Doreen Van Boxtel

Southern Hemisphere.

Date: 30th April. 1st May - When the Sun is at 15 degrees Taurus.

Northern Hemisphere

Date: 31st October - When the Sun is at 15 degrees Scorpio

A Witches New Year.

Celebration of death and continuation of life.

Borders between the dead and the living not fixed and impassable.

Borders at their thinnest at this time, so one can ask the ancestors and spirits for guidance and communication on the future.

A time when you can celebrate where you come from.

Traditional time for scrying.

This is the last of the three harvest Sabbats marking the end of the growing seasons.

Celtic custom decreed that all crops must be gathered by sundown on April 31st.

In Ireland it is still custom to leave candles in the windows and plates of food for the visiting spirits.

Keep a fire lit or a candle burning all night to honour and welcome the dead.

If clothes are left outside overnight, they will take on bewitching powers for all who wear them.

Darkness increases and the Goddess reigns as the Crone, part of the three-in-one that also includes the Maiden and Mother.

The God, the Dark Lord, passes into the underworld to become the seed of his own rebirth (which will occur again at Yule).

Many Pagans prepare a Feast for the Dead on Samhain night, where they leave offerings of food and drink for the spirits.

Samhain is considered by many Pagans, Wiccans, and Witches (especially those of Celtic heritage) to be the date of the Witches' New Year, representing one full turn of the Wheel of the Year. This is the time of year for getting rid of weaknesses.

A common Ritual practice calls for each Wiccan to write down his/her weaknesses on a piece of paper or parchment and toss it into the Cauldron fire. Divination. Set a place for the spirit guests. Carve a pumpkin and empower it to repel negativity.

Leave offerings outside your door and garden for the Fae and animals.

Hold a New Year's party with a spare chair for your loved one's spirits.

Bury and apple or pomegranate in the garden, these are believed to assist Spirits who are waiting for their rebirth.

Divination.

Display photo's of your loved ones. tell stories so they may be remembered,

Make a pumpkin pie, apple cider.

Craft your own besom or a witches ladder.

Carve jack-o-lanterns to light the way for the spirits who walk during Samhain.

Symbols for representing this Sabbat may include Jack-O-Lanterns, Balefires, Masks, The Besom (Magickal Broom), The Cauldron, and the Waning Moon.

Colours: Orange. Brown. Black. -Autumn colours.

Incense: Patchouli or Myrrh.

Crystals: Obsidian - Protection. Red Jasper- Past Lives. Carnelian - Ancestors, crossing over. Smokey Quartz - Banishing work and protection to guard against you.

Herbs: Patchouli. Sage. Bay. Pine. Pumpkin seeds. Apple seeds. Rosemary. Cedar.

Altar Decorations: Skulls [represents the Ancestors]. Cauldron. Pumpkins. Orange Candles. Dried Leaves. Berries. Photographs of your loved ones who have departed from this world.

Food: Pumpkin pie, other pumpkin recipes, Apple cider, Apple dishes [pies etc]. Dark breads.Game birds.