Let’s start with the exciting news. I have a new job!
The last week or so has been a chaotic whirlwind of activity that has led me to be offered and accepting a new job. I wont give too much details as I’ve always maintained this is a personal blog and always had a strict rule about not discussing work. Needless to say this rule will be maintained in my new post.
But it is an exciting opportunity, out of the geographic area I currently work in and will present me with some new challenges. I’ll have read up and update myself on Nursing practices in a hospital setting, as I haven’t worked in a hospital since I completed my Nurse training. I’m looking forward to starting the post in the coming months, embracing the learning opportunities the post brings as well as developing best practice.
Now on to things to look forward too over the next few months:
Dressing up the cats in costumes for Halloween / Samhain. (If anyone knows where I can buy cat costumes, please let me know by commenting. I can find plenty of human Halloween costumes online, but none so far for the cats.)
Undertaking Samhain ritual with Simon & Chrys (see Pagan Festivals).
Having a private Samhain ritual to commerate the loss of my brother Alex (see My Darling Baby Brother) earlier this year.
Yule / Christmas – the opportunity to take some time out with my family and friends. Plus it’s the cats first Christmas, so they will be spoilt. No doubt they’ll manage to bring down the Christmas tree. I’m sure it will have sad moments since Alex (see My Darling Baby Brother) wont be here – but I’m hoping that overall it will be positive.
Completion of my first few chapters of a creative writing story I’m going to set to work on (I promise) and getting all of your feedback.
One of my brothers fiancée giving birth to a baby. Giving me another Niece or Nephew.
So lots to look forwards too. Signing off for now, feeling really positive,
Samhain or Halloween, is very important to us pagans. In a previous post Pagan Festivals, I said this about Samhain (Halloween to most people):
Samhain – 31st October
The last harvest. When the vails between the worlds are thin. Seen as the pagan ‘New Year’. Also known as Halloween.
The goddess is now the crone. With age coming wisdom.
Colours: Black, orange, purpose, violet, white.
Themes: Ancestors, death, rebirth, banishing & bindings, spirit & guide communication, guidance.
(From: Pagan Festivals @antonysimpson.com, Last Accessed: 26th October 2010)
Rather than the elaborate rituals with lots of people, costumes, dancing, chanting like the previous years, this year I will celebrate it alone quietly as a time of reflection. I decided to get creative and make my own pumpkin lantern. I googled on how to and got this video:
The video’s good, but the music is somewhat unbearable so heres my written guide to Making a pumpkin latern for Samhain.
What you will need
x1 pumpkin
A sharp knife
A pen (with ink that will wipe off) or pencil
Step 1 – Choose a side and draw the outline
Choose a side of your pumpkin that’s best for the face. Ideally one that’s not got any scuffs on it. Draw an outline like below:
Step 2 – Cut off the top and scrape out the insides
Using your guide lines you’ve drawn on, cut carefully around the top off the head and pull it off. You’ll see the pumpkin insides and seeds which you need to scrape out (see photo below). Some of the cooking experts around may choose to keep the insides to make a pumpkin pie, which you can google for a recipe if you want.
Step 3 – Turn your attention to the face
Now you’ve scrapped out the insides. Go back to the outline of the face you drew and carefully cut out the eyes, nose and mouth. Once these pieces have been removed, take a tea light candle and place it inside lit. (Please never leave a lit candle unattended.) Replace the lid of your pumkin and switch off the light to admire your handy work. It should look like this:
I have named him Jacko, I know how original. Hope you found this guide useful. Write soon,
This year being disorganised I missed Imbolc. I only realised a day before and hence didn’t really get round to doing anything (I know tut, tut).
So in order that I not miss any further of my pagan festivals I decided to add the dates to my diary and post them here. I will give the festival name, date and some information about the festival. Here we go:
Imbolc – 2nd February
Known as the festival of light. It celebrates the end of dark winter and welcomes the sun and the light to the world. Asking the world to wake up out of hibernation.
The goddess is seen as the maiden at this festival. Indeed the festival celebrates her as a maiden. She is still in recovery from child-birth.
The longest day of the year. It is the summer time harvest. I like this blessing:
As the sun spirals its longest dance,
Cleanse us
As nature shows bounty and fertility
Bless us
Let all things live with loving intent
And to fulfil their truest destiny Wiccan blessing for Summer
(from http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/summersolstice.shtml, last accessed: 08th February 09)
The god and goddess
reaffirm their relationship and commitment to one another.
Colours: Blue, green, red and yellow.
Themes: Fruitful endeavours, child-like play, affirmations, water & emotions.
Lammas – 1st August
The harvesting of berries and grains take place at around the time of this festival. Days are getting shorter.
The autumn equinox. Light and dark are again in balance, however from this point on we shall have less sun light as it get’s darker. It’s about also giving thanks to the mother goddess for providing enough food (from the harvest) for the winter.
The god prepares for his journey to the underworld. The mother goddess is heavily pregnant but continues to rein and begins to age.
Colours: Brown, violet, indigo, blue & black.
Themes: Land & property, goals, introspection, past life regression, relaxation, letting go.
The first day of winter also known as the winter solstice. Longest night of the year. Evergreens and pine are ideal for your alter along with traditional Yule logs. Wreath’s symbolise the wheel of the year.
The goddess gives birth to the god and then goes in to hibernation being tired from child-birth.
Many pagans believe in a god and a goddess. I differ slightly. I do believe there is a god-like being, but that it is one that is genderless as it is simply energy. Some pagans would disagree with this, although like I said earlier these are my own individual beliefs.
As you know Samhain is a pagan’s Christmas and New Year rolled in to one. Simon, Chrys and I had planned to do a group ritual together but it was canceled as Simon had to work (waking nights – awe!).
What’s Samhain about?
1. Celebration of a good harvest – Thanking the god, goddess and mother earth for a fruitful harvest.
2. The equinox – Recognising the god’s days are coming to an end as the crone goddess sits on the throne for the winter period. Nature going in to hibernation to sleep out the cold, winter, months.
3. A time of remembrance – Celebrating and remembering the lives of those that have moved on to the astral plane, or above.
3. The veils between the physical and astral are thin – A time to communicate with those that inhabit the astral plane or travel there (via astral travel).
The ritual went well with both David and I inputting in to the planning and execution of it.
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