Speaking of Halloween, how do pagans celebrate Samhain?

[Nikki Stone 1]

Just curious.

[kestrel91316]

1. Discover Google.

[Xipe Totec]

2. .

:rofl:

[BattyDem]

3. Google would work, but it would be ...

far more interesting to hear a Pagan DUer explain it. :-) I'm curious, too.

[kestrel91316]

5. Well, I would love to explain, but as a pagan-leaning non-practitioner

of any religion, I am not the best source, lol. So I am sort of waiting for someone with more authority to do the major typing project.

[BattyDem]

7. LOL!

:-)

[Nikki Stone 1]

4. I am curious what the wiccans on this board do for Samhain

...

[kestrel91316]

6. I am non-practicing, so I forget some of the details.

Samhain is one of the major festivals, an Esbat IIRC. It marks the time when the veil between the worlds is thinnest. It is also a lesser harvest festival I think.

Circles, symbology relating to the harvest and death/rebirth, scrying, hmmmmmm. Honey cakes.

Somebody help me out here, I have been too many years away.

[FreedomAngel82]

8. I love to celebrate Halloween and

even though I'm not a pagan or anything like that I'm into the spiritual realms even though I'm a Christian I use Halloween to just reflect on those loved ones who have gone on and who I miss and just pray to them. And yes Halloween is the night when the viel between here and the afterlife is thinner so you can do rituals and things like that.

[Nikki Stone 1]

9. Thanks for trying. I appreciate your graciousness.

;;

[niyad]

14. it's our new year, remember?

[sojourner]

10. for a definitive answer you might try the Ancient Wisdom and Pagan's

group in DU Groups...link here http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=262

[Nikki Stone 1]

12. Thanks for the link

I didn't realize there was a forum like this on DU

[greyl]

11. You could try the Pagan group:

Here

There's one thread on Samhain in there.

[niyad]

13. going to help you out just a bit here--look at the following link:

http://www.celticspirit.org/samhain.htm

[gorbal]

15. Non-pagans are usually welcome to Circles

I'm more of a Unitarian, but the Halloween circles in that I used to go to with my mom were quite awe inspiring. First there was usually a ceremony where we called upon the forces of nature and sent messages to the dead. Then we turned in circles and sang and danced and danced and danced.

It was pretty amazing, but if you want a more athentic experience go to one in the country rather than one in a city. The City Parties felt like I was in an episode of "Charmed" whereas the country ones felt more like "The Wicker Man"