#hallowmas season

[ancestorsalive]

Happy Heirloom Halloween & Samhain!

Now in the darkening of the year,

The veil between the worlds wear thin,

And those gone on ahead, draw near,

Like a harvest gathered in.

In the hours of quiet remembrance,

The waning season brings,

We may feel their whispered presence

like the brush of whispered wings.

“As gardeners, we know that seasons and cycles can be our allies. It's no coincidence that the Day of the Dead, Samhain, All Hallows' Eve, Halloween, and All Souls Day all create autumn ritual around honoring that which has passed. Across cultures and generations, the fall of the leaf heralds in a time of letting go, a season of reflection, a process of going back to the root, and a bittersweet holiday for remembering the gifts of our deceased mentors and ancestors. Perhaps even a season to renew and rekindle our own fires.

Who do you remember for sharing wisdom, strength or kindness along your life journey?”

- The Heirloom Gardener John Forti

[greenwitchcrafts]

October 2023 witch guide

Full moon: October 28th

New moon: October 14th

Sabbats: Samhain

October Hunter's Moon

Known as: Blood moon, drying rice moon, falling leaf moon, freezing moon, migrating moon, moon of the changing seasons, shedding moon, ten colds moon, winterfelleth & windermanoth

Element: Air

Zodiac: Libra & Scorpio

Nature spirits: Frost faeries & Plant faeries

Deities: Apollo, Astarte, Belili, Cernunnos, Demeter, Hathor, Herne, Horned God, Ishtar, Kore, Lakshmi & Mercury

Animals: Elephant, jackal, ram, scorpion & stag

Birds: Crow, heron & robin

Trees: Acacia, apple, cypress & yew

Herbs/Plants: Angelica, apple blossom, burdock, catnip, pennyroyal, sweet Annie, thyme & Uva ursi

Flowers: Calendula, cosmos & marigold

Scents: Apple blossom, cherry & strawberry

Stones: Amethyst, beryl, obsidian, opal, tourmaline & turquoise

Colors: Black, dark blue, Dark greens & purples

Energy: Artistic works, balance, creativity, harmony, inner cleansing, justice, karma, legal matters, mental stimulation, partnerships, reincarnation & uncovering mysteries or secrets

It is believed that this name originates from the fact that it was a signal for hunters to prepare for the upcoming cold winter by going hunting. This is because animals were beginning to fatten up in preparation for the winter season. Moreover, since fields had recently been cleared out under the Harvest Moon, hunters could easily spot deer and other animals that had come out to search for remaining scraps. Additionally, foxes and wolves would also come out to prey on these animals.

The earliest use of the term “Hunter’s Moon,” cited in the Oxford English Dictionary, is from 1710. Some sources suggest that other names for the Hunter’s Moon are the Sanguine or Blood Moon, either associated with the blood from hunting or the color of the changing autumn leaves. 

Samhain

Also known as: All Hallow's Eve,  Ancestor Night, Feast of Apples, Feast of Sam-fuim, Feast of Souls, Feast of the Dead, Geimhreadh, Hallowmass, Martinmass, Old Hallowmas, Pagan New Year, Samana, Samhuinn, Samonios, Shadowfest & Third Harvest

Season: Fall

Symbols: Apples, bats, besom(brooms), black cats, cauldrons, ghosts, gourds, jack-o-lanterns, pumpkins, scarecrows & witches

Colors: Black, gold, orange, silver & white

Oils/incense: Basil, cloves, copal, frankincense, gum mastic, heather, heliotrope, mint, myrrh & nutmeg

Animals: Bat, boar, cat cattle & dogs

Stones: Amber, anatase, black calcite, black obsidian, black tourmaline, brass, carnelian, clear quartz diamond, garnet, gold, granite, hematite, iron, jet, marble, pearl, pyrite, ruby, sandstone, sardonyx, smokey quartz, steel & tektite

Foods: Apples, ale, beef, cider, corm, fruits, garlic, gourds, grains, hazelnuts, herbal teas, mushroom, nettle, nuts, pears, pomegranates, pork, poultry, pumpkin pie, sunflower seeds, thistle, turnips & wine (mulled)

Herbs/plants: Acorn, Allspice, catnip, corn, dittany of Crete, hazel, mandrake, mugwort, mullien, oak leaves, pine, rosemary, sage, straw, tarragon, thistle, wormwood & yellow cedar

Flowers: Calendula, chrysanthemum, deadly nightshade, rue & fumitory

Goddesses: Al-lat, Baba Yaga, Badb, Banba, Bast, Bebhionn, Bronach, Brunhilde, Cailleach, Carlin, Cassandra, Cerridwen, Copper Woman, Crobh Dearg, Devanyani, Dolya, Edda, Elli, Eris, Erishkigal, Fortuna, Frau Holde, Hecate, Hel, Ishtar, Kali, Macha Mania, Morrigan, Nemesis, Nephthys, Nicneven & Rhiannon

Gods: Arawan, Baron Samede, Belenus, Coyote, Cronus, Dagda, Dis, Hades, Loki, Nefertum, Odin, Osiris, Pluto, Woden & Xocatl

Issues Intentions & Powers: Crossroads, darkness, death, divination, honoring ancestors, introspection, the otherworld/underworld, release, visions & wisdom (of the crone)

Spellwork: Divination, fire magick, night magick, shape-shifting, spirit calling & water magick

Related festivals:

• Day of the Dead- (Spanish: Día de Muertos or Día de los Muertos) is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, though other days, such as October 31 or November 6, may be included depending on the locality. It is widely observed in Mexico, where it largely developed & is also observed in other places, especially by people of Mexican heritage. Although related to the simultaneous Christian remembrances for Hallowtide, it has a much less solemn tone and is portrayed as a holiday of joyful celebration rather than mourning. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and to remember friends and family members who have died. These celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed.

• All Saints Day- is a Christian solemnity celebrated in honor of all the saints & martyrs of the Church, whether they are known or unknown

Activities:

• Dedicate an altar to loved ones who have passed

• Boil a simmer pot to cleanse your space

• Have a silent dinner

• Light a candle for your loved ones & yourself

• Decorate your house and/or altar

• Release negative energy & cleanse your with a ritual bath

• Pull tarot cards to see what may be in store for you ahead

• Cleanse, clean & de-clutter your space

• Leave offerings to the Fae

• Journal & reflect on your accomplishments, challenges & everything you did this year

•Go on a nature walk

• Learn a new form of divination

• Have a bonfire with your friends and/or family

• Carve pumpkins

• Express yourself creatively through art, music, ect

• Visit a cemetery & help clean off areas that need it or to visit a family member/ ancestor & leave an offering

• Hold a seance

• Bake spooky treats & bread as offerings

• Refresh your protection magicks, sigils & rituals

Samhain is a Gaelic festival on 1 November marking the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter or "darker half" of the year. Celebrations begin on the evening of 31 October, since the Celtic day began and ended at sunset.

This fire festival is celebrated on October 31st & is considered the Pagan New Year. It is the first Sabbat on the Wheel of the Year, a cross-quarter festival & the third (final) harvest festival of the mundane year. This is the time when the veil between the worlds of the living & those who have passed is the thinnest, which allows greater communication between the two

Some believe this is the time of the Goddess's mourning of the death of the God until his rebirth at Yule. The Goddess's sadness can be seen in the shortening, darkening days & the arrival of cold weather

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Llewellyn's 2023 magical almanac: practical magic for everyday living

Wikipedia

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

[landofspaceandrainbows]

Scarlet Pearl: A Double Life SMP Pearl Web Weave

A Fairy stories/Autumnal inspired web weave for @ollyboros as part of the Mcytblr Holidays Exchange

@mcytblrholidayexchange

Hope you have a nice holiday season!

~

Sources:

Fields Swaledale Gunnerside by Kreuzschnabel on Wikimedia National Dress Cape of Gbraltar by John Cummings on Wikimedia Vagabonds by Emily Pauline Johnson Under Canvas by Emily Pauline Johnson Autumn Path by Yuko Kudos on Wikimedia Hallowmas by Madison Julius Cawein Country Brick, Autumn Maple Tree by Forestwander on Wikimedia Black Fisherman Sandals with Orange Tights and Fall Leaves by Jamie on Wikimedia Decorated Sword on Swordwallpapers.com Song V by E. E. Cummings Tikaani 2 by Saweiss on Wikimedia The Phantom Horsewoman by Thomas Hardy Horse Riding, Mountain Pass by Vyacheslav Argenberg on Wikimedia Bow and Arrow by Arrows and crosses on Wikimedia Quiver and Arrows by Thos E. Hill on Wikimedia All Hallows Night by Lizette Woodworth Reese New Jersey Tree with Autumn Leaves by Tomwsulcer on Wikimedia

[blairstales]

Historic Halloween ( Samhuinn/Samhain): The Basics

Samhuinn or Samhain are both words to describe the fire festival that predated what we now call Halloween. While I will say that it most likely started in Ireland, it is worth noting that Scotland and Ireland have a long history of trading folklore and customs(which is no surprise seeing how close the two countries are), and Samhuin is no exception.

"Of the whole series of annual festivals, Hallowe’en forms the most important occasion in the Highlands of Scotland." “The Popular Superstitions and Festive Amusements of the Highlanders of Scotland” by William Grant Stewart (1858)

During Samhuinn and the other three major historic festivals, the veil betewen the Otherworld and our own is said to be at its thinnest, but it is even more so on Samhuinn.

This not only made it so more dead and fairies roamed, but also made saining (cleansing) rituals stronger. For Samhuin, the main focus was on fire.

"All fires were extinguished in the home and on the farm. Then the Hallow fires were kindled, very similar to those of Beltane, but more important, as heralding the advent of a new year. From the consecrated pile, portions of fire were carried to the houses to renew the flames upon the domestic hearth." “Primitive Beliefs in the North-East of Scotland” by Joseph McKenzie McPherson (1929)

This would all start by putting out all the fires in the homes, and carrying torches about the fields and villages in a sunwise direction, to encourage good luck and good crops. When the torches were brought home, they would be collected into a bonfire.

The fires (according to Witchcraft & Second Sight in The Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and the Book of Halloween) were called Samhnagan, and there was one for each house. The houses would compete to see who could have the biggest fire, and whole districts would twinkle with bonfires.

"The motive behind the Samhain fires was the same as in. spired the Beltane festival. It was man’s response to, and attack upon, the powers of darkness. At this season, the day was shortening, the sun’s strength was diminishing, malevolent powers of every kind seemed to be abroad." “Primitive Beliefs in the North-East of Scotland” by Joseph McKenzie McPherson (1929)

This festival lasted as so in Scotland for a long time, even as they stopped elsewhere.

"The November Eve fires which in Ireland either died out or were replaced by candles were continued in Scotland. In Buchan, where was the altar-source of the Samhain fire, bonfires were lighted on hilltops in the eighteenth century; and in Moray the idea of fires of thanksgiving for harvest was kept to as late as 1866." “The Book of Hallowe’en” by Ruth Edna Kelley, A. M. (1919)

A common theme to all the quarter days were bannocks. For Halloween, the bannock was sometimes made with fortune telling in mind.

"The bonnach Bride, or bannock of the bride, was baked for the spring festival, the bonnach Bealltain, or Beltane bannock, for the summer festival; the bannach Lunastain, or Lammas bannock, for the autumn festival; and the bannach Samhthain, or Hallowmas Bannock, for the winter festival." “The Silver Bough: Volume 1”  by F. Marian McNeill (1957-1968)

This is the start of my series breaking down Samhuinn in Scotland. Coming up: guising, turnips, predicting the future, the returning dead, and more.

[nansheonearth]

I know folks check your blog for events, so I wanted to let other womyn know about the Daughters of Diana Gathering, which is happening October 27-30 in CA. It’s a female-only Dianic witchcraft event. I can’t make it but maybe someone else can :)

DAUGHTERS OF DIANA GATHERING

Our Resilience: Drawing Strength From the Well of Our Goddess Sisterhood

October 27 - 30, 2022

IN- PERSON Gathering RETURNS!

PRESENTERS  INCLUDE:

FALCON RIVER

RUTH BARRETT  

CERRIDWYN ROSE LABRYS

AVA PARK      

HESTIA BEE       

SANDY CYBELE

DIANNA RITOLA  

NICKI HARRIS   

TRACIE JONES

TEMPLE ARDINGER     

CATHERINE RIDDER    

JUDITH MARTIN STRAW

Dear Sisters,

We are thrilled to announce that after a 2-year pause due to COVID-19 restrictions, Daughters of Diana Gathering will be offered IN-PERSON this year!  Daughters of Diana Gathering includes presentations, seasonal workshops, and our annual community Hallowmas ritual.  We will be opening registration soon, and will be strictly following the COVID safety policy of our camp. Registration will be on a first-come basis with attendance limitations.

Workshops focus on themes of the Halloween season and other topics of interest to feminist witches and goddess women.

https://www.daughtersofdianagathering.org/

[the-ratronaut]

Today in Fallen London

The festivities and open criminality of the Hallowmas season have been interrupted for some by the presence of tiger crime. This act of villainy has prompted into action the greatest of tiger detectives to take up the case!

[mourningcandles]

Moth-Winged

For @fallenlondonficswap's secret-swap, a much-delayed but much-loved story for @the-dye-stained-socialite. I hope you enjoy.

For the first Hallowmas in many, the Pavillion of Butterflies has not appeared in that quiet park in Elderwick. As the festivities end, Elias Leroux reminisces on a Hallowmas past and a chance meeting within the mirror-bright walls of a glasshouse long-gone.

Rated T . No warnings apply. Gen. POV second person. 1,295 words.

The garlands are unwound from the spokes of your wheelchair. The silk scarf which obscured its heart-shaped back is tucked away in your wardrobe once more, saved for another evening. And your mask… that you wrap in white crepe paper and tuck away for another year. It may not last, for masks are fragile things, but you try all the same.

This year was the first in some years that you have not worn the mask of the moth to the revels. That was the visage you wore on your first Hallowmas, that year when you were thrown headlong into the strange world beneath the one you once knew. There was something about Hallowmas drew you in: the strange new lovers and the old ones in disguise, the wild laughter, the world opened up to you so unexpectedly. Perhaps, hidden behind that mask of gant wings, you became one with the shadows, safe from the tricks and troubles of the season. The horrors passed you by and the wonders, oh what wonders, were yours to see.

Yes, that was how it had been, in a Hallowmas long-gone.

You were younger then, though not by much. You had seen less, won less, and your beloved first wheelchair was still in one piece. A less finely carved piece, but you couldn’t complain. You had been more accustomed to how it handled than your new one, making you a marginally better dancer. There would be dancing. There would be debauchery. There would be a little bit of everything, if one knew where to look.

The Blue-Eyed Moth led you north to Elderwick, where the socialites flocked for salons with the celebrated few. There, the Pavilion of Butterflies shimmered before you. Candlelight flickered off silver plates, leading moths big and small in a dizzy dance about the maze of Surface foliage which suffused the glasshouse. High above it all, upon her throne of wings, sat the Queen of Air and Darkness. She was your hostess, in a way. You ought to greet her. If only you could find the lift up to the balcony, if such a thing existed at all.

The glasshouse was a labyrinth. While the candles illuminated, the view through the throng was obscured by coiled fronds of ferns, clouds of pollen, spores, and mist from pipes far above. The vibrant colors of Surface blooms and silks dizzied the mind, such that you could only make sense of the scene before you by taking it in one segment at a time. To one side were the walkways through the foliage, where masked faces appeared and disappeared in the blink of an eye. Nearby were attendants handing out drinks and pamphlets. Maps, perhaps? Beyond that, a small group seemed to walk hand-in-hand upon the air. A chorus of laughter erupted as one startled upon catching a glimpse of the Masque far below the floor of glass and steel.

There: A maze of ramps arced upwards, each one framing the balcony below like the whiplash lines about an art nouveau fashion plate. They say that the Pavilion represents the Neath, that every facet of London is reflected within its panes. You could see it before you. Each landing held a shadow box view of high society: A handsome couple, arms outstretched to receive kisses from admirers and champagne from attendants. Above, gossiping amid mirrors, stood a set of society youths in masks of mauvine, fuchsine, aldehyde green, bright aniline dyes to burn the eyes. At the highest point, just below the arched glass roof, sat the Queen of Air and Darkness. Moth-masked courtiers raised their cups to her, content to bask in her glory. Upwards you climbed, taking the steep, steady path towards the Queen’s shimmering court.

It was not long before you found yourself lost. While it had seemed simple from below, more balconies seemed to appear where none should have been. It was upon one of these that you met a travelling companion. He was a Well-Attired Tomb-Colonist, his bandaged face glancing between a pamphlet and the dizzying view below.

When he caught you staring, he smiled, nothing but a slight shifting of the wrappings which hid him from view. “I’m hunting butterflies,” he said by way of explanation. With unsteady hands, he passed you the paper.

To your great delight, it was a guidebook on the butterflies and moths of the Pavilion.

“I was given binoculars,” he said, gesturing to the set tucked in his dinner jacket, “but my eyes aren’t quite what they used to be. With or without, I can’t seem to see a thing unless it’s right in front of me. I suppose you might make better use of these things.”

You took the binoculars and offered him the pamphlet. “I believe we might be able to help one another. If you consult the guidebook while I keep an eye on the moths, we might be able to identify these species more accurately than we would alone. Don’t you agree?”

The Well-Attired Tomb-Colonist reached out and accepted the guidebook with a bow. “I would be delighted.”

Together you sighted a vast array of winged insects, as well as spotting some which were suspiciously absent from the guidebook your host had provided. They were of a scarlet deeper than anything you had ever seen.

“I suppose it was the mystery which drew me here tonight,” you remarked. “The illusions played upon the eye and the secrets they hide… Every photographer knows how to alter an image after it’s taken. Only a magician can create such illusions in the moment. And you?”

The Tomb-Colonist gave a noncommittal gesture. “The Saint Elmo doesn’t call to me,” the dead man said. “I shall not die my last death in some dockside brawl. No, I shall be amid the moths.”

“They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”

He gave no reply, only followed your gaze to where a pale moth alighted upon his arm and sighed. Behind his mask, he closed his eyes with the weariness of a life long-lived. “The Queen awaits. Will you come with me?”

You had gone with him to the highest point of the glasshouse. You had seen the Queen of Air and Darkness, her mask white-winged and covered in eyes greener than green. And what had you seen next? Secrets to make the mind reel, absinthe to make vision blur, and dancing to send your heart soaring. And… modern art?

When you returned to your lodgings that night, you found that the skirts of your gown had been stained red where your hands had brushed them. You fretted none, as there is no stain a chemist cannot remove if given the time. The rest of the night had been spent amid the tools of your work, your fine silk skirt rustling softly in your hands. It had taken pepsin of all things to remove the stain. Lukewarm soap did nothing, neither did ammonia or benzine. It was not wine, nor ink, nor paint. It had been blood.

A fleck of it remains on the yellowing guidebook to the moths of a glasshouse long-gone. Perhaps there was something you had taken for granted about Hallowmas: It is one of the few times of the year during which you were not the only one who wears a mask. For every thing discovered, there is another hidden. For every illusion, there is a trick and a truth. Perhaps someday you shall find it. Or perhaps, before those wings of gant, what you seek shall always fade away right before you can truly see it. Either way, there will always be dancing, debauchery, and you, right in the middle of it all. With that pleasant thought, you close the box, setting it aside until Hallowmas calls once more.

[wundrousarts]

Isn’t morrigan’s birthday december 31st?

Okay, someone else brought this up as well so let me share how I arrived at my “Mog’s birthday is end of February” belief

Short answer: The Nevermoorian seasons in a year work like this:

[start of new year]

Spring: March, April, May

Summer: June, July, August

Fall: September, October, November

Winter: December, January, February

[end of the year]

The seasons follow Northern Hemisphere categorization, with months like July in Summer and December in Winter. However, they also follow the way Australian seasons start right at the beginning of months instead of at equinoxes. This is something I was totally unaware about but once I learned it it made the Nevermoorian seasons make way more sense!

Long Answer: I came to the conclusion just by scouring the books for any rare mention of months (they exist still!) and stretches of time, like weeks or days.

In ch13 of Nevermoor it mentions “the last weeks of August”, so it’s definitely winding down. After the Chase Trial ends in ch14, ch15 starts with a time jump to Hallowmas and is listed as Autumn of One. So we already know that August is in Summer of One, but the with when it shows up, it seems to be located at the end of the season (similar to how it is irl.) Same sort of deal with December being mentioned right away in ch17, the first instance of Winter of One, so it’s likely the first month of the season.

Both Nevermoor and Hollowpox feature both Christmas and Mog’s birthday and seems to put a decent amount of time, as in several weeks, between the two, so it makes more sense that her birthday would be farther away than just a few days after Christmas. The beginning of Wundersmith also mentions that it’s been a few weeks since she’s known what she was.

Morrigan’s birthday is unequivocally Spring’s Eve, the last day of Winter. Winter seems to start with December, and all the time between Christmas and the Show Trial / Wunsoc initiation / her birthdays means that her birthday is definitely farther away than December 31st. Also, the end of December just isn’t the last day of the year in Nevermoor. Based on how the seasons seem to be structured, Winter ends with February

Also, while it’s not an extra day in the year, Eventide definitely has the same vibe as Leap Day in that it only comes around every once in awhile, so I think it’s fun that Morrigan’s birthday is aligned with that.

I’ll end by saying that I don’t think Jess ever intends for folks to try and nail down the timeline or anything in Nevermoor based on how little information she gives about specific dates. As far as I can remember we aren’t given days of the months, like March 1st, we’re just given days of the weeks in a season, so like today for me would be something like First Wednesday, Spring of Three. You get the idea. I think perhaps it’s a way for Jess to get readers to set Nevermoor solely in its own world and time without thinking too hard about the months/specific dates (sorry that I’m an overthinker).

The one thing left to know for me is whether the months have the same number of days as we do here, meaning all different and one year’s First Wednesday of Spring was last year’s First Sunday of Spring bc of the difference, or if they have a standardized number of days in each month that makes every First Wednesday a Wednesday each year, or what….. idk. Lots to think about ever since we learned about the Ghostly Hours.

[bishopofstdiesis]

Hey... guess what time it almost is in London?

HALLOWMAS! I am excited. I love Hallowmas in Fallen London. Even though you can get neat affiliations at the end, provided you did enough for that “spooky faction,” I always even up a moth (nightmares). There was talk last year that the Queen of Air & Darkness would not be attending London’s Hallowmas this year & would instead be rotated out for one of the others (since we now have four & only three spots in London for venues). 

If there is no Pavillion of Butterflies this spooky season, I will probably end up a demon or a crown. Or... maybe there will be a new faction in town!?

That would be exciting... though 4 menaces probably means four factions. Alas. (Or maybe 6 locations for 6 kinds of confessions? That could be fun...)

While there is a description of the Pavillion several places during the event, telling an AI ONLY that gets you some... well, greenhouses. But explaining who’s INSIDE the Pavillion? Gets you much cooler greenhouses. Adding extra touches (victorian era, architects, interior or exterior, etc) makes the outcome even neater. However, it also makes my brain start wondering how other people see the Pavillion in their mind's eye. Do the candles give it a warm glow or do you think it’s all tinted a bit red because the Queen is there? Or maybe the colour is based on the butterflies inside? Perhaps it’s just an ordinary greenhouse, only made extraordinary by the festivities? 

Feel free to send a message or comment (or reblog) & let me know how you see it. I’d honestly love to know! Also, Hallowmas is my favourite Neathy holiday! So, if you want to share in the excitement, I’d love to see your posts about that too!

(If you want any other locations done, let me know... I get distracted easily by AI ideas & forget to finish my Fallen London prompts. @failbettergames)

[ashtrayfloors]

It’s the season of the scent of burn barrels and the sound of trains. It’s the month when all my ghosts come back to me.

I just don’t have much to say. Well, that’s not entirely true. I have a lot to say, but it’s all coming out in poetry or essays about past experiences, or in visual art. Not in journal entry form. I’ve been making copious notes for things-to-write re: my current life, but sometimes I need time to process it before I turn it into any kind of writing, even a journal entry. (Why do you think I’m always writing poems and essays about events from decades ago? Or writing epic-length journal entries about everything that happened in a particular day/week/month?)

It’s not that nothing is going on, currently. I’ve been doing a lot, feeling a lot. There’s of course all the general life-stuff: hustling for freelance gigs and then doing them, printing/collating/packing up zine orders, doing schoolwork with the kiddos. Even that stuff has been going quite well overall (there have been bad days, but not an unmanageable amount), and there have also been a lot of special, interesting, things. My and P.’s sex life has picked back up again after a couple months of it being pretty sparse and lackluster, and thank g-d for that. I’ve been embracing the delights of the season, in all their myriad forms. There have been trips to the north woods to chase the autumn; jaunts downtown for coffee and wandering or for fancy lunches and the art museum. I’ve been lurking in cemeteries, decorating my house for Halloween; I've been dressing up in some way or another, whether I'm going downtown or even just going to run errands, and some days, I dress up even just to stay at home. I’ve been painting pumpkins, making spooky art, writing poems about cryptids and graveyards and ghosts. I’ve been asking myself “what would the Great Pumpkin do?”; waking up in the morning and listening to goth and post-punk playlists while eating candy for breakfast, or drinking red wine or pumpkin beer while cooking dinner, and dancing around my kitchen when that one DJ on my favorite radio station who knows what's up plays Big Star and The 'Mats back-to-back. I've been reading horror and ghost stories and spooky poems, watching my favorite spooky films. I've been re-embracing my obsession with Peter Lorre, as I tend to do every year around this time. (Not that it ever really goes away, it’s just stronger this time of year.) I’ve been redecorating my altars to suit the season, and I’ve gotten back into tarot. I’ve been watching live videos of old favorite bands. My heart has been breaking every day over the state of the world, and I have been trying to do what I can while not getting down on myself for not being able to do more. And on days when it’s not raining, I’ve been sitting outside to watch the leaves fall, to listen to the trains, and to think of long lost friends and old flames.

Which leads me to the main thing I do want to get down. One of the old flames that’s been most heavy on my mind is “Harvey” (aka “Hertz,” neither are his real name but I have referred to him as one or the other in various writings over the years). There are many reasons for this, one being that he had the Inferno-connection too, so in the lead-up to Hallowmas, he is one of the people I think of when I listen to/think of the band. Another being that it was during October/November 2004 that our ‘thing,’ such as it was, was at its peak. After not having spoken for something like 12 or 13 years, we briefly reconnected after Jack’s death, because both of us needed to talk to someone who would get what we were feeling. The initial emails we exchanged were in no way romantic or flirtatious, but then after a while we admitted to each other that we still occasionally thought of one another That Way. And then we both stopped emailing again because, well, nothing good can come from opening all that up.

The night before last, I was thinking of him, and thought about sending him an email, and then I said to myself: “Not today, Satan.” He’s not Satan; Satan in this situation is my fucking feelings and complete inability to let the past be the past when it comes to certain people (such as Harvey). Satan is the fact that it doesn’t even make sense to still have these feelings; we barely had a relationship, we only kissed once, we never slept together. (Though that might be allonormativity talking; sex alone doesn’t make a relationship and lack of sex doesn’t mean a relationship wasn’t real. And I think the fact that we never fucked is part of the reason I have a hard time letting him go completely; there’s more to wonder about, more of a question of what might have been.) Satan is all the ways it could fuck up my life if we dredge all those feelings up again. So I didn’t email him, and I was so proud of myself for my willpower, and then I checked my inbox yesterday morning, and there was an email. From Harvey. And it fucking figures, because there are certain people in my life who seem to know when I’m thinking about contacting them and then contact me, and he has always been one of them. I haven’t even opened the email yet, because I’m scared. It could very well be an innocent ‘just saying hey’ message, except I doubt it is, because he sent it at like 3 a.m. his time and who is up in the middle of the night thinking of old flames only to send them a casual message? Ugh. I just. I’m not looking for advice, really, it just hurts.

[mariathearcane]

Happy almost Samhain, Dìa de Muertos, Halloween, Hallowmas, or any holidays you celebrate this time of year! Source | https://www.instagram.com/mariathearcane We are in the waning part of the year, and much like the the waning moon, after the 31st things may settle down in your magickal practice. This is completely normal. There is always so much excitement and energy during the “season of the witch”. Big rituals, tons of spellwork, and just absolutely being your witchiest selves. But all things ebb & flow. This upcoming part of the year many lean into a more simple practice which will involve practical magick, domestic magick, internal magick, shadow magick, and cozy magick. Not too many bells, whistles, or grand displays of magick. There is absolutely nothing wrong with embracing these types of magick, and if you roll with it, it will actually help you create a healthy and sustainable magickal practice in the long run. Just like how the earth has her seasons, as do our practices. So embrace your magickal ebbs and flows. New ep. of Coffee & Cauldrons is now live! We talk with the lovely @mhara_starling about welsh witchcraft and how she celebrates this magickal time of the year! It is a MUST listen, full of history and laughs. @atiredwitch and I also discuss the Three of Swords Rx, the art of slowing down, and stranger dangers for witchy youths. Hope you all enjoy! L l N K - l N - B l O 

[indynerdgirl]

For most people, Halloween is just a fun (or sinister) secular holiday that stands on its own. But it actually used to be an important part of a short liturgical season focused on death, Allhallowtide. All Saints’ Day has been celebrated on November 1st since the first millennium. It was sometimes called Hallowmas (Hallow = holy/saint; mas = short for Mass), or All Hallows. Its origins were practical: With all the great martyrs and saints of the early Church, there weren’t enough days in the year to honor them all. All Hallows was a catch-all day. The Vigil for this important feast was called All Hallows’ Eve, which got contracted to Halloween. It was often a day of fasting and praying in preparation for the great feast on All Hallows, which began in the evening with a Vigil Mass. There was also the popular belief (not of the Church) that the “veil” between our world and the spiritual realm of the dead was “thinnest” on this day. In the 13th century, St. Odilo of Cluny popularized a feast for remembering and praying for all the dead, All Souls Day. While we ask the saints in heaven for their prayers, we pray for the rest of the faithful departed, in case they are suffering in purgatory. This completed the triduum of death: All Hallows Eve, All Hallows, and All Souls. These feasts were so important that, in the mid-15th century, Pope Sixtus IV expanded the triduum into a full octave, or eight day observance. This expanded form of Allhallowtide lasted for centuries until 1955, when it was eliminated by Pope Pius XII as a part of a greater (pre-Vatican II) liturgical reform. This is why Allhallowtide is not normally celebrated today even by traditionalist Catholics, since the Extraordinary Form of the Mass follows the 1962 Roman Missal.

The Triduum of Death: The Forgotten Season of Allhallowtide

[landofspaceandrainbows]

A History of Jack O' Lanterns/Goblin Market

A Hermitcraft Season 8 PearlescentMoon Halloween themed Web Weave for @vacillantvoid for @mcyt-halloween !

Happy Halloween!

~

Credits:

Brassica Turnip by Peter Presslein at Wikimedia Engaging Ireland Podcast Wikipedia - Jack O Lantern Wikipedia - Jack O Lantern Pumpkin Stack Closeup by Jefferey Martin on Wikimedia Clarke Trail by Mario Haines on Wikimedia M. Macklin's Jack O Lantern by David McCord Jack O Lantern by Ruth Edna Kelley at Wikimedia Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti Fall Wine by thecottagemarket.com Hallowmas by Madison Julius Cawein Full Moon Rising by George Spandoudakis on Wikimedia Pumpkin Projection by Matthew Gordon on Wikimedia Jack O Lantern by Halloweenalley.ca

[angel-dust-addict]

//Thanksgiving is now officially over in the entirety of the US, and we all know what that means. It's time for Yule! Christmas? Never met her. Nope, Yule time. Planning to get my tree up, my various decorations out, and my alter changed over this weekend. Putting the Halloween decorations up too, because those never got put up this year. I was sick and stressed out for all of spooky season. So I'm decorating for "Hallowmas." I mean, Halloween is gay Christmas, after all. It fits. Shhhhhh, no, my decorations make sense. 🤫 >_>;;;

[x-starlight-mystic-x]

Sabbats & Esbats

Yule, Winter Solstice: December 20, 21, 22, or 23

Yule is the longest night and the shortest day of the year. Some Wiccans consider Yule to be either the year’s beginning or the end. This is the time to celebrate the return of the light. Yule is the solar turning of the tides, and the newborn Sun offers a fresh start and, literally, a new day. It’s a time of renewal and hope.

Brigid, Imbolc, Candlemas, Imbolg, or Brigid’s Day: February 1 or 2

Brigid, or Imbolc, is a preparation for spring. At Brigid, Wiccans clean and organize their living environments, as well as their minds and hearts, in preparation for the upcoming season of growth. It’s a time to shake off the doldrums of late winter and light the fires of creativity and inspiration.

Eostar, Spring Equinox, Ostara, or Oestarra: March 20, 21, 22, or 23

Winter is now over. Light is increasing. The day and night are equal in length at the equinox. Spring has arrived or is coming soon. Eostar is the time of fertility, birth, and renewal. The ice is thawing, and the growing season for plants and animals begins. Growth is the theme of the day.

Beltane, May Eve, Beltaine, Bealtaine, or May Day: April 30 or May 1

Beltane is the time of the marriage and union of the Goddess as Mother Earth and the God of the Greenwood. It is an ancient fertility festival marking the beginning of the planting cycle. The festival was to ensure a good growing season and a bountiful harvest. Beltane is light-hearted and joyful.

Litha, Summer Solstice, or Midsummer: June 20, 21, 22, or 23

Litha is the longest day and the shortest night of the year. Light triumphs, but will now begin to fade into darkness as autumn approaches. The crops are planted and growing. The woods and forests have reached their peak fullness. This is the time of abundance for wildlife, including people! The holiday is joyous.

Lughnasad, Lughnasadh, or Lammas: August 1

For the ancient Pagans, Lughnasad was a time of both hope and fear. They held hope for a bountiful harvest and abundant food, but they feared that the harvest wouldn’t be large enough and that the cold months would be filled with struggle and deprivation. At Lughnasad, modern Wiccans also face their fears, concentrate on developing their own abilities, and take steps to protect themselves and their homes.

Mabon, Fall Equinox, or Harvest Home: September 20, 21, 22, or 23

At Mabon, the day and the night are equal in length, in sublime balance. For many locations, Mabon coincides with the final harvest of grain, fruits, and vegetables. Mabon, also called Harvest Home, is the time of thanksgiving. The beauty and bounty of summer gives way to the desolation of winter, and the darkness overtakes the light.

Samhain, All Hallow’s Eve, Hallowmas: October 31 or November 1

For many Wiccans, Samhain marks the New Year and is the most important Sabbat. It’s the time to remember the ancestors, and the time to celebrate the harvest and all that has been accomplished over the year.

Esbats

The Esbats, or Wiccan lunar holy days, celebrate the moon’s passage around the Earth. The Esbats offer Wiccans a chance to regularly put aside time to step away from the ordinary world and dedicate time to spiritual reflection or magical work. The approach to the holy days isn’t all-inclusive. For each phase of the moon, some groups have particular rituals, and the Esbats can be celebrated by individuals or covens.

Some Wiccans celebrate an Esbat on the:

Full Moon

New Moon

Full Moon and New Moon

Full Moon, New Moon, and the Quarter Moons

Some Wiccans use the word Esbat to describe any Wiccan gathering (especially if ritual or magical work takes place) that doesn’t occur on a Sabbat.