This month we focus on Samhain before going into the season of the Crone.

Samhain (sowan or so-en - Scot's Gaelic) is the Gaelic name for the lunar NewYear.
This is a time for feasting and revelry. The veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. The dead on Earth and the spirits too, Elves, the Sidhe, Gnomes, Goblins, Trolls, Fairies, Rusalki, etc. all may come calling - trick-or-treating as well as people.

This week is the time to decorate, bake your treats and prepare for the new year. Will you dress to scare away those who may feel anger or jealousy toward you, or will you dress richly to bring wealth and prosperity, maybe fame in the coming new year?

If there is someone who has passed leaving matters unfinished, now is the perfect time to maybe build a peace offering to be left out for them, or write a letter for self-closure to them to be burned in your ritual fire.

When decorating, you might go to the store if you live in a city. If possible, stick to seasonal, "Thanksgiving" style items unless you or the group you work with can work comfortably and not irreverently with "Halloween" style decorations. If you have "natural" things available to you, go outside - but don't forget to leave a "thankyou note" behind for whatever you take. Remember, never take part of any living thing, only what it has dropped or its fruit. Fallen leaves, corn, pumpkins (American), gourds(European), pinecones, hay, any items related to the season are all appropriate. (Of course if you are a pope in the church of Eris, decorate however you dang well please.)

In preparation, take the whole season into consideration. On Samhain, the Pooka - a frost fairy - rides through the fields, orchards and vineyards on horseback. As he passes by, he "kisses" anything not yet harvested - making it unfit to eat. With the veil so thin and the season of the Crone literally around the corner, this is a perfect time for divination and the start of study in the Dark Mysteries.

A wonderful combination for ritual cakes-and-ale is cornbread and cider. BUT, don't forget your after ritual feast. Kauldron-luck is very important. Steer clear from packaged cookies and purple sugary stuff. Cooking or baking for your kauldron-luck is the best way to go if possible. If your not sure what is appropriate or just not a very good cook, A Kitchen Witch's Cookbook by Patricia Telesco ( now back in print under a new cover) is a wonderful resource to look into. Don't forget to bring flatware and feastgear unless your group has decided to take a collection for disposable or someone has enough for everyone.

Remember that before the advent of produce being shipped fresh anywhere in the world, our ancestors knew they had to store and or preserve every non-meat and many meats they planned on eating prior to the next harvest. After the first freeze, any grain not harvested begins to rot in the field. Any unharvested fruit begins to ferment on the vine. There is much seasonal importance that has been lost since we are no longer strictly dependent on our locale for our foodstuffs.

This is a great time to learn what traditions were held by your ancestors. Start with a good web search and a trip to the history section of your local library. While fantasy is entertaining, it is rairly historically accurate.

Have fun this season. We all are at the doorstep of a fresh new start in the coming new year. Make it a safe and good one.