Five Ways to Honour the Dead This Samhain

 Happy spooky season! As we approach Halloween my thoughts turn to celebrating the fun aspects of the season like giving out candy (and eating it), dressing up, decorating and watching scary movies. However, this time of year also has a more serious side for those of us that pratice witchcraft and honour the old pagan ways. Halloween orginates from the Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced Sa-wen) which was an ancient Celtic festival that honoured the dead and its where many of our traditions like dressing up as scary monsters, handing out sweets and lighting jack-o-lanterns come from. So in addition to all the fun festivities, it is also a time fro many of us who practice the craft to honour our deaceased loved ones, connect with our ancestors and do divination for the up coming year.

 

You don't have to be a practicing pagan or witch to take some time this Halloween/Samhain season to honour the dead. Below are five simple practices that anyone can do to honour those who have crossed over and connect with them. 

1. Light a candle in their honour. This may seem like a very simple thing to do, but don't let its quiet simplicity fool you. There is something very poignant about taking time to honour your loved ones by lighting a candle for them. There is reason it is a popular and common thing to do. The light represents their energy and spirit and can be a beacon to guide them to you. It shows that you have not forgotten them and that they still hold a place in your mind and heart. I like to use a larger candle for this that I dedicate solely to the dead. I not only light it on Halloween night, but also on birthdays and death days in remembrance.
    
2. Eat, watch, listen to, and do the things they enjoyed. Again this can seem quite simple but enjoying the things they enjoyed can bring back happy memories and remind us that we are always connected. You can eat some of the food they liked, watch a favourite movie of theirs or listen to music that reminds you of them. And if there's a Halloween candy you associate with them its a perfect time to indulge in a treat in honour of them. 
    
3. Put up photos of the deceased. You can out them in a frame on the wall or on the mantle near a candle lit for them. You can also keep their pictures in your phone, the same way that people used to keep photos in their wallet. Photos are a visual reminder of the people and pets we have lost, and can help us remember that we are still connected to them. Whether the photos are displayed in your home or in your phone, it can be helpful to talk to your loved one while looking at the photo. This makes it feel more tangible and like they are present. You can even light a candle while doing this to add a sense of ritual and intention.
    
4. Ask for signs. As the veil between this world and the next is thin at this time of year, its a great time to ask for signs and messages from your loved ones. You can ask to see a specific sign or keep it open ended. When asking for a specific sign make it something unlikely but not impossible. Asking to see a sparrow when you live in an area with lots of them makes it too common, but asking for a bird you rarely see might be better. Make it specific so there's no question when you see it. You can also ask for a sign that is unusual or surprising, something you can't dismiss. With this one, set a time limit, like the next 24 or 48 hours, so you know when it is done. You can even ask for something on Halloween day, as this day is one the specifically honours the dead. Another method is to ask for them to appear in a dream. This method works best if you are someone who remembers their dreams. Be patient as it may take several tries to get a response.
    
5. Visit their grave site. If your loved one is buried in a cemetery you can go and visit their grave site. While their spirit may not be hanging around their grave (I hope they have better things to do), it is a tangible space that is dedicated to them. This can be a good time to bring them an offering or to just go an sit and talk to them. It can be very peaceful and comforting for some to visit their loved ones resting place. If they don't have a grave site or you are too far away from it, you can also go to a place that was special to them like a favourite park bench, a coffee shop you used to go to with them or even a place that just reminds you of them. 

These are just a few ways you can honour your loved ones during this time of year. Remember that it doesn't have to elaborate, sometimes simple a straightforward is best. Whatever you do, make it personally meaningful to you.

 

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New Moon in Libra - Conforming vs Self Expression

 On Tuesday October 21 we have a New Moon at 28 degrees of Libra. New Moons are the start of the lunar cycle that lasts 28 days. Over the next two weeks the Moon will grow in the sky until it reaches its apex at the Full Moon. It will then enter the waning part of the cycle as it decreases over the following two weeks, until it again disappears at the New Moon and we begin the cycle again. The first two weeks that start with the New Moon and end with the Full Moon is the waxing part of the cycle and is a great time to do magic for growth, increase, and to bring blessings and healing. This is one of the reasons we set goals and intentions at the New Moon as it is a good time to plant a metaphorical seed that will grow with the Moon over the next 14 days. 

Moonology oracle

 

New Moons are also when the Sun and Moon are in the same sign, so both lunar and solar energies are working together in harmony. Because of this it is a good time to set goals that align with the sign the New Moon is in. Libra is a sign ruled by Venus, the planet of love and beauty, so any goals around romance, beautifying yourself, your home or making art are fortuitous now. Libra also is a sign of harmony, diplomacy and justice so it is a good time to set goals around bringing peace or justice to a difficult situation and finding harmony between enemies. Setting goals around creative or business partnerships are also ideal now.

This Libra New Moon has some challenging aspects as it is opposite Chiron and square Pluto. Chiron is often referred to as the wounded healer, as it shows us where we have been hurt, but also how we can help and heal others. Our biggest wounds can with healing become our biggest strengths. Oppositions usually show up as outside events that challenge us in some fashion. Chiron in Aries may bring up issues around our identity or self expression. The outside would is going to challenge our sense of balance and harmony in relationships by bringing up some old issues for healing. This is further challenged by the square to Pluto in Aquarius, as squares speak of internal tension. Pluto in Aquarius is about the power of the collective and of technology. Expect this New Moon to challenge our sense of identity and self expression against our relationships and the peer pressure to conform, especially when it comes to things like social media. How do we find the courage to express ourselves while still being part of the group and keeping harmony in relationships? This is the question being asked now.

The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon is "A Circular Path." This symbol perhaps holds the answer to the dilemma that the aspects of this New Moon brings. It speaks of following the rhythms of our life and of nature rather than fighting against it. There are going to be seasons of our life that are quiet, and ones with more activity. There are going to be times when we are alone and times where we are in relationship. The key is to not fight against the current, but to move with it. If events bring up old wounds or we feel a sense of discomfort, rather than fighting it, we need to ask ourselves what is being brought to our attention to heal. How can we react in new ways and not fall back on old outdated habits. These questions can help us navigate this time and bring fresh insight to old issues. 

 

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Lunar Eclipse in Pisces - Good News Disguised as Bad News

 On Sunday September 07 we have a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse at 15 degrees of Pisces. Eclipses happen twice a year, about six months apart. The last pair of eclipses was in March earlier this year. Eclipses happen in pairs with a Lunar and Solar Eclipse occurring within two weeks of each other and are in opposite signs. This month we have a Lunar Eclipse in Pisces and a Solar Eclipse on September 21 in Virgo. The week before the first eclipse to the week after the last eclipse is sometimes referred to as "eclipse season" and is a time of change and disruption.

Moonlogy Oracle

 

Lunar eclipses often bring to light things that are hidden like secrets and scandals. Anything that has been hidden from the light tends to get exposed under a lunar eclipse. This particular lunar eclipse is in Pisces, a sign that is about spirituality, dreams, the subconscious, creativity and the collective. Lunar eclipses in Pisces can reveal hidden mental or emotional health issues, reveal spiritual truths to us or make us more psychically aware. While these truths may initially be upsetting or disruptive, they are trying to help us to grow and heal. I often find that eclipses are trying to get us to course correct, so if we are off the path a little we receive a little nudge from the Universe. However if we have gotten way off course, then the message will be more dramatic.

This Lunar Eclipse is opposite Mercury in Virgo and trine Jupiter in Cancer. Oppositions often manifest as an event in the outside world, in this case a message, as indicated by Mercury who rules communication and travel. Virgo rules over routines, work, physical health and even pets. Expect to hear news in one of these areas that confronts your sense of spirituality, mental health or creativity. It could be that we may have to adjust our routine, make health adjustments, or there are changes at work that may affect our sense of well being and ask us to find a better balance. We are being helped by the trine of Jupiter in Cancer, as the planet of luck and expansion tells us that these changes are ultimately for the best. The changes we make will allow us to grow in the areas of home, family and creativity. 

The Sabian Symbol for this Lunar Eclipse is "The Flow of Inspiration". This symbol is connected to our spirit guides and angels and how the Universe is bringing us messages if only we would stop, slow down and listen. This Full Moon we are being asked to pay attention to the messages and follow the guidance we are given. While the information we receive may not be what we want to hear initially, it does turn out to be helpful in the long run. If you can this week slow down, step back and take note of what is happening around you. The inspiration you receive will be worth it. 

 

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