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Black Moon Society Samhain edition of our Zinehttp://blackmoonsociety.com/

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Page 1: BMS Samhain Edition
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About the Month of October October is the 10th month of the year and has 31 days. Season (Northern Hemisphere): Autumn Holidays Yom Kippur Columbus Day Child Health Day Halloween National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sep 15 through Oct 15) Italian American Heritage Month Polish American Heritage Month National Breast Cancer Month National Pizza Month National Dessert Month Country Music Month

National Book Fair Month

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Symbols of October

Birthstone: Opal and pink tourmaline

Flower: Calendula

Zodiac signs: Libra and Scorpio

History: October was originally the eighth month of the Roman calendar. It comes from the Latin word "octo" meaning eight. Later, it became the 10th month when January and February were added to the Calendar. The Saxons called the month Wintirfyllith because it had the first full moon of the winter season. October in Other Languages

Chinese (Mandarin) - shíyuè

Danish - oktober

French - octobre

Italian - ottobre

Latin - October

Spanish – octubre

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Historical Names:

Roman: October

Saxon: Wintirfyllith

Germanic: Wein-mond (Wine month)

Fun Facts about October

It is the second Autumn month.

National Fire Prevention Week falls during the week of October 9 each year. It commemorates the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

October in the Northern Hemisphere is similar to April in the Southern Hemisphere.

The leaves of trees often begin to change their colors during this month.

The World Series for Major League Baseball generally takes place during October.

The NBA, National Basketball League, and the NHL, National Hockey League, both begin their seasons in October.

There are many health observances that have October as their national month. These include Healthy Lungs, Breast Cancer, Lupus, Spina Bifida, Blindness, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

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Table of Contents

1. History of Halloween 2. Origins of Samhain 3. Origins of the Jack O Lantern, and Trick o Treat 4. BMS Honorees for Oct 5. BMS Council 6. BMS Featured Groups /Discussions/Blogs 7. BMS Member Submissions 8. Associated Sites Submissions 9. Oracle of October- Lady Shadow 10. BMS Trending

Member of Month, Top Bloggers, Newest Groups, Sept- Oct Supporter, Associated Sites of Black Moon Society

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1. History of Halloween

Halloween’s Origins

The word Halloween is derived from the term “All Hallows Eve” which occurred on Oct. 31, the end of summer in Northwestern Europe. “All Saints Day,” or “All Hallows Day” was the next Day, Nov. 1st. Therefore, Halloween is the eve of All Saints Day.

Apparently, the origins of Halloween can be traced back to ancient Ireland and Scotland around the time of Christ. On Oct. 31st, the Celts celebrated the end of summer. This was important because it was when animal herders would move their animals into barns and pens and prepare to ride out the winter. This was also the time of the crop harvests. This annual change of season and lifestyle was marked by a festival called Samhain – pronounced ‘sow-ane’ and means ‘end of summer.’ Sow rhymes with cow.

There was much superstition associated with this time of change including the belief in fairies, and that the spirits of the dead wandered around looking for bodies to inhabit. Since the living did not want to be possessed by spirits, they dressed up in costumes and paraded around the streets making loud noises to confuse and frighten the spirits away. In addition, the new year began for the Celts on Nov. 1. So, the day of Samhain was believed to be a day that was in neither the year past or the year to come. Since it was in between, chaos ruled on that day. Often, people would pull practical jokes on others as a result.Later, around the 5th century, as the Catholic Church developed and moved into the area, instead of adding a

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new day to celebrate, it took over the Samhain celebration. Nov. 1st became “All Hallows Eve” where all the saints of the Catholic church were honored. A later custom developed where people would go door-to-door on Nov. 2, requesting small cakes in exchange for the promise of saying prayers for some of the dead relatives of

each house. This arose out of the religious belief that the dead were in a state of limbo before they went to heaven or hell and that the prayers of the living could influence the outcome. This may have been the precursor to Trick-or-Treat.

The Jack-O-Lantern apparently comes from Irish folklore about a man named Jack who tricked the devil into climbing a tree. Once the devil was in the tree, Jack carved a cross on the trunk, preventing the devil from coming down. The devil then made a deal with Jack not to allow Jack into hell after Jack died if only Jack would remove the cross from the tree. After Jack died, he couldn’t go to hell, and he couldn’t go to heaven. He was forced to wander around the earth with a single candle to light his way. The candle was placed in a turnip to keep it burning longer. When the Irish came to America in the 1800’s, they adopted the pumpkin instead of the turnip. Along with these traditions, they brought the idea that the black cat was considered by some to be reincarnated spirits who had prophetic abilities.

So, it appears that the origins of Halloween are a mixture of old Celtic pagan rituals superstition and early Catholic traditions.

Celebrating Halloween, All Saints

Halloween (October 31) and All Saints Day (November 1)

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Halloween’s roots lie in an ancient pagan festival for the dead. While this autumn feast can be used for evil purposes, our culture celebrates it as an innocent night of begging and fun. We who believe in the light of the world can use it to celebrate the Light. “Hallow” means holy and the word Halloween refers to the night before the feast of all holies, or All Saints Day. Emphasize all things good, joyful and pure. Let your children know that they are “children of the light” called to walk in the light.

* Costume Box

Get a head start on Halloween preparations by spending an afternoon gathering dress-up goodies for your trick-or-treaters. Put old, funny-looking clothing, wigs, makeup, whatever you find in a box. On the day of Halloween get out your box and let children create their own characters. Encourage them to be funny and outrageous.

* Halloween Party

As an alternative to letting your children go begging, try hosting a party for your children and their friends. Give each child an empty bag. Let the party goers earn their treats by performing nice tricks for the adults. Be sure to provide lots of nutritious snacks for the bags as well as a few sweet surprises. Carve pumpkins, bob for apples, have a bonfire, enjoy the beauty of the autumn night without worrying about your children’s safety.

* Family Saints

Since this is the night before All Saints Day, it is a great idea to explore the family saints. Let your children find out who their patron saints are and why they are so honored. They may even choose to dress up like

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St. Joan of Arc, St. George the Dragon Slayer or St. Francis of Assisi. They could have fun letting their friends guess who they are by giving clues about their saint’s life…for a treat of course!

* Pumpkin Farm Visit

Take a trip to a pumpkin farm or country market to pick out the family pumpkin. Take along a loaf of pumpkin bread (see recipe following) and a jug of apple cider. When you get home with the family pumpkin(s), ask everyone to draw faces on paper. Let the family vote on the winning face(s) before the carving begins.

Pumpkin Bread

1-2/3 cup flour

1-1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon salt

2 eggs 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/3 cup water (or less)

1/2 cup chopped nuts 1 cup pumpkin

Mix dry ingredients; add nuts. Mix in egg, oil, water and pumpkin. Stir until blended. Bake in a greased loaf pan (9” x 5” or 10” x 4”) 60 to 70 minutes in a 350-degree oven.

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* Candle Blessing

Whenever an opportunity arises to combine the sacred and the secular to enrich your students’ faith, take advantage of it. Halloween provides just such an opportunity. Children have horrible, unspoken fears about “things that go bump in the night.” This occasion is a perfect time to teach the simple gospel truth that the light does indeed outshine the darkness.

Ask each child to bring a candle to class. Clean out the inside of a large pumpkin. Carve a smiling face on the pumpkin. Talk about the joy of laughing together. Tell students that smiles, laughter and joy are simple gifts that God gives us to erase sadness and fear. Ask them how they feel when they see a scary pumpkin. How do they feel when they look at this smiling one? Decide together which one is the most like God. Then share with the class the wonder that each of us has within us the power to be a light just like Jesus. We become a light that can erase hatred, evil, pain and sadness. The light in us is just like Jesus’ light. Put a large candle in your smiling jack-o-lantern. Darken the room if possible. Watch the flame as it fills the pumpkin and lights the room. Notice how much more intense the smile becomes with the light shining through. Ask children to hold their candles in front of them while you say this blessing:

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God who created pumpkins and people,

bless our beautiful Halloween light.

This light reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world.

Jesus shines through the darkness

and turns the night into day,

sadness into joy,

hate into love

and tears into smiles.

Bless the candles that we hold.

Let them be a reminder that we are your candles

lighting up the smiles and hearts of our friends and family.

Bless the happy pumpkins we will carve for our candles,

that everyone who sees them might never be afraid of the darkness

because your wonderful light is with us.

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You might close this prayer service with a rendition of “This Little Light of Mine” or another hymn about light.

* All Saints Festival

Another enjoyable exercise for the school setting is to hold an All Saints festival for children and their families on the occasion of Halloween. Each class designs a fund-raising booth for the festival. Activities such as a ring toss, a fishing pond, “guess your weight” and so on are typical of this festival. The money raised could be sent to a favorite mission or charity. Conclude the festival with an outdoor parade in which all students dress up like their favorite saints and “parade” around the school neighborhood.

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2. Origins of Samhain

The Celts celebrated four major festivals each year. None of them was connected in anyway to the sun’s cycle. The origin of Halloween lies in the Celt’s Autumn festival which was held on the first day of the 11th month, the

month known as November in English but as Samhain in Irish.

Samhain (pronounced Sow-en), dates back to the ancient Celts who lived 2,000 years ago. Samhain had three distinct elements. Firstly, it was an important fire festival, celebrated over the evening of 31 October and throughout the following day.

The flames of old fires had to be extinguished and ceremonially re-lit by druids. It was also a festival not unlike the modern New Year’s Day in that it carried the notion of casting out the old and moving into the new.

To our pagan ancestors it marked the end of the pastoral cycle – a time when all the crops would have been gathered and placed in storage for the long winter ahead and when livestock would be brought in from the fields and selected for slaughter or breeding.

But it was also, as the last day of the year, the time when the souls of the departed would return to their former homes and when potentially malevolent spirits were released from the Otherworld and were visible to mankind.

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Samhain: its place in the Celtic calendar

The Celts celebrated four major festivals each year. None of them was connected in anyway to the sun’s cycle. The origin of Halloween lies in the Celt’s Autumn festival which was held on the first day of the 11th month, the month known as November in English but as Samhain in Irish.

The original Celtic year

Imbolc: 1st February

Beltaine: 1st May

Lughnasa: 1st August

Samhain: 1st November

The festivals are known by other names in other Celtic countries but there is usually some similarity, if only in the translation.

In Scottish Gaelic, the autumn festival is called Samhuinn. In Manx it is Sauin.

The root of the word – sam – means summer, while ‘fuin’ means end. And this signals the idea of a seasonal change rather than a notion of worship or ritual.

The other group of Celtic languages (known as Q-Celtic) have very different words but a similar intention. In Welsh, the day is Calan Gaeaf, which means the first day of winter. In Brittany, the day is Kala Goanv, which means the beginning of November.

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The Celts believed that the passage of a day began with darkness and progressed into the light. The same notion explains why Winter – the season of long, dark nights – marked the beginning of the year and progressed into the lighter days of spring, summer and autumn. So the 1st of November, Samhain, was the Celtic New Year, and the celebrations began at sunset of the day before ie its Eve.

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3. Origins of the Jack O Lantern and Trick O Treat

The practice of decorating “jack-o'-lanterns”—the name comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack—originated in Ireland, where large turnips and potatoes served as an early canvas.

THE LEGEND OF “STINGY JACK”

People have been making jack-o’-lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack.” According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn’t want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree’s bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.

Did You Know?

The original jack-o'-lanterns were carved from turnips, potatoes or beets.

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Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as “Jack of the Lantern,” and then, simply “Jack O’Lantern.”

In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack’s lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o’lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack-o’-lanterns.

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Trick O treat

Source-Amit Bhatnagar

The vast majority of the traditions commonly associated with Halloween today are borrowed or adapted from four different festivals, namely:

The Roman Feralia festival, commemorating the dead

The Roman Pomona festival, honoring the goddess of fruit and trees

The Celtic festival Samuin, meaning “summer’s end”, (also called “Samhain”) which the bulk of Halloween traditions ultimately stem from

The Catholic “All Soul’s Day” and “All Saints’ Day”, which was instigated around 800 by the Church to try to replace Samuin

The practice of wearing costumes or masks during this sort of end of Autumn celebration comes from a Celtic end of year (they celebrated their New Year on November 1) Samuin tradition.

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During Samuin, young men impersonating evil spirits by dressing up in white costumes with blackened faces or masks. It was believed that during the transition from one year to the next, the realms of the living and the dead would overlap allowing the dead to roam the Earth again. Thus, by dressing up as spirits, they were trying to fool actual spirits into thinking they were as well, which is particularly helpful when encountering evil spirits.

Beginning in the 8th century, the Catholic Church was trying to provide an activity that would hopefully stamp out the old Samuin traditions. They came up with “All Hallows Even (evening)”, “All Soul’s Day”, and “All Saints’ Day”. Many of the traditions of Samuin were then adapted into these festivities and by the 11th century, the Church had adapted the Celtic costume tradition to dressing up as saints, angels, or demons during this celebration.

As for the trick or treating, or “guising” (from “disguising”), traditions, beginning in the Middle-Ages, children and sometimes poor adults would dress up in the aforementioned costumes and go around door to door during Hallowmas begging for food or money in exchange for songs and prayers, often said on behalf of the dead. This was called “souling” and the children were called “soulers”.

An example of a relatively recent (19th century) souling song is as follows:

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A soul! a soul! a soul-cake!

Please good Missis, a soul-cake!

An apple, a pear, a plum, or a cherry,

Any good thing to make us all merry.

One for Peter, two for Paul

Three for Him who made us all.

As you might have guessed from the song, a common food given while souling was a Soul Cake (also sometimes known as a Harcake). Soul cakes were small round cakes, often with a cross marked on top, that represented a soul being freed from Purgatory when the cake was eaten. Soul cakes were generally sweet cakes, including such ingredients as nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, and raisins.

Souling ultimately gave rise to guising in the U.K. starting in the 19th century, with children dressing up and begging for things like fruit and money. In order to earn this token, they’d often tell jokes, sing songs, play an instrument, recite a poem, or perform in some other way for the amusement, not unlike the old tradition of souling but instead of prayers, a performance was offered.

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The practice of guising made its way to North America, probably brought over by the Scottish and Irish in the late 19th or early 20th century (first documented reference in 1911).

Trick or treating instead of guising on Halloween popped up in North America in the 1920s and 1930s, first in the western half of the continent. The term and the practice slowly spread, with a brief respite during WWII. After the WWII sugar rations were lifted, Halloween’s popularity saw a huge spike and within five years trick or treating was a near ubiquitous practice throughout North America.Once guising morphed into trick or treating, children no longer performed for treats, but instead vandalized and extorted for their confectioneries. The earliest known reference to “trick or treat”, printed in the November 4, 1927 edition of the Blackie, Alberta Canada Herald, talks of this,

Hallowe’en provided an opportunity for real strenuous fun. No real damage was done except to the temper of some who had to hunt for wagon wheels, gates, wagons, barrels, etc., much of which decorated the front street. The youthful tormentors were at back door and front demanding edible plunder by the word “trick or treat” to which the inmates gladly responded and sent the robbers away rejoicing.Trick or treating has since spread to parts of the U.K., beginning around the 1980s. Although, this adapted form of guising has met with a lot of

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resistance in the last few decades since hopping the pond, often seen by the older generations as “yet another unwanted consumerist culture import from the United States.” In fact, even as recently as 2006, according to Norwhich Union Insurance, nearly 58% of homeowners in Britain turn off their house lights and pretend no one is at home on Halloween. One British man went so far as to say about trick or treaters, “I’ve thought about removing the cover from my doorbell so they electrocute themselves.”

Bonus Facts:

In parts of Mexico, rather than saying the Spanish equivalent of “trick or treat”, “dulce o travesura” (literally “candy or mischief”), it is common to say ¿Me da mi calaverita? (“Can you give me my little skull?”)

During Samuin, it was also traditional to leave a place and food at the table for deceased loved ones temporarily returned from the grave.

The word Halloween originally came from the Middle English ‘Alholowmesse’, meaning “All Saints’ Day”. The night before Alholowmesse was called “All Hallows Even (evening)” which was eventually shortened to “Hallowe’en” until it just became “Halloween” in the 20th century.

In North America alone around $3 billion is spent on Halloween costumes.

Haunted house attractions bring in about half a billion dollars annually.

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4. BMS Honorees for October

1. Member of the Month

Janet

2. Our Supporter for Oct

Ian Cranmer / EmpyReal

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3. Star Council Members

Rosey and Oriel- Promoted to Admins This month. Out standing work, and dedication to myself, the community, and all they do.

Actually wish to give honor to all on council with a special thank you to all as you are here when needed and I know where to go

for advising. Thank you

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4. BMS Council Members

The Council serves, and supports the administrating of the community and it's interests, and is also made up of Admin and Moderators.

We have just changed a bit so here is our Council and team.

Lady Shadow - Site Owner Head Admin

Rosey- Administrator'

Oriel - Administrator

______________________

Sunkat- Moderator

CyprianaTerrane- Moderator

anjelkryst- council member

,

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5. .Member Submissions

Our Member Submissions

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Crystalomancy and Samhain

Posted by Skaeyhawc Moonsong on September 26, 2015

If you are looking for something powerful to include in your Samhain celebration, the Crystal Ball is simply amazing as it connects so powerfully with several aspects of the night of the dead.1. The ball can embody your spirit guide allowing you to more vlosely communicate with him her.2. Can act as a medium through which the voice of an ancestor or a loved one that has passed away can speak to you.3. Answer questions you may have about death and dying.4. Astral travel to a past life

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So if you practice crystal gazing, this can be a huge part of your Samhain celebration. I will outline one that really touches me.

Communicating with a dead loved one or friend.

First after I invoke the Goddess and the God to watch over my work, i pass the crystal through the sensor smoke 3 times, and lay the crystal on the pentacle.

Next i ask the crystal to be the voice of the one i desire to speak to and annoint it with petrouli oil.

Then gently laying it on a black cloth, i go into my relaxation/meditation

Once in my altered state i gaze into the crystal and gently whisper the name of the loved one.

-at this point you may see an image in the crystal. You may hear a sound. You may notice a smell.

Do not strain to see or hear something. Come to the ritual believing your loved one desires to communicate with you.

Perform this ritual in a properly cast circle. If you feel unsure, call the quarters.Keep in mind Lady Moon watches over you. Lastly , this ritual should be performed late in the night.

Samhain Blessings be upon you!!!

by Skaeyhawc Moonson

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Crystalomancy

A mode of divination practiced since ancient times with the help of a crystal lobe, a pool of water, or any transparent object. Also, it can be accomplished with water, ink, and other like substances in the divination called hydromancy.

The divinatory practitioner is known as the scryer while the practice is known as scrying. Depending on the era the practice ranges from a simple to an elaborate form. However, the main purpose of the objects is always to induce in the clairvoyant a state of hypnosis so the seer can see visions in the crystal.

The crystal most favored by crystal gazers is a spherical or oval globe, about four inches in diameter, and preferably a genuine rock-crystal. It may be white, blue, violet, yellow, green, opalescent, or transparent. Blue and amethyst colors are less tiring on the eyes. Such a rock-crystal is very expensive and is many times substituted by a sphere of glass which renders good results. The crystal itself must be a perfect sphere without a speck or flaw, and traditionally based in a stand of highly polished ebony, ivory, or boxwood.

In the practice, Hindus use cups of treacle or ink. Stones of pale sea green or reddish tints have been used. Ancient crystallomancers had precise invocations of the spirits to aid them in elaborate rituals. The man was pure in life and religious dispositions. In preparation for the ritual, a few days before he made frequent ablutions, subjecting himself to prayer and fasts.

The crystal and stand are inscribed with sacred characters as the floor in the room where the invocation is performed be inscribed with such

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characters. The room must be of thorough cleanliness and solemn atmosphere. But, the mental attitude is of the utmost importance in the divination, because true faith in it is essential for success.If the magician is assisted by one or two friends who must observe the same rules and be guided by the same principles. The time of the invocation is set in accordance with the positions of the heavenly planets, and all preparations are made during the increasing of the moon. All instruments and accessories to be used in the ceremony--the sword, rod, and compasses, the fire and perfume to be burned, as well as the crystal--are consecrated or "charged" prior to the ritual.

During the procedure the magician faces the east and summons from the crystal the spirit he desires. Magic circles which were previously inscribed on the floor are those which the magician stands in, and it is best for him to remain within the circles for sometime after the spirit has been released. No part of the ceremony must be omitted or the invocation might incur failure.

Paracelsus and others declared the elaborate ceremonies were unnecessary, since the magnes microscomi (the magnetic principle in man) was clearly sufficient to achieve the desired object. In a later period elaborate ceremonies were not completely eliminated, but were made less imposing.If the person for whom the ceremony is intended, is performing the ceremony himself, has no clairvoyant faculty, then the best choice for a substitute is a young boy or girl born out of wedlock who is still perfectly pure and innocent. Prayers and magical words are said prior to the ceremony along with the burning of incense and perfume. The child's forehead may be anointed and he may wear garments befitting the impressive nature of the ritual.

Some early writers describe formula prayers, known as the "Call" given prior to the inspection of the crystal. Finally after the crystal was "charged" it was given to the medium or clairvoyant person, The first indication of the

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clairvoyant vision was a mist or cloud over the crystal which gradually dissipated and then the appearance came into view.

Modern crystalomancy continues using a similar procedure but the preparations are simpler. The crystal is spherical and about the size of an orange. It may by held with the finger and thumb of the magician, or, if one end is flattened it may be placed on a table, or alternatively held in the palm of the hand against the background of a black cloth.

The procedure is done in subdued light. If the divination is performed for someone else it is recommended that the person holds the crystal in his hands a few minute before it is passed to the medium.

The aim of crystal gazing, as previously said, is to induce a hypnotic state producing visionary hallucinations, the reflection of light in the crystal forming points de repere for such hallucinations. Thus, the value of elaborate ceremonials and impressive rituals lies in their potential to affect the mind and imagination of the seer. It is suggested that if telepathy operates with a greater force in a hypnotic state then it may also function in a similar fashion with the self-imposed hypnosis of crystal gazing.

With the help of visionary powers many incidents of crime, such as finding missing persons and discovering missing and stolen property, have been solved. The telepathic theory does not seem to answer the operation of this

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process when the appearance of the incident appears prior to its actual occurrence. The answer to this mystery must be left to future psychic research.

Though, there seems to be general agreement that the appearance is preceded by a milky clouding of the crystal. This clouding seems to be a picture itself. It is dependent on the operational conditions, and not a result of strain on the scryer's eyes, for the individual glances away for awhile the clouding still exits when his gaze returns to the crystal.

The first pictures act as a drop-scene, the nearest allegory is the cloud and of which, in materialization seances, phantasmal figures emerge. The pictures to which the could gives way to may be small or expand to the entire extent of the sphere in amazing size.

Sometimes the sphere completely disappears from the scryer's sight. The figures and/or scene assumes life-size proportions rendering the scryer a sense of bilocation as if he is part of the group or scene. This sense differs from clairvoyance.It has been discovered that the images produced by scrying are often symbolic and the elements of choice are discernible which indicates the presentation is provided by an exterior intelligence.

Usually, however, the pictures are either disconnected, vague images, or they are very clear. Also, in the visionary images have been detected thought pictures or forms, dreamlike visions, forgotten, reflected memories which may give way to representation of past, present or future events.

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From the above is should be apparent the interpretation of images produced in scrying should be critically analyzed to determine whether they give valid information upon which to act, or contain some figments of the scryer's personal mental process which render the interpretation invalid. This is why it is recommended the scryer be in good physical and mental health in order to maintain objectivity in his interpretations. Caution should be the keyword when acting upon the interpretations. Even the inquirer should question his own intentions, how eager is he to believe the crystallomancer? A.G.H.

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Oriel’s Recipes

. ~~PUMPKIN PUDDING~~

1 pkg vanilla instant pudding- 1 can evaporated milk

1 tsp allspice, 1 can pumpkin

Whip topping

Beat pudding and milk till stiff or thick hehhe

Refridgerate to cool.Add pumpkin and spice,mix well and spoon into desert dishes~~~

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~~ PUMPKIN COOKIES ~~

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups sugar

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1/2 cup butter

1 cup pumpkin

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to *350,grease cookie sheets. Combine flour,baking soda,baking powder,cinnamon,nutmeg and salt in medium bowl. Beat sugar and butter in large mixer until blended.Beat in pumpkin,egg,and vanilla extract until smooth.Gradually beat in flour mixture. drop by spoonful onto prepared cookie sheet.

Bake 15-18 minutes

Glaze: 2 cups icing sugar,3 tablespoons milk,1 tablespoon butter-melted,and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

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Vampire Drinks

Vampire Inspired Cocktail

A bright red, spooky concoction inspired by our beloved vampires! Very easy to make and perfect for a Halloween cocktail party!

Ingredients - 6 ounces spiced rum 6 ounces light cranberry juice

6 ounces pineapple juice 3 ounces grenadine

Black grapes

Directions

In a cocktail shaker with ice combine the rum, cranberry juice, pineapple juice and grenadine.

Shake for 30 seconds.

Fill goblets with ice and strain the cocktail into the glass.

For a deeper red color, you can add an extra splash of grenadine.

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. Pull Apart Graveyard Cupcakes

Total Time:

2 hr 35 min

Prep:

1 hr

Inactive:

1 hr 10 min

Cook:

25 min

Yield:

24 cupcakes

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Level:

Advanced

Ingredients

Cupcakes:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup grape jelly

1 cup granulated sugar

4 large eggs, at room temperature

12 ounces (3 sticks) unsalted butter, melted

2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract

2/3 cup milk

Frosting:

10 ounces (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, spooned and leveled

3 tablespoons milk

10 chocolate sandwich cookies, coarsely crushed

Decorations:

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15 large white marshmallows

1/4 cup finely crushed chocolate sandwich cookies (about 3 cookies)

1 tablespoon black or dark green decorating sugar

One 6.4-ounce tube black decorating icing, with tips

5 oval-shaped vanilla and chocolate sandwich cookies

One 7-ounce tube marzipan

3 round lollipops, wrapped

1/4 cup orange decorating sugar

One 6.4-ounce tube green decorating icing, with tips

Seven 8-inch pieces black licorice

Add Checked Items To Grocery List

Directions

For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 12-cup standard muffin tins with paper cupcake liners.

Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Warm the grape jelly in the microwave until loosened, 20 to 30 seconds, and whisk until smooth. Set aside.

Beat together the sugar and eggs in another medium bowl with an electric mixer until light and foamy, about 2 minutes. While beating, gradually pour in the butter and then the vanilla.

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While mixing slowly, add half the dry ingredients and then all of the milk. Follow with the rest of the dry ingredients, taking care not to over mix the batter.

Remove 2 cups of the batter and stir in the grape jelly. Evenly fill the liners about two-thirds full, alternating with yellow and grape batter.

Bake until a tester inserted in the center of the cupcakes comes out clean and the tops spring back lightly to the touch, 20 to 22 minutes. Place the pan on a rack to cool for 10 minutes, and then remove the cupcakes to the rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.

For the frosting: Beat the butter and salt in a large bowl until fluffy and combined. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until smooth and fluffy. Beat in the milk one tablespoon at a time until the frosting has a nice spreadable consistency. Add the crushed cookies and continue to beat until any large chunks are crushed to smaller bits and the frosting has a speckled, greyish look.

For the decorations: Arrange the cupcakes in 4 rows on a large serving plate or cutting board. Fit a marshmallow between each cupcake, 5 marshmallows per row, to fill in the gaps between the cupcakes. Spread the frosting over the whole rectangle so it looks like one cake. Sprinkle with the cookie crumbs and black decorating sugar.

To make the tombstones: Use the black decorating icing and a small round tip to write "RIP" or other one-word epitaphs on the top half of the oval

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sandwich cookies and stick into the cupcakes randomly around the graveyard.

To make the ghosts: Remove two-thirds of the tube of marzipan and place between 2 sheets of wax paper or parchment. Roll about 1/8-inch thick and cut into 3 rounds using a 4-inch biscuit cutter. You may need to gather and reroll the scraps for all 3 rounds. Drape over the wrapped lollipops and stick into the cupcakes around the tombstone. Using the black decorating icing and the same round tip, dot eyes and a mouth on the ghosts.

To make the pumpkins and leaves: Divide the remaining marzipan into 4 small pieces and roll each into a ball. Roll in the orange sugar until coated and place around the graveyard. Use the black icing to pipe a small stem. Fit the tube of green decorating icing with a leaf or ribbon tip to dot bits of green grass poking through the dirt around the graveyard and pumpkins.

To make a border: Use 6 pieces of the licorice, trimming to fit, to make a border around the cake, leaving the middle of the front side open. Bend the seventh piece into an upside down "U" and stick into 2 cupcakes in the front to make an arched gateway.

Cook's Note: If your decorating icing does not come with tips, you can squeeze some icing into a small plastic bag or piping bag fitted with a small round metal tip or a small metal leaf or ribbon tip.

Oriel’s Crafts

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Dia de los Muertos Altars - yoursassyself.com

When I shared this with my extremely artful and talented niece, and explained that I wanted to create some Dia de los Muertos lanterns, she offered to help. She said she had created some calaveras/skulls for a Dia de los Muertos project at school last year and could recreate a few for this project. I jumped at the chance and this is what she created.

Supplies:

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white paper cups

Sharpie Marker – one thick, one thin tip

scissors

glue

LED tea lights

Supplies for Dia de los Muertos Lanterns - yoursassyself.com

Instructions:

Print out the enclosed printable and cut each calavera square so you can can outline the designs without ending up with marker all over your hand and/or all over the rest of the calaveras.

Markers with Cut out Dia de los Muertos Calavera - yoursassyself.com

With the thick tipped marker outline the face shape and any other thick, dark lines on the calavera (place another sheet behind to keep the marker from bleeding on the surface).

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Thick Marker outline of Calavera - yoursassyself.com

With the thin tipped marker outline all the other intricate designs (feel free to make edits as needed – don’t feel you have to keep same shapes, etc. they’ll be hard to notice unless viewed closely).

Filling in Dia de los Muertos Calavera - yoursassyself.com

Once done, cut around the face shape, add glue to the back and paste it onto the front of the cup (making sure to avoid the cup seem).

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Pasting Calavera onto Paper Cup - yoursassyself.com

Place a lit tea light underneath and just like that, you have your very own Dia de los Muertos lantern to add to your alter and/or to decorate for Halloween.Lighting the Dia de los Muertos Lantern - yoursassyself.com

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More than 500 years ago, when the Spanish Conquistadors landed in what is now central Mexico, they encountered natives practicing a ritual that seemed to mock death.

It was a ritual the indigenous people had been practicing at least 3,000 years. A ritual the Spaniards would try unsuccessfully to eradicate.A ritual known today as Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

Dia de los Muertos is celebrated in Mexico and certain parts of the United States, including metro Phoenix.

Although the ritual has since been merged with Catholic theology, it still maintains the basic principles of the Aztec ritual, such as the use of skulls.

Today, people don wooden skull masks called calacas and dance in honor of their deceased relatives. The wooden skulls also are placed on altars that are dedicated to the dead. Sugar skulls, made with the names of the dead person on the forehead, are eaten by a relative or friend,

Día de los Muertos Festival is a unique festival featuring a full day Dia los Muertos cultural experience with live music, performances, art, kid's zone, food and drink. The festival brings together a dynamic blend of music with vibrant Día de los Muertos traditions.

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During the Day of the Dead festivities in the first two days of November, graves are decorated in honor of the departed with flowers and offerings of food and drink, including this pan de muertos, a yeasty, sweet egg bread flavored with anise.

Combine the sugar, salt, anise seed, and yeast in a small mixing bowl. Heat the milk, water, and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until the butter is just melted; do not allow it to boil. Add the milk mixture to the dry mixture and beat well with a wire whisk. 2Stir in the eggs and 1 1/2 cups of the flour and beat well. Add the remaining flour, little by little, stirring well with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together.

3Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured wooden board and knead it until it’s smooth, elastic, and no longer sticky, about 9 to 10 minutes. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and allow the dough to rise in a warm area until it has doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.

4Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Punch down the dough and divide it into 2 pieces. Cut 3 small (about 1-ounce) balls from each half and mold them into skull-and-bones shapes. Shape the large pieces of dough into round loafs and place the skull-and-bones on top. Place the breads on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let them rise another hour. 5Brush the loaves with the egg yolk mixture and bake. Halfway through baking, about 20 minutes, remove the loaves from the oven and brush again with the egg wash and sprinkle lightly with granulated sugar.

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Return to the oven and bake until the loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped, about another 20 minutes.

Associated Sites Submissions

In The Dark Community

Site Owner Sunkat

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ISHTAR’ s Submissions

Favorite

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Andy Taylor’s Submission

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Member of the Month

Janet

Bloggers of the weeks in Oct

Rosey, Janet, Oriel

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BMS- AmazonShop

http://astore.amazon.com/blamoosoc-20

BMS Specialty Gifts

http://blackmoonsocietygifts.blogspot.com/

BMS Magazine

http://ravenmoonmagickalzine.blogspot.com/

BMS on PaganSpace

http://www.paganspace.net/group/black-moon-society

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Dark Eclectic Moon

http://darkeclecticmoon.ning.com/

Eclectic Friends

http://ladyab.ning.com/

FairyKeepsakes

l https://www.facebook.com/Fairykeepsakes

In The Dark

http://inthedark.ning.com/

MyFaceSpace (

http://myfacespace.spruz.com/

Shadow,Heart, and Soul of The Black Rose

http://shadowheartandsouloftheblackrose.ning.com/

Witchy Wisdom

http://witchywisdom.ning.com/

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PS Magickal Graphics has awesome graphics for greetings, and your sites

http://magickalgraphics.com/darkhallow6.htm