This special time of year calls for a special look for your altar.
Reflect the colors of late Autumn and the dying earth in your setting. Cover your altar with a dark cloth to welcome the darker nights. You can use black, deep purple or any other rich color. Select candles with deep rich colors such as...
Orange for strength and endurance
Deep purple for power and wisdom.
Burgundy for love and passion
Black to represent death
Don't forget a silver or white candle to represent goddess.
Symbols of death, like skulls, a scythe, ghosts and grave rubbings should be used to honor the spirits of your ancestors.
Set a basket as an offering filled with products from your final harvest as well as apples, squash and root vegetables and of course a pumpkin.
As well as setting up your formal altar, you can set several small spaces around your home. I have found that me and my daughters do this without even realizing it. Look around you may already be doing this as well.
You should keep your altar and spaces set until sunset November 1st.
Remember to be creative. You should always personalize your altar to reflect you.
Monday, October 28, 2013
13 Little Known Facts About Halloween
Here are some little known facts about Halloween...
1.According to legend, if you see a spider on Halloween, it is a spirit of a loved one watching over you.
2.The first Jack-O-Lanterns were made from turnips not pumpkins.
3.The worlds larges pumpkin weighed 1,872 pounds
4.Six million American adults, (including us here at Hidden Realms), dress like witches for Halloween.
5.Witches were thought to hide their wands in their broom.
6. In the 19th century pumpkins were thought to cure snake bites, freckles, facial wrinkles and constipation in cats and dogs.
7.In medieval Britain people went from door to door begging soul cakes in exchange for prayers for the dead.
8. A special witches brew was said to be rubbed into the wood of a broom to give it powers of flight. (Sorry recipe not included)
9. During the ancient celebration of Samhain people would leave food and wine on their doorsteps to keep returning spirits at bay.
10. Witchcraft has been around throughout history in All parts of the world.
11. Candy corn was originally called "Chicken Feed". A picture of a rooster was on the box of this candy invented by George Renninger.
12. Young Scottish girls believed that hey would see their boyfriend's faces while looking into a mirror while walking downstairs at midnight on Halloween.
13. In mediaeval Europe, owls were thought to be witches. If you heard the owl's call this meant that someone was about to meet their demise.
1.According to legend, if you see a spider on Halloween, it is a spirit of a loved one watching over you.
2.The first Jack-O-Lanterns were made from turnips not pumpkins.
3.The worlds larges pumpkin weighed 1,872 pounds
4.Six million American adults, (including us here at Hidden Realms), dress like witches for Halloween.
5.Witches were thought to hide their wands in their broom.
6. In the 19th century pumpkins were thought to cure snake bites, freckles, facial wrinkles and constipation in cats and dogs.
7.In medieval Britain people went from door to door begging soul cakes in exchange for prayers for the dead.
8. A special witches brew was said to be rubbed into the wood of a broom to give it powers of flight. (Sorry recipe not included)
9. During the ancient celebration of Samhain people would leave food and wine on their doorsteps to keep returning spirits at bay.
10. Witchcraft has been around throughout history in All parts of the world.
11. Candy corn was originally called "Chicken Feed". A picture of a rooster was on the box of this candy invented by George Renninger.
12. Young Scottish girls believed that hey would see their boyfriend's faces while looking into a mirror while walking downstairs at midnight on Halloween.
13. In mediaeval Europe, owls were thought to be witches. If you heard the owl's call this meant that someone was about to meet their demise.
All Hallows Eve- Samhain,
All Hallows Eve or Samhain is the celebration of the dying year. It is the third and final of the harvest festivals. This is the time of year when the earth is going dark.
The celebration begins at sunset on October 31 and continues through to sunset on November 1st. It marks the halfway point between the Autumnal Equinox/Mabon and the Winter Solstice/Yule.
Special bonfires were set alight, deemed to have protective and cleansing powers. Ashes from the fires were rubbed onto the face for protection.
Many important events in Irish mythology either happened or began on Samhain. Like Beltane, it is the time when the doors to the Otherworld are open, often this is referred to the veil being thin. The souls of the dead were thought to visit their homes on this night.
Feasts were had where places were sat for dead ancestors to join the celebration. The large feast consisted of beef, pork and lamb. There were also products of the final harvest including root vegetables, fruits and nuts.
Divination rituals were an important part of the celebration. Apples and nuts were often used in these rituals. Apples were peeled and tossed over the shoulder and studied to see if they formed the first letter of your future spouse. Nut were roasted on the hearth and studied to see if they stayed together or if they separated, as the couples fate would be the same. The shape of egg whites dropped in water foretold the number of future children the couples would have.
Dressing in costume way referred to as guising. People would go from door to door often singing in exchange for food .People used their "guises" as a way to hide from spirits. They would also wear their clothing inside out and carry salt and iron if they had to leave their homes after dark. This would keep spirits at bay.
The celebration begins at sunset on October 31 and continues through to sunset on November 1st. It marks the halfway point between the Autumnal Equinox/Mabon and the Winter Solstice/Yule.
Special bonfires were set alight, deemed to have protective and cleansing powers. Ashes from the fires were rubbed onto the face for protection.
Many important events in Irish mythology either happened or began on Samhain. Like Beltane, it is the time when the doors to the Otherworld are open, often this is referred to the veil being thin. The souls of the dead were thought to visit their homes on this night.
Feasts were had where places were sat for dead ancestors to join the celebration. The large feast consisted of beef, pork and lamb. There were also products of the final harvest including root vegetables, fruits and nuts.
Divination rituals were an important part of the celebration. Apples and nuts were often used in these rituals. Apples were peeled and tossed over the shoulder and studied to see if they formed the first letter of your future spouse. Nut were roasted on the hearth and studied to see if they stayed together or if they separated, as the couples fate would be the same. The shape of egg whites dropped in water foretold the number of future children the couples would have.
Dressing in costume way referred to as guising. People would go from door to door often singing in exchange for food .People used their "guises" as a way to hide from spirits. They would also wear their clothing inside out and carry salt and iron if they had to leave their homes after dark. This would keep spirits at bay.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Hey!
Hi Everyone!!! Sorry it's been awhile!
Hope all is well in your part of the world!!
If it is anything like around here it is super busy! My days have been filled with teaching my son, taking classes of my own, and working on expanding our shop!
My Sister is back from her trip out of state! Yea! We have missed her greatly!
Mom has been offline for awhile do to tech issues, but will be up and running as soon as her new tower arrives. I've missed her too!
This is the busiest time of the year for us, and our favorite too! As I'm sure it is for many of you as well. We have harvested, stored, and canned our crops, and began putting out all our favorite decorations. YEAH!! I have started cooking! Tonight I will be making my Hunters Stew!!! YUM!
Also this time of year I think of how much I appreciate all that my family and friends do for me! I often show it by cooking for them! Getting quite a list of favorite Samhain brews going!
I know there are many others out there that are as busy as I am, taking care of family, home, and working. Often times leaving very little "me time", especially in today's fast paced world. This can be overwhelming at times. More so for those who are not feeling like what they do is appreciated.
So for everyone out there that is "the glue" of their families I would like to say,
For all the boo boo kisses, bedtime stories, words of advice, loving embraces, clean homes and clothes, full bellies and warm beds, just to name a few. Thank you for all that you do!
~Shine Boldly~
Mary
Hope all is well in your part of the world!!
If it is anything like around here it is super busy! My days have been filled with teaching my son, taking classes of my own, and working on expanding our shop!
My Sister is back from her trip out of state! Yea! We have missed her greatly!
Mom has been offline for awhile do to tech issues, but will be up and running as soon as her new tower arrives. I've missed her too!
This is the busiest time of the year for us, and our favorite too! As I'm sure it is for many of you as well. We have harvested, stored, and canned our crops, and began putting out all our favorite decorations. YEAH!! I have started cooking! Tonight I will be making my Hunters Stew!!! YUM!
Also this time of year I think of how much I appreciate all that my family and friends do for me! I often show it by cooking for them! Getting quite a list of favorite Samhain brews going!
I know there are many others out there that are as busy as I am, taking care of family, home, and working. Often times leaving very little "me time", especially in today's fast paced world. This can be overwhelming at times. More so for those who are not feeling like what they do is appreciated.
So for everyone out there that is "the glue" of their families I would like to say,
For all the boo boo kisses, bedtime stories, words of advice, loving embraces, clean homes and clothes, full bellies and warm beds, just to name a few. Thank you for all that you do!
~Shine Boldly~
Mary
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