Hi Guys ,

The winner of the November competition for The Greater Key of Solomon the King was Melba.

Congratulations to her!

Didn't win? No worries, try the competition for December.

Brightest Blessings,

Pino

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The mouse, he has no house.......

Un No Yoi to All Entrants!

I am Happy with Winning my The Book of the Law by Aleister Crowley, so I feel I do not need to enter my Samhain Trick or Treating with my Nephew.

I so I give to all Entrants a Wish of Luck for their Endeavour for Winning this Competition.

KNR

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Mankind may have Evolved
Enough Intelligence to Split the Atom
But the Average Ordinary Human
Has the Same Average Ordinary Amount of Wisdom
To Choose Right from Wrong
As the Average Ordinary Baboon

Hi

There is a moot every month in Llandudno in Wales. They were having a party so we all dressed up. I of course was a witch. But the hat had an enormous brim so I looked like I had a black sombreo on more!

It was good fun!

My Samhain celebrations were the night before Samhain, which turned out to be a great thing since the actual day and night of Samhain was completely filled up for me.

My Aunt had everyone over for a Halloween dinner of spaghetti, Italian sausage, and garlic bread. I was going to dress up as a Penguin Witch, but unfortunately I wasn't able to wear my penguin mask, so I was just a Witch. The only other person to dress up was my great Aunt, who was a scarecrow. You should have seen it! It was one of the most hilarious and cute costumes I have ever seen. She wore a dress she made with raffia hanging off the sleeves, neck, and skirt, and had this old straw hat on with a little bird peaking its head out of the shedding straw.

It was a wonderful dinner full of memories, laughs, and tons of spaghetti sauce.

I arrived alone on a dark afternoon, to celebrate with my Coven the Sabbat of Samhain, also known as Hallowe'en. I stood in front of the building where my High Priestess lived as I looked up to see the beautiful waning moon in all it's glory. It was dark outside, even though it was early in the afternoon, and the stars and Moon were brighter than ever in the Sky.

I felt a chill, a feeling that this night would be one to remember.

I entered the apartment which was decorated for Samhain and filled with the smell of delicious food cooking. Candles were lit and people were smiling, cheerful voices discussing some exciting topic, and I quietly listened as I carefully placed my things on the Altar, that had already been set up.

I then joined the conversation and said my hello's, after which I went into the kitchen to help with the cooking. Oh, the cooking! There was meat of lamb cooking in the oven, a pie ready to go in the other oven, salads being made and nuts being roasted! Apples were sliced and other fruits, everything carefully placed on beautiful plates and bowls.

After we had gotten the food ready, except for what was still cooking, we laid it out on a lower table that was placed underneath the Altar table. We then covered it with a large, black pentagram cloth so it would not tempt us during our Ritual to come.

The smell of the meat cooking filled the air as we all carefully removed our clothing and put on our white, see-through robes and tied our ropes around our waists. Most of us were wearing white ropes around our waists, but two were wearing ropes with many different colors - each color representing the degree they hold within the Coven.

The circle was cast and the Quarters called - the Coven's goddesses and gods were invoked and I could still smell the lamb cooking, which made me feel a warm feeling of being home.

The Witches' Rune was chanted and the Ritual began, everyone playing a big part in the ritual. After welcoming our beloved ones from the other Realms, we sat in a close circle around the Cauldron.

What happened in the Circle is protected by oath, but after the Circle we rose from our seats and walked in circles, chanting, as the High Priestess and High Priest performed a symbolic Great Rite.

The energy was astounding, as we chanted some more, we felt it rising and our spirits lifted.

When the Great Rite was over, we all sat down again, this time to ground ourselves before the festivities started.

The evening then went on beautifully, we ate some great food, talked, laughed, we even danced! It was a beautiful Sabbat and way more than I had ever hoped for.

MM All,

This year I joined Magicka to embrace wicca, and not be an on looker. And being new to it all, I sat with my 10 month old baby and read to him the history and traditions of Halloween and samhain.

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To live as an angel does, give more than you receive and love more than you are loved.

My Samhain started out a wee bit different this year. It was my son's first Samhain/halloween.. He dressed up as Batman and I was a nightshade fairy... We just ended up going to his aunt's house to help with the trick or treating..

Sean greated everyone at the door with his hand raised and a big "HA" (his version of hi) and he would then close the door after everyone left.. After i put him to sleep.. I took out my candles and started to meditate... I thought of all the people who have been in my life who I have lost, I mostly thought of my friend Eric who died only a few months ago..

Then i began to pray. I prayed for everyone who needed healing and positive energies.. I prayed for the goddess to be with everyone I knew and to help them all in times of need.. I asked that she will help me along my path and show me what it is that I need improvement on.

I suddenly got an great urge to do a tarot reading, but I was to only pick one card... this card was to represent the next year... I pulled out my tarot deck and shuffled my cards.. I randomly selected the morigan card (i use a celtic deck).. I studied it for a few minutes and realized that I needed to learn more patience.. and this next year will be about patience and unconditional love.. afterwards, I lit candles for the people who have passed away and went along with my usual nightly stuff..

Later that night I ended up going to the hospital due to some complications I was having.. very painful cramps in my tummy, which I thought were coming from the IUD I have.. the doctors ran some tests and we found out that I am 5 months pregnant with a little girl! as soon as the shock passed, I realized why I needed to laern more patience and unconditional love..

I'm bringing a new life into this world!

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I worked on Samhain, so i whent there dressed up as a witch (we all were).

After work i tended to all my animals before me and my hubby went and bought torches. After fall of night we took all the torches and went to the graveyards where we have family. We lit a torch at all the graves of our kin, and one at the church steps to remind us of everyone that has died since last Halloween. I also brought some blessed food and whine to each of the grave yards as nourishment for the travelling souls, and i said a prayer to help them find their way.

The last grave yard we visited, was one 10km away from where we live. It's the grave yard where i grew up and have most of my kin. I have my gran, great grandparents and great great grand parents there. i also have a lot of removed family there. Also here i placed a torch on all my kins graves, and on some of the ones that mean a lot to me.

The one i spent longest on was my grand dads. He died 10 days before Samhain 2006 and his funeral was only 3 days before Samhain. That day was really painful for me, cause i loved him so much, and also we had to bury our dog for 13 years that same day. He gave up that night and followed my grandfather to the other side. I spent a long time at his grave this year alone, crying and telling him how much i miss him, and how much i needed his guidance. I also thanked him for watching out for me the last year,and asked him to watch over my grandmother (his wife), cause she is ill and misses him very much.

Afterwards we went home.

At midnight I cast the circle and did a really short dedication to the Goddess and the God, and set out more food for the travelling and lost souls to nourish on, and i celebrated the year that had passed. At the end of the ritual i gave thanks for earth's bounty that had been given the last year. For the meat from the sheep and cattle, for the deers that have given their lives so we could feed.

For all the fruit, vegetables, nuts, mushrooms, herbs and trees that we have harvested to eat and keep warm from.

After closing the circle and thanking the elements and the Lady and the Lord for being there and watching over me, i watched a nice movie with my husband and we both fell asleep on the couch.... in eachother arms, surounded by all our cats (i have 7 atm.).

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"Magick is the Truth smiling" Sokquon Tran

[url=http://www.psychiccourses.com][img]http://test.psychiccourses.com/psychic-test-results/.gif[/img][/url]

I started the evening by having a takeaway with my partner. We watched a bit of telly, then bathed our daughter and put her to bed.

I waited until everyone in the house had gone to bed, which was about 1am, before I started my ritual. I meditated for a while, then cast my circle.

I lit 3 candles - 2 white, and one orange. I added some mugwort to my cauldron (although I have no cauldron, so I used a blessed saucepan!! lol!!)
I took a piece of paper, and wrote on there what I wanted to leave behind me. I burned the paper with the orange candle, and put it in the cauldron, letting the mugwort burn with it. Whilst I did this I visulised mysef leaving it behind.

I added some marigold. I wrote on another piece of paper what I wanted to achieve - again I burned the paper, added it to the cauldron, and visulised how happy and enriched I would be if I achieved this.

Then I added some Betony and Oak. The reason for this, is I needed a black candle - I had no black candles, only white - so I subsituted a black candle for a white candle, and added the corresponding herbs.

I remembered everyone I have loved who have passed. whilst I was doing this the candle in front of me grew very high, and started fluttering and spitting - nothing violent, just gently. I said a message aloud, whilst writing it on the other bit of paper.

It was at this exact point that my M.I.L came downstairs, and into the living room - I had to say I was meditating. She went back upstairs.

Now, I didnt think it was respectful f me just to carry on, I had been disturbed. So, I apologised, closed the circle, and re-blessed all my items.

Then I restarted the ritual.

I got to the remembering people who had passed, and again the candle was growing and flickering, much more than the others were. There was no draft anywhere.

Well, I asked that they were happy and safe, and that they could help me achieve my goals for this year. I also asked if they could watch over myself and Paige.
I burned the paper with the last candle, and put it in with everything else.

I made sure all of the herbs were burning, and I finshed by meditating in the aromas and the candle light. I felt such ease, like I had no worries at all. It was the most amazing feeling I have ever felt, and it lasted for a few days.

I closed the circle, snuffed out the candles, then took the herb and ash outside. I went to the bottom of my garden, which overlooks fields, and I let the wind take the mix, offering it back to the earth.

I sat outside under the moon for a few moments, then went back inside.

I cleared up, had a drink, and went up to bed. Even though it was way after 2am, I wasnt tired in the slightest - I felt energized and warm.

I woke up in the morning, and the big teddy from Paiges cot was in the bed. Not on top of the covers, actually in the bed. Now, I know for a fact it wasnt there when I went to sleep, and there is no way that paige could have thrown it - the teddy is twice the size of her!! lol!!!

I believe it was someones way of letting me know that they are there.

Wow, this is long!! lol!! If you've made it this far, thanks for reading If not, I dont blame you!!!!

Blessings

xxx

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Like some others here, I'm new to wicca as well. I'm also new to losing a loved one, which I did this year. My great-aunt was the closest thing I've ever had to a grandparent, and I adored her. But I couldn't figure out how to mourn her. I felt doomed to carry this heavy lump in my chest until doomsday.

As Samhain approached, I found myself swamped in my college work. One evening, I sat on my porch, writing a paper for my Cultural Studies class, when I was approached by my Muse. There I was, blithely nattering on about the Day of the Dead in Mexico, not realizing the significance of the moment. But my Muse knew, and she told me what I needed to do. I was going to celebrate Los Dios de Los Muertos, and honor Aunt Margaret in the traditional manner.

I spent days making an alter for her. Cheese biscuits, sweetened iced tea, crocheting materials, littered the dining room table she left to me. I covered it with all the things she loved. And I didn't forget the coasters; in Margaret's home one always had to use a coaster. When the table was finished, I made a path of bright flower petals up the walk , through the front door, and up to the shrine. This would lead her to her memorial.

Finally, after spending the day making the traditional celebratory meal, and consequently consuming the meal, I began to think about Margaret. Her quirks, her kindness, her awful taste in fuschia lipstick, the fact that I found no less than four sets of coasters when I was packing up her house, were all thoughts whirling around in my brain. I wasn't missing Margeret anymore, she was sitting there with me. I truly believe she did follow that floral path, all the way to her former table. I know she enjoyed the food and drink left out for her. And she had to have spent as much time as I did, poring over all the family photos and rellieving those frozen moments as much as I did while arranging them on the shrine.

This past Samhain, I discovered that death hadn't stolen my Great- Aunt from me, it merely changed how we spoke to each other. I feel blessed to have had such an important message delivered to me at such an auspicious time. Margaret, however, doesn't believe in that "rabbit chasing talk". We're still having our life-long spiritual tiff.

Let me say first that the last few years of my life have been like that of a roller coaster and wondering if things would ever start to improve? However, this past June things have started turning around for the better and I feel that in time my life will be that of something that I could never have imagined before.

For the time being (and fortunately) I do work a day job that helps pay the bills, until I can figure out where this new path of my life will take me. But my Samhain day actually started at work, while sitting at my desk and looking at my face's reflection in the computer screen it began to dissolve and was replaced with that of a decaying skeleton's face and then an opening to a cave was right up close to my face.

But there was more to come that evening when I finished work. I went down to one of the local stores in my area to purchase a Crystal Cluster that had been held for me until I got paid...picked it up and headed home. Now of all things half way home on the highway, a black cat jumps out and runs in front on the car, stops and stares like right at me and misses getting hit by me and the other driver in the other lane next to me. I thought of all nights and chuckled to myself!

Exhausted from the day's events, I decided to put some relaxing New Age music on and lit 3 purple candles and meditate while soaking in the tub. Once I closed my eyes I had visions like I have never had before. They were quick tho' and tried to keep a mental note of everything that was being brought to me by my guides:

1) Pages of a book being flipped
2) A glowing arm and hand that was extended to me
with a ball (crystal???)
3) A pot that that showed the brightest yellow/gold that
a person could imagine, and then a lid of the darkest
purple/indigo covered the yellow/gold.

One I finished my meditation and thanked my guides for showing me a glimpse of my future, I extinguished the candles and retired for the evening and slept peacefully.

Colee3

I just wanted to say that I am new too all of this but this year was a little diffrent then the last becouse I actully found out what the true meaning of the holiday was and where it was started . Before I took my kids trick or treating I had them read the true meaning with me it didn't change their perspective of what was to come that night but it did mine
Blessed be Melissa

My aunt and I put out a graveyard. i carved a witch in a pumpkin. we also gave sugary sweets out. lets puti t this way what is left over could put cavities in an elephant. I asked for blessings and wished for peace for everyone in my life.

was a very quiet time this year.

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Carrie "carebare" Miller

Hi folks!!! Many thanks and blessings!!! My name is Misty and me and my husband are seven years strong in the Wiccan traditions. We both discovered our need for an alternative path back in '99 when we first started dating. Since then we have each individually experienced many revelations about ourselves and our belief structure. We have both expounded on paths best suited for our own indvidual needs. Our Pagan tradition this year was directed towards our relationship. My husbands birthday falls on October 28th, and a full moon also fell on that night this year as well. Even though we are not a new couple, we decided to re-affirm ourselves as a couple, by making a blessed wreath for new couples. At midnight we lit a candle, said a prayer, and with each bead strung on the wreath we blessed each bead with simple and loving thought and energy and said, "Blessed by this spell, all is well." After the wreath was completed, the candle was blown out and a newfound bond has emerged, between us both. What better way to end, than to begin again? ALL THANKS AND BLESSINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, this was my first official celebration in my beautiful new sacred space outdoors, and I am ever so happy. A friend of mine, who I was close to while struggling through school life, passed away (details unimportant) at the begining of Oct.

I have never felt a strong sense of spirits during Samhain until this year. Thankfully my friend visited me while I meditated and tended to my circle outside. I was able to feel her love for me and I hope she felt mine for her. I wanted her to know so very much, that there was someone in her life who would always remember her the way she wanted to be remebered- and not hold her mistakes against her even after death.

It was a beautiful experience. My two cats joined in the celebration and were chasing each other up and down the tree that shelters my circle, throwing great shadows all around from my candles.

Now I have a gorgeous mushroom popping up right where I directed my conversation on Samhain. Kind of unusual in the middle of the desert but I love the unusual and it is a wonderful reminder of the experience with my friend's spirit!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share this with you all, being a solitary, there's not a whole lot of verbal sharing going on.. you must always be able to laugh at yourself !