Thirteen Days of Samhain: Day 1

On the first day of Samhain, the Goddess gave to me:

A holy New Year!

October 19       Thirteen moons a’glowing

October 20       Twelve suns a’shining

October 21       Eleven witches chanting

October 22       Ten ancestors calling

October 23       Nine woods a’burning

October 24       Eight sabbat dances

October 25       Seven days a’turning

October 26       Six jack o’ lanterns

October 27       Five elements

October 28       Four pentacles

October 29       Three Goddesses

October 30       Two Horned Gods

October 31       And a holy New Year!

New Year’s Eve is here, the blessed day of Samhain itself. On this, the third and final harvest of the year…the harvest of souls, we give thanks. We honor those that have gone before. We honor the sacrifice made by our Horned Lord, and by all the animals and plants who have supported and sustained us.

May this song enrich your season of Samhain as creating it has enriched mine. Please feel free to share and play the song non-professionally – I only ask that you attribute me as the author and copyright holder.

Blessed be!

Thirteen Days of Samhain: Day 2

On the second day of Samhain, the Goddess gave to me:

Two Horned Gods

The God, too, goes through his seasons and phases. He is sometimes seen as the divine twins – the oak king of the light half of the year, and the holly king at the dark half of the year. Each year, they struggle for dominance, but end up only taking each others places in an endless cycle of birth and rebirth. I also resonate with the concept of a third phase – the grain god or corn god…he who is reaped as willing sacrifice that all may be fed. He is also the hunter and the hunted – the prey that often too willingly submits to the predator that life may continue, energy transformed with no loss. He is Protector, warrior, son, lover, Master of Beasts – he is the Horned God.

Thirteen Days of Samhain: Day 3

On the third day of Samhain, the Goddess gave to me:

Three Goddesses

Maiden, mother, crone – the cycle of life, the goddess in all her phases, the Earth in all its seasons. The Goddess as Maiden, the Spring, the beautiful stirrings and youth of life. Her innocence and promise are infinitely alluring. The Goddess as Mother, the Summer, fecund with abundance, her life giving womb feeds all. The Goddess as Crone, the Winter, the wisdom gained by many moons of life. Her teachings fill us with strength and give continuity to our community.

Blessed be the Great Goddess, known to all by many names and many faces:

Isis Astarte Diana Hecate Demeter Kali Inanna, White Buffalo Woman, Selene, Persephone, Aphrodite, Luna, Sunna, Skadi, Artemis, Freyja, Frigga, Cybele.

Naho and Blessed be!

Thirteen Days of Samhain: Day 4

On the fourth day of Samhain, the Goddess gave to me:

Four Pentacles

The sacred pentacle, symbol of our beloved faith. The five elements, bounded around by the circle – protector, giver of blessings. Hoop of power to be taken up by those who walk between the worlds. Symbol of Earth and all its abundance – riches beyond price, security and home.

Thirteen Days of Samhain: Day 5

On the fifth day of Samhain, the Goddess gave to me:

      

Five Elements

Our magic becomes more powerful when we partner with the elemental powers that make up our world. Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit – they are represented in the five points of the sacred pentacle that protects and blesses us. They are represented in the sacred space we create in casting a circle. They are in each of us.

Thirteen Days of Samhain: Day 6

On the sixth day of Samhain, the Goddess gave to me:

Six jack o’ lanterns

At this time of year, pumpkins, winter squash and other hearty fare take center stage. We cook with them and are nourished by their hearty goodness. We also love to decorate with them, both displaying them in cornucopias and carving jack o’lanterns.

American folk tradition, that came over from the British Isles, tells us that jack o'lanterns were carved to scare away evil spirits. Those of us who work with spirits know that most spirits are not harmful. So instead, we carve jack o'lanterns to guide the dead to the spirit world.

Thirteen Days of Samhain: Day 7

On the seventh day of Samhain, the Goddess gave to me:

Seven days a’turning

Did you know that the days of the week have their roots in Northern European mythology? It’s a funny world we live in, with a mish-mosh of cultures ordering our lives. Months named by the Romans, calendar by the Catholic church, days of the week by the Norse. It’s fascinating, and knowing the history helps me in my ongoing work of re-integrating the sacred into everyday life. To me, this is one of the greatest beauties of our faith.

*Please note that the graphic does not truly paint an accurate picture of history. 

Thirteen Days of Samhain: Day 8

On the eighth day of Samhain, the Goddess gave to me:

Eight Sabbat Dances

I am a witch who honors the eight great Sabbats – the big solar festivals that divide up our year in accordance with the seasons. It is a comfort and a joy to honor the turning of the great wheel of the year. Year by year, my Sabbat celebrations add layers of depth and meaning to my path. I firmly believe that marking the passage of time, investing it with meaning and living in tune with the rhythms of the seasons is a major part of living a healthy life.

Thirteen Days of Samhain: Day 9

On the ninth day of Samhain, the Goddess gave to me:

Nine Woods A’burning

There is a poem in the community of witches, one that honors the magical properties of trees. Part of the poem is quoted in some extended versions of The Wiccan Rede. Traditionally, these woods were used to kindle the bael-fire at Beltane. In my tradition, we also use these woods at the Samhain fire. I have adapted the poem slightly to fit the native woods of my area (southeast United States) better.

Nine woods in the cauldron go,

Burn them fast and burn them slow;

Birch in the fire goes,

To represent what the lady knows;

Oak gives the forest towers might,

In the fire brings the God’s insight;

Holly is the tree of power,

Causing life and magic to flower;

Willows at the waterside stand,

To aid the journey to the Summerland;

Hawthorn is burned to purify,

And draw faerie to your eye;

Hazel, the tree of wisdom and learning,

Adds its strength to the bright fire burning;

White are the flowers of apple tree,

That brings us fruits of fertility;

Grapes that grow upon the vine,

Giving us both joy and wine;

Cedar does mark the evergreen,

To represent immortality seen;

Elder is the Lady’s tree,

Burn it not or cursed you’ll be!