Wild Goddess Magick
Witchology Magazine THE CELTIC ROOTS OF
halloween
An Exclusive Interview with Author, Jamie
Della
Getting Festive with Delicious
SAMHAIN RECIPES
Samhain
A Time of Honoring Your Ancestors
Elevate your Practice with
Shadow Work and Automatic Writing
YOUR GUIDE TO GOING BEYOND THE
THE VEIL
Samhain reminds us that the cycle of life and death is a never ending one that should be celebrated and cherished.
EDITORIAL Ambrosia Hawthorn, Editor Maya LeMaitre, Copy Editor WRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS Miss Wondersmith, Michael Bauer, Jamie Della, Mike Sexton, Jennie Sharples, Karla Freeling. ART & PHOTOS Cover: Ambrosia Hawthorn Illustrations: Tiffany Sosa stock.adobe.com All other photos are from free stock sources or from contributors. SALES & SUBMISSIONS ambrosia@witchologymagazine.com www.witchologymagazine.com SOCIAL www.witchologymagazine.com www.instagram.com/witchologymag www.twitter.com/wgmagick www.facebook.com/witchologymag Copyright © 2019 by Wild Goddess Magick. All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Magazine is intended for ages 18 and up. We are a proud participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. All our content is reviewed and vetted in the process. The opinions expressed in our published works are those of the authors and do not reflect the opinions of Witchology Magazine or Wild Goddess Magick. Wild Goddess Magick assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
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elcome!
“These words herein are from me to you, each picture, thought, and quote we imbue. This issue reflects the knowledge I have to share, use each spell, ritual, and work with care.” October brings colder, shorter days and longer nights. It’s a great month to work on letting go, spiritual awareness, honoring your ancestors, and celebrating endings. In this issue, we have articles relating to life, death, and rebirth, the thinning of the veil, honoring your ancestors, automatic writing the history of the ouija board, and ways to celebrate with your family. This month we also got to know author and witch, Jamie Della in an exclusive interview and sneak peek into her new book, The Book of Spells. We also have articles by our witchy team about Samhain, shadow work and the shadow self, athames, deities, and much more! Don’t forget to read to the end and get rewarded with delicious Samhain recipes. Please also note, we cannot guarantee any outcomes from the content of this magazine, but please don't give up on the magick within you!
Blessed be witches,
Ambrosia Hawthorn
Wild Goddess Magick
Witchology Magazine
Cover by Ambrosia Hawthorn @wildgoddessmagick
Our Witchy Team
Ambrosia Hawthorn @wildgoddessmagick Witchologymagazine.com Editor, writer, illustrator, and eclectic witch.
Miss Wondersmith @misswondersmith Thewondersmith.com Writer, wondersmith, recipe creator, forager, event hostess.
Jamie Della @jamiedellawrites Jamiedella.com Writer, hearth witch, Priestess, published author.
Mike Sexton @artistmikes Mikesextonstudio.com Writer, eclectic Wiccan, artist, published author.
Mozinah the Seer @mozinahtheseer Mozinahtheseer.co.uk Writer, mystic, Celtic seer, and published author.
Jennie Sharples @jenniferksharples AutumnEnchantments.etsy.com Writer, healer, psychic, and shop owner.
Karla Freeling @wiccanology Wiccanology.etsy.com Writer, mother in the military, Pagan, and shop owner.
Michael Bauer @blancchevaldesigns BlancCheval.etsy.com Writer, Wiccan, artist, and shop owner.
OCTOBER 7 What’s New in the Witchy Community 8 October Magickal Workings 9 Samhain Must-haves 20 Interview with Jamie Della 53 Witchy Shops Directory
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ARTICLES & LORE
12 The Importance of Appreciating The Cycle of Life, Death, and Rebirth 13 How to Honor your Ancestors During Samhain 15 The Wonderful Talking Board 19 Celebrating Samhain with Family 24 Preparing for Samhain 28 How I Became an Athame Maker 30 Samhain: A Time of Working with your Shadow Self 43 The Celtic Roots of Halloween
33 41 28
CORRESPONDENCES
38 Herb: Wild Yam 40 Crystal: Opal 41 Goddess Lilith
MAGICK LEARNING
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17 Automatic Writing 22 Blessing Youthful Innocence Spell 25 Samhain Shadow Work 27 Honoring Persephone the Queen of the Underworld 33 The Blood Moon 35 Connecting with your Inner Witch
FEASTING
45 Tasty Pumpkin Brownies 47 Nutmeg Soul Cakes with Wild Berries and Ceremony 51 Samhain Caramel Apples
What’s New in the
Witchy Community Want to know what’s happening in the community? Well, we’ve searched high and low to bring you the latest products, books, and more.
Toil & Trouble: A Memoir By Augusten Burroughs
The Book of Spells
For as long as Augusten Burroughs could remember, he knew things he shouldn't have known. He manifested things that shouldn't have come to pass. And he told exactly no one about this, save one person: his mother. His mother reassured him that it was all perfectly normal, that he was descended from a long line of witches, going back to the days of the early American colonies. And that this family tree was filled with witches. It was a bond that he and his mother shared--until the day she left him in the care of her psychiatrist to be raised in his family (but that's a whole other story). After that, Augusten was on his own. On his own to navigate the world of this tricky power; on his own to either use or misuse this gift. Now available on Amazon
By Jamie Della Calling upon ancient powers and the ways of the Witch, The Book of Spells contains rituals and visualizations for releasing negativity, increasing bliss, healing a broken heart, finding your Spirit guides, embarking on the adventure of astral flight, and more. This beautifully gilded compendium includes need-to-know information on Sabbats and ancient traditions, Gods and Goddesses, and tools of the Craft such as herbs, crystals, tarot archetypes, moon phases, and runes. The Book of Spells is the perfect beginner's guide to following the Path, practicing the Craft, and incorporating magick into your daily life. Now available on Amazon
Prosperity Magick: Spells for Wealth By Cassandra Eason We all want the comfort of financial security and the pleasures it brings —as well as the satisfaction of being rewarded for our hard work and achieving a better quality of life. This comprehensive compendium contains an encyclopedic variety of spells for wealth and prosperity. It tells you what you’ll need to do to carry out each spell—including using colors, crystals, metals, herbs, and fragrances—and the best time to cast it, and provides detailed instructions to guide you every step along the way. Now available on Amazon 7
OCTOBER MAGICKAL WORKINGS
October is the ideal time to celebrate the past and honor those who are no longer with us. It’s also a great time to say our goodbyes to all that are departing as the
earth goes dormant for the upcoming winter months. If you are in the Southern Hemisphere, you will be
celebrating Beltane and warmer weather. This is also
another time when the veil between worlds is thin, but
instead of holding sĂŠances, you might be giving offerings to the fae and earth spirits.
Wherever you are, October is an excellent time for
honoring life, death, and rebirth while also focusing on letting go to make room for the new. 8
Halloween Spirit Candle
SAMHAIN Must-haves
$19.80 AnitaApothecaryShop
Our favorites for this month!
Herbalist Collection Planchette $45.80 TheZodiacWitch
Cauldron and Witch Hat Ornament $14.95+ KindredStudioDesigns
Wooden Ouija Board $75.00 Sold on Amazon
Scrying Mirror
$32.98 TheWitchingWells
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Your Guide to Going Beyond the Veil Knowing what and what not to do while trying to gain answers from passed on relatives is one of the best ways to stay safe this Samhain.
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very Samhain, many Pagans take time to honor and celebrate their ancestors. With the veil between the worlds at its thinnest, the time for communication and going beyond the veil is ideal. But before venturing into communicating with spirits, there are some essential tips to remember so that we can safely pass through and communicate with the dead. We’re going to talk about using a scrying vehicle to practice communicating with the dead. Whether you choose to purchase a crystal ball or magick mirror or make your own, it is important to make sure that it is cleansed and consecrated prior to use. To do this, you can use your personal energy, smoke from incense, a besom, distilled water, or heat from a candle flame. When cleansing and consecrating it’s important to set and focus on your intentions to clear away old energies and to set the object with a purpose. When it comes to using your scrying object there are a few tips to follow. Make sure that you do your scrying in a quiet place with no interruptions. This is especially important if you’re doing it at Samhain as you may have unwanted attention. To further protect yourself, create a sacred circle with the help of calling the elements, a deity for protection, or a wall of your energy. Energy manipulation is an advanced technique that takes a lot of time to master and perfect. Entities or other guests that are roaming the earth can
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actually negatively impact your ability to connect with your chosen ancestor or spirit. It is also helpful to try to plan out the questions you want to ask ahead of time, and don’t take any time up with “silly” questions (as these may insult the dead). It is also important to only ask questions of ancestors that you have a personal connection with. Start by lighting a purple spirit candle to enhance your psychic abilities and calling out the name of your ancestor three times, then sit quietly and try to clear your mind in wait for a response. You’ll know when your ancestors are present when your vision starts to tunnel and you are able to feel, see, or hear messages. Scrying takes time and practice to learn, and the answers may come in less obvious ways. Make sure that you’re paying attention to the whole room, not just what you might see in the scrying tool. Answers may be visual, auditory, or just occur in your mind. Write them down immediately so that you can reflect on them later. While attempting to cross the veil, make sure you have practiced using your scrying vessle to learn the tool. It's always important to practice using your tools before you actually need them. I hope these tips can help you in elevating your practice for a wonderful and magickal Samhain.
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The Importance of Appreciating the cycle of
Life, Death, and Rebirth S
amhain happens during the time of the year where we celebrate the end of the warmer, lighter season and head into the cooler, darker one. Leaves start to die and fall from the trees, the days get shorter, and the nights get longer. With all of this change comes more time spent in contemplation of the loved ones we’ve lost and the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Although this may sound slightly morbid, Samhain is actually considered the start of a brand new year. It is always hard losing loved ones, and being Pagan doesn’t make any of that easier. However, Paganism does foster a slightly different outlook on death and dying than many other, more modern religions. Instead of looking at death as the end, it is viewed as simply entering into a new phase of existence. While the living miss the physical presence of the dead, there is also the understanding that their loved ones will eventually be reborn. In The Pagan Book of Living and Dying, by Starhawk, the author speaks of “the sacred cycle.” She relates the life and death of humans to the way that all life exists on Earth. “This cycle of birth, growth, death, decay, and regeneration is the basic life-sustaining process on this planet,” she writes. It is only through learning how to accept and reconnect with the death portion of the life, death, 12
and rebirth cycle that we can lose the fear and denial that is so often present. This is why we take so much time to reconnect and honor our ancestors during Samhain, as opposed to the holiday opposite it on the Wheel of the Year, Beltane. We can’t fully appreciate life until we accept the reality of death. They go hand in hand; one can not happen without the other. One way to connect with the idea is through meditation. Simply sit in your ritual space with no distractions, and contemplate the cycle of the moon. From the new moon (the phase of new beginnings and birth), through the waning crescent as hopes (and people) grow, to the full moon (the phase of culmination and fulfillment), and finally through the waxing crescent as the end approacheseach phase is equally as important to a full life. Use this time to meditate on the journey, instead of focusing on the phases that are filled with things that might make us feel uncomfortable. Getting more comfortable with the entire cycle of life, death, and rebirth can help us to fully appreciate our entire journey on this Earth, no matter how short or long it might be. This Samhain, try to evaluate the way you feel about death and dying. Without this important phase, we couldn’t fully experience joy.
How to Honor your
Ancestors during Samhain F
or Pagans following some of the more ancient Celtic traditions, Samhain allows for the opportunity to reconnect and honor their ancestors. This can seem daunting to some newer practitioners so today we’ll be going over the top three ways in which Pagans, no matter how long they’ve been practicing, can appropriately show their appreciation for the ancestors whose lives allowed them to be here today. The Silent (or Dumb) Supper: The idea of the Silent Supper is an ancient one, going back centuries. With this powerful and important ritual, Pagans will set the table for both the living and the dead. One chair will be left empty at the head of the table and shrouded, meant to honor the deity as well. This table should only be set in a place that has been cleansed and consecrated as a ritual space and set with all black (tablecloth, glasses, napkins, plates, cups, etc.). The room should only be lit by lamp or candlelight. All participants should both enter and leave the room in complete silence to honor the dead, and no one is allowed to talk during the meal as well. It is meant to be a solemn reminder of those that have gone before, and everyone involved should bring a small piece of paper with a prayer or letter for their ancestors. The Silent Supper is one of the most moving and poignant ways to honor your ancestors without even speaking a word. Ritual: Many people prefer to hold special rituals during Samhain to specifically honor their ancestors. Every Pagan honors them differently, and there is no right or wrong way to do it. Start with setting up an ancestral altar, which can include anything that your ancestors would have
liked and pictures of or objects from them. It’s important to keep the altar lighthearted, as dead should not be a sad or scary occasion. When you’re ready to perform your ritual, prepare the space and yourself as you normally would. Light a single white votive candle and bring an offering for the dead. Place your hands together at your heart in a prayer position and speak some words honoring the dead. Close your circle. This small but powerful ritual can help honor and remember your ancestors and remind them they still have a place in your home and your heart. Seance: While this ritual to commune with the dead often gets written off as overly dramatic movie nonsense, seances and the ability to get answers from the dead has a powerful place in the Samhain repertoire. Gather a few materials (salt, a purple candle, your choice of incense, a bell, a picture of your loved one or an object that belonged to them, and any offerings you would like to make) and head to a consecrated ritual space. Sprinkle the salt in a clockwise motion around you (or, if you lack space, just around the base of the candle), then light the candle and the incense. Use the incense to honor the four corners, then ring the bell three times. After that is done, simply sit and talk to your loved one. Listen to what they have to say, and thank them when you’re done. Close the circle, and leave the offering. No matter how you choose to honor your relatives this Samhain, make sure to offer your love and gratefulness to the ancestors who walked this world long before us. Without them, we would not be here, enjoy all the magic the season has to offer. 13
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The Wonderful Talking Board The ouija also known as spirit board or talking board, is a flat board marked with the letters of the alphabet, the numbers 0–9, the words yes and no and occasionally goodbye. It uses a small heart-shaped piece of wood or plastic called a planchette. The ouija board stems from the 19th century and was developed out of spiritualism and an optimistic view about the future and the afterlife. As spiritualism’s popularity waned, the ouija board emerged as a popular parlor game; it was only in the 20th century that the Catholic Church and the horror movie industry rebranded the game as a doorway to the demonic. A ouija board is a divinatory tool. Its purpose is to answer a question by inviting spirits to speak to the people using the board. Ouija boards provide a way to connect with the dead and can also be used during a séance.
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Anyone can use one, and no real skill is required and game companies sell them by the thousands. So, if you are thinking about trying to communicate with the spirits, using an ouija board is a fairly easy way to begin.
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Automatic Writing Automatic writing is form of divination that allows you to channel information through writing.
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automatic writing is effective when performed in a trance state or during an attempt to connect with spirits such as a sĂŠance. This method of divination works by allowing you to communicate intuitively. If you're new to divination or tapping into your psychic abilities, you may want to first prepare for automatic writing with a purple or silver candle for enhancing your psychic abilities and igniting an incense blend of mugwort, thyme, and lavender or other herbs of your preference. To get comfortable for automatic writing, clear away, and create a sacred space at a desk or your altar. You'll need a pen and notebook to record your information or messages. Now, to perform automatic writing, you'll need to clear your mind. If you practice meditation regularly, this is probably easy for you. If you're not familiar with learning to
clear your mind, spend ten minutes focusing on your breathing and allowing your mind to clear.
“
All divination takes time and practice to perfect. This is the perfect opportunity to ground yourself and center your energy. Feel free to incorporate crystals at this stage as they can give you a power boost. Good crystal options are clear quartz, amethyst, moonstone, or lapis lazuli. As with any form of divination, the more you practice, the more you'll understand what you're receiving from the other side.
into your head should be written down. Don't worry about figuring out the meaning is something to do when you're done with your session. Need extra help? Try asking specific questions to guide the practice and get the answers going. Continue until the words begin to stop. You'll feel when it's time to finish. This usually takes an average anywhere from 10 minutes to 30. Holding this trance state will start to become difficult after that. Once you've finished, look at your notes and review what you wrote. You should look for patterns, words, themes that resonate with you to identify. Keep practicing and trying new methods to elevate your practice and have a blessed Samhain!
When you've grounded and cleared your mind, the words that begin coming 17
“For those who celebrate Samhain, it is a time to set out ancestor altars, to tell stories about people who have gone before us, to practice divination, and to gather around bonfires or attend public Samhain rituals and share in a sense of spiritual community.� -Diana Rajchel Samhain: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for Halloween
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Celebrating Samhain with Family One of the more fun Pagan holidays to celebrate with your family, and especially with children, is Samhain. Traditionally, Samhain is celebrated from October 31st through November 1st, from sunrise on the first day to sunset on the second. The holiday originated as a festival to celebrate the harvest season ending while the winter begins. Many of the traditions that we now associated with Halloween have older Pagan roots. Jack-o-lantern carving is one of the most recognizable. The activity originated due to the fact that many Pagans were not wealthy people, and it was a fun thing to do that didn’t cost any money. Although the original jack-o-lanterns were thought to be turnips, pumpkins ultimately won out as the preferred vegetable for these spooky carvings. There are many theories about why this tradition originated, but none have been historically proven. So grab that perfect
pumpkin and a child-friendly carving device and get to work! Another food item with Samhain roots is the apple. A traditional activity on Halloween is bobbing for apples but, did you know that the apple has been associated with this older Pagan holiday for centuries? Just cut an apple in half, and you’ll find a pentacle! The majority of apple-related traditions are actually divinations for future love. It’s said that an unmarried woman can stand backward in front of a mirror, eating an apple and combing her hair, and look over her left shoulder to see a vision of her future husband. This is especially fun for older teenagers! To bring a little bit of Samhain into the kitchen, invite the family and cook up an old fashioned harvest meal! Pumpkin bread and seeds, candied apples, corn on the cob, and spiced mulled wine
all make excellent fare this time of year. In some cultures, this holiday is known as the “Feast of the Dead,” and including food in your family’s festivities is a great way to honor the dead and celebrate with the living. Many people also elect to make the favorite foods of passed away relatives and place them outside on the doorstep, as Samhain is the day of the year where the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. It is also the perfect time to commune with the dead. This Samhain, make sure to include your children and family in any planned activities. Carve a jack-olantern, make a festive holiday meal, bob for apples- anything you do, do it with reference for the generations of ancestors that made it possible for you to be here today.
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Interview with Jamie Della Jamie Della has studied magick and spirituality from around the world for more than twenty years. As a practitioner of healing arts, she leads workshops and ritual retreats on earth-based spirituality at the Northern California Women’s Herbal Symposium. Jamie is the author of eight books, including The Wicca Herbal and The Wicca Cookbook, and also her latest release, The Book of Spells.
Can you tell us a little about you and your background? I came to Witchcraft with the help of some extraordinary women. My maternal grandmother died the month before I was born two days before Christmas, so my Mexican mother always told me Nana was my special spirit guide. I then began a normalized conversation with the other side at a young age. My stepfather raised me in the Christian Science church, a religion formed by Mary Baker Eddy, with three strong tenants for me: God is a mother-father source with seven synonyms: principle, mind, spirit, soul, life, truth, and love. All humans are a perfect
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reflection of the Divine and loved very much, in fact, on par with Jesus Christ. With faith and my mind, I could manifest any healing (mind, body, or spirit). I hadn’t heard the story of Eve until I was 10-years-old, a young feminist, I thought it was a joke! My other grandmother traveled the world as a tarot reader and introduced me to intuition, symbols, and oracles. What inspired The Book of Spells? The Book of Spells is a revision of The Teen Spell Book, which I wrote in 1999 when I was at the end of my Saturn Return and trying so hard to let go of the pain and hurtful stories from my teen years and late twenties and be a whole adult. My other book, The Wicca Cookbook had sold out of its first print run in a
couple of months, so the publisher asked me to write a teen book. I was scared of this manifesting wish - to be healed I would have to go backward and forgive. I reread my diaries and wrote spells to release what no longer serves and reach out for the best life could offer me. I believe to honor the Goddess truly we must accept our mothers just as they are and honor their willingness to carry, birth, and raise us. Eighteen years later, now in perimenopause, the publisher asked me to update this book and widen its appeal. I cut 30 spells that were either for a young audience or superfluous and not focused on personal growth and empowerment. I added tarot, herbal, and crystal information and eight spells on subjects that I have learned in living out loud and juicy for the last 18 years and via raising three teenssuch as Blessing Youthful Innocence. We don’t know what we don’t know, and we need to learn to let that be okay. Who is the perfect audience? The perfect audience for my book is someone who wants to feel the divine alive within them. By showing that they are willing to love themselves fiercely even if the road is bumpy. They are also courageous and willing to be fully engaged in their magick, and they live the seasons by taking them in as literal advice. They may also get nutty over creating an altar but know it’s the creatrix giving birth over and over again in a divine dance and not for show. Here is a line from the Red Hot Chili Peppers“Can’t stop the spirits when they need you. This life is more than just a read through.”
What can you tell us about your new book? The Book of Spells is one-third a reference book to help the readers understand the different paths, symbols, and universal influences so that they can create their own spells. The 50 spells in this book are all of a positive nature and are organized under subjects like self-knowledge, emotional, spiritual and physical health, selfimprovement, protection, and productivity. What's next for you? I am going to be teaching workshops and I am starting a new podcast. Stay updated by connecting with me on social media and visiting the events section on my website. Where to connect with Jamie Della: Website www.jamiedella.com Email jamiedella1223@gmail.com Facebook www.facebook.com/jamiedella1223 Instagram www.instagram.com/ jamiedellawrites
Interview with author, Jamie Della 21
Blessing Youthful Innocence Spell A spell by Jamie Della from her book, The Book of Spells
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hen I began editing my book for its revival, I felt embarrassed about some of the seemingly frivolous spells and my youthful, outrageously hopeful point of view. I was exiting my Saturn’s Return, a cosmic right of passage, and about to experience the death of three parents, divorce, raising three teens alone, the loss of career, and wavering of my faith. Yet, I stand tall today because of my youthful innocence and the wisdom I gained by going through Saturn’s Return. Whereas Earth takes 365 days to circle the sun, Saturn takes approximately 29 years to return to the same place in the sky that it occupied at the moment of your birth. Saturn’s Return, which occurs between the ages of 27 through 33, feels like the ground beneath you shifts, the things you relied upon lose their value or disappear, and most everything you knew as a Truth (with a capital T) changes entirely. It is a time to let go of trying to figure out anything and allow the mystery to unravel and reveal itself to you. You will emerge new and stronger than before by learning to trust your inner guidance.
Saturn, also known as Father Time, offers an invitation to have faith as you grow deeper into your unique self. There is no point in rushing Saturn as he is the god of agriculture and you cannot force a tree or your spirit to grow faster than what is natural and right timing. Saturn represents faith, solitude, self- discipline, and self-respect. He is not humored by indulgent whining about being young and not knowing – the answers will come in time. He does not heed self-recriminations of what you should have known – the past is gone and must be accepted. It may sound harsh, but can you feel some relief in Saturn’s restoration of your original and everlasting innocence? On a Saturday, incidentally, a day that was named in honor of Saturn, a day for doing spells to release, set out an indigo or black cloth. On the cloth, place a digital timer such as your phone, black and blue stones or crystals, and a small dark bowl filled with water. Burn copal incense. Take three deep breaths and clear your mind. Repeat the chant: Oh Saturn, father god of solitude, Grant me a forgiving attitude, To accept folly as timely sense, And bless my youthful innocence. Set the timer to your current age and let it count down to zero. As each number passes, recall a moment from that age and send your younger self the blessing of acceptance. Repeat the process as many times as needed, coming up with new or difficult to forgiveness scenarios or until you can’t come up with a new memory from your youngest age. I started doing this at 15years-old, using the microwave to count down. I believe it's one of the many reasons why and how I can step back into time and viscerally recall what it felt like at varying ages to heal my emotional wounds with repeated acceptance. I offer this gift to you.
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Complete with over 50 spells and information on the magickal tools and traditions of witchcraft, The Book of Spells is the ultimate guide to healing, manifesting your desires, and diving confidently into the mysteries of magick. Now available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. 23
Preparing for Samhain By Mozinah the Seer
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s we slowly approach the wonderful autumnal months of crispy golden leaves, darker nights and cozy clothes, the smell of Samhain lurks in the shadows ready to be welcomed. Samhain always feels different. There is just something in the air that has not been matched with any other day for me. I've felt it since I was small, and the feeling has never left me. Samhain has, and always will be, my favorite time of year. It's an incredibly important date in the calendar as it now only marks the end of the harvest season, but it prepares us for the shadow months and winter solstice. Samhain allows us to prepare for the winter with our harvest, ensuring we have all that we need for the cold months ahead. Pagans would often seek the spirits of the dead, the fae or deities in order to ensure that they could make it through the harsh winter months. Bonfires are lit to cleanse and protect, as well as be the center of any rituals and practices taking place. The use of fire in any ritual or practice is a highly important tool. Candles are often used in magic for their purpose of spiritual protection, to keep energy cleansed and clear and to pay respect to the fire element of the earth. During Samhain, the veil between the physical plane and afterlife is thin. 24
Paranormal experiences and signs are often strong at this time and heightened further by the presence of a full moon. This is a valuable time to connect with your ancestry and pay respect to those who have passed over by preparing a feast, and laying a place for them at a table. I always like to take a visit to a graveyard on Samhain, to pay respect to the dead and thank them for allowing me to spend my quiet time with them over the course of the year. I find graveyards to be incredibly peaceful places, but also a firm reminder of how precious our life is here on earth. As times have gone by, we now see Samhain as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, a day of pumpkins, scary costumes, and sweets. I believe there is a place for both the traditional and modern takes of this special day that can be enjoyed by both adults and children. Something to do for Samhain is to prepare your altar. Objects or symbols that represent the dead, such as skulls, the death tarot card, and mythical crystals like labradorite, merlinite, and amethyst are useful for this. Use your imagination, colors such as orange, black, green, silver, and purple will work well. Feathers from an owl or an owl symbol is a great addition, as owls are the keepers of the night and afterlife. Whichever way you choose to work, find the items that have meaning to you.
Samhain Shadow work By Mozinah the Seer
S
amhain is a great day to begin shadow work. To delve deep within ourselves to recognize our fears, setbacks, and the parts of ourselves that we hide away from. Shadow work can be emotionally draining but also strengthens the empathic nature within us. I often wonder if those who suffer from depression or anxiety are indeed just going through shadow phases, or if the shadow self at least plays a part in this. Beginning shadow work requires patience, and is not something that can be used overnight. It's a long personal journey that you need to be ready to face.
those negative thoughts and feelings, and saying, "here I am, and this is all of me." Once you face yourself, you can grow, prosper, and begin again. Shadow work is a cycle that will happen many timesthe more life throws at you, the more defeated you will feel, but in the end, you will become stronger. A witch who notifies you of your shadows is doing so because she can see the potential to come from them, think of it as a friend "calling you out" on something for genuine reason. It's being done through care and love, and for you to recognize your own power.
You are, in a sense, retreating into your shell, looking at yourself, and facing the cold hard truths of what needs to be adapted and overcome. It's not for everyone, but it is an important journey to take.
So as we enter Persephone's wintery months of all related to the underworld, do not be afraid, be prepared.
Shadow work should not be confused with black magick. Facing the darkness does not mean you are the darkness. You are learning not to be afraid anymore by understanding
Connect with me at
Blessed Samhain, Mozinah
www.mozinahtheseer.co.uk www.facebook.com/mozinahtheseer www.instagram.com/mozinahtheseer YouTube: "Mozinah TV"
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Samhain
Tarot Spread 1. A message from beyond the veil. 2.What fears are holding me back? 3.What do I need to let go of? 4.What needs embracing? 5. What needs celebrating?
1 2 3
4 5
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Honoring Persephone The Queen of the Underworld By Karla Freeling
I
can't believe it's been six months since I wrote about honoring Persephone as a Spring Maiden. The fast passing of these last five months serves as a reminder that time seems to fly by because we have so much to do and not enough time in which to do it. In other words, it is a reminder to slow down and enjoy the present because once again. Last month, we found ourselves caught between dark and light as Mabon marked the second harvest of the year. The descent of Persephone is currently upon us, reminding us that all which dies shall be reborn. There are three simple ways you can honor the Queen of the Underworld. The first and most simple way to honor her is to set an offering on your altar dedicated specifically to her. This offering can be anything that reminds you and connects you to her, such as lilies, roses,
wildflowers, or pomegranates. The second way is my personal favorite- bats! Bats are sacred animals to Persephone, so keep a bat image or symbols around your house. I have a bat-shaped shelf above my bed, a bat plush on my wall over my vanity, and even a bat tattoo on my forearm! This year I did something different and added bat silhouettes to my altar. The third and final way to honor the Queen of the Underworld is to simply set out crystals that remind you of her in this form. I state "in this form" because honoring Persephone as the Spring Maiden is not the same as honoring her as Queen of the Underworld. As a Spring Maiden, I would use peridot, green tourmaline, and bright colors of green and gold. As Queen of the Underworld, I use darker crystals like smoky quartz, garnet, topaz, and
obsidian. I use these crystals not only to honor her but to help me achieve my goals for the upcoming quarter. For example, Smoky Quartz is known to be a grounding stone, one that transmutes negative energies and manifests dreams and aspirations. Garnets are known to manifest creative imaginations and to enhance truth, faith, and constancy, and to dispel melancholy. To me, Samhain is the time for shedding the old and inviting the new, and a time for transformation and manifestation. Not only do I honor Persephone, but I also pray to her. I pray for guidance, inner light, and love. Because if there is a goddess who knows love, its Persephone.
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How I Became an
Athame Maker By Mike Bauer
Imagine you are welcomed into a coven of full-time mediums and high profile spiritual healers, there they stand ready and willing to share all of their spiritual knowledge with you. They look to you to carry on the tradition and skills they have acquired through years of training and depend upon you to excel in the craft. Now imagine, no matter how hard you try, when it comes to this metaphysical stuff, you feel like you stink. That was the position I found myself in, blessed with all the 28
support of high profile spiritualists, watching my fellow coven mates pick up mediumship, and I couldn't get the hang of it. There were moments at a seance when I wanted so badly to see what everyone else was seeing that I was tempted to make stuff up, "I see an old lady too, she's short and has a dress on. Must be someone's ancestor or something, right?" I felt like I was wasting their time. Then one day, I realized that every witch needs tools- the more powerful, the better.
I had seen chalices made of gemstones, athames made of wolf claws, and jewelry with feathers and insect wings. I thought to myself, "I can make that.� I made my first batch of athames by melting silver onto knife blanks that I bought off of eBay and then adding gemstones like amethyst, blue kyanite, and quartz. They were meant to be first-degree graduation gifts for my fellow coven-mates, but when they saw what I made, they were genuinely impressed!
Elders of the coven requested wands, brooms, and other tools in the same style. I was, of course, happy to oblige because in my mind, crafting was the one small way that I could contribute while the rest of the group did the "real witch work." “That’s not true," came the response from my teacher, Dalamus, the person responsible for introducing me to the earth-based path. “Crafting is as magickal and as essential as any divination practice. Even the gods have crafting gods; Hephaestus of the Greeks, Ogun of the Yoruba, and Wayland the Smith of the Norse. You cannot discount the importance of skill if there is a god assigned to watch over it." “Yes," I thought, "but this stuff is easy, anyone can melt silver onto gemstones and metal."
"But they don't," came the reply. "You do because you are inspired to. Some would even call it divine inspiration. Embrace your gift because we all have something to contribute." Today I do embrace my gift. I even opened an Etsy shop, Blanc Cheval Designs, where I sell my athames, chalices, and other religious tools. I do this with the full confidence that this is what I have to offer my community. No offering is too small or too insignificant. If it comes from you, then maybe it comes from the divine as well, and who are we to deny that kind of inspiration? Visit me at www.etsy.com/ shop/BlancCheval or on www.instagram.com/ blancchevaldesigns/
How I Became an Athame Maker 29
Samhain: A Time of Working with Your Shadow Self By Mike Sexton Recently, I had a very intense dream involving one of my favorite animals- the wolf. In this dream, I had a couple of grey wolves plus a large black wolf at a distance from me, and I even saw a couple of wolf pups. I knew this dream wasn't just the average type of dream we all get from time to time because it rocked me to my core so when I woke up I did some researching and discovered the black wolf often comes to you when it is time for you to work on your shadow side. The side each of us has that we keep hidden from the world for whatever reason. Many times this can involve parts of ourselves that might have dealt with abuse of some kind, situations that changed us such as hiding a piece of ourselves so that we better fit in with those around us. Thankfully, I can say I wasn't abused as a child, but I did bottle up a lot of emotions due to losing my father at a very young age. It did change me, and I have realized that this has affected me to this day. In such situations, we are allowing our brain's natural inclination to protect ourselves from trauma so that we can survive and keep going. However, it also begins to create a very heavy chain around ourselves that we continue carrying throughout our lives. This leads me to another recent experience where I heard my father speaking to me in the morning, and other times, I had felt my mother since her passing in 2017. This is the time of year when spirits find it much easier to communicate with us because of the thinning veil. You might notice that you too start to experience strange cold 30
spots, a soft touch, a whisper in your ear. Many times these are ways our ancestors use in order to communicate with us. I know at times it can be scary to feel such things happening; no matter how long you've been a witch, a heathen or whatever path you follow; it's one thing to read about such things and to learn about them, but nothing can quite prepare you for the first-hand experience. Luckily I've dealt with such things most of my life off and on, and I really feel this has to do with my almost dying when I was under a year old. I think it left me with one foot in the spiritual realm and one in this world, so it doesn't scare me. What it does do though is make me stop and think. You are probably wondering why I changed the topic in mid-article, but I haven't. You see, when my father contacted me, he let me know that I tend to take on more weight on my shoulders than I need to and even as I write this, I get goosebumps again, just as I had that morning. Not out of fear but out of emotions, I have kept hidden for over thirty years. When my father passed away, I remember that I never shed a tear for him and it wasn't because I didn't love him but because it was just too much for me to process at the time. My mind was protecting me at the time and pushing me to keep going. Since then, it's been very difficult for me to allow anyone into my emotional sphere and for me to express my emotions outwardly. I do so in writing or with actions, but just the words "I love you" have been a Herculean task for me to say to anyone in my life. It was two nights later after my father's visit when I had that wolf dream, so I have begun the difficult task of shadow work.
During a meditation session for shadow work, I actually met my shadow self, and I won't get into the particulars, but we spent about 5-10 minutes together, and I already was able to learn a few things about myself that I have kept hidden for all these years and it made me shed a tear. This was, of course, only the first step. It's going to be a long road ahead, but I realized while doing this meditation that the benefits I will receive, will far outweigh the emotional and psychological impact that shadow work can have on you. Please, don't let me frighten you. I'm simply honest as will anyone who's done any level of shadow work. It's not an easy thing to do, and depending on your life, it might be overwhelming at times. This, I feel, is when you need a great support network around youwhether that's family, friends; so that you have someone you can turn to at times. Each Samhain I honor my ancestors including beloved pets who have passed away; I've even honored people I just knew; they weren't necessarily a friend in my life or a loved one but someone I had gotten to know, and I wanted to show them respect. Samhain is a wonderful time to do such work, and it helps them to know that someone cares about them. Even if they don't make their presence felt to you, you can get off your chest what you want to tell them. Without knowing it, you could even be including shadow work right there- by speaking with your ancestors, letting them know how you feel.
with them. You don't need anything special here. Just sit down and ask your ancestors to help guide you through this process. To help you to heal and be the person you were meant to be all along. This Samhain, I encourage each of you to not only honor your ancestors but look at things they might have done that you aren't happy with. Maybe they said something, even unintentionally, that caused you to shut a part of yourself down in order to keep their favor. This is very natural because no matter how introverted you might be, we all still want to belong to those we care about. Take that first step on your path to learning more about your shadow self. However, don't think that you're disrespecting your ancestors by being open with them if they hurt you, while they were alive. Whether it was intentional or unintentional, you have the right to tell them how you feel, and what it did to you. Take the opportunity that Samhain brings to honor those you love and also honor yourself and help you to gain control of your shadow side. After all, Samhain is the end of the year and the perfect time to reflect on what you've accomplished this year so far.
You can also use this time of the year, when the veil is thinning, to ask your ancestors for help with your shadow self. Have a heart to heart talk Samhain Shadow Work
October’S Moon IS THE Blood Moon
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The Blood Moon October’s Full Moon is the Blood Moon or Hunter’s Moon which refers to the hunting season. However, the name, Blood Moon should not be confused with the term of Blood Moon to describe a total lunar eclipse. It is also called Travel Moon, Dying Grass Moon, Shedding Moon, Falling Leaf Moon, Sanguine Moon, or sometimes the Harvest Moon which can happen every three years. This Full Moon holds an aura of mystique and magick. This year, October’s Full Moon occurs on October 13, before Samhain, the Gaelic mid-autumn festival that has evolved into Halloween. Neopagans and witches consider the month of the Blood Moon to be a special time for change and a prime opportunity to contact the dead, given the thinning of the veil between the physical world and the spiritual world. The dark and cold nights of October before and after the Full Moon are a reminder that for our ancestors, this was a time life and death. Those who failed to plan for the harsh weather of winter in late fall could freeze or starve to death before winter ended. This is a little different today. For a modern celebration, set aside time to tend to your garden, and look at preparing craft projects such as knitting, sewing, or crocheting for yourself and others. These projects can also double as gifts for the upcoming Yule celebrations. Another way to honor the October Moon is to focus on spiritual growth. Due to the thinning of the veil, plan a seance or look to perform divination through scrying or the Tarot. 33
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Connecting with Your Inner Witch By Jennie Sharples “Luna, speak to me. Tell me your secrets.” I spoke as I stood outside one evening and marveled at the sky. The fullness of the milky, white orb glowed brightly against the backdrop of navy, indigo, and lavender. Save for a few fireflies, I was alone, though my intuition would tell me otherwise. The dirt beneath my feet spoke to me, the soft breeze passing over my skin whispered a melody, and the rustling of the leaves on the trees laughed. During the day, I swear I was able to understand the squeaking of the chipmunk or the chirping of birds, and the flowers shared their memories. But that night I was alone, even though I didn’t feel it. For the past year and a half, I’ve been transforming and transitioning into a new phase of my life; a new me. I’ve done a lot of releasing, cleansing, and shedding. But there has been this build-up inside of me. And I don’t believe it will be contained much longer. I have been more connected to Gaia than I ever have before, and yet,
I still crave more. It’s not enough. I yearn to learn the ways of the old. I yearn to work with another god or goddess to aid me on my path. And I crave to fully utilize this power in whatever way I am meant to.
“
Every witch has their own path.
So, as I stood there and looked up, I made that request. I closed my eyes and steadied my breathing. After a moment, the crickets quieted down, and I felt a sense of calm. Everything was peaceful. And then ever so quickly and quietly, I heard in my head and saw in my mind one word: create. A smile formed on my face because I received the validation I needed. I had been doing just that for the past seven months; painting, writing, making candles, wrapping stones that will turn into
pendants, and improving and restructuring my Etsy shop to reflect the change within me. I now know that I am on the right path. And I now know that I can develop the idea that’s been floating around in my head: to create an enchantment, a talisman, or some other witchy object to help aid others on their path. It was time to go inside and gather my ingredients. As I sat at my desk, I gazed at my supplies. Miniature glass bottles, stones, glitter, and loose herbs to name just a few, were strewn around amongst other magickal items. I closed my eyes for a moment and imagined Luna in my mind. I then intuitively felt pulled to grab one of the bottles and very quickly decided that that was my next creation. And to fill it? Well, I had plenty of healing paraphernalia to choose from. I’d let my intuition guide me. And that’s what being a witch is about, connecting to your intuition, the elements, deities, stones, earth, dreams, universe, 35
and energy within and around everything. On the other hand, it can also be none of those things. Every witch has their own path. Ultimately, it’s following that guidance that you know to feel and be right for you. It’s also realizing that you are powerful enough to change and manipulate the energy around you. Whether that comes in the form of making witch bottles, playing with your tarot
36
deck, writing spiritual blog posts, talking to the moon, or spending an evening with a glass of wine in hand as you soak in a tub full of lavender and rose petals. It’s about creating, releasing, believing, healing, and balancing so you can be the best witch you can be– for yourself and others. And you can be the most psychically gifted witch on this planet, but you won’t see every curveball life throws at
you. That’s the fun of it, the mystery and the magick of it. You learn to embrace and go with the flow. So, go ahead. Talk to the moon, your ancestors, or to any god or goddess you connect with. Ask for their assistance, and allow yourself to be helped. But remember, at the end of the day, you need to acknowledge who you are. You’re a witch. Come out of the broom closet and shine.
Connecting with Your Inner Witch
The Lumina Tarot
W
ild Yam Other names: Colic Root, Rheumatism Root, Devil’s Bones, Yuma. Plant family: Dioscoreaceae. The history of wild yam as a medicinal herb stretches back for hundreds of years. It was
popular in Central America among the Aztecs and Mayan peoples as a pain reliever and digestive aid. Magickal properties: Fertility, lust, health, and
Dioscorea villosa
vitality.
Magickal workings: Carry this herb in a charm herbal sachet, grind into a powder, or mix into an oil for healing or attraction magick. To use as a powder, sprinkle around you when you need the properties associated with this herb. This herb is also a great addition for sex magick and enhancing health. To use in an oil, apply a drop on a pressure point on your skin. First, always perform a test patch.
Scent profile: Bitter, astringent. Actions: Antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, cholagogue, diaphoretic. Correspondences: Venus, Earth.
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O
pal
The opal contains the colors as well as the qualities of every other stone. As such it can be 'programmed' or
charged with virtually every type of energy and used in spells involving all magical needs.
Opal increases clairvoyant powers, balances the psyche, sharpens the memory, attracts good fortune, and gives
healing power to the wearer. Opal is ruled by the moon, and is sacred to all lunar deities.
Magickal properties: Astral projection, psychic abilities, beauty, money, luck, and power.
Magickal workings: In the past opals were used to create invisibility. The gem was wrapped in a fresh bay leaf and carried for this purpose. This makes opal excellent for astral
projection. Opal is also very useful for enhancing psychic abilities and to bring about inner beauty. Incorporate this stone into your spells or carry as a charm or even fasten into an amulet or jewelry.
Correspondences: All planets and elements.
L
ilith
Lilith is the queen of the night and dark goddess of power, passion, and courage. She is often branded as an evil goddess but did not start this way. She isn’t afraid to be wild, sexual, or speak her truth which quickly branded her as evil. Lilith was blamed for anything undesirable about women and
became associated with any woman not willing to conform to her wifely duties, or desiring to live an alternative lifestyle.
Lilith is the voice inside of you telling you to act when you feel the patriarchy has mistreated you. She is the voice that says it’s not only ok but good to enjoy sex and your sensuality.
Lilith is the voice calling for all women to stand up and fight for their power. Tread lightly with invoking Lilith; her energy is potent. Lilith has become a symbol of freedom for many. To work with Lilith, call on her during the darker months of the year to get inspired you to get in touch with your inner wild woman. Symbols: Owl, pomegranate, and snake.
The Celtic Roots of
Halloween
Like many holiday traditions, Halloween owes much of its customs and traditions to ancient Pagan festivals. Many of them come from a specific culture and people - the Celts. While scholars disagree on the exact genealogy of the Celtic people, one thing is for suremany of what is now celebrated as “Halloween” comes from the Celtic festival of Samhain. For ancient Celts, Samhain was celebrated as the most important fire festival of the year and was directly between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice. While families were out in the fields gathering up the remainder of the harvest, fires were left burning in the hearths in their homes. Once the harvest was complete, they would return back to their homes and celebrate it with Druid priests. The community would get together to light a large, communal fire (called a need-fire) by using a wheel to represent the sun, and would use that fire to make sacrifices to show their gratefulness for the harvest and their continued survival through the winter. After the celebration was over, each family would take a flame
from the need-fire back home with them to relight their hearth. The Celts also commonly believed that the barrier between the world of the living and the realm of the dead was at its thinnest during the time of Samhain, which made it much easier for things (both good and bad) to pass back and forth. A way to satiate any ancestors that might find their way back was the practice of leaving different foods out on the doorstep that may have been special to them when they were alive (this is similar to the Mexican practice of ofrenda on Dia de los Muertos). This idea also gave rise to people dressing up like mythical creatures and animals, as there was a real concern that fairies (also known as The Faery Host) would try to kidnap them during this time. If they were threatened, sometimes the fairies could be appeased by giving them a gift of food. Some of the more popular “costumes” the ancient Celts chose were a shapeshifting creature called a Pukah, the headless Lady Gwyn who dressed all in white, and the also headless Dullahan who continued to ride around on
their flame-eyed horses. Sound familiar? As time progressed, so did one of the most recognizable Halloween traditions such as trick or treating. It originally started as a Samhain tradition called house begging (sometimes referred to as mumming). Mostly done by children in the days before the festival, people would go house to house spreading laughter, revelry, and sometimes performing songs and rhymes, all in exchange for small cakes for their deceased ancestors that may be passing back through the veil. Any tricks that may have been performed were blamed on the fairies. Although much of what the world now knows as Halloween was co-opted by Christian reconstructionists, the ancient Celtic roots of Samhain are still there for anyone, who looks closely enough. Every time we trick or treat, dress up, or attend a bonfire at this time of year, we continue to honor the many ancestors who have gone before us (and may come back again when the veil is at its thinnest). Have a safe and enjoyable Samhain and watch out for fairies! 43
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Tasty Pumpkin Brownies
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Tasty Pumpkin Brownies This recipe yields about 16 squares and takes approximately 45-55 minutes. It’s a perfect way to welcome the fall season! Prepare these brownies with your family, or make them for a feast or even a dumb supper. Turn these brownies into vegan treats by substituting coconut oil for the butter. INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
8 TBSP (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for pan 6 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped 2 c all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 1/2 c sugar 4 large eggs 1 TBSP pure vanilla extract 1 1/4 c pumpkin puree (can is ok) 1/4 c vegetable oil 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg Electric mixer Bowls 9-inch pan
- Preheat oven to 350˚F. Butter a 9-inch square baking pan or dish. - Melt chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl sitting over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth. - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl; set aside. Put sugar, eggs, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat until fluffy and well combined, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in flour mixture. - Divide batter between two medium bowls (about 2 cups per bowl). Stir chocolate mixture into one bowl. In other bowl, stir in pumpkin, oil, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Transfer half of chocolate batter to prepared pan smoothing top with a rubber spatula. Top with half of pumpkin batter. Repeat to make one more chocolate layer and one more pumpkin layer. Work quickly so batters don’t set. - With a small spatula or a table knife, gently swirl the two batters to create a marbled effect. - Bake until set, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into 16 squares.
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Nutmeg Soul Cakes with Wild Berries By Miss Wondersmith
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Nutmeg Soul Cakes with Wild Berries and Ceremony By Miss Wondersmith
A
ccording to some traditions, soul cakes were left out for the souls of the recently-departed. Others claim you should place them in your fire as an offering. Whatever you choose to do, be sure to keep one aside for yourself as they are quite tasty! I’m sure your ancestors won’t mind. Speaking of, this is an excellent time to incorporate a remembrance ceremony in honor of anyone you’ve lost this year. I find ceremonies like this to be helpful in my own personal grieving process, and they can be adapted to fit any religion. Feel free to adapt as you see fit. My version of soul cakes are soft molasses cakelike cookies, flavored with freshly-grated nutmeg and filled with delicious wild berries. Fresh nutmeg and pre-ground nutmeg are entirely different flavors, so don’t cheat and buy the powdered stuff! It’s worth it to grate your own, I promise. Nutmeg 48
is complex and delicious but delicate enough to allow the wild berries to shine. You can use any combination of berries or dried fruit you’d like - I made use of some homemade amaretto cherries, foraged rose hips and black currants, and vibrant goji berries. Please note that your berries need to soak for at least an hour, and your dough should also chill for an hour. This allows you to take time to complete the rest of the ceremony should you desire. To perform the ceremony you'll need, baked and ready soul cakes, a candle, paper and a pen, pictures of recently-departed loved ones (optional), fire starting materials: matches, wood, and paper, a fire pit, and aromatic herbs such as mugwort and lavender.
Directions: It’s best to begin this ceremony while you are baking your soul cakes. The time it takes your berries to soak and your dough to chill gives you a chance to get started on it. First, gather your paper, pen, pictures, and candle and sit down somewhere peaceful. Take a few deep breaths with your eyes closed to get grounded. Commit to being present and let all other worries leave your mind. This is the time to focus on the task at hand: writing letters to anyone you lost this year (or anyone you miss.) Give yourself plenty of time and be gentle with yourself - this can be an emotional process, and that’s okay. This is your chance to say anything you didn’t get a chance to tell them which can trigger many different emotions, from anger and resentment to joy, to grief. As these waves of emotion come, allow yourself to acknowledge them, feel them, and let them pass. Your letters can be as short or as long as you desire. You may appreciate having photos of your loved ones there to spark memories or inspire you in your writing. Once you’ve written your letters, finish baking your soul cakes as per the recipe above. If you’d like, you can say a prayer over them as you place them in the oven. Once they’re finished baking and have cooled a bit, you’re ready to move on to the next step. Build a fire in an outdoor fire pit. Gather your letters, soul cakes, and any aromatic plants you may want to use as an offering. Stare into the flames and let yourself get centered.
Think about the way your feet feel against the earth or the inside of your shoes, and the way the air feels around your face. Breathe. Once you feel still and calm, offer the fragrant herbs to the fire. I particularly like mugwort and lavender. You may speak aloud your intention with each herb, such as “with this offering of mugwort, I ask for the ability to stay grounded for this ceremony.” One by one, read your letters aloud. Imagine you are speaking to that loved one. Once you’ve read each letter, wrap a soul cake up inside it and offer it to the fire. Repeat the process for each letter. Now you may close your ceremony in whatever way feels best to you, whether that is a mantra spoken aloud or a prayer or a silent nod. I personally like to say something like, “I give thanks for the opportunity to share and hold the lives of my loved ones in gratitude.” You may then watch the fire until it dies out on its own - staring at the flames is meditative and peaceful and may bring up happy memories of those you’ve lost. Be sure to nibble your own soul cake during this time as well - and picture the nourishment of iron-rich molasses and soothing spices and rich fruits filling your body. You are here, you are seen, and you are loved.
If you’d like to have a group ceremony, you may ask your guests to arrive with their letters already-written or give them time to write them as part of your ceremony. Keep in mind that writing letters such as these is often an emotional experience and your friends may feel more comfortable writing them in privacy. As you go around the fire, give everyone the opportunity to share a short sentiment about the recipient of their letter, instead of reading the whole thing aloud. Some guests may not want to speak aloud, and that’s fine. After each person says their bit, have them wrap up their soul cake and offer it to the fire before moving on to the next person. Once you have closed the ceremony, offer each guest a soul cake and something tasty to drink and revel in the good memories of those that have passed. If you’d like this ceremony to be focused on a particular person, you can follow the basic structure for the group ceremony (above) except have each person share one story about the departed as you go around the fire circle. This is a wonderful way to have both a private remembrance through your letters and a public celebration of their life. As always, if you like what I do and want to support it, please take a look at my patreon page.
Adaptations: If you don’t have access to a fire: you can release your letters and soul cakes in other ways, such as burying them, placing them in flowing water, or leaving them in the woods for nature (and critters) to claim. 49
Nutmeg Soul Cakes with Wild Berries By Miss Wondersmith
These cookies are a great way to celebrate and honor anyone you’ve lost. You will make about 40 large cookies so feel free to plan a group ceremony with the details in the adaptions on the ceremony page. INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS
1 c mixed berries, plus extra to decorate liquid to soak them in (see below) 3 c flour (gluten-free works great in this recipe as well) 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 1/2 tsp. freshly-grated nutmeg 5 TBSP softened butter 1/2 c sugar 1/2 c molasses 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 egg 1/4 c milk or almond milk
- Before you begin, soak 1 cup of mixed berries in a liquid of your choice amaretto is delicious, but orange juice or tea is also quite tasty! This will allow them to plumpen up before baking them into cookies. They should soak for at least an hour. - Whisk together the dry ingredients (except for sugar) in a medium bowl. - In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, and molasses until creamy. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and milk until well combined. - Add the flour mixture, a little at a time, until everything is incorporated. Strain the berries and add them to the bowl, gently mixing until they are dispersed evenly (do not overmix). Place the dough in the fridge for at least an hour (and up to 8). - Preheat oven to 375ËšF. Prepare your baking pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Drop rounded Tbs of the dough onto the cookie sheets and gently press to flatten with wet fingers. Decorate the cookies as desired with various berries in a cross or mandala pattern. Bake 8-10 minutes or until fragrant and set.
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Samhain Caramel Apples
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Samhain Caramel Apples Get in the festive spirit with some delicious Samhain caramel apples. In less than an hour, you’ll have delicious caramel apples to enjoy. You’ll need to make sure to wash the store applied wax from the apples or your caramel won’t stick. Don’t have apples? Use grapes and toothpicks instead for finger snacks. INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS:
4 Granny Smith apples, washed and chilled 4 wooden craft sticks 1 11 oz bag Kraft Caramels (Caramel Melts can be substituted) 1-2 TBSP water 1 tsp vanilla Optional toppings: Crushed peanuts, crushed pretzels, sea salt flakes.
- Wash apples, then dry completely. (Note: In order for the caramel sauce to stick to the apples, the apples need to be chilled before washing, drying and dipping in the caramel sauce.) - Insert wooden pop stick into stem end of each apple. Microwave caramels and water in large glass microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 to 2-1/2 min or until caramels are completely melted and mixture is blended when stirred. - Prepare a bowl of chopped toppings. - Cover large plate or a tray with parchment paper. - Dip apples, one at a time, into caramel sauce, turning to evenly coat each apple. Hold dipped apple over bowl to let excess caramel drip back into bowl. - Dip apples into bowl of prepared toppings then place on your plate. - Refrigerate for one hour or until caramel is firm. - Wrap your apples in cellophane and tie with a ribbon for a Samhain gift.
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