That's very cool. I did not know that.

Symbolism of Samhain:
Third Harvest, the Dark Mysteries, Rebirth through Death.

Symbols of Samhain:
Gourds, Apples, Black Cats, Jack-O-Lanterns, Besoms.

Herbs of Samhain:
Mugwort, Allspice, Broom, Catnip, Deadly Nightshade, Mandrake, Oak leaves, Sage and Straw.

Foods of Samhain:
Turnips, Apples, Gourds, Nuts, Mulled Wines, Beef, Pork, Poultry.

Incense of Samhain:
Heliotrope, Mint, Nutmeg.

Colors of Samhain:
Black, Orange, White, Silver, Gold.

Stones of Samhain:
All Black Stones, preferably jet or obsidian.

Ireland is heavily steeped in ancient folklore and Paganism. To me, it almost appears that the entire country had a "blanket of Catholicism" thrown over all kinds of mysticism and other spirituality that pre-dated Christianity for thousands of years. The Druids come to mind of course but there are many others.

Not to mention that the Celtics led an army against trained Roman centurion soldiers when they attempted to invade and occupy their territory in AD 60 (I think) Queen Boadicea led her male Celtics troops into what is considered some of the bloodiest warfare in all of recorded history. The Celtics hid her body (presumably after she took her own life to avoid capture by the Romans). A grave site has never been found.

Good morning everyone.

Krimsa, thanks for posting that...I love to learn history and find it fascinating.

The cauldron is a symbol of transmutation, germination, and transformation. But above all is symbolizes the womb, and therefore, is a Goddess symbol as well. In Celtic lore the cauldron is the symbol of the Underworld. In Greek and Roman mythology the cauldron was hidden in a cave. From this, the cauldron is a mystery symbol of Wicca/Witchcraft. The Cauldron Mysteries are an integral part of the Wiccan Mythos. Some of the most famous cauldrons are found in Celtic lore. For example, the Daghda cauldron that provided sufficient food for everyone, and the cauldron of Bran the Blessed that conferred rebirth. There also is the Gundestrup cauldron.

The belief that the cauldron symbolizes the womb of the Great Goddess arises from the concept that everything is born out of it and returns to it. The original cauldron symbols were gourds, wooden vessels, or large shells. Eventually the symbolism of metal cauldrons became linked to the hearth and home because they were used to cook meals. This latter aspect merged the Great Goddess with the Great Mother, as the cauldron combined them into a single deity.

Cauldrons have held a magical significance in many cultures throughout the centuries. In ancient Ireland, it was believed, cauldrons were never been depleted of food during feasts. In ancient times they were use for human sacrifice, which was related to death and rebirth. In Greek mythology the Witch goddess Medea restored people to youth in a magic cauldron. Some relate the cauldron to the Holy Grail (since the Grail is supposedly the chalice used by Christ at the Last Supper), and speculate this was why some Christians were not too eager to seek the Grail because of its association with the cauldron and the Goddess.

Also the caldron has alchemic associations to some of the vessels used by alchemists in their experiments. A.G.H.

A couple more weeks until Halloween

Not soon enough.

Get your costumes ready. Or wait until after Halloween and get them 75% off for next year

just sayin " howdy " everyone


top of the morning to you all

Hi Rapunzel. Thanks for dropping by.

Besom brooms are traditionally made of twigs tied to a larger pole and are the broom traditionally associated with witches. As a result of its construction, the besom is rounded instead of flat. The bristles can be made of many materials including, but not limited to straw, herbs, or twigs.
An upward pointed besom (bristles up), especially over or near a doorway, will help protect the house from evil spirits or negative energies.

<<<<< Ruth >>>>>



Oooooh, Autumn is definitely here

it is getting cooler & brisker
even in the balmy climate of Northern California


But it is still shorts & tank top weather
during the day when i ride my bike ...
so i am happy ...


Hope your day is going well, Everyone


Love and Light to you all

Hello Rapunzel. Good to see you. I have here a photo of the fall in New England so you can see what it looks like. I am from California myself and you cant believe this until you actually see it happening. Its really quick though. About late September it starts (depending how cold it is) and then its done by the end of October. Check this out.

http://northcoastcafe.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/fall_foliage_temp0465.JPG

Oh thank you so much Krimsa ...
I've copied what you sent
and will watch it pronto

I am from Connecticut,
I think I may have mentioned to you before
so i do recall the gorgeous autumns back there

and the cold winters ~
ice skating in rinks & on real lakes

sledding down hills

and also when Grandpa tied us to the back of his bumper
and pulled us through the < then > empty streets...
not so true these days though, unfortunately ..

we often played outside all day
until our lips were beyond blue
building igloos & throwing snowballs
until our clothes were drenched
and then getting dry clothes on and
doing it all over again...

plus, i have spent much time
in the Great Northwest too,
with its more distinct seasons...


So, I haven't been a wimp all my life...



I miss New England a lot
New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine
and Cape Cod
& still have Family & friends there too

Beautiful!

Being from California myself, I too was amazed at the fall foliage during the two years I spent in Concord N.H. I remember a poster that I thought was the best metaphor ever. (You've probably seen this one.) It was a mile-wide panaorama of a mountain, covered with those fall colors. The caption read: "Have you ever seen a mountain blush?"

I also remember that the interstate on the weekends was sometimes bumper-to-bumper with tourists from Massachusetts, whose sole reason for being there was to look at the fall foliage.

Leaf Peepers they are called! Bastards! Just kidding.

The concept of the Great Goddess as The Triple Goddess, young woman (Maiden), birth-giving matron (Mother), and an old woman (Crone), dates from the earliest ages of mankind. (These attributes were also ascribed to the three phases of the moon; the Maiden, which corresponds to the new moon; the Mother, which corresponds to the full moon; and the Crone, which is the waning moon. These aspects have been used for centuries by many civilizations.) This concept was embraced by many different mythologies from many different parts of the world. The Vikings had the Norns (Urdu/Verdandi/Skuld), the Romans had the Fortunae (Concordia/Salus/Pax), the druids had Diana Triformis, the Greeks had the Moirae, Graeae, Horae, etc.

Maiden

The Maiden aspect represents enchantment, inception, expansion, the female principle, the promise of new beginnings, youth, excitement, and a carefree erotic aura. She is innocent in some ways, but also a seductress who recognizes the power of her sexuality. Maiden goddesses include: Anatha, Brigid, Nimue, Kore, Persephone, Gerd, Caer, Blodeuwedd. Her traditional color is white.

Mother

The Mother is ripeness, fertility, fulfillment, stability, and power. Mother is ripe, full-breasted, at the peak of her womanly powers. She is the one who tenderly rocks the baby, but she is also the lioness who hunts to feed her offspring and will fight to the death to protect them. Mother goddesses include: Aa, Ambika, Anahita, Asherah, Ceres, Coatlicue, Danu, Demeter, Hathor, Ishtar, Isis, Lakshmi, Luonnotar, Nintu, Sheng-Mu. Her traditional color is red.

Crone

The Crone is wisdom, retrenchment, repose, and compassion. She is old age, experience, accumulated wisdom and death. She is the gateway to Death, and the guide to Rebirth. Crone goddesses include: Annis, Baba Yaga, Cailleach, Greine, Hel, Maman Brigitte, Oya, Sedna, Skuld, Takotsi, Toci. Her color is black.

Goddesses who embody the triple aspect within themselves include: Brigid (Ireland/Celtic), Carmenta or Carmentis (Roman), Hekate or Hecate (Greek/Anatolia), Helice (Greek), Kali (India), the Morrigan (Ireland/Celtic).

October 7, 2008

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Tuesday

Kermesse (German)

Waxing Moon ~ Moon Sign: Capricorn

Moon Phase: Second Quarter - 5:04 A.M.

Color: Maroon

Incense: Basil

(From Llewellyn's 2008 Magical Almanac)

October 8, 2008

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Wednesday

Okunchi (Japanese)

Waxing Moon ~ Moon Sign: Capricorn (Moon enters Aquarius - 12:03 P.M.)

Moon Phase: Second Quarter

Color: White

Incense: Lavender


(From Llewellyn's 2008 Magical Almanac)

Morning Ruth,

My friend Lisa and I were discussing yesterday the debate about dressing up for Samhain. Some feel it is Ok, and others feel it is disrespectful. I'm at this point in my life a Kitchen witch, so I just don't care much about it either way, NOW, but was trained Gardanarian and most of them don't believe you should dress in costume for Samhain, but you know most of them are skyclad so they don't dress for much... What do you think about it?