constructive productivity and whatever state I am in, to be content.       

In the previous year there were many ups and downs that I dealt with. Trouble is part of life.  Failure builds character.  I acknowledge what has been done; and what remains to be done.       

This year I will strive to ----       

Take time to visualize yourself being the person you want to be, living the life you desire.       

Say aloud:       
Spirit Guide I request your assistance along the way in the coming year.  Say farewell and then close the circle.  Blessed Be.       

For a variety of reasons, people who have died visit the earthly plane.  I don't believe they cut ties or release their attachments to the people they love and care for.  If you believe communication with the dead or spirit, it is possible.