If you like to write, paint, sing, dance or do any other type of creative activity, Samhain can be especially inspiring. The color of the turning leaves, the differing patterns of light as the days shorten, the sounds and the smells, all of these and more stimulate your senses. So, today I would like to share some writing and photography that was inspired by this season of the Witch. Enjoy!
Part the Veils (2013)
In shadowy forest of trees And blackness of night The call issues forth To come dance round Blazing bonfire bright.
Come heed the call The mysteries of Samhain night to be taught By blessed Ancestor and Kin Their wisdom to be sought.
The veils finally thinned The Gates open wide For Kith and for Kin To walk by your side.
Night wind chills thickened air Hush now be silent to hear The soft whispers of gentle Spirits who linger quite near.
You know the hidden path Dried leaves crackle underfoot You walk through the woods Canopy of tree holds the darkness Thick and heavy like blackened soot.
A sacred circle of clearing revealed Carefully scribed and lovingly prepared You call to the Ancestors Your intent boldly declared.
Fire blazes full and flames leap high As words pierce the silence of night Wisps of smoke flicker here and there As you surrender and open to true sight.
Cloaked shadowy figures emerge Near the trunk of each autumn tree Penetrating and loving eyes look on Shrouding their deep mystery.
Wispy fingers that beckon Calling the Beloved to Their side Listen closely for answers from Them to silent questions you Dare not and cannot hide.
Surrender all of your fears These specters mean you no harm Through joys, pain and suffering They have always helped dry your Tears and offered up their calm.
Part the veils held between Ancestor Spirit and gentle Human Their gift on this Samhain night The call once again to join each as One in wisdom’s blessed communion.
Can You See Me? (2010)
I’m hiding in the palette Of fall leaves Can you see me?
Light splatters like paint Over my body and my leaves Are brilliant with Fall light.
Can you see me?
Metamorphosis (2012)
Crackling leaves are burning Transformed from life to death.
The crow calls out relentlessly To those unseen and the Crone’s outstretched hand Pulls me tightly to her breast.
The air chills at her touch Long icy fingers tapping out the heart beat of life’s pulse within The solemn silence of darkness.
The pause of silent breath Power and strength drawn From the sinewy strands of time.
Quartered path of gravel and stone Flesh and blood Moonlight and stars The wellspring of Earth The light of the cosmos above.
I tremble within Her embrace Form giving way to the formless Mind swirling within the waters of insight Sight pierces the veil, the Road cautiously chosen.
Knowledge of the unknown becomes The heat of my desire and The quickening spark waiting in fertile darkness Pulls me towards rebirth into a place of Light.
The air is chilling and leaves are turning. The smell of wood in fireplaces and the comfort of snuggling deeply into warm covers promises the call of late Fall and the rising of the Crone’s power as Samhain nears. Enjoy these beautiful Autumn days.
Samhain Morning Leaves (2011)
Look up Look up!
A beautiful sight Fills the view!
Graceful branches Stretch in silhouette Against a newly lit sky!
But you have to look up To see all that nature Has as canopy of morning.
The day will move at its pace Even if you take no notice of What awaits your gaze.
So…
Look up! Look up!
And perhaps what moves you Through your day is memory Of morning sky’s beauty And the call to Look Up!
I often arrive at work early, and as the Fall approaches it is not fully light yet. This picture was taken from the parking lot one morning.
I looked up and was greeted by the beauty of a gently lit morning sky. The silhouette of a large tree that is on the lot seemed to have inked its way across the sky. The leaves had begun to turn and some were denser than others. The impression was one of serene beauty and massive power.
The interesting thing of note is that the setting is one of a suburban neighborhood setting. The lot that the building is on has a few trees on it but pointing my camera level would have revealed a brick and mortar building, streets, homes, a chain link fence and dumpsters. Looking up created quite a different impression leaving the brick and mortar world behind.
Today’s post is an excerpt from one I crafted on my blog at Pagan Square.I’ve routinely been asked to repeat it, so here we go. Enjoy….
The season is upon us and the Witch’s New Year is soon at hand. I have gotten in the habit of doing a Tarot Reading at Samhain, aligned with the Sabbats throughout that upcoming year as well as one at the start of the calendar year, aligned astrologically (sharing that nearer to Yule).
The intention and flavor of many of the celebrations surrounding the Sabbats is one of a continued theme or thread of connection of one to the other creating a whole that can be used for magick, growth and deeper insights. Regardless of the theme you follow, that of the god and goddess, the cycles of the seasons, the flow of solar energy, or other-this tarot spread can be modified to align with those intentions.
This spread uses 10 cards- 8 for each of the Sabbats and one for you standing in the Light of your self and another as the polarized opposite of you as Shadow. These two cards indicate the strength and power you wield in both parts of your nature as light and shadow and can be used to infuse in whatever dynamic and dose you choose as the energy of the cards relating to each of the Sabbats is revealed. Read more and find the spread here:
The “smells and bells” of Samhain enhance any working and celebration. Incense is a staple of this Sabbat and can be used in a variety of ways, from serving as a veiling for ancestor communion to calling to presence the Deities you wish to witness and bless your activities. For those who are sensitive to the smoke emitted from incense, oils can be used in their place, either heated over a small tea light or in a roller version and applied directly (fragrance or carrier enhanced only. NEVER apply an essential oil directly to the skin as these are potent and allergic reactions or skin sensitivities are likely) to the skin.
Check out this helpful article to get you started:
For Remembrance: you can use Rosemary For Purification: you can use Sage and Salt For Protection: you can use Marigold, Pepper, Cinnamon, Wormwood To Honor the Earth: Patchouli and Pine. To Honor the Ancestors: Marigold and Mums For Wisdom: Sage To Honor the Final Harvest and Fall: Apple and Apple leaves For Psychic Opening: Mugwort, Bay and Bay leaves
Recipes: These are listed as “parts” meaning that you should begin by determining what increment of measurement will be. If you are making a small portion for personal use, I would suggest using 1/4 tsp. = 1 part. If you are making a larger batch for group work or to store for other use; 1/2 tsp. = 1 part.
Sandalwood: 2 parts Orange Peel: 1 part Mace: 1 part Cinnamon: 1 pinch
From unknown source:
Frankincense: 1/2 part Myrrh: 1/4 part Bay: 1/2 part Vervain: 1/4 part Wormwood: 1/4 part Patchouli: 1/4 part Sandalwood: 1/22 part
From Unknown source:
Dittany: 1 part Pine: 1/2 part Sandalwood: 1 part Patchouli: 1/4 part Benzoin: 1/4 part Pine Oil: a few drops
From Unknown source:
Dittany: 1 1/2 part Benzoin: 1/2 part Patchouli: 1 part
This is a recipe I like to make for my personal Samhain workings
1 part dried mugwort 2 parts frankincense resin 2 parts myrrh resin 2 bay leaves crumbled 1 part orange peel
As I add each ingredient into the pestle, I offer up thanks to the sacrifice of the herb or resin and call into presence the energy that I wish to have as part of the whole. Use the mortar to press and break apart the resins and herbs, combining each one at a time. When all is complete, I breathe (very) gently across the bowl infusing it with my own breath of creation and purpose. I usually burn a small portion then and there, offering it to my patrons and then place the remainder in storage for Samhain’s use.
*I usually make a slightly larger batch and use it as a base for future ancestor or psychic work, adding what is necessary for each. Store in an airtight, clamp lid or mason jar container in a dark place. This will preserve the integrity of the herbs and resins.
Using Oils:
Most of the ingredients in the recipes above are available as essential and/or fragrance oils. The benefits of purchasing an essential oil are that you will generally use less of it, it can be placed over a tealight for heating and you also have the raw ingredients for creating your recipes by combining the oils either in raw form for heating or with a carrier such as almond, sesame or jojoba for body application.
Depending on the oil you select the essential oils should vary in price in accord with the rarity or value of the ingredient. For example, Frankincense and Myrrh are usually more pricey than Lemon or Bay. Be sure to get a quality essential oil that is labeled as 100% pure essential oil. I like this company’s oils, they are eco and cause conscious and are available through amazon:
If you check out the Simply Earth site, they also have a download of a Cheat Sheet and 3-instructional videos for use. The sheet is very informative and offers a good base of do’s and cautions about using essential oils, their contraindications with certain medications, pregnancy, high blood pressure and more:
Fragrance oils are another way you can use an oil to enhance ritual workings and open yourself to specific energies. These are derived by combining or using a singular essential oil and placing a few drops of it/each in a carrier oil such as sesame, almond, jojoba or coconut. If you make your own you will want to use approx. 2-4 drops total of your oils and approx. 40z. of carrier. It is better to error on the side of too little essential oil than too much and cause a negative skin reaction. I wear oils in place of perfume routinely and have special ones I use only for ritual or personal practice. I make my oil 40z portion to use as a body massage oil or therapeutic for arthritis, etc… This is the company I like to purchase my small in purse roll on oils:
These are just a few of the things traditionally associated with Samhain including herbs, animals, food and more. I would encourage you to also be open to new correspondences that are specific to what you personally resonate with. The more you can personalize the experience, the deeper and more intimate that experience will be. Enjoy!
Dates: Traditional-October 31; Astrological-Mid-point day between the Autumnal Equinox and Winter Solstice November 5-7 (depending on the year.
Names: Halloween; Hallowmas; All Hallow’s Eve; Day of the Dead; Feast of teh dead; Third/Final Harvest; Celtic New Year.
Symbolism: Death and regeneration; transformation; ending old endeavors and re-setting to begin anew, knowledge; hidden gifts; the final harvest.
Workings: Ancestor work and connection; banishing; past life recall; psychic work; honoring the dead; drying herbs and herbal lore.
And, looking ahead towards Spring, here is another title from this series:
The Sacred Herbs of Spring by Ellen Evert Hopman
Each of these books is in similar format with information aligned specifically to the focus. Read the review that I wrote for this title:The Sacred Herbs of Spring…..
In addition to the energies of the Moon cloaked in the mantle astrological Libra, the Sun shares this dance of ecstasy and creation’s new life sharing Libra’s sense of beauty and harmony. Other actor’s upon this stage is the retrograde intensity of Mercury, Mars, Uranus and Neptune. Here, the supporting cast assures that intuitive communication (Mercury in Scorpio) will be actively and assertively (Mars in Aries) expressed, infused with a bolt of electrified stability and manifest-like quality (Uranus in Taurus). All is called to the depths and darkness of the abyss of compassion (Neptune in Pisces). The result holds the potential for allowing yourself the grace of choosing deliberately and wisely what you will nurture and tend to in this cycle of striving towards refined and purposeful depth of emotions (New Moon in Libra) strengthened in the brilliance of light that holds the keys to gnosis of the scales balanced precisely in right action, right thought and right mind (Sun in Libra).
I talked of the Goddess, Hecate’s energy during this season and today’s post is the first of three; each aligned with the New Moon of today, the upcoming Full and Dark moons. This New Moon in Libra is a perfect time to call to the beginnings of deepening your connection and understanding of a prominent Samhain Goddess, Hecate. SHE who stands at the crossroads, our place of choice and guided selection. SHE who reminds us of our Divine nature only when we allow the perceived limitations of scope to fall away as we surrender to her wisdom, not in fear but in the cultivation of self-awareness….
Let’s begin our introductions….
I call to you at the Newness of the Moon.
I wait at the crossroads And, call out in longing For you to ask of me what you will.
I stand clothed in the promise Of guiding you as I light the way.
I wait and there is only the Sound of my own longing to Enliven and stir within you The drive and will that sets You upon your path.
I am cloaked in the darkness But those who have the Courage to call to me See the truth of my hidden Light that burns brightly With the Divine spark of youth.
This post is the first of three dedicate to the Triple Goddess Hecate and her gifts expressed through the face of Maiden, Mother and Crone. Hecate is the Greek Goddess of the Underworld; Queen of Magick and daughter of the Titans Perses (God of Destruction) and Asteria (Oracular Goddess), from whom she was gifted with rulership of heaven and earth. She is most noted for her place of guide at the Crossroads carrying the flaming torches that light the way for gods and mortals. My intent is not to provide a full history of the Goddess (there is a plethora of information to be found), but rather to provide my personal experiences with her.
As a Triune Goddess, she has come to me at various points in my life, despite my not knowing or identifying her by name and she has shown me her varied faces as I have needed prodding or push in a specific direction. At this time of the year, I feel her presence more strongly and align with her transformative energies with that of the New, Full and Waning Moons throughout the season of Samhain.
My awareness of Hecate’s energy has been building within me these last few months and I suspect this is in answer to my need to reclaim some of the intensity and vibrancy that is held within her form of the Maiden. Life circumstances have placed me in a position of having to fully step into the roles of Mother and Crone and I am rebelling at the necessary structure that is being placed upon me. I find myself in the place of having to release my attachment to children who have grown into responsible and caring adults and the growing need to assume more responsibility and care for an aging parent. I long for the youthful strength and resilience I once had to support these changes. And, I long for the freedom that time brings when seen from a youthful perspective.
I have always felt vastly responsible for the people in my life and their well-being, often with the neglect of my own. When I took up the mantle of spiritual service, this responsibility widened to include all that I interacted with, feeling that I must model by example and leave a positive footprint. So, I turn to this Goddess of Magick and remaking and call out to her as the Maiden to inform and enliven my way as I sit in quiet meditation.
I hear echoed back to me her response calling me to stand at her crossroads, tell her my story of lost youth and ask of her what I will. Tonight the Moon is New in the astrological sign of Libra. Libra is Cardinal Air, the beginnings of inspired and innovative thought that aspires to achieve a state of balance through refinement. I have spent too long in trying to mentally problem solve and not allowed myself the space to feel too much. If I allow my emotions to weigh in sadness and self-indulgence will make me ineffective and weak. I feel the need for balance and I know that Hecate will not allow me to stay too long in a place of self-pity and complaints. And, so I see myself standing in the darkness of the night and feel the cold chill of wind moving around me and know this is the stirrings of my own anticipation at being in the presence and potency of her energy as Maiden.
I see Hecate’s form rising up in front of me and I make vow to heed her words as I have done so many times before. The outcomes have often been unexpected and quite different from what I had imagined the original plan had been; but this is of no concern, for in the wisdom of the Goddess she has always offered what was needed not what were my imagined wantings. Hecate stands before me and I bow in reverence. She has the appearance of youth, dressed in flowing white gowns and a deceptively gentle energy that hides the great power and trinity of her form. This is no Maiden who is ingénue in experience; rather she is the promise of providing fresh perspective and insight that will stimulate and catalyze. Hers is a raw power, ancient in time and purposeful in whatever it sets its intent upon. Before my words are uttered she knows what is held in my heart and smiles an all-knowing smile.
I stand at her crossroads and the power of her presence swirls about me. I hear the gentle whisper in my ear and a hand of force that say “run”. I feel rejuvenated and filled with this desire to run, to be free, to feel the air moving through my lungs and the joy in movement I felt as a young woman dancing, soaring, expressing. I choose one of the paths and move, breath coming in short bursts and the exhilaration of air and dust, darkness and wildness all about me. I run in release of these stressful past months and for this brief period of time Hecate, the power-filled Maiden weaves her healing magick as she moves in and through me. The binding and weariness of maturity and responsibility falls away as I move faster and faster; blood pulsing, heart pumping in pure delight.
There is no thought of time, or task to be completed or places that I need to be. There is only enlivened air and darkness, magick and Divinity surrounding me. I breathe deeply and my pace slows a bit. I want to savor this environment and the feeling of being suspended in the stillness of eternal time. I breathe deeper still and I am walking briskly upon an unlit path, the faint light of what appears to be a lantern ahead in the distance. I breathe even deeper and each step affirms the strength of my body and the renewed life spark flowing through me. Closer, closer still and I see that the light is that of a flaming and brightly lit torch held at the center of the crossroads by Hecate. I come once again to stand before Her, and I am reminded that she has been with me at the beginning of my earthly journey and it is into her arms I shall seek refuge at my end. I stand illuminated by the brilliance of her torch, flushed from the exertion of my energetic journey and renewed by the blessing of the Maiden’s power. I stand with lighter burden and hear the gentle whisper that “all will be well and as it should be”.
I offer up gratitude to Hecate and offer vow to her that I will seek out her wisdom at the turning of the Full Moon. I will come to her crossroads and call to Hecate, the Mother. Until then, I will remember my promise to her to find the place of balance in attending to my own needs so that I may better care for others. To seek out the newness in the places where I have been stagnant and stressful. I am reminded to call upon my past joys and successes as inspiration, as I go about the repetitive and tedious tasks that are needed and to seek the beauty in discordant as well as harmonious action.
I breathe into the space of my meditation and am no longer at the crossroads. I have come full circle back to the place of my sitting with a renewed sense of purpose. The air is fresher, my vision is clearer and I know I am not alone.
” As above ~ So below” The microcosm within the macrocosm
Altars add a beautiful layer of intention in whatever way they are used. Altars can be set-up as spaces of devotion to ancestors, Deity, events, etc. The reasons are limitless and they don’t need to be the point of focus for sacred work. Trophies placed just so on a mantle; plates or other curio collections in that special cupboard; pictures of family on a wall. These are all arranged with the same passion of intention that any altar constructed for spiritual work holds.
Samhain is especially a time when ideas and power in selection of altar items is at an all time high. We create beautiful and mysterious altars to evoke the mood for our celebration and in many cases the altar becomes a dining table as our departed beloveds are set a place at the table to join us as we feast in their honor. Today, I am offering some suggestions and lots of pictures for inspiration as you begin to build the image of what your altar will be for Samhain.
(in general).. An Altar Checklist
These are some of the items you may wish to place on your altar:
• Ritual Tools – each representing one of the four elements and placed on the altar in the quadrant which it corresponds to. • Candles representing the Light within and or to represent the spark of Divinity that is being called as God or Goddess. • Seasonal items such as pumpkins for Samhain, holly leaves for Yule, spring flowers for Ostara, etc. • Your Book of Shadows/journal and writing tool. • Any thing you feel called to place on your altar that will enhance the visual experience of the ritual.
Ritual altars are just one form of creating these pockets of sacred space. Altars can be created for a variety of purposes; devotional, personal workings, meditation and more. There is no right or wrong way to create your sacred space. The important thing is to be creative and to place on your altar what truly and deeply calls to you. This is how the greater connection is made to the inner workings of the ritual and the Divine.
Consider this a photo album of reference for creating your own beautiful space of the Sacred. Enjoy!
Portable Samhain Altar This was an example given from a workshop about creating portable altars that are discreet and can be arranged in any setting.
Samhain Altars: An Audience with Cerridwen Coven of the Mystic Path, Annual Samhain Celebration
Central Altar: World of the LivingCerridwen’s Altar 1Altar of the RavenAltar of the MoonAltar of FireAltar of Earth
The Silent Feast of the Ancestors An Alternate Celebration of Samhain
Cauldron of Threshold to Welcome the AncestorsAn Ancestor ChairAn Ancestor ChairLighting the WayAltar of the DeadFeast Table 1 Food was eaten in silence and reverenceFeast Table 2
The Shadow of the Ancestors Ritual
Shadow of the Ancestors Temple of MeetingTemple of the Ancestors Central Altar
For Examples of Other Altars:
Coven of the Mystic Path, ASW FB page I set up altars for my workshops, as well as the altars we’ve created for Sabbats and more. Look through the photo albums
An Audio and Visual of a workshop presented at Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day: Magick on the Go! Scroll to mid-page to access audio download of workshop and pics
Reading quality books on the Craft and a focus of continued learning extend beyond the 30-Days of Samhain experience and 2020 feels like the time to begin adding this new feature. Look for more throughout the month….
Besom, Stang & Sword: A Guide to Traditional Witchcraft, the Six-Fold Path & the Hidden Landscape by Christopher Orapello and Tara Love Maguire
ISBN: 978-1578636372.304pp.Weiser Books. December 2018
There is a stirring within the community of those who identify as witches as what was old has been lovingly and carefully made new again by those who stand at the gates of modern witchcraft. Besom, Stang and Sword is a guide of practice that evolved from the reweaving of Traditional Witchcraft and adding just enough of the evolved form of that practice to create something unique, new and highly relevant to our times.
The authors have done due diligence in both the scholarly rationale and the grassroots approach to the practice of witchcraft and its newer derivative form of Wicca. What emerged was the creation of their own path called the Blacktree Tradition….. a modern, nonreligious form of traditional witchcraft that is rooted in each witch’s specific region. Instead of deities, it deals with the spirits of the land and the ancestors-no gods, many spirits…
Chapter 1jumps right into the discussion of what Traditional Witchcraft is at its roots. As the authors state there are many types of practice that have presented themselves forged from the essential of a practice that is steeped in cultural practices such as Shamanism, Seidr and Hoodoo and magickal traditions, such as Victor and Cora Anderson Feri and Cultus Sabbati. All of the usual topics related to a pagan path and in particular, that of witchcraft are given attention and perspective that pulls together some of the more disjointed pieces of a puzzle that is complex, rich and deep. The Devil and the negative connotation that has come to be associated with those practitioners of the craft is addressed and the reality of this beings energy as being neither good nor evil, but a necessary component in the natural order of a practice rooted in the land. Blacktree calls to the Devil as the Witch Lord, the Lord of the Paths and is considered the embodiment of nature itself. This is a perspective that takes us beyond the semantics and associations accumulated around these that prevent us from seeing beyond and more broadly as to the deeper meanings.
You will find within each chapter the basics of teachings that form a solid foundation for stepping onto the path of the witch. Spell work, Divination, the Sabbats, Lunations, Hedgewitchery and more complete this instruction. Each chapter is rich with theory and magickal technique. For those who are familiar with a Wiccan or other path that is similar to the principals of witchcraft, you will see the variances in application and tools that are of prominence in traditional witchcraft that have often take a side place of importance more recently.
The title of the book, Besom, Stang and Sword give reference to these three tools being those closely related to the natural world. This is further evidenced in the premise of Traditional Witchcraft and its roots being tied to the earth and at a time when many of the manufactured ritual items that adorn our altars and work were not available. Use of the Besom and Stang takes us back to those cultural roots of witchcraft and making use of and empowering all that we were given from the land itself. We are also introduced to some lesser-known tools, their purpose and how they may be used or created.
The author’s statement in the introduction nicely sums up the treasures and value of this book..
..Our perspective anchors itself with one foot firmly planted in the lessons of the past and the other stepping into the boldest future, while staying focused on the natural evolution of the craft…
I would highly recommend this book as a required read for those new to the craft and more importantly those who consider themselves seasoned and working witches. My gratitude to Christopher and Tara for being able to in such an articulate and grounded way call forth the best of what was and the vision of a practice that evolves and grows in an organic and natural way that we have long forgotten the simplicity, complexity and beauty of.
About the Authors:
Christopher Orapello is an artist, witch, and animist with a background in Western occultism, ceremonial magick, and Freemasonry and has been on his journey for over 20 years. He cohosts the podcast Down at the Crossroads with his partner, Tara Maguire, and is a signature artist with Sacred Source, a leading producer and distributor of ancient deity images in North America. After a growing desire for a more locally based form of witchcraft, he and Tara founded the Blacktree Coven in 2014 and set out to forge a modern approach to traditional witchcraft for a new era of praxis.
Tara-Love Maguire has been a practicing witch for over 30 years. Her path has been crookedly influenced by Isobel Gowdie, Marie Laveau, and William S. Burroughs (among others). Growing up in and around the New Jersey Pine Barrens, she found witchcraft within the tales and shadows of that folkloric landscape. She cohosts the podcast Down at the Crossroads with Christopher Orapello and is one of the founders of the Blacktree Coven, which exists in the heart of southern New Jersey.
Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic and Power by Pam Grossman
ISBN:978-1982100704.304pp.Gallery Books. June 2019
Waking the Witch:Reflections on Women, Magic and Power by Pam Grossman has a decidedly different “feel” than most of the books currently on the market about Witches, Witchcraft and what it means to be a Witch in the 21st century. Her academic background of a degree in cultural anthropology with minors in art history, creative writing and comparative religion has served her well in crafting a book that is beautifully woven with very thorough research and on point references that are easily recognizable by anyone reading.
Waking the Witch begins with the traditional Introduction, is separated into eight (8) chapters and ends with the “Afterwyrd”, a purposeful play on words and apt ending to the journey laid out. Each of these offerings is rich in contemporary reference that evolves from well researched historical references that brought to light many nuances of the why’s, and where’s of identity of the Witch that I would venture to guess many are not aware of. The result is one of being able to engage both the seasoned practitioner and the seeker new to the path in ways that are relevant, thought-provoking and empowering. What Ms. Grossman finished in approximately a year and a half until completion is clearly a reflection of a lifetime of experience, reading, learning and research that has produced the clarity of intention and a distinctly palpable feeling in Waking the Witch.
I particularly appreciated the content of Chapter 1:The Good, the Bad and the Wicked,which sets the tone for what follows with a lengthy and very in-depth introduction to the archetype of the Witch that has pervaded much of our cultural bias and misunderstanding of what a Witch is. Ms. Grossman brings to light the impact that the book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum and its concept of the “good” Witch and the “bad” Witch laid as the groundwork for an enduring and over simplified polarity of positive and negative. We learn that this classic tome was not only influential in its archetyping of the witch, but that the author himself had long been interested and (part) of spiritual practice and philosophies as a theosophist. Add to this Ms. Grossman’s introduction to the reader of the first threads of her alignment of the Feminist component of the Witch….
… It’s a spectacular story, not only as a parable about friendship and truth-seeking, but also due to its exceptional originality. The Emerald City, theYellow Brick Road, magical slippers, a brave farm-girl protagonist, andof course, the good and bad witches are all now seemingly timelessicons from what some have called “the first American fairy tale.”But several of these ideas were not invented by Baum ….In fact, a great many of them can be traced to the influenceof his mother-in-law, the suffragist and equal rightspioneer Matilda Joslyn Gage…(Chapter 1)
We go on to learn more about Gage and the overlapping of the efforts of the suffragists and abolitionists, theosophy’s philosophies and the far reaching effects of these on society’s concepts of power; specifically feminine empowerment.
Finishing this chapter, my curiosity was piqued. So, when the opportunity to speak at length with Ms. Grossman about this treasure of a book, saying yes meant looking behind the curtain to reveal the Witch who was in control and find out a bit more about her thoughts, hopes and intentions in writing Waking the Witch. These are some of the key points from our conversation.
Ms. Grossman’s book takes a deep look into the Feminist ideology and identification and how many of these are the same assignations given to the Witch as their individual underpinnings tread a similar path. I wanted to dive a little more deeply into her experience as a feminist and as a Witch.
RF: There are many different layers to the word “Feminist”. What does being a Feminist mean to you?
PG: I was raised to believe that the definition of a feminist is simply to believe that people of all genders should have equal worth and therefore should be treated equally. And, it really is that simple. Now, there are others who use the word “womanist” or “humanist”. I realized there are associations with the feminist movement, especially those who believed the second wave of the movement was for middle-class white straight women and so for some the word feminist is not their favorite word.
RF: When we hear the word “Feminist” automatically a specific gender comes mind, versus the polarities offered. How does that fall into gender identity?
PG: I think it is a word that has evolved. A third wave of feminists was what I grew up to know in the nineties. And, now we are allegedly experiencing the fourth wave which is more intersexual and driven by digital communities and dialogues. So, it is a word that is really important to me because just like the word “Witch” people have for so long tried to shame those of us who have chosen to describe ourselves as such. I am really glad that we have moved past the stereotypical image of a feminist and it is now more inclusive of all genders and preferences.
RF: How do you see this evolving?
PG: I feel the big drive for Feminism and Witchcraft alike has to be about us being as compassionate and intersexual and interconnected as possible. And that means both honoring your individual experience and your background. This means not saying we are all the same, because we aren’t. We all have different amounts of privilege we are born with. We all have different amounts of pain we are born with. So, I don’t think it is correct to say that we are all the same, and therefore we should never talk about how we are different. I think what we need to do is listen to each other and honor one another’s differences while at the same time celebrating the larger values of humanity (as a whole) that I believe we all need to be fighting for together.
The humanities flow strongly through this book and are used as a vehicle for highlighting the influence culture has on our perceptions. This thought process is clearly evidenced in the subtleties of application of the product of these two worlds of overlap giving new meaning to the conceptualization of the archetype, the semantics and the deeper meanings of the Witch. Using this format, Ms. Grossman provides us with enough evidence that you can find the Witch in most anything whether transparent or in all of her power. I was curious about the development of these sensibilities in Ms. Grossman’s own experience and her choice in using the arts so prominently in her book.
RF: When did the synthesis of these ideas emerge for you and take shape?
PG: It has been a gradual evolution. But, the first group of artists who really opened my eyes to the fact that art could be magic, and vice-versa were the female surrealists. I fell in love with the work of Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington when I was a teenager. Another major influence was the book, “Women Artists and the Surrealist Movement” by author Whitney Chadwick. I happened upon this book in the gift shop of the Metropolitan Museum at the age of fourteen and it just blew my mind. Through these images it was as though they (Varo and Carrington) were painting the stories of the fairy tales and myths that I loved, but adding their own personal details to them; making it almost autobiographical. This became the big key for me with the realization that you could make works of art and infuse them with magical intention and magical truths, and in doing so it would occupy this nether space between art and magic where the two overlapped.
In Chapter 6: The Dark Arts: Magic Makers and Craft Women, Ms. Grossman delves more deeply into the world of art and its influence in our perceptions of the Witch and her depiction. In what she calls the “magico-artistic” family tree she includes five women who exemplify the uniting of art and the craft. I wanted to know more about this alignment.
RF: You talk about the word craft and its deeper meaning to you as a synthesis of arts and magick. Could you speak more to that?
PG: I love the fact that this word can be used when it comes to making art, but it is also part of “Witchcraft”, and some people say we are “crafting” our own lives. To me it means working with intention and focus and being actively in relationship with the work. So it is neither passive such as…”I am simply a receptacle for something”, but it is also not completely based in the ego, ie: “I am responsible for all of this”. I think craft implies that it is part of you and part of the divine or at least coming from an unconscious base and that you are actively working with it with intention and with the idea that it can grow and evolve as a living, fluid system.
Throughout Waking the Witch, Ms. Grossman really drives home the concept of the Witch as a truly Universal Archetype that can be found throughout many cultures and spiritual practices. Staying with that idea, I wanted to know more.
RF: How do you see or perceive some of the now popular Eastern practices aligning with what your definition of the Witch is?
PG: I feel they are very relevant. In the book, I am writing about the Witch archetypally and sometimes that archetype is just a character in a film, or can be someone’s political stance as a feminist or it can have many other meanings. But, I am also a practitioner and it was important to represent that too. When I say I am a Witch, sometimes I mean that as a metaphor and sometimes I mean it literally. I cast spells. I am pagan. I have an altar. A lot of practices I have learned, certainly meditation, any type of body-work, such as yoga or any of the things popularized through the “New Age “ movement, I have incorporated into my own practice. I am certainly using more of the Western Witch (British Witch) as an archetype, because that portrayal is one that most people associate the Witch with.
As our conversation neared conclusion and my reading of the book felt like the first reading of what would become a frequently returned to favorite, I was intrigued about the origin of the title. Being “woke” has been used in a variety of ways and I didn’t have a sense that this was yet another derivation of that word’s intention. So, inquiring minds wanted to know.
RF: Why did you choose the title of “Waking the Witch” for this book?
PG: “Waking the Witch” is a song by Kate Bush that I really love. So, it is a wink to her and that song. But, what she is really referencing is a really dark bit of witch history. During the witch craze in Europe and later in the New England colonies one of the ways to get confessions from accused witches was to torture them. And one of the forms of torture was sleep deprivation. You would wake them in the middle of the night and ask them all of your questions and if they were tired and weak enough they may confess to being a witch. So, it does have a really dark connotation. I love reclaiming dark things and making them sparkle but it really is more of a multi-layered meaning.
I am also seeing more and more people in my life and in society waking up to their own power, and their potential. And, many of them are gravitating towards Witchcraft or some sort of magical expression, or an alternative spiritual practice. I don’t believe that everyone has to be a Witch, but I do believe that this waking up and raising of consciousness is a really crucial one for us all to become better citizens of this planet if we want a future of sustainability and the type of societies we desire to rebuild we need people to awaken spirituality. Love really is the answer. Loving our planet, the bodies we are in and the people who share this world. So, the title, “Waking the Witch”, really gives me a lot of hope and the idea that people are waking up to what I hope to be a new chapter of humanity.
My sense after hearing this explanation is that Ms. Grossman has offered an opportunity to the reader to uncover the bits and pieces of our memory of those deeper connections with the Witch and give a poke to what can be the evolution of that reclaiming of power within oneself and the writing of a new history and archetype. In keeping with her thoughts I wanted to know what she envisioned for us collectively.
RF: What do you feel we could do as a collective (community) to empower the feminine and awaken this power to change those beliefs and challenges that are failing us?
PG: One thing that I find frustrating about those who purport to be spiritual or get involved in Witchcraft for a sense of self-empowerment. That’s great, but it won’t get you very far unless you take that empowerment and healing and make use of it to be in service to something greater than just yourself. I believe a lot of people are attracted to alternative spirituality because they need healing and to be told that they are valuable because our governments, religious structures and businesses don’t currently support the fact that people of all genders, backgrounds or sexual orientation are of equal worth. So I understand why Witchcraft is very attractive. But that is just step one and we need to then talk about what is next. To me the what’s next is connecting to other people and being of service to them, the planet and all that inhabits this space with us, seen and unseen.
To quote from the Afterwyrd (coming from the word “wryd” which means fate personified or the Anglo-Saxon view of personal destiny), Ms. Grossman offers up her vision of the destiny of the Witch…
The redemption of witches and the ascension of women will beforever interlinked. That both are happening at this momentin time is no coincidence. Each is a reflection of the other.
And, so my last question to her was a reflection of this.
RF: What would you say to someone picking up your book for the first time and unfamiliar with the Witch, the Feminist and the practice of Witchcraft?
PG: Everything matters greatly and, that we shouldn’t take anything too seriously. That there is a sense of sacred reverence needed, and play that is equally holy too. There are those who get lost in the gate keeping of Witchcraft and the stance of the Witch and Witchcraft having to be very tightly structured and restrictive in the do’s and don’ts of what is acceptable and what makes you a “Real” Witch. There is no room or flexibility to enjoy the mysteries and the unknowable. I think that so much of life is standing in mystery and not knowing everything and being open to continuing to use our imaginations to keep remaking the world. And because of that we can have fun as Witches and practitioners of the craft and continue to grow and evolve into our place of power.
I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with Ms. Grossman about her book, Waking the Witch. The book is dense with information and insights and much has been left out of this review as it is a work to be experienced and savored in its complexity and breadth of reach. One comes away from the reading realizing this is both a cautionary tale and a text for those who choose to step up in a way that is very empowering but also very pragmatic and practical in its use in a modern and continually evolving world.
Our conversation ended with my request for what Ms. Grossman would like to share about the writing of her book…
PG: Although I may not call myself Wiccan, I still owe such a debt of gratitude to all of the writers and amazing creative spirits who came before and the rich history they have preserved and created. I have learned so much from earlier writers and generations and I hope that this book honors them too. I hope this is a continuum of a conversation we have been having for a long time and I hope people who have grown up with a wiccan or pagan practice will feel honored and included too.
I believe this final statement sums up the overall hope and inspiration that flows throughout Waking the Witch. That being one of not simply a story about how the Witch came to be, but how intimately woven that word and all of its aligning descriptors are a model for the potential we have as humanity for change, resilience and growth once we allow ourselves to awaken to the possibilities.
About the Author:
Pam Grossmanis the creator and host of The Witch Wave podcast and the author of What is a Witch. Her writing has appeared in such outlets as The New York Times, The Atlantic, Time, Ms., and her occulture blog, Phantasmaphile. She is cofounder of the Occult Humanities Conference at NYU, and her art exhibitions and magical projects have been featured in such publications as Artforum, Art in America, and The New Yorker. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their feline familiar. You can find her at PamGrossman.com and @Phantasmaphile.
Samhain is The Perfect Time to Reconnect to the Green World and Add to Your Grimoire. Enjoy….
The Green Witch’s Grimoire: Your Complete Guide to Creating Your Own Book of Natural Magic by Arin-Murphy-Hiscock. Adams Media, 978-1507213544, 256 pp., July 2020
… A grimoire is essential for any witch wanting to capture and record spells, rituals, and secret ingredients. And for a green witch, a perfect place to reflect upon the power of nature, and document the stones, plants, flowers, oils, and herbs used in her practice….
The Green Witch’s Grimoire: Your Complete Guide to Creating Your Own Book of Natural Magicby Arin-Murphy-Hiscock is a companion title to Arin’s previously published The Green Witch: Your Complete Guide to the Natural Magic of Herbs, Flowers, Essential Oils, and More. The author noes in the introduction that the reader would benefit by going back and reviewing some of the basics of magickal practice as that is not included in this title. And, given the amount of information and guidance provided by this title, this would have been a tome too large to digest in the manner that it deserves.
The Green Witch’s Grimoire: Your Complete Guide to Creating Your Own Book of Natural Magic by Arin-Murphy-Hiscock is portioned into ten (10) chapters separated into a two (2) part journey in crafting your own grimoire and developing your skills as a green witch. Part One-Chapters 1-5 are dedicated to “Designing Your Green Witch Grimoire”. Each chapter address a component of the intention and understanding required to assemble a grimoire that is a reflection of your personal style and work. Chapter 1: What is A Grimoire opens the way for knowing what a grimoire can become, its historical uses and the primary functions that creating a personal record vs. a compilation of someone else’ work that should be factored into what you craft.
Chapters 2:Designing Your Grimoire; Chapter 3:Creating Your Grimoire through Chapter 4:Setting Up Your Grimoire, dive into the specifics and nuances. Selecting the correct papers, what your grimoire will look like and been contained within, organizing the content and more are covered in a way that stimulates the reader’s discernment and encourages creativity while being mindful of what is needed and what is extraneous matter. Befitting a Green Witch’s Grimoire, Chapter 5:Adding the Magic of Plants to Your Grimoire provides the reader with recommendations for noting herbal workings, the energies of specific herbs you may use, toxicity warning, geographic locations, medical uses and more. Samples of a “Plant Entry” take the reader through all that should be included in your grimoire for safety and efficacy of your green work.
Part 2: Using Your Green Witch Grimore gets into the practical application of what you have lovingly crafted using the guidelines and information from Part 1.
… “A Green Witch’s Grimoire” isn’t meant to sit on a shelf. It’s meant to be used often, thumbed through, written in, scribbled on, and consulted. It’s the place to record ideas and new information, and keep track of your spellwork and rituals. It’s where you collect information about spell materials, store things that inspire you, and journal your meditations and reflections. It’s a collection of memories and dreams, goals, and obstacles. In other words, the grimoire is the reflection of your spiritual journey, which means that it, too, is always in development. It’s a symbol of your path and your direction, which shifts as your growth takes place…
Chapter 6: Practicing Witchcraft with Your Grimoire guides the reader through several exercises relevant to specifics of the Craft to be used as tools of exploration, the findings of which can be recorded in your grimoire. These include the foundations of sensing energy, contemplative activities and sacred space. In keeping with the practices of green witchery, the use of herbs and natural components is strewn throughout. There is a lovely section of instruction on how to “Make An Herbal Blessing Wand” using dried herb stalks, natural fiber string and a small dish of sand. The results of “bundling” the stalks and tying is a lighter version of a typically envisioned smudge stick.
Chapter 7:Using Your Grimoire in Energy and Spellwork emphasizes that…
…Your Grimoire is part reference book, and part lab notebook. As you work with it, it will collect and expand in parallel with your practice, reflecting your growth and insight…
This chapter focuses on divination, spellcraft and ritual workings. There are suggested templates for recording your experiences and work in your grimoire in a way that is useable and memorable .
I particularly enjoyed Chapter 8:Journaling in Your Grimoire. This is an action that I think many to do not necessarily consider as something to be included within their Grimoire. The reminder is that this is your personal collection of everything that is you magically. This also includes everything that may arise to the surface as you do the work and record those impressions, references and notes in your grimoire.
Chapter 9: Honoring Your Grimoire moves organically into the final Chapter 10: Personal Development Within the Green Witch Path. Topics such as ethics, spiritual and mundane, death and the dishonoring of the natural world are discussed and there is plenty to chew on and use a points of opening for you. These insights that arise from this work of honoring the path you have chosen and who you are in the larger world are further deepened in the final chapter. The intention of this final offering is one of connection. The seamless and organic connections between the Green Witch’s path and their surroundings in all of their forms, subtle, spiritual and physical. These may include activism, healing, travel and being present in the current events that are evolving ever more quickly.
The Green Witch’s Grimoire: Your Complete Guide to Creating Your Own Book of Natural Magicprovides a robust Recommended References and Resources listing in conclusion. A robust Bibliography, quick reference to Herbs and Plants, the Magical Associations of Fruits, Trees, Crystals and Stones, and Colors allow for user friendly interaction.
Would I recommend:
The Green Witch’s Grimoire: Your Complete Guide to Creating Your Own Book of Natural Magic by Arin-Murphy-Hiscock is a complete package of insight, guidance, knowledge and practicality. Regardless of whether your path is that of the green Witch, the contents are useable and wen put into practice will definitely serve as a transformative experience. This is a book that you will want to spend time with, read, digest, try and re-read again because there are so many layers to each of the topics contained. I have read and reviewed other titles by this author and once again the easy style of writing and Arin’s passion for her chosen path are evident in the meticulous care give to producing a reading that is relevant and useable in any time or setting.
About the Author:
Arin Murphy-Hiscock is the author of Spellcrafting, Wicca, The Way of the Green Witch, The Green Witch, The Way of the Hedge Witch, Pagan Pregnancy, Power Spellcraft for Life, Solitary Wicca for Life, and The Hidden Meaning of Birds: A Spiritual Field Guide. She has been active in the field of alternative spirituality for over twenty years and lives in Montreal, Canada.
The astrological imprint of Samhain is one of an energy of mystery, intuitive gifts, secrets, passion and more. The solar month of Scorpio holds the space for the parting of the veils and the celebration of Samhain on either date, October 31st or November 6-7th. Scorpio is a Water sign of the Fixed modality, and is also the only astrological sign that has three (3) levels of experience available to it. All of these attributes very juicy for the hallows of Samhain.
The traditional assignation of the Scorpion to Scorpio as its image is only one of the three forms this sign may take. The other two are that of the Eagle and the Phoenix; giving scorpio layers of dimensional energy that serve this time of interaction with the layers of the veiled worlds and our own. Additionally, Scorpio is of the Water element with access to the emotional and deep intuitive seascapes that call forth visionings and communing by way of divinatory or perceptual tools. This is water that is of the fixed modality, “fixed” indicating the directive towards providing a vessel or container of synthesis for what flows in from those signs of the Cardinal (beginning) modality and what becomes the synthesized expansive Mutable (flexibility) creation of outpouring from its fixed state.
The scorpion as image for Scorpio acknowledges the desire to remain cloaked and hidden in those pursuits and undertakings that would reveal the more vulnerable nature of Scorpio. Prone towards being the silent observer this often gives Scorpio the bad rap of being secretive, deceitful and treacherous (the stinger of the Scorpion that comes as a surprise). Most times the intention is not one of malevolence; rather, it is an intuitive and instinctual response to feeling threatened.
The image of the Eagle as a Scorpio gift heralds the process of synthesis that can occur when you leave the shadows of the scorpion’s den, rise above what you fear and take your place in the fullness of sky and adapt to the keen sight that allows greater discernment and intention regarding where your talons strike. This is also an aspect of being able to responsibly strike out taking only what is needed for sustenance and survival, and nothing more.
And, the final image is that of the Phoenix. Having conquered the fear that develops from cloistering oneself away in the darkness (scorpion) and experienced the freedom of riding the waves of air’s current, what remains is ready to be purified and rendered to ash in the fires of light and be reborn as the bird of flame that can re-form itself as needed.
So, given the dynamics and possibilities of this solar month, Samhain has the additional gift of a solar light that is infused with change and transformation. The Sun’s energy providing the strength and illumination desired to navigate worlds that are a little less brightly lit.
Scorpio is a sign that naturally allows access to those endings and beginnings that mark the cycles of life. Now is the time to practice and open to your psychic perception. Much that normally lay hidden can be more easily perceived now. Reach out to the ancestors, call to that part of you that seeks more clarity and discernment and don’t be afraid to allow the Season of the Witch to ignite within you a new found adaptability and resilience as we enter the winter.
The Astrology of:
October 9.2020 – Kick off of the Countdown
Some Planetary Highlights:
Sun in Libra
Moon in Cancer
Mercury in Scorpio (gearing up for retrograde on October 14th)
Yesterday was an excellent day to begin our 30-Days of Samhain explorations. The Sun is stationed in astrological Libra; Airy and bursting with the potential to clear away the cobwebs and seek a mind of clarity and balance. This is the space of creation’s gate and the call is one of right mind, right heart and right action.
Mother Moon is standing in the mantle of astrological Cancer, its ruling planet and deep waters of intuitive grace. This moon is the space that stands strong as the fulcrum of balance between what was generated and catalyzed at the Full Moon of fiery Aries (October 1st) and the promise of a New Moon steeped in harmony and a mind of balanced creation (October 16th).
Mercury, the quintessential planet of communication and adaptability, holds its potential in astrological Scorpio and the gifts of visioning and deep gnosis. Scorpio is a sign of Fixed (stable) water and flows from the solitude and protective nature of the scorpion into the keen and accurate perception of the Eagle and the result becomes one of combustible power of the Phoenix reborn.
The Last Quarter Moon is a time of active reflection. Think of a brilliant light shining behind you and lighting the way ahead . Remember though, the light ahead contains the shadow of your Being as part of the totality of the energy and blending of light into the fertile darkness of the New Moon ahead.
So, breathe deeply, follow and trust your instincts and call to that which gives you strength and comfort as we prepare to weave the magick of Samhain…
Look for “The Astrology Of” section on October 31st and November 7th’s posts!
This time of the year, more than any other, is steeped in celebration of the occult. Occult in this sense meaning that which is hidden – although I would add, in plain sight. Spirits, witches, supernatural creatures and being mindful of the convergence of the ancestor’s realm and the living come to life in a tableau that is magickal, mundane and commercial. The penultimate day is October 31st. and the celebration of Halloween, or Samhain as it is commonly known as a spiritual observance.
The name Samhain (pronounced: SAH-win/SOW-in/SAH-wen) is derived from a Gaelic celebration that marked the final harvest. The celebration heralded Winter and the imminent darkness and often lack of stores if the harvest had not been as productive as possible. Death could potentially be waiting for those who found difficulty in surviving the harsh winter. Many who follow the Wheel of the Year use Samhain as the marking point of the (Witch’s) New Year and a time when the veils between the worlds of life and death thin making communication and crossing more accessible.
Halloween, or “Hallowed Eve” is traditionally observed on October 31st; the eve before All Saint’s Day or Hallowmas observed in the Catholic Church. Samhain also heralds the start of Dia de Los Meurtes, celebrated throughout Mexico and ends on November 2nd. A more ancient version of Samhain’s timeline is an astrological marker of mid-point between the autumnal equinox and the Winter Solstice and falls somewhere between Nov. 6-8th (Northern Hemisphere).
Our coven uses the astrological date of Samhain as our celebration. So, with that thought in mind, the 30 days of Samhain will take you on a daily journey of thoughts, info, pathworkings, ritual ideas and more through this year’s date of astrological Samhain:
November 7.2019 5:56p.m. (EDT)
What better way to kick off this sacred time than to honor Mother Moon in her glorious mantle of Astrological Cancer. To get us started take a look at the Bonus Material for today…
A Witch's Sacred Journey 