Samhain

Samhain

I look to the North, place of silent caverns. Spirits of Earth, you nourish me in life and wrap your welcoming body around me in death. Gather here in name of Inanna;in name of Tammuz.
Be with me this night.


I set my gaze to the East, source of breath. Spirits of Air, you are with me at the beginning and depart with me when I leave this realm. Be with me in the name of Astarte; in the name of Dumuzi. Be with me this night.

I call to the South, source of transforming flame. Spirits of Fire, your brilliant spark guides me through the cycles of life. Come in the name of Hestia, in the name of Horus.
Be with me this night.

I turn to the West, place of deep wells and underground springs. Spirits of Water, you carry me through the ebbs and flows of life on your never-ending tides. Join me in the name of Isis; in the name of Osiris. Be with me this night.

Samhain is celebrated on the autumnal equinox and has grown into the modern day holiday of Halloween. Samhain is associated with the harvest because the ancients were an agrarian society that lived and died by their crops.

Samhain is also associated with the dead. It is believed that the barrier between worlds, or the curtain between the living and dead is especially vulnerable this night. The dead were said to roam about the countryside. The reason we carve pumpkins today to celebrate Halloween is because the ancients believed that jack-o-lanterns would protect them from evil spirits. According to the tradition, turnips were used originally but pumpkins were readily available in the New World.

Some other familiar Halloween traditions have Samhain origins. It is believed that the ancient Celtic people disguised themselves on Samhain to protect themselves from evil spirits. On Samhain, ancients would also leave an empty seat and plate for any spirit passing by as a good will gesture to the dearly departed.

Sources and Resources:

http://www.celebratesamhain.com/
http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/celtsmyth/a/lochalloween.htm
http://www.new-age.co.uk/celtic-festivals-samhain.htm
http://yeoldewitchesbrewmagazine.presspublisher.us/
http://www.llewellyn.com/encyclopedia/article/7830