How to Become a Witch by Amber K. (large ebook reader txt) 📗

to legend, King Arthur needs Mabon’s hunting skills to track a great boar, but the young man is missing. After many trials, the king and his men rescue Mabon from his prison, and he aids them in their hunt and the fulfillment of their quest.

What It Means to You: You are reaping the rewards of your efforts. It is time to “count your blessings” and show your gratitude to all your family, friends, and coworkers who have helped you on the year’s journey. This thankfulness could infuse your whole perspective on life if you can take joy in what you have received and experienced instead of focusing on your losses and disappointments.

It’s also time to finish up this year’s projects. The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, in the Tao Te Ching, said: “The wise are as careful in the completion as in the beginning of a task; thus, they do not fail.” Make your priority the careful completion of your work before Samhain.

Remember that Mabon is best known as the son of the goddess Modron, or Dea Matrona. Consider the experience of being a son or daughter—what does that mean to you? If being the child of your parents or guardian was a good time in your life, take joy in that and show your appreciation. If growing up was difficult, then ponder how you can learn from that and do better for the next generation. For your sake, if not for those who raised you, work to forgive and release.

Activities for Mabon: Cook special dishes for the thanksgiving feast. Decorate the hall with cornucopias and harvest colors. Talk about your year and your harvest. Tell stories about Mabon and other Celtic heroes.

Deities for the Season: There’s not a lot of information about the god Mabon, but of course most deities are sons or daughters of divine parents.

Gods Who Are Especially Known as Sons: Horus, Jesus

Goddesses Who Are Especially Known as Daughters: Persephone, Athena, Ushas, Vishnumaya

Samhain

Samhain (sow’-wen) is the most solemn of the sabbats and almost always celebrated on October 31. It is the third harvest—the animal harvest, when domesticated animals not likely to make it through the winter were killed and their meat preserved for the winter. This was also a time for hunting, to cull the old and infirm from the wild herds.

At Samhain, the veil between the worlds is thin, so that it becomes easier to communicate with the spirits of the dead. Therefore, it is a time for remembering our ancestors and those who have died in the last year. In some traditions, a “dumb (silent) supper” is held to honor the departed, or shrines are set up for loved ones who have passed on.

It is the beginning of the dark time, when a Witch may turn inward for quiet contemplation and do divination for the coming year (see chapter 10). Being quiet can be difficult during the muggle holiday madness, but this period of near-hibernation can restore your spirit.

What It Means to You: Think about your family lineage, your ancestry. Learn what lessons you can from your family history. Honor your elders. Remember your beloved dead.

Meditate on death, transition, the afterlife, the spirit world, and reincarnation.

Think about yourself, someday, as someone’s ancestor—what will be your legacy to your descendents? Will they have reason to remember and admire you, and to take you as a role model?

Your personal harvest is done for the year, so you can spend some time in rest and reflection. In some Pagan traditions, Samhain is the New Year. For others, it is the beginning of the dark time, and Yule is the New Year. Take a deep breath. Hibernate. Spend time at home with your family. Use this time wisely.

Review the past year. What new understanding has the past year brought to you? With that perspective, what do you hope to do in the New Year that is a continuation—or different?

Activities for Samhain: Make shrines to your honored dead. Invite them to attend a dumb supper with their favorite foods. Bring out a scrying mirror, tarot cards, or runestones, and do some divination about the year to come (see chapter 10). Share stories about your ancestors, friends, and family who have passed on.

Deities for the Season: Get to know something about your deities of the dead now, so you won’t be shy when you meet them later.

Underworld Gods: Hades, Osiris, Thoth, Anubis, Manannán mac Lir

Underworld Goddesses: Ereshkigal, Hel, Persephone, Ceridwen, Hecate, Selket, Ma’at, Kali, the Morrigan

Hollow turnips?

Legend says that on All Hallows Eve, the glowing faces of goblins could be seen bobbing through the darkness. Best for good Christian folk to stay inside for safety! The “goblins,” however, were large, hollowed turnips with faces carved in them and candle stubs inside. The followers of the Old Religion preferred not to have their Samhain celebrations interrupted, so they gave the Christian folk a little scare so that they’d leave the sabbat dances in peace. Many years later, in America, people found that pumpkins also made wonderful jack-o’-lanterns.

So those are the eight primary celebrations, or sabbats, that Witches observe as the Wheel of the Year turns around and around and around again.

Sabbat Exercises

Research a deity appropriate to the coming sabbat.

Find songs, chants, or instrumental music appropriate to the sabbat theme.

If you are part of a coven, take charge of one part of the sabbat celebration: decorations and altar, the feast, the music, reading a myth or legend aloud, or the games.

Draw your own Wheel of the Year; decorate and color it. Display it near

your altar.

Decorate your personal altar (see chapter 3) appropriately to the season.

What ideas, impressions, or feelings does this season bring to mind? Is it connected to vividly important events in your memories? How do these color your feelings about this time of year?

Brainstorm what you like about this season, what’s difficult, and what you can do to make it easier or more joyful.

What are your favorite and least favorite seasons, and why?

Do you have friends