Samhain- the Final Harvest

pronounced "sow-ain"
This the harvest of root vegetables, the last of the corn, and the blood harvest: slaughtering the animals that won’t survive the Winter and those that are needed for food for our own survival.  The focus now is on endings, getting rid of what is no longer needed, and making preparations for harder times. Now is a time for magick aimed to release, to free, to cause lasting profound change within oneself. Now is a time for divination of all kinds: pierce the thin veil, seek out the truths you need.

Celebrating Samhain
Here are a few suggestions for your own Samhain celebrations. Some of these are traditions enjoyed by many Pagans, Wiccans, and Witches as part of their own observances.

• Bobbing for apples. Here’s a fun variation that turns this traditional game into a group divinatory act. In addition to the apples and a barrel of water, you’ll need a knife and 3 toothpicks to each apple. You’ll also want larger apples for this, such as Red Delicious. Take an apple, cut it in half. On the inside of one half, carve in a small symbol (such as a heart for love, dollar sign for wealth, etc.) or perhaps use Runes. Now stick three toothpicks into the apple around the symbol so that you can rejoin the halves (i.e. the toothpicks will be halfway into each half, holding the halves together. Make sure the toothpicks are near to the center of the apple: if they’re too close to the edge they could pop out through the skin of the apple or poke someone in the mouth when they bob for it.) Ask a question before you bob, the symbol in your apple reveals the answer.
  
• Have a feast including root vegetables such as Potatoes, Yams, Onions, Garlic, and vegetables like Corn and Squash. Include other "dark" themed fruits and wine, such as Blackberries and Elderberry. Leave an extra place set at your table for your beloved Dead.
• As this is a Sabbat of Sacrifice, consider what you can rid yourself of to further support your own survival. What habits are you cultivating that do you more harm than good, what relationships could use weeding for you both to be free, what changes to your personality do you need to initiate to better accomplish your goals?

Other Articles You May Like:
Samhain (published 2010)
Autumn- the Time of the Fall
Scrying