The Pagan Heart
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September-October 2005 Issue
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Holy Day: Samhaine
By Catherine M.
Samhaine is probably my most important festival - I think because of the spiritual significance it holds for me. I may miss bits of observation on other festival days, but not this one. When I rise - at dawn - I perform the Salute to the Sun, which is a wonderful yoga meditation that awakens and energises the body and mind. Following this I head to the bathroom for a ritual cleansing. This gets me into the frame of mind and energy space I need for the day. I light white candles, lock myself in the bathroom, have a shower - and meditate in the shower. It takes a while, which is unusual for me. I'm the 5 minute shower gal. But on Samhaine I scrub every inch, shave and completely cleanse. Then I dry off and moisturize - unscented lotion with a few drops of the ritual oil I am using blended in. I also rub a drop or two through my hair. The oil purifies and sanctifies my body as the yoga and meditation did my mind. Unified and whole, I am ready to face the day. Most my cooking I do the day before to reduce the workload. I don't want to be exhausted. I spend the morning finishing off various dishes and make one special dish from scratch which I fill with witchy power. This is the Samhaine dish from which all will eat. It changes from year to year. While I work I have candles and oil burning - anointed with ritual oil of course. And I fast until the main meal (from lunchtime the day before if not a three day fast). Fasting helps cleanse the system and the mind. This year I moved into a vegetarian diet two weeks beforehand. The one day I slipped and ate some meat I really noticed the difference. I believe that food is an important component in helping one mentally prepare for ritual. being able to cleanse out my system, flush the toxins, and fill it with seasonal nutrition is empowering. Throughout the day I take time to stop and meditate on my purpose for the coming year and on myself. At midday I lay out a fresh bowl of dried beans at each doorway. I clean the altar and make sure my earth goddess and grain god are clean and set up in pride of place. I lay out offerings for them. I take the time to write out my hopes for the year, any troubles I wish to lay at their feet. These I fold up and sit on the altar. I have a candle burning on the altar all day - and a spirit mirror. A circular mirror with runes of release and moving on written on it plus a white candle with the same runes carved into it sitting in the centre. This candle stays lit all day and all night. A small bowl of beans, one of honey, and one of milk sit on the mirror. A spirit mirror acts as a doorway for any lingering spirits who wish to move on but can't. It also provides a compassionate and gentle way for those visiting spirits to depart when the festival ends. The milk, beans, and honey provide nourishment, energy, and healing. I gather up images of those I wish to remember along with words I want to say to them and place these about the altar. For some I don't have photos so I sketch a simple figure and label it appropriately. Just before sunset I hang red ribbons on all doors and windows and leave out a bowl of milk outside each door. This protects my home from unwelcome guests and offers nourishment to any of the fey energies passing by. I extinguish all lights. Then as the sun sets I light a candle and walk through the house, and at each portal (window or door into the house or mirror) I leave a lit tealight. I end up in the "heart of the home" - for me this is my "between" space between the kitchen and lounge room - there I light my bael fire (a very fat candle, about 10 inches across) and recite my Samhaine Blessing. With the boundaries warded (by light and by red ribbon) and the fire reignited, the home is safe. At this point I walk through the house once more with salt water and sprinkle all rooms (I don't like smudge sticks). I thoroughly sprinkle all doors, windows, and mirrors as well. This banishes all negativity or unfriendly energy. I then light the pumpkin. Now it is time to celebrate. At dawn the next day (I don't sleep this night - I spend it partying then meditating and thinking and writing) I take the goddess, god, and folded paper to the threshold. There I burn the paper and then take the god/goddess/ashes outside and bury them. This ends my Samhaine. Blessings upon you and yours this sacred night.
Pagan Path Resolutions
Set aside some time in the week between Halloween and Samhaine to go through the past year - think about your goals, plans, hopes and dreams and what you achieved or didn't. Include whether it was a "reasonable" goal or a "wish", and anything that prevented you completing stuff. This provides you with a starting point for the New Year. Use a ring binder divided into months, and write out your goals and study schedule for each month along with the festivals and dates you plan to observe. Use a diary or online calendar with reminder emails to set up your study "homework", your festival reminders a month ahead - research, foods, recipes, correspondences, stories, relevance, meanings, etc - and some time for meditation or personal reflection each month. The dark or full moon are ideal. Note: when creating your list of resolutions, keep it short - no more than 4 year-long ones and no more than 1 per month. You can always do more. Blessings and Offerings
Think about what this last year has given you - blessings and offerings, and also the difficulties you have faced. Think of how these things helped you grow and develop. Think about what lessons you learnt. Make an altar to the dark Lord and offer up to him what is his due. This is his time - a time to look within to the shadow places, acknowledge and face them. This is the dormant time for life and the time of storm and cold. So explore this within yourself and see what you learn. From this comes balance and from balance comes true strength. Note: it's a good idea to make a Samhaine Box for next year in which to keep reminders of blessings.
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Primary Article - Samhaine
Secondary Article - Festival of Willows in honour of Astarte
Secondary Article - The Meditrinalia
Return to the Index of articles for Seasonal Festivals