67192542 gray witch monthly ezine

8/3/2019 67192542 Gray Witch Monthly eZine

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The Gray Witch Monthlye-zine

Oct 2011

2011 Cauldron of the Gray Witch


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The Gray Witch Monthly E Zine

Is brought to you by Cauldron of The Gray Witch,

And some of its members

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The Cauldron Administration

Founder- Head Administrator- Lady Shadow-HPS and

GrayWitch

Assistant Administrator- Christine

Moderators;

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Puralone


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Newsletter Staff

Director and Writer- Gray WitchEditor- and Writer - Sister Pluralone

Asst.Editor and Writer - NorthWind

Columinists-

Christine

SparkleWitch

Lady Foxglove..

Others as able.

Columns

Samhain / Herbal Grove Christine

Mindfulness and Spiritual Awareness Pluralone

Crystals-/Stones- LadyFoxglove

From the Director- Lady Shadow

Samhain

By Christine


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All About Samhain

Samhain:

History: At Samhain (October 31) the Pagans say farewell to the God. This is a temporary farewell.

He isnt wrapped in eternal darkness, but readies to be reborn of the Goddess at Yule. Samhain, alsoknown as November Eve, Feast of the Dead, Feast of Apples, Hallows, All Hallows, once marked the

time of sacrifice. In some places this was the time when animals were slaughtered to ensure food

throughout the depths of winter. The God, identified with animals, fell as well to ensure our

continuing existence.

Samhain is a time of reflection, of looking back over the last year, of coming to terms with the one

phenomenon of life over which we have no control, death. The Pagan feel that on this night the

separation between the physical and spiritual realities is thin. Pagans remember their ancestors and

all those who have gone before. After Samhain, Pagans celebrate Yule, and so the wheel of the year is

complete.

Samhain is known as the Witches New year. It is traditional to leave an offering of food or drink at

the doorstep on this night to refresh those souls who may wander between the two worlds. This is

our origin of our Western Halloween. Carved turnips were the original Jack-O-Lanterns and were

carried by travelers going from feast to feast on Samhain night to dissuade any wandering spirits

from interfering. This Sabbat celebrates the eternal cycle of reincarnation and marks the beginning

of winter. Samhain is not a totally somber Sabbat, it is also a time of games and frivolity. Fall fruits

such as apples, harvest foods of gourds and melons, and fall grains or nuts are typical decorations.

Colors: Black, Brown, Gold, Orange, Red, Silver, and Yellow

Black: The color of protection and binding of negativity. We use black to release that which needs to

be let go of and to help those who need the assistance in crossing.

White: Attainment of a higher spirituality through leaving the physical body. White is thus symbolic

during this time of year as those who have left us attain greater understandings than they had in life

and we acknowledge that with white flowers and robes.

Red: Energy and strength. The essence of the color conjures up courage and the will power to

conquer the fear of the unknown. It is what remains of the sexual, reproductive potency of the Sun

God as he is lain to rest on this night. It is also the energy of what we have reaped throughout thethree harvests, both literally and figuratively, as we stand on the brink of the pagan new year ready

to apply what weve learned, to our lives.

Stones: Amethyst, Asbestos, Beryl, Bloodstone, Cats Eye, Coal, Coral, Carnelian, Danburite, Fossil,

Herkimer Diamond, Jasper, Jet, Marble, Mother of Pearl, Obsidian, Onyx, Petrified Wood, Pumice,

Quart, Rhodonite, Smoky Quartz, Salt, Pink Tourmaline.


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Incense and Oils: Cedar, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Lavender, Lime, Mint, Myrrh, Orange,

Sagebrush, Sandalwood, Copal, Mastic Resin, Benzoin, Sweetgrass, Wormwood, Mugwort, Sage, or

Patchouli.

Animals and Mythical Beasts: Stag, Cat, Bat, Owl, Jackal, Elephant, Ram, Scorpion, Heron,Crow, Robin, Phooka, Goblin, Medusa, Beansidhe, Fylgiar, Peryton, Erlkonig, and Harpies.

God and Goddesses: Any figure of the Goddess in her Crone aspect, as well as Gods of death, such

as: Hecate (Goddess of fertility, moon magic, and the witches protectress, Morrigan (Celtic Goddess

of death), Cernunnos (Celtic fertility God), Persephone (Greek Goddess who dies and is reborn every

year after being tricked by Hades), Arawn (Welsh King of Hel), Gywnn Ap Nudd (King of Faeries and

of the Underworld), macha (Irish mother of life and death, one of the triple Goddesses of Morrigu),

Scathach/Scota and Osiris (Egyptian God who dies and is reborn every year. Full Listing of Gods and

Goddess: Anubis, Arianrhod, Astarte, Baba Yaga, Beansidhe (Banshee), Belili, Bran, Cailleach Beara,

Cernunnos, Cerridwen, Crone, Dark Lord and Lady, Demeter, Hathor, Hecate, Hel, Horned God,

Inanna, Ishtar, Isis, Kali, Kore, Lakshmi, Lilith, the Morrigan, Nephthys, Odin, Osiris, Oya,Persephone, Pomona, Rhiannon, and Tlzaoteotl.

Symbols: Apples, autumn flowers, acorns, bat, black cat, bones, corn stalks, cauldrons, colored

leaves, crows, death/dying, divination and the tools associated with it, ghosts, gourds, Indian corn,

jack-o-lantern, nuts, oak leaves, pomegranates, pumpkins, scarecrows, scythes, and waning moon.

Foods: Apples, apple dishes, cider, meat (traditionally this is the meat harvest), especially pork,

mulled cider with spices, nuts, pomegranates, potatoes, pumpkins, cranberry muffins and breads,

turnips, beets, ale, herbal tea (mugwort).

Activities: Honoring the Dead, dumb supper, carving jack-o-lanterns (then making pie), making

masks representing the Gods and Goddesses of Samhain, making a besom, divination, and most

importantly, dont forget to leave milk and honey out for the Faerie folk.

Spellwork: Release of bad habits, banishing, fairy magic, divination of any kinds, candle magic,

astral projection, past life work, dark moon mysteries, mirror spells (reflection), casting protection,

inner work, propitiation, clearing obstacles, uncrossing, inspiration, working of transitioner

culmination, manifesting transformation, creative visualization, contacting those who have departed

this plane.

Herb and Plants: Apple, Cedar, Cherry, Elder, Eucalyptus, Holly, Horse Chestnut, Lime, Orange,Palm-Date, Oak, Peach, Pear, Pine, Plum, Quince, Rowan, Sandalwood, Willow, Witch Hazel,

African Violet, Agaric, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cinnamon, Coconut, Cuckoo-Flower, Cyclamen,

Deerstongue, Devils Bit, Elderflower, Garlic, Ginger, Grape, Hemp, Huckleberry, Kalbs Cross,

Lavender, Liquorice, Mandrake, Mint, Myrrh, Nettle, Nightshade, Pineapple, Pomegranate,

Raspberry, Rhubarb, Saffron, Sage, Sarsaparilla, Sassafras, Sloe, Star Anise, Strawberry, Sugar Cane,

Tea, Tobacco, Vanilla, Witch Grass, Wolfsbane.


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Plant of the Season: Oak

Magickal Uses: Magickally, the Oak represents strength and protection. It teaches persistence and

endurance. Known as the King of the forest, the mighty Oak is traditionally associated with strength

and courage. It grows to a huge size and great girth and is a very long-lived tree spanning centuries.Offering its gifts of protection, strength, and courage, Oak makes wonderful magical tools to last a

lifetime or even a special heirloom to be passed down for generations.

Sacred to the Druids and the Greeks, the Oak is a tree of strength, protection, and durability. It

represents inner fire, courage and nobility of spirit. At the Greek oracle of Dodoni, The God Zeus

speaks by rustling the leaves of the sacred oak. Many Germanic and Celtic tribes made truce and

administered justice under the oak, and the Yule log is traditionally of oak as well. As it both attracts

lightning and yet seems resilient to it, the oak is sacred to many storm and wind Gods, and its power

to stand to lightnings transformative power may have something to do with its meaning in the

Ogham, where it is Dur, door and Ogham of transformation, the ability to step through the door

and create change. Dur is the turning point in the Oghamic calendar, falling at Summer Solstice,with Tinne (Holly) in the next month, representing the transition from the Oak to the Holly King.

The acorn symbolizes the huge potential in small things.

Uses: Protection, Health, Money, Healing, Potency, Fertility, and Luck.

Medicinal Uses: The astringent effects of the Oak were well known to the Ancients, by whom

different parts of the tree were used, but it is the bark which is now employed in medicine. Its action

is slightly tonic, strongly astringent and antiseptic. It has a strong astringent bitter taste, and its

qualities are extracted both by water and spirit. The odour is slightly aromatic. Like other

astringents, it has been recommended in agues and hemorrhages, and is a good substitute for

Quinine in intermittent fever, especially when given with Chamomile flowers. It is useful in chronicdiarrhea and dysentery, either alone or in conjunction with aromatics. A decoction is made from 1 oz.

of bark in a quart of water, boiled down to a pint and taken in wineglass full doses. Externally, this

decoction has been advantageously employed as a serviceable as an injection for leucorrhoea, and

applied locally to bleeding gums and piles.

Incense

3 parts Frankincense

2 parts Sandalwood2 parts Mugwort

1 part Sage

part Nutmeg

part Lavender

Pathworking


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Take a long walk and thing about what is happening in the spirit world. Enjoy the cool, crisp

weather, and collect a few pretty leaves to decorate the house with. Think about your mask and what

the world sees that you dont agree with. Decide to more true to yourself.

For dinner, make the favorite dish (or dishes) of a loved one, and enjoy some good memories as youeat. Share the food and the memories with someone you love, if you like. For dessert, have something

made from pumpkin.

Throughout the month, you can make small shrines to your departed loved ones by first placing their

picture on a little out of the way shelf or corner of the room, and then add any memorabilia you have

of them. Include items that you thinks they would have liked. You may have a poem or song that

reminds you of them. You can leave a copy there, and maybe read or recite it to them on Samhain or

sometime during the month. Dont forget to add a candle!

Do some divination using whatever method you like. Try a few of them.

Concentrate on your own Mysteries, where you are going on this path, who you really want to

become. Meditate on the forces of dark and light, life and death.

Notice how the dead, decaying plant life becomes compost for the seeds to feed on in the spring.

Understand how all life feeds on life, and that all aspects of this process are necessary and sacred.

Speak to a dark goddess you feel close to, if you will, of your fears and doubts. Let her take them

from you. Know that she is the eternal Wise Grandmother---stern, yet loving and utterly powerful.

Play spooky music, laugh, give candy generously to children---our future---in order to sweeten their

future. Have a great time. Happy haunting!

Decorations:

Make A Paper Twist Pumpkin

You Will Need:

A styrofoam ball - 3 inch or larger in diameter works best

Orange and brown paper twist (available in craft stores)

Tacky glue

ScissorsSomething to use as a poker that DOES NOT have a sharp point

Step One - Decide where the top and the bottom of your pumpkin will be. Use the poker to make a

small hole (about 1/4 inch deep) in the top and bottom of the pumpkin.

Step Two - Measure the length from the top hole to the bottom hole. Add another 3/4 inch. This is

the length to cut your strips of orange paper twist.


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Step Three - Untwist a section of orange paper twist. Cut a strip according to above measurement.

Put a very small amount of glue in the top and bottom holes. Put an end of the cut section of paper

twist in each hole. Use your poker to push the ends in the holes securely.

Step Four - Repeat Step Three until your pumpkin is covered.

Step Five - Cut a section of brown paper twist about an inch long. Do Not untwist. Glue the

twist/stem into the top of the pumpkin. Let dry. Enjoy!

Make a Scrying Mirror

Samhain is a time to do some serious divination - it's the time of year when the veil between our

world and that of the spirits is at its thinnest, and that means it's the perfect season to look for

messages from the metaphysical. Scrying is one of the best known forms of divination, and can be

done in a variety of ways. Basically, it's the practice of looking into some sort of reflective surface

-- such as water, fire, glass, dark stones, etc. -- to see what messages, symbols, or visions may appear.

A scrying mirror is a simple black-backed mirror, and it's easy to make one yourself.

To make your scrying mirror, you'll need the following:

A clear glass plate

Matte black spray paint

Additional paints (acrylic) for embellishment

To prepare the mirror, first you'll need to clean it. Use any glass cleaner, or for a more earth-friendlymethod, use vinegar mixed with water. Once the glass is clean, flip it over so that the back side is

facing up. Lightly spray with the matte black spray paint. For the best result, hold the can a couple of

feet away, and spray from side to side. If you hold the can too close, the paint will pool, and you don't

want this. As each coat dries, add another coat. After five to six coats, the paint should be dense

enough that you can't see through the paint if you hold the glass up to a light.

Once the paint has dried, turn the glass right side up. Use your acrylic paint to add embellishments

around the outer edge of the plate -- you can add symbols of your tradition, magical sigils, or even

your favorite saying. The one in the photo says, "Thee I invoke by the moonlit sea, the standing

stone, and the twisted tree." Allow these to dry as well. Your mirror is ready for scrying, but before

you use it, you may want to consecrate itas you would any other magical item.

To Use it: If your tradition normally requires you to cast a circle, do so now. If you'd like to play

some music, start your cd player. If you'd like to light a candle or two, go ahead, but be sure to place

them so that they don't interfere with your line of vision. Sit or stand comfortably at your workspace.

Begin by closing your eyes, and attuning your mind to the energy around you. Take some time to

gather that energy.
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/divination/a/Moon_Scrying.htmhttp://paganwiccan.about.com/od/divination/a/Moon_Scrying.htmhttp://paganwiccan.about.com/od/wiccanandpaganrituals/ht/Consecrate_Tool.htmhttp://paganwiccan.about.com/od/wiccanandpaganrituals/ht/Consecrate_Tool.htmhttp://paganwiccan.about.com/od/wiccanandpaganrituals/ht/Cast_Circle.htmhttp://paganwiccan.about.com/od/divination/a/Moon_Scrying.htmhttp://paganwiccan.about.com/od/wiccanandpaganrituals/ht/Consecrate_Tool.htmhttp://paganwiccan.about.com/od/wiccanandpaganrituals/ht/Cast_Circle.htm


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When you are ready to begin scrying, open your eyes. Position yourself so that you can look into the

mirror. Stare into the glass, looking for patterns, symbols or pictures -- and don't worry about

blinking, it's fine if you do. You may see images moving, or perhaps even words forming. You may

have thoughts pop spontaneously into your head, that seem to have nothing at all to do with

anything. Perhaps you'll suddenly think about someone you haven't seen in decades. Use your

journal, and write everything down. Spend as much time as you like gazing into the mirror -- it maybe just a few minutes, or even an hour. Stop when you begin to feel restless, or if you're getting

distracted by mundane things.

When you are finished gazing into the mirror, make sure you have recorded everything you saw,

thought and felt during your scrying session. Messages often come to us from other realms and yet

we frequently don't recognize them for what they are. If a bit of information doesn't make sense,

don't worry -- sit on it for a few days and let your unconscious mind process it. Chances are, it will

make sense eventually. It's also possible that you could receive a message that's meant for someone

else -- if something doesn't seem to apply to you, think about your circle of family friends, and who

the message might be meant for.

Herbal GroveBy Christine


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Herbs in Medieval Times

By Nancy V. Bennett

Express permission to use this article, granted.

How were herbs used by our ancestors in medieval times? You might be surprised to know that herbs

were often employed as fragrant carpet, to be mixed with straw and rushes, to cover up the odor of

one's hovel. Rue was used to protect one from plague, and a mixture of Chicory and oil was said to

make your offers irresistible to anyone downwind of you.

Not only for medicine, but in food, dyes, and rituals, herbs were part of our past. Here's a brief look

at some of the ways herbs were part of history.

Upper Crust Herbs

For their unique tastes and scents, herbs were often used by the rich households. In their gardens,

herbs such as mustard, borage and sage were grown for everyday meals, as they favored the strong

flavors. Rosemary was enjoyed with a roasted pig, and it's scent was said to preserve a man's youth,

so some carried it with them in boxes to breathe. For special occasions, spices brought from other

countries such as cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom were added to the fare.

If you were among the very upper crust, you might be invited to enjoy a meal of Lombardycustard at a feast with King Richard II, a pie made from prunes, dates, figs, and bone marrow, with

the addition of fresh parsley. For dessert you might be treated to a sambocade, a medieval version

of cheesecake using dried elder flowers and cottage cheese. In the land of Baghdad, and beyond,

herbs also had their place. For Muslims, a meal would not be complete without a dish known

as madi ra, a thick stew made with mint and yogurt, onions, leeks and spices. It was a Middle

eastern equivalent of chicken soup. Herbs like Thyme and coriander were used in the stuffing of


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large fish to be fried, and bread made with fresh rue leaves and pistachios, ground bay leaves, cloves,

and rosebuds was a savory addition to the Armenian table.

Herbs to Heal

When the Black Death began to sweep through southern Europe in 1347, cures were useless and

sometimes fatal. Bloodletting and the treating of the four humors were methods used by medieval

doctors of the day. The treating of humors, or the four fluids of the body, came from the ancient

Greeks. Depending on what humor was affected, doctors would prescribe purges or laxatives made

by mixing herbs with drink or food, to balance out the humors. Angelica was used as a cure for

patients and to protect healers form infection. Doctors would hang Angelica from their necks and

chew upon it while ministering to the sick. Rue was also used as a deterrent.

Male doctors relied on knowledge handed down such as the work of Galen, a Greek Physician, whose

book on herbal remedies was widely used in schools. Unfortunately, his books on anatomy and

surgery were also used as reference, and Galen had never seen or performed an autopsy. For thosewho came under the knife, the standard anesthetic was often made of potent ingredients such as

hemlock, mandrake, and opium. The amounts were often incorrect, causing the patient to wake

during surgery, or die before the first cut was made.

Female healers also made their mark on medieval medicine. One was a German nun called

Hildegard of Bingen, whose book, Causes and Cures, contained recipes for using herbs in the healing

arts.

Country Herbs

Those who lived in the city had doctors, but in the country, people had to rely on themselves. For

cures for anything from acne to removing warts, a medieval woman of the day need not look any

further than her own herb garden. For skin wounds, a woman might make a poultice with daisies

and mint to stop the bleeding. If one's sight needed sharpening, fennel or rue would be mixed with

water to make a wash for the eyes. Basil was thought to dull vision, but it was good to season

potatoes. Tansy would help with a pockmarked face, and betony with a sleepless night. A German

housewife would mix a cream of centaury and butter to remedy the bite of a rabid dog.

If livestock took ill, a mixture of herbs was used in a vapor bath to smoke the animal back to

health. When someone died, a garland of herbs was placed on the body to help keep it smelling fresh

until the soil could be broken for it's final home. These garlands were left on wooden markers oncethe body was buried, perhaps starting the tradition of flowers at a graveside.

A peasant's house normally was open during the day, so livestock intermingled with the home

dwellers and left their droppings on the floor. The housewives would have to spread straw to absorb

the mess, and as the stench was often high, herbs were also added to the mixture to disguise the

smell. Lavender and rosemary were used for this, as they held up better than the tender herbs, like

mint. To further disguise the smell pots holding mixtures of herbs. Flowers, and spices were left by


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the fireplace to rot. Later, someone discovered of you dried the herbs and flowers first, they were

effective longer. This was the early beginnings of what we know as potpourri.

If it came to dyeing cloth or wool, herbs were also useful. Marigold, weld, or broom could be

employed for a yellow tinge, and if a woman wanted to dye the gray from her hair, she would use

sage.

For those who were beloved or wished to be, a nosegay of thyme, lavender and mint was carried. And

what better way to attract a mate then with fresh, clean breath? For blushing maidens and wanting

boys, wine was swished in the moth, then swallowed. This was followed by fennel, lovage, mint or

parsley. Chewed each day, it was said to keep the breath fresh and the teeth white.

In many ways, our herbal traditions grew from the castles and hovels of old. Rosemary, that's for

remembrance, Shakespeare wrote, and it is with great fortune that we have history to thank for

recoding the many uses of herbs for the generations to come.

Mindfulness and Spiritual Awareness

A series by:

pluralone


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As an introduction to this series, the following is a brief overview of some of theterms and concepts to be explored in this monthly column. These are not

necessarily in keeping with tradition; they are based on the personal experience

of my spiritual path, and they are in no way intended as a means of defining

spiritual reality, only as a means of discussing it.

Much has been written on the topic of mindfulness, and for good reason. In short,

mindfulness involves being in 'the present moment'. At any given point in my day

I can check in on my thoughts and find I'm thinking about something that

happened in the past or that may happen in the future. Sometimes those

thoughts take the form of worries; sometimes it's just about planning my day or

thinking of something I need to get done. It's not 'bad' to have such thoughts, but

it is really handy to be able to bring oneself to 'now' on occasion and to just

experience the moment as it is, not as it was or as it will or should be. It's a great

place from which to begin the day, to end the day, and especially to enter a

meditative state.

For the purposes of this column, 'spiritual awareness' is not about one's belief

system; it is, rather, the direct experience of spiritual reality. It involves

perceptions that are beyond - or in addition to - the five physical senses of touch,

hearing, sight, smell and taste, senses that are a function of the spirit or energy


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body. Intuition is a function of spiritual awareness; others include, but are not

limited to, the ability to see auras; sensing the emotional energy of others; astral

travel, and the ability to sense and even communicate with spirit beings (what

some call ghosts, angels, guides, spirits, etc). For those who are familiar with it,

the concept is similar to, but not as specific as, 'Christ consciousness'.

'Spirit' and 'energy body' refer to the energetic/spiritual substance - the life force

and individuality - beyond the physical presence of any living being; the part of

the individual that continues to exist even after the body expires.

'Spiritual reality' is a term I use to denote that which is not perceived by the

physical senses. In my own experience, I've found that there are many

dimensions of reality, not just the physical one that we share as human beings.Those who are spirituality-minded have at least some acknowledgement of other

dimensions, of the places folks go when they leave their bodies, the places where

spirit beings reside.

In the coming months this column will present various aspects of mindfulness

and spiritual awareness; exercises for bringing the self to the present moment as

well as for exploring spiritual reality and expanding spiritual awareness.

As a member of the online forum, Cauldron of the Gray Witch, pluralone is editor and contributor

of The Gray Witch's Monthly ezine. Response to this column is welcome; please address via

private message to pluralone at Cauldron of the Gray Witch, http://[email protected]

Stones

By LadyFoxglove

Subject: Selenite, named for the goddess, Selene

------------Selenite named for the goddess, Selene

Merry Meet, my brothers and sisters and visitors of the Cauldronof the Gray Witch! To honor the sacred month of Samhain, Ive


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decided to make the first crystal I page homage to selenithe.Because this is the time of year when the veil between the worlds

is at its thinnest and finally lifted on October 31, I thought itwould be appropriate to write a bout a beloved stone that takes

us between the worlds at any time of year.

Selenite is a gigantic, whiteish, silvery translucent crystal thatgrows in large stalks in caves in Meico and Ohio. Pictures of

selenite caves show tremendous stalks of the crystal the size of2X4s used to build homes that dwarf the miners working there.Most crystal lovers are familiar with selenite in the form of small

wands which are broken off of these majestic crystals. Somecrystal dealers sell selenite in large blocks 12 to 18 long.

These are wonderful for astral projection.

Selenite works on the top 3 chakras of the bodies, helping peopleto synthesize ascension energies with which were being

bombarded right now. I have found, when Im feelingoverwhelmed by all of the loving energies aimed at Gaia and herinhabitants from our star brothers and sisters (my world view, so

humor me ), that if I grab a selenite bar or wand, I feel instantlysoothed. My chakras align at once and I don't have a million

questions running around in my brain. You can keep selenitenear other crystals and it will not absorb the energies of the other

crystals. It stays neutral and it helps clear the energies of theother crystals as well.

This beautiful crystal is named after Selene, the Titan goddess ofthe moon. It is striated and flakey and iridescent and resembles

the goddess herself , our moon in all her glory. There is a famousstory about Selene and her forever love, a shepherd named

Endimyion. The story goes that Sleene spied Endymion asleep inthe fields and she fell instantly so madly in love with him that she

begged Zeus to keep him in a state of perpetual sleep so he


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would remain ageless and immortal. That way Selene would beable to visit Endymion in his dreams for an eternity. Endymionloved Selene so much that he agreed and together this way

they had 50 daughters some of them muses.

The reason I tell the story of Selene, who, by the way, also hadPan as a lover and it is said that Pan gave Selene her chariot as agift is that selenite has dream and awake-while-youre-asleep

properties. When I go to sleep, sometimes I cradle a large bar ofselenite and it makes my transition into parallel planes and the

astral smooth, protected and quite lucid. I return home fromnight school in the morning feeling refreshed and completely

clear.I use selenite in spells as well. It has strong protective properties.I like to place a bar at each direction when I perform sympathetic

magick rituals to heal mother earth.For more tips on selenite, feel free to write me.

Lady Foxglove

From the Director

Ascension Magick


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Series

By Lady Shadow

The Path of Ascension spiritual practices of integrating higherconsciousness into everyday life.

In this group we will look at what is Ascension magickAnd at.AscendedMasters Angels/ Star beings The Merkaba MeditationScience of the Seven

ways Karma and Dharma, Channeling Atlantis The seven planes Conscious


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grids The Light Body The 13 dimensions of light Initiations SacredGeometry

There will be some exercises Please if possible get hold of the bookAscension Magick It will be what much of this is based and will help you

What is Ascension?

Ascension is a Mystery, an experience found in mystery religions Mysteriesin this context are experiences Words can try to explain, but they fall short.

Those who experience the mysteries understand this.Some views of AscensionA global event, happens to everyone same time,and same way Part of the Personal path of enlightenment- with multiple

manifestations

This is just some, here we will focus more on Personal Ascension.ThisincludedLiteral AscensionPosthumoous AscensionLiving

EnlightenmentAscension to the Next ageReturning to the sourcePersonalinitiationSymbolic Ascension


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Working with the Ascended Masters Oracle This Oracle are messages fromvarious great Spiritual Teachers and Healers With messages of guidance,

encouragement, comfort, and spiritual advice Ascended Masters arepowerful guides able to help you understand your life purpose, master thecourage to make major changes and decisions, as well as develop psychicabilities. You do not need special training to receive their help, just open

There is 44 cards with their messages and guidance for you.
http://www.hayhouse.com/images/productpics/3047_c1.gif


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Trick O Treat

OriginThere could hardly be a better example of the way thatlanguage and traditions migrate over time and across differentcultures than trick or treating. This is well-known to be anAmerican tradition, but its origins lie in medieval Europe.


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There are myriad Christian and pagan rituals and celebrations

that have taken place on or about the 1st of November each

year. These occurred in virtually every English-speaking and/or

Christian country. They have evolved and merged over the

centuries and continue to do so. Common features of these

traditions are - asking for food, dressing in disguise and a

connection to the spirits of the deceased.

The language of these traditions is heavily influenced by the

naming of days in the Christian calendar. The central date of

the rituals that herald the beginning of winter is the 1st of

November, calledAll Saints DayorAll Hallows Day. The

following day isAll Souls Dayand the 31st of October isAll

Hallows Eve - shortened to Hallowe'en (i.e. the evening before

All Hallows Day).

The practice of souling - going from door to door on or about All

Souls Day to solicit gifts of food in return for prayers for the

dead - evolved from a pagan ritual that was practiced all over

Europe, possibly as early as the 10th century. As a Christian

tradition it goes back to at least the 14th century, when it is

mentioned by Chaucer. It is still commonplace in many Catholic

countries, notably Ireland, where soul-cakes are left out for the

departed. The first reference to the practice under that name in

England is John Brand's Popular Antiquities of Great Britain,

1779:

"On All Saints Day, the poor people go from parish to

parish a Souling, as they call it."

The tradition has altered so that it is now children, usually

dressed in disguise, who go about asking for gifts around thebeginning of November. Some examples of this are from:

England, where we have requests for 'a penny for the guy'.

This derives from the bonfire celebrations that began to

celebrate the thwarting of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605.

Guy Fawkes was the explosives specialist of the plot. He


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was scheduled to be hanged, drawn and quartered, but

escaped that fate by prematurely hanging himself by

jumping from the scaffold with the noose around his neck.

He is now symbolically re-executed each year on 5th

November (Bonfire Night), when effigies of him, called

guys, are burned on bonfires all over England. The

'pennies' that children collect are traditionally spent on

fireworks. This had a secular and political rather than

religious or supernatural motivation, but it clearly

inherited much from souling.

The USA, where the tradition is trick or treating. This 20th

century tradition has many of the features of the earlier

rituals, a knowledge of which were of course brought to

the USA by immigrants from Europe.

Scotland, where it is called guising. This is a clear

predecessor oftrick or treat. The main difference between

the two was that the children performed small

entertainments before being given gifts - poems, jokes

etc. This is now merging into trick or treating, with sweets

being expected without the party piece.

The earliest known citation oftrick or treatin print is from an

item in the Oregon newspaper The Oregon Journal, 1st

November 1934, headed 'Halloween Pranks Keep Police on

Hop':

"Other young goblins and ghosts, employing modern

shakedown methods, successfully worked the 'trick or

treat' system in all parts of the city."

Trick or treating spread across the USA in the 1930s and iscited then in newspapers from many states. For example, the

Indiana paper The Vidette-Messenger, October 30th 1937:
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/hanged-drawn-and-quartered.htmlhttp://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/hanged-drawn-and-quartered.html


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"Trick or treat. This seems to be the popular pastime

among the younger folk and Valparaiso people... will hear

it many times tonight, for it is Hallowe'en."

From Washington state we have The Centralia Daily

Chronicle item for 1st November 1939:

"Pranksters were bought off when oldsters complied with

their 'trick or treat' demand..."

It seems that the practice wasn't universally popular amongst

adults when it appeared in the 1930s. Many of the early

references to trick or treatingfeature 'what's the world coming

too' type comments by outraged residents and police. The Reno

Evening Gazette, 1st November 1938, alludes to Nevadachildren using methods similar to the protection rackets of the

Mafia. Its piece was headed 'Youngsters Shake Down

Residents':

"TRICKORTREATWASTHESLOGANEMPLOYEDBY HALLOWEEN

PRANKSTERSWHOSUCCESSFULLYEXTRACTEDCANDYFRUITFROM RENO

RESIDENTS. INRETURNTHEYOUNGSTERSOFFEREDPROTECTION

AGAINSTWINDOWSOAPINGANDOTHERFORMSOFANNOYANCE."

MONTANABYTHEENDOFTHE 1930SFOR THE HELENA

INDEPENDENTNEWSPAPER TOBEADVERTISINGA 23 CENT "TRICKOR TREAT

MIX" OFCANDIES. ITISN'TCLEARHOWMANYTHEYSOLDTHOUGH. ON 2ND

NOVEMBER 1938, THESAMEPAPERREPORTEDTHATSOMEOFTHEIR

READERSHADNOTTAKENKINDLYTOBEINGGIVEN 'ANOFFERTHEYCAN'T

REFUSE' BYSMALLMASK-WEARINGGHOSTSANDGHOULIES AND, ALTHOUGH

THEYWERETHREATENEDWITHLITTLEMORETHANSOMEIMPROMPTUWINDOW

SOAPING, THEYEXPRESSEDTHEIRANNOYANCEINNOUNCERTAINTERMS - BY

SHOOTINGATTHELITTLEDEVILS.

" HALLOWE'EN PRANKSTERSINSEVERALSECTIONSOFTHENATION

CARRIEDHOMELOADSOFBUCKSHOTLASTNIGHT. MOSTPERSONSARE

NOTINFAVOROFSHOTGUNTREATMENT, BUTTHEYAREINFAVOROF

SOMECHASTISEMENT."


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A RINGONTHEDOORBELL, FOLLOWEDBY "TRICKORTREAT? ", ISHEARDIN

HOUSEHOLDSINMANYCOUNTRIESAROUNDTHEWORLDEACH 31ST

OCTOBER. THEREARESEVERALREASONSFORTHEINTERNATIONALSPREAD.

PARTLYITISDUETOTHEMIGRATIONOF US FAMILIESANDPARTLYTOTHE

CULTURALDOMINANCEOFTHE USA (WHATCHILDWITHATELEVISIONSET

CANHAVEFAILEDTOHAVESEEN SPIELBERG'S ET ORATLEASTONEOF THE

SIMPSONS' SEVENTEEN TREEHOUSE OF HORROR HALLOWEEN SPECIALS?).

PROBABLYMORESIGNIFICANTTHOUGHARETHECOMMERCIALINTERESTSOF

THEMEDIAANDMANUFACTURERS. IFYOUCANGETAWAYWITHSPENDING

JUST 23 CENTSTHISHALLOWE'EN OR BONFIRE NIGHTYOU'LLHAVEDONE

WELL.

Kids look forward to Halloween for many reasons.They like the dressing up in costumes but the

mostly they like it for the candy and treats! Whowouldn't? Even some adults still like to go our trickor treating. It makes them feel young and happy

again. While this section sticks mainly to guidelines

for kids, they are just as useful for adults.

Some parents like to take first dibs on some of thecandy that the kids have picked up during the

night. It's their reward for taking them around fromhouse to house! We suggest that you watch the

candy intake when you all get home, too much at

one time can lead to stomach aches andindigestion. That includes mom and dad as well!


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Make your child's Halloween a memorable holidayand they'll have good memories that last a

lifetime! If you are taking your kids out for the

night, dress up as well. Mom and dad should getinto Halloween as much as the kids do!

Trick or Treating should be one of the greatadventures of Halloween for kids! They can getdressed in scary costumes and go door to door,begging "Tricks or Treats!" from neighbors or at

the local mall. Lots of small towns have aHalloween Safe Night at the community center orschool so kids can Trick-or-Treat safely but goingdoor to door is the stuff of childhood memories! Itshould be a fun time, without trouble and pain, sofollowing some easy tips can keep your child safe

every Halloween.

Children should always go out trick or treatingaccompanied by a responsible adult. If you have agroup of kids going, the parents should choose twoor three of them to go along and keep an eye on

things.

Some towns set a curfew for trick or treating whichmakes it easier for townsfolk to know who's coming

to their door. Make sure and stick to the curfewtimes and stick to subdivisions and areas with a lot


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of homes so your kids can get in as much trick ortreating as possible in a few hours time.

Plan a safe route so parents know where their olderkids will be at all times. Set a time for their returnhome. Make sure that your child is old enough andresponsible enough to go out by themselves. Make

sure that they have a cell phone.

Let your children know not to cut through backalleys and fields if they are out alone. Make sure

they know to stay in populated areas and not to gooff the beaten track. Let them know to stay in welllighted areas with lots of people around. Explain to

them why it can be dangerous for kids not to dothis. If they are going out alone, they are old

enough to know what can happen to them in a badsituation and how to stop it from happening.

Instruct your children not to eat any treats untilthey bring them home to be examined by you. Thisway you can check for any problem candy and get

the pick of the best stuff!

Instruct your child to never go into the home of astranger or get into their car. Explain why this is


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not a god idea and what to do if someoneapproaches them and tries to talk to them.

Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stickor has reflective tape on their costume to make

them more visible to cars.

Let them know that they should stay together as agroup if going out to Trick or Treat without an

adult.

Associated Sites.


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