Thank you for your patience, support and understanding. We know that most of you will be back with us, and we look forward to serving you and interacting with you in the coming new year.
Gentle Reminder:
Tomorrow is your deadline to send in a Forget-Me-Not to Kallan, for the November 1 Samhain honoring of our dead loved ones. If you would like to honor someone (more than one person is fine), please send the name, a photo (optional), and the tribute you'd like to make to Kallan's email address (No Facebook msgs please).
Happy Birthday this week to Manx Darcqpaw, Faith Martinsdias, Todd Goozh, Denise Ganucheau, Lisa Taunton, Tammy Roberts Ward, Cynthia Rose King, Trisha Mainard, Hecate Bearpaw, Raven Boxwell, Moon Lady, Sandra Ramdhanie, Jessi Carr and Gina Thompson.
Monique Ponte, Sterling Silver Rose, Aqui C. Permite Pensar, Julia Spade, Ashley Price, Monica Chase, Colleen Timothy, Zella Taylor, Karen Elizabeth, Diandra Linnemann, Stephanie Fox, David Dashifen Kees, Sammi Curtin, Elizabeth Dahl Kingery, Chloe Hastings, Patricia Kelleher, Cat High, Laura InsightUnicorn, Jane M. Morgan, Tatiana Kiseleva, DeAnna DeHaven, Talon Thomas, Gina Helvenston, Angie Shields, Julia Perry, Indira Durmic, JoLynne Valerie, Angie Hill, Charly Howson, Jaime Booher, Dawn Banks, Jeanna Maribel, Connie Olson, Gwendolyn Welch, Lady Abigail, Sherri Robbins, Robin WitchyOne, Sally Dubats, James Kidder, Rosalie Barnett, Sharon Aven Rawson, Crystal Shoefer-Ierardi, Autumn Lilith, Laura DeLuca, Luna Child, Shari Lopez, Reenee Cummins, Marissa Angelica, John Riggs, Stephanie Taylor, Wendy Callahan, Chameleon Wiccan, Jamie Lynn Light, Kelly Traylor Dietz, Elizabeth Buchan, Ivo Dominguez jr, Stephanie Crist Waldron, AnnaMarie Ralph, Sapphire Witch, Michelle Bowser, Barbee Bailey, Good Greenwitch, Sadbh Ni Tomas, Gabrielle English, Ashley Reiner, Jannice Morgan, CeCe Taylor, Betzaida Marrero-Ulrich, Tara Callahan, Widely Cdeghin, Debby Coulter, Lucinda Erin Parker, Gail Wood, Jann Jones, Michelle Brooks, Casey Stephenson Scott, Jan Nerone, Theresa Rogers, Kaeden Heffner, and Lissa Riggs.
May all of you have the very best birthday EVER, and may this next year of life bring you happiness, joy, peace, prosperity and all of the very best experiences in abundance!
Song of the Week with Kallan Kennedy
This week's song was probably predictable for you. To me, it embodies Samhain in a way that not many other songs can do. Loreena McKennitt is a lyrical and musical genius, in my opinion. So, I'll share my love of her work here with you. The song is called All Soul's Night (lyrics below the video)
All Souls' Night
Loreena McKennitt
Bonfires dot the rolling hillsides
Figures dance around and around
To drums that pulse out echoes of darkness
Moving to the Pagan sound.
Somewhere in a hidden memory
Images float before my eyes
Of fragrant nights of straw and of bonfires
And dancing till the next sunrise.
[Chorus:]
I can see lights in the distance
Trembling in the dark cloak of night
Candles and lanterns are dancing, dancing
A waltz on All, All Souls' Night.
Figures of cornstalks bend in the shadows
Held up tall as the flames leap high
The green knight holds the holly bush
To mark where the old year passes by.
[Chorus]
I can see lights in the distance
Trembling in the dark cloak of night
Candles and lanterns are dancing, dancing
A waltz on All, All Souls' Night.
Bonfires dot the rolling hillsides
Figures dance around and around
To drums that pulse out echoes of darkness
Moving to the Pagan sound.
Standing on the bridge that crosses
The river that goes out to the sea
The wind is full of a thousand voices
They pass by the bridge and me
[Chorus x2]
I can see lights in the distance
Trembling in the dark cloak of night
Candles and lanterns are dancing, dancing
A waltz on All, All Souls' Night.
The Pooka Pages Samhain Edition is out. If you have children, it really is a wonderful magazine just for them. And, it's Free. Click HERE to go get it!
In the News
Branded witch, 4 Rupandehi women stripped, abused
Witch Doctor convicted of selling crystals in Union Square
Europe's Roma Face Witch Hunt After Reports of Child-Snatching
A Witch in the Hamptons
Boston’s Irish witch set scene for Salem trials
SLC Residents Learn About Pagan Beliefs
Witch Accusations are a Real Problem in Ghana
Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo
Sunday, October 27
Allan Apple Day. In Cornwall, England, an old Pagan method of love divination is traditionally performed each year on this day. A single gentleman or lady who wishes to see his or her future spouse must sleep with an Allan apple under his or her pillow, then get out of bed before the crack of dawn the next day. The person then waits under a tree for the first person of the opposite sex to walk by. According to the legend, the passerby will be the future marriage mate.
Monday, October 28
In ancient times, the Phoenician sun-god Baal of the Heavens was honored annually on or around this date. He presided over nature and fertility, and was associated with Winter rain. Sacred sun-symbolizing bonfires were lit in his honor by his worshipers in Syria. Depicted as a warrior with a horned helmet and spear, he was once worshipped as the principal god on Earth for thousands of years.
In ancient Egypt, a series of Autumn ceremonies for the goddess Isis began each year on this date. They lasted for six consecutive days.
Tuesday, October 29
On this date in the year 1939, ceremonial magician and occult author Frater Zarathustra was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Frater founded the Temple of Truth in 1972 and was publisher and editor of the White Light (a magazine of ceremonial magick) from 1973 until it ceased publication in 1990. On this day, the Native American tribe of the Iroquois celebrate their annual Feast of the Dead to honor the souls of departed loved ones.
Wednesday, October 30
Each year on this date, the Angelitos festival is held in Mexico to bless the souls of deceased children and to honor Xipe-Totec (the ancient god of death) and Tonantzin (the Guadualupe Goddess of mercy). On this day, write a secret wish on a piece of dried mandrake root. Burn it at the stroke of midnight in a fireproof container and then go outside and cast the ashes to the wind as you say thrice: "Spirits of fire, spirits of air; grant this secret wishing-prayer. Let the ashes of this spell, fix this midnight magick well."
Thursday, October 31 -- Samhain
Halloween (also known as Samhain Eve, Hallowmas, All Hallow's Eve, All Saint's Eve, Festival of the Dead, and the Third Festival of Harvest). Every year on this day, the most important of the eight Witches' Sabbats is celebrated by Wiccans throughout the world with traditional Pagan feasts, bonfires, and rituals to honor the spirits of deceased loved ones. The divinatory arts of scrying and rune-casting are traditionally practiced by Wiccans on this magickal night, as in standing before a mirror and making a secret wish. The last night of October was the ancient Celt's New Year's Eve. It marked the end of the Summer and the beginning of Winter (also known as the dark half of the year).
In many parts of the world, special cakes and food are prepared for the dead on this night. In Ireland, a Halloween festival is celebrated annually for the ancient Pagan Goddess Tara. This day is sacred to the Goddesses Cerridwen, Eurydice, Hecate, Hel, Inanna, Kali, the Morrigan, Nephthys, Oya, Samia, Sedna, Tara, and Vanadis. On this day in the year 1970, the Parks Department of New York granted the Witches International Craft Associates (W.I.C.A.) a permit to hold a "Witch-in". The event was held in Sheep Meadow and more than one thousand persons attended.
Friday, November 1
On this day in ancient Rome, the harvest-Goddess of fruit trees, orchards, and all fruit-bearing plants was honored with a festival called the Pomonia (Feast of Pomona) which marked the end of the growing season. Many modern Witches celebrate the day after the Halloween Sabbat with a feast commemorating fruition, maturity, immortality and resurrection. Also called All Saints' Day, this is one of the most magickal and powerful days of the year to practitioners of Voodoo, and a time to perform rituals for spiritual strength and protection against evil loas (spirit-gods). In Latin America and Spain, the Day of the Dead is celebrated on this date with offerings of food to honor the spirits of deceased loved ones. A festival known as Cailleach's Reign is celebrated annually on this date by many Pagans throughout Ireland and Great Britain in honor of the ancient Celtic Crone-Goddess.
Saturday, November 2
All Souls' Day. In England, small offerings known as soul cakes are traditionally set out for the dead every year on this date.
According to folklore, this is considered to be an extremely unlucky day for wedding ceremonies. Those who are wed on All Souls' Day are sure to be cursed with misfortune, illness, divorce, or an early death.
Wishing you all a lovely Samhain celebration,
Karen
Independent Avon Representative
Serving all your Avon needs -- come see what's new!
Sunshine's Meanderings with Kathleen Lane
Celebrate The Mother
Way back, 22,000 BCE, the humans of that period were already paying homage to the Earth Mother and carving figures in her honer. As we continued to survive on this planet, we continued to recognize and honor her in various forms, but almost always as the giver of live and existence to not only humans but all life.
She made us all that we are and continues to try to provide for us.
The problem is that human greed has made that a task that is even beyond her. We have polluted the face of the Mother and soiled the nest she made for all life. The other species she gave birth to do not "shit in the nest". The reason we are her failure is because we developed a trait that the other species on this planet do not have. It is greed......the constant quest for more than we need to survive.
When the tribal people of the earth lived with the knowledge that the Mother would provide all that was needed, the concept of greed and ownership of the planet was unheard of. Then that changed. We became consumed with the idea that we had to have more than someone else. I have spent untold hours pondering why this change happened and spent many more hours looking for answers to this aberration.
It can't be just because of intelligence. Many animals are amazingly intelligent and they didn't develop greed. Where did we fail as a species? I hope someone that reads this can shed some light on this question. My grandmother, who was tribal, always said that she was told it came with the White Man, but why did it develop in the first place?
So this time of year, when the Mother is putting our part of the planet to sleep for the winter, give thanks for her bounty and share that bounty with those around you. A wonderful find was made a few years ago in the upper Midwest. A bunch of seed was found that were hundreds of years old. But those seeds were still viable and produced squash that dates way back. They are being called Sister Squash and had been thought to be lost forever. The tribes are propagating the seeds and sharing them with tribes all over to ensure they are never lost again.
Once again the Mother proves that with a little help she can always provide. I am hoping to have some of the seeds from Sister Squash soon and I will do my part to help the Mother spread her bounty.
Mid-Air Moxie with Adelina Soto Thomas
Samhain
I don’t stand on ceremony and I’ve never really liked all the Pomp and Circumstance that some thrive on in their rituals. It has been one of the things that drew me away from ‘Wicca’ and led me to my own solitary path as a Witch. While others really feel strongly about putting on their ceremonial robes, casting the circles, calling the quarters, etc….I just wanted to settle down, keep it simple and get to the magickal business at hand without the hubbub.
Unfortunately, even with the internet, there are a lot of Samhain rituals out there that are a little intimidating. They make you feel like you’re auditioning for a Shakespearean theater company! So, what is an eclectic, solitary Witch to do on a high holy day like Samhain? Let’s look at some of the questions I had put to me back when I was teaching a small group of new Wiccans. Perhaps in seeing their questions, it may clear up some of your own…
Q-What are the tools I absolutely must have in order to do my Samhain ritual?
A-The one tool you need is the one you have with you at all times….yourself. Other ‘tools’ are simply items which help to focus your energy. Everything you need to raise and direct energy is contained within you. Incense, an athame, cauldron, candles, etc will help to mentally enhance the experience for you and may help you feel more focused on what you want to accomplish. But you can have a ritual without them, too…anyplace, anytime…
Please read the rest at Mid-Stride Moxie at http://midstridemoxie.blogspot.com/
Oh The Humanity! with Loren Morris
Samhain
When I was a child Halloween was the best! It was my most favorite holiday. I loved getting dressed up and being someone or something else. I loved the season with it's smells and colors.
My grandparents pretty much raised me for much of my life and we lived next door to them. As far as I was concerned, they had the best yard in the neighborhood. They had birch trees with paper barks and a dirt area underneath, where I could be in my own world and connect with nature. There was a large tulip maple that in the summer had flowers, but in the fall was a brilliant, fiery orange. Their neighborhood was lined with large trees and just outside their gate, next to the mailbox, was a gigantic dogwood.
Read the rest of this post at my blog:
My blog: http://sagascottage.blogspot.com/
The Spice with La'Trice Lott
My mom passed away in early October 2002. I had just begun to study the craft and as Samhain approached, I was looking for a way to honor her and other relatives. This recipe is one that popped up repeatedly during my searches, though I was unable to find the original source. Each version of the recipe I found was accompanied by this introduction “Some of the cookies are to be eaten while telling stories of our ancestors, to remind us that we still have access to their strengths or maybe, a predisposition to their weakness. Several of the cookies should be left outside by a bonfire or next to a burning candle on an altar as an offering.” A few of the recipes suggested using gingerbread man cookie cutters to make people shape cookies.
Remembrance Cookies
•1 ½ Cup Powdered Sugar
•1 C. Butter•1 Egg
•2 teaspoon vanilla
•1 teaspoon almond extract
•2 ½ Cups all-purpose flour
•1 teaspoon baking soda
•1 teaspoon cream of tartar
•1 ½ Tablespoons, fresh, chopped rosemary
Preheat oven to 375◦. In a large bowl, beat sugar, butter, egg, vanilla, almond extract and rosemary until creamy. In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Fold flour mixture into sugar mixture. Beat until dough forms and refrigerate for three hours. Divide dough into halves. Roll out one portion to about 3/16 of an inch on a floured surface. Use a biscuit cutter, cut dough and place on an ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 5 to 7 minutes. Repeat process with the remaining dough.
Enjoy and Samhain Blessings to you all.
Live. Laugh. Blog.Design. with Tara Smith
Kallan note: I asked Tara to provide us with a Halloween photo of her little one, whom we all call Cupquake Danger. So, here's what Danger wore last year:
And, I can't wait to see photos of her in this year's outfit. Tara says, this is what she's going to be wearing:
http://www.monsterhigh.com/en-us/characters/lagoona-blue
Tiffany's Gumbo with Tiffany Newson
One of my favorite activities to do with my kids is carving pumpkins. Nene has been really excited all this month to carve her pumpkin and see it glowing on the porch when she comes home from practice. It's about as exciting to her as actually going out to get candy.
To see more of our fun please go to Tiffany's Blog, "The Life of an African-American Wiccan"This Week in Astrology with Kallan Kennedy
Mercury is in Retrograde until November 10.
All times Eastern (remember, we move to Eastern Standard Time on Sunday, November 3)
Sunday, October 27: Great day for business all day (caveat: Mercury Rx)
Monday, October 28: 8:25 am - 11:24 pm Moon Void of Course then enters Virgo
Tuesday, October 29: All's Quiet in the Heavens
Wednesday, October 30: 6:51 pm Balsamic Moon
Moon Void of Course from 10:48 pm through the rest of the night
Thursday, October 31: Moon Void of Course until 8:21 am then moves into LibraGreat Day for Business after 8:21 am (caveat: Mercury Rx)
Friday, November 1: Great Day for Business (caveat Mercury Rx)
Saturday, November 2: 8:46 am- 1:34 pm (EST- time change) Moon Void of Course then moves into Scorpio
Sunday, November 3: New Moon in Scorpio 7:49 am EST
Moon Void of Course 11:23 pm through the rest of the evening
Weekly Tarot: 9 of Wands
 |
| Vanessa Tarot |
"A pause in the current struggle to ready oneself. Preparation to meet the final conclusive onslaught. Forces assembled in anticipation of trials and tribulations. The steeling of the will to stand or fall. A line drawn in the sand."~facade.com
The nine of wands is a card of encouragement. The message is that you are able to overcome any obstacles put in your path. Take a moment. Pause. Deep Breaths. Relax.
It may be that you are very close to the completion or culmination of a project and something just got in your way. Do not let it bother you. It may be you're having a hard time with this Mercury Retrograde right now. This too, shall pass. You have the stamina and the inner strength to persevere.
Put your courage to the sticking place. Setbacks are normal. Patience and vigilance are your friends.
"The turning point will come when you are able to leave the past behind you and to cultivate a more open mind about the future. While you have experienced losses in the past, it does not mean that you have to experience further losses in the future. Turn a new leaf and push on." ~Biddy Tarot
Weekly Totem: Hawk
In nearly every indigenous tradition where animal totems are honored, the hawk is a messenger from the Otherworld. In the tradition of the Northern Celts, hawk represents nobility, leadership, remembering who we are, and remarkable visionary gifts.
Hawk asks you to look within and without, see the bigger picture and to take courage to follow your true
With Hawk's keen sight, the message is to keep a weather eye out on your life. Fly higher to see the overall picture, because there are details you may be missing. Hawk is a totem of action as well. If you've been procrastinating on a project or dream, call upon Hawk to assist you in taking action.
Now is the time. If you have Celtic ancestry, it may be time to claim your birthright and honor your ancestors. Or, perhaps you know that it's time to stand up for yourself or others- if so, it's time to prepare yourself for the battle ahead. Take a 360 degree look at your life and the plans/dreams/hopes you have. Ask yourself: Am I lacking confidence? Am I allowing worry (the fear of loss) to dominate my life? Am I hesitating or procrastinating somewhere? Have I been acting too rashly without seeing the bigger picture?
Hawk can help you see what needs to be fixed and give you the tools to take proper action. Hawk awakens our vision and inspires us to create our lives according to our purpose or path in life. Pay close attention to the messages coming from the natural and spirit world at this time.
Samhain Thoughts with Kallan
 |
| Kallan |
Samhain has always been something special for me. October was my favorite month as a child, and I adored Halloween. I've never been big on the scary movies, especially the blood, guts and gore kind of thing. I've always found those to be pointless, and if you like them, please don't take that as an aspersion on you- it's just my personal preference. I do like the concepts of honoring the dead, communing with them, being able to communicate with them and the thinning of the veil. Even the Wild Hunt (in it's Celtic format) has fascinated me.
For many Pagans, this is called "The Witches' New Year", but I've never been able to see it as such. For me this is the ending of the year.. the time to cave in, cocoon, and mull over the year.. really giving it a good review... lessons that have been learned, coming to an understanding of choices made, etc... It's the Time Between the Times. We get to sort through what worked and didn't work, and, once that has been completed- begin making plans for the New Year at Yule.
I don't see the veil as closing back up until Yule. It's really the time for the dead to walk the earth, the mother (earth) to sleep, and for us to return to the womb prepare for the renewal of the return of the sun.
With that in mind, Francesca De Grandis (author of "Be a Goddess" and "Goddess Initiation") is holding a class that I think is perfect for this time of year.I'm going to participate, and I thought maybe you'd like to join us, so here are all of the particulars:
Goddess Womb—a seven-week ritual group to
* Heal soul wounds related to our wombs.
* Empower our wombs as Cosmic Source.
From Francesca: "I’m leading this group now because 1) the dark time of the year facilitates deep healing 2) without it the fall and winter can be a trial. Take care of you. I really want to be a part of that."
For more information, click HERE to go to Francesca's site and learn all about the class.
The Shameless Plug
This week's plug is for a new friend I made on Facebook, Gina. Her shop is called:
Here's a little about the Masters of Tincture:
Many of you have asked me who the jeweler is...well this is me. Born and bred Canadian girl! Raised in the prairies of Alberta, but have lived in the costal mountains of British Columbia for 7 years. I love creating things that are beautiful to the eye and full of colour and interest. This is my full time job...a lot of time/thought and love goes into each piece! My Boyfriend (Born and raised in British Columbia, this is where we met ) does all of the soldering to put the bracelets and Triple goddess pieces together and helps with shipping (I couldn't do it without him). It's really nice to have you all here with us...Welcome to Masters of Tincture...feel free to head over to the shop to view my creations and happy shopping
Here are just a few photos of their work. Beautiful pieces here!!
Check them out at the following places:
Tell 'em Kallan sent you ;)
Please don't forget that The Wild Hunt Fall Fundraiser is going on. The Wild Hunt is one of the few Pagan news sources we have, and is a valuable resource for all of us. You can donate as little as $5.00 to help keep them going for another year. Please consider giving what you can. And, be sure to share the link with your friends.
And now, we come to the end of our Samhain Edition of The Sunday Stew. We sure hope you've enjoyed our offerings this year, and we look forward to returning with The Sun to bring you more delightful treats for your mind and spirit. I personally would like to thank all of the chefs who have and continue to contribute to this concoction each week. Without them, this would be a bland soup, indeed. Thank YOU, dear readers, for always giving us support and feedback. We love you!
Blessings of the Samhain season upon your head and house. See you at Yuletide!
The Sunday Stew is a free, e-publication delivered every Sunday as a loving gift to the Pagan community. All submissions are the intellectual property of their authors, and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the blog owner. All photos used are either copyrighted to their owners and are used with permission. Astrology, Tarot and Totem are for entertainment purposes.
We welcome your feedback! Please be sure to tell us how we're doing and give us suggestions for improvement. You can leave a comment here (remember, they are moderated so it may take some time for yours to appear), use the contact form at the top of the page, email Kallan, or comment on Kallan's Facebook page. We look forward to hearing from you!
We welcome your feedback! Please be sure to tell us how we're doing and give us suggestions for improvement. You can leave a comment here (remember, they are moderated so it may take some time for yours to appear), use the contact form at the top of the page, email Kallan, or comment on Kallan's Facebook page. We look forward to hearing from you!