Samhain Altar 2018

For Samhain this year, I set up a rather simple altar. If you've seen my past altars, this shouldn't come as a surprise. I enjoy simplistic, clutter-free altars. Samhain is the perfect time of year to reach out to the spirits, whether they be your ancestors or not, and a Samhain altar should honor that tradition in some way. For this altar, I chose skulls, quartz, and a black candle to celebrate the season. Furthermore, I chose white tones to pull the altar together and represent purity of intent. When working with spirits it is important to keep your intent pure or neutral.

1. White Candles - The white candles represent the waning Sun who officially "dies" at Samhain. White also represents purity and protection, warding off negativity and evil and ensuring a safe winter to come and safe spirit communication. (Where did I get it: Dollar Tree; Cost: $1 for 2)

2. Animal Skulls- I love decorating with skulls, and Samhain is the perfect time to do so. The skulls represent death, the main symbol of this sabbat, and act as a link between our world and the Underworld. Furthermore, skulls act as a resting place for spirits, both animal and human alike, allowing the spirit to have a "home" while they are visiting. I chose to place three skulls on my altar to represent past, future, and present. The skull on the left is a red fox skull, which is associated with my animal guide Meka. I felt is was appropriate to place her in the past spot because she often helps me heal from past traumas. (Where did I get it: Found or gifted; Cost: $0 (cost of fox skull $30)) 

3. Pumpkin- The pumpkin is a prominent figure this time of year, especially during Mabon and Samhain. For this altar, the pumpkin represents abundance as well as a symbolic offering to the spirits. It also represents fertility and protection in hopes that the winter months will not be too harsh. (Where did I get it: Dollar Tree 2018; Cost $1)

4. Quartz Cluster- Clear quartz is a great amplifier of magic, which is why this cluster is present on the altar. First and foremost, this altar is designed for spirit communication, and the quartz will amplify that magic to ensure the spirits are reached during a ritual. The quartz also acts as a protector, keeping the witch safe from any spirits that may visit or be called upon. For the spirits, the quartz is healing and soothing, ensuring the visit to our realm is comfortable for all those involved. (Where did I get it: Found; Cost: $0) 

5. Black Candle- I know it is hard to tell from the picture, but the candle at the bottom is in fact black. Black is the color of night and death, which again are major themes of Samhain. At Samhain, the Sun "dies" and the Earth goes into mourning. Black also represents protection and absorbs negative energy, ensuring safety in the coming winter months. Black candles also aid in opening the door to communicate with spirits. I placed this black candle in front of the central skull to add balance and support my magical workings. (Where did I get it: From September's House of Rituals Subscription Box; Cost: Estimated $1) 

 

TOTAL COST: ~$3-33

Like my other altars, most of the items I use are found or purchased for around $1, although if the items must be purchased by you, then the cost will be higher. I hope you find this sort of break down helpful, especially those of you looking to create Instagram perfect altars on a budget!

During my Samhain ritual, I added three offerings to my altar: a coin, bread, and cider. These were to nourish and than the spirits for aiding me in my magical workings. You should always offer something in return for the services of spirits, lest you anger them or they refuse to work with you in the future.

How did you celebrate Samhain this year?

Book Review: The Holy Wild by Danielle Dulsky

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
 
A couple of weeks ago Dulsky's publisher reached out asking if I would like to read and review a copy of her new book The Holy Wild: A Heathen Bible for the Untamed Woman. Of course I jumped on the chance to read a new book, and I am sure glad I did. First of all, I loved this book and it couldn't have arrived in my life at a better time. There have been a lot of transitions and heartache in my personal life over the past year, and this powerful book has given me the strength to continue forward, recognizing I am leaving an old garden to start a new one.

The Holy Wild is broken into five parts centered around the elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether (spirit). Within each section, Dulsky begins with stories (verses) using the Triple Goddess archetype to enhance the lessons, providing feminine archetypes many are familiar with within each section to teach the lesson. Many of her feminine archetypes are Christian-based, which didn't bother me, but may bother some. Dulksy's goal of using Judo-Christian feminine archetypes is to rewrite their stories as heroines who cast aside their patriarchal bonds to reach their higher selves, which resonated with me because I, like many other witches, was raised in a Christian household. I was able to connect to the stories of Lilith, Salome, Mother of Babylon, and Mary Magdalene on a very deep level, recognizing when I had experienced similar instances within my own life. This made Dulsky's words resonate loudly, encouraging me to seek out the Divine Feminine within my self, cast aside the patriarchal bonds that are still present in my own life, and work through some of the pain and hurt I have held onto.

After the verses, Dulsky provides a series of rituals and magical spells centered around the lesson and element that the reader can perform to reach the same transformation. Each section has several rituals and spells that can be performed, and Dulsky makes sure to make the reader aware not all rituals need to be performed, and while some are for groups and others for solitaries, they can all be easily adapted to the needs of the reader or readers. One of my favorite rituals was in the water section where Dulsky suggests performing a Sadhana, a 13-day ritual of self-reflection. This is something every single witch should practice frequently throughout their life, especially as we enter periods of change. I thoroughly enjoyed the rituals, but this is not something you embark on during your first reading. I strongly encourage other feminine witches out there to read through the entire book first. Then, on the second read, begin working through the rituals and spells. This is my plan, as it can be daunting to try and tackle both the reading and rituals at the same time.

It is important to note this book is written for women, both cis- and transgendered. Dulsky attempts to say the book is for all pagans, but I can't imagine a man reading this and getting much out of it other than an understanding of the struggles women face on a daily basis and throughout history. I wish I could recommend this book to all witches, but I simply can't because the content is very specific in its intent to help women become their true, unbridled selves. Overall, I thought it was a fantastic, empowering read. If you are going through a rough patch or just feel stuck in your current garden, I encourage you to pick up a copy of Dulsky's The Holy Wild: A Heathen Bible for the Untamed Woman today. You won't regret it.

House of Rituals October 2018 Unboxing

The latest House of Rituals unboxing video. This box was really wonderful!

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3 Ways to Honor Your Ancestors at Samhain

The veil is thinning; can you feel it, witches? If you haven't already, this is a great time to hedge ride for any reason whatsoever and is the easiest time to cross the veil as the veil is already thin. So if you haven't tried it yet, go ahead and give it a shot. My complete guide to hedge riding can be found here.

With the thinning of the veil, spirits are able to easily pass into our realm, which means your ancestors will likely show up to visit come Samhain. It is during Samhain that many witches honor those who have since passed on. I currently have my Ancestral Tree set up in my living room, and I'm looking forward to honoring those who have crossed the veil this Samhain. How exactly do I plan to do that? Well, there are three simple ways you can honor your loved ones this Samhain!

1. Set up an ancestral altar. This is kind of an obvious one, but a great idea nonetheless. Your ancestral altar can be as simple or as ornate as you wish. The purpose, however, is to guide your ancestors home during Samhain and honor their passing. In the Mexican tradition, this altar is called an ofrenda, which is Spanish for "offering." Ofrendas are generally ornate, having multiple levels to honor the saints, deceased relatives, and to offer food and drink to the departed souls coming to visit. A candle for each loved one is placed on the ofrenda to guide them home. The same can be done for your ancestral altar, but on a smaller scale. Feel free to place pictures, candles, flowers, food & drink, or even favorite possessions of your loved ones on your ancestral altar.

2. Hold a Dumb Supper. Okay, the name sounds sketchy and totally disrespectful to your ancestors, but it is quite the opposite. The "dumb" in this case refers to silence. While the history of the Dumb Supper is highly debated, I believe its a fantastic tradition and a great way to celebrate your ancestors. During a Dumb Supper, no guest is to speak. The area should be cleansed and a circle cast if you so please. At least one chair should be set aside for the spiritual guests. Be sure to have a plate of food at each spirit chair for your ancestors to enjoy. Since it isn't feasible to have a chair for every ancestor or loved one you wish to honor, a tea light candle for each one can be used to honor them. As guests enter, they should stop at the spirit chair and offer a silent prayer. Guests may wish to bring a private note on which their message to their loved ones is written. Once the meal is complete, guests should find the candle associated with their loved one, silently pray on the message they wish to send, then burn the message in the flames. As guest silently leave, they should silently say goodbye to the spirit chair. Once the ritual is complete, talking may commence once more. Most witches tend to serve seasonal food items such as squash, pumpkin treats, apples, and hearty soups during the dinner, but any type of food is fine. You may wish to cook an ancestors favorite meal!

3. Write them letters and bury them. This is a great way to magically connect with your ancestors in a nontraditional way. This simple ritual can be performed on Samhain or the days prior. Simply light a small candle for each ancestor you wish to contact, ask them to join you if they can, and begin writing your letters. Anything you wish to write is perfectly fine. You may also wish to include your own intentions for your life in the future and ask your ancestors for aid in fulfilling these intentions. Once you are done, bury the letter someplace important to you, your ancestor, or your intentions. I realize not everyone can easily access a favorite place visited by their ancestor, but an important place to you is just as powerful.

For more information, you may wish to check out these other resources.
Ancestral Altars and Rituals, Sarah Anne Lawless (I saved much of her work as PDFs)
The Day of the Dead Ofrenda, May Herz
A Feast with the Dead, ThoughtCo.
Five Ways to Honor Your Ancestors, Daniel Foor
The Importance of Honoring the Ancestors, Obara Meji

Magical Properties of Yew