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    Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger

    THEeXchanger
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    Post  THEeXchanger Thu Oct 31, 2013 5:05 pm

    Aurora Borealis ~ 13th October 2013
     Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger 1385230_616307841744395_1252042282_n
    All Saints Day aka Hallowe'en aka Halloween
    Norway
    Photographer: Matthew Goodwin

    http://www.newgrange.com/samhain.htm


    Samhain – The Celtic roots of Halloween
    Thursday 31 October 2013


    ‘As millions of children and adults participate in the fun of Halloween on the night of October 31st,
    few will be aware of its ancient Celtic roots in the Samhain (Samain) festival.

    In Celtic Ireland about 2,000 years ago, Samhain was the division of the year
    between the lighter half (summer) and the darker half (winter).

    At Samhain the division between this world and the otherworld was at its thinnest,
    allowing spirits to pass through.

    The family’s ancestors were honoured and invited home
    whilst harmful spirits were warded off.

    People wore costumes and masks to disguise themselves as harmful spirits
    and thus avoid harm.

    Bonfires and food played a large part in the festivities.

    The bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into a communal fire,
    household fires were extinguished and started again from the bonfire.

    Food was prepared for the living and the dead,
    food for the ancestors who were in no position it eat it,
    was ritually shared with the less well off.


     Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger Tlachtga
    http://www.newgrange.com/images/tlachtga.jpg
    Tlachtga where the Great Fire Festival at Samhain was celebrated.


    Last edited by THEeXchanger on Sat Nov 02, 2013 1:17 pm; edited 3 times in total
    THEeXchanger
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    Post  THEeXchanger Thu Oct 31, 2013 5:08 pm

    Samhain actually occurs as the Sun enters 15 degrees of Scorpio,
    in 2013 this occurs on November 7th, 2013 aka 07 NOV 2013 at 1:03AM Eastern.
    http://www.newenglandwitchesalliance.org/pages.asp?ID=17

    Written by Steven Day on 11/11/2012

    (Note: Samhain actually occurs as the Sun enters 15 degrees of Scorpio, in 2013 this occurs on November 7th at 1:03AM Eastern.)

    I would like to start off by saying that Halloween is NOT the "Witches Holiday".

    Halloween is a holiday for little children to get candy,
    and for Adults to decorate their houses with scary witch and ghost figures.

    The true Witches Holiday is Samhain, pronounced "Sow-en"
    by most people of the Craft in modern day.

    Samhain literally means "Summer's End",
    and it marks the end of the harvest.

    A time when our ancestors would harvest their crops one last time
    to prepare for the long winter ahead.

    Samhain is a Celtic holiday.

    The Celts divided the year into two seasons,
    the light half and the dark half.

    Samhain is a celebration of the Beginning of the Dark half of the year,
    and was actually considered to be more important than its counterpart,
    Beltane for its magickal potentials.

    Samhain is considered a "cross-quarter" Sabbat,
    even though it always falls on the 31st,
    and the cross-quarter doesn't officially occur until the Sun reaches 15 degrees of Scorpio,
    sometime in the 1st week in November.

    Samhain also symbolizes the death of the God, the final turn of the wheel.

    The days become shorter, the nights longer.

    Also, Samhain falls between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice,
    a time when the "veil between the worlds" becomes very thin.

    It is a time to pay homage to our elders and ancestors
    that have passed from this world to the next.

    This time is a time much like Thanksgiving,
    a celebratory feast in which we celebrate the year's bounty,
    and remember those who have passed.

    Many people of the Craft hold traditional "Dumb Suppers",
    called a Feast of the Dead, in which a large meal is prepared
    and eaten in silence, with an extra place set in remembrance of our ancestors.

    Many also light a candle to bring in the "New Year",
    lighting their way through the darkness of the upcoming months until Yule.
    THEeXchanger
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    Post  THEeXchanger Thu Oct 31, 2013 5:22 pm

    Part 2 of 2

    As millions of children and adults participate in the fun of Halloween
    on the night of October 31st, few will be aware of its ancient Celtic roots
    in the Samhain (Samain) festival.

    In Celtic Ireland about 2,000 years ago,
    Samhain was the division of the year between the lighter half (summer)
    and the darker half (winter).

    At Samhain the division between this world and the otherworld was at its thinnest,
    allowing spirits to pass through.

    The family's ancestors were honoured and invited home whilst harmful spirits were warded off.

    People wore costumes and masks to disguise themselves
    as harmful spirits and thus avoid harm.

    Bonfires and food played a large part in the festivities.

    The bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into a communal fire, household fires were extinguished and started again from the bonfire.

    Food was prepared for the living and the dead,
    food for the ancestors who were in no position it eat it,
    was ritually shared with the less well off.

    Christianity incorporated the honouring of the dead into the Christian calendar
    with All Saints (All Hallows) on November 1st,
    followed by All Souls on November 2nd.

    The wearing of costumes and masks to ward off harmful spirits survived as Halloween customs.

    The Irish emigrated to America in great numbers
    during the 19th century especially around the time of famine in Ireland
    during the 1840's.

    The Irish carried their Halloween traditions to America,
    where today it is one of the major holidays of the year.
    Through time other traditions have blended into Halloween,
    for example the American harvest time tradition of carving pumpkins.

    Two hills in the Boyne Valley were associated with Samhain in Celtic Ireland,
    Tlachtga and Tara.

    Tlachtga was the location of the Great Fire Festival
    which begun on the eve of Samhain (Halloween).

    Tara was also associated with Samhain, however it was secondary to Tlachtga in this respect.

    The entrance passage to the Mound of the Hostages on the Hill of Tara
    is aligned with the rising sun around Samhain.

    The Mound of the Hostages is 4,500 to 5000 years old,
    suggesting that Samhain was celebrated long before the first Celts
    arrived in Ireland about 2,500 years ago.

     Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger Tara
    http://www.newgrange.com/images/tara.jpg
    Celtic Earth Works on the Hill of Tara

    The Diwali Festival

    The Hindu Diwali (Divali, Deepavali) Festival known as the Festival of Lights
    occurs about the same time as Samhain.

    Diwali marks the Hindu New Year just as Samhain marks the Celtic New Year,
    could it be that Diwali and Samhain have a common root in antiquity?

    Samhain / Halloween
    An excerpt from Tlachtga: Celtic Fire Festival by John Gilroy.

    The Festival of Samhain marked the end of the Celtic year
    and the beginning of the new one and as such can be seen
    to the equivalent of New Year's Eve.

    We have seen how the Celts believed that night preceded day
    and so the festivities took place on the Eve of Samhain.

    There is no doubt that that this festival was the most important
    of the four Celtic Festivals.

    Samhain was a crucial time of year, loaded with symbolic significance
    for the pre-Christian Irish.

    The celebrations at Tlachtga may have had their origins in a fertility rite
    on the hill but it gathered to itself a corpus of other beliefs
    which crystallised at the great Fire Festival.

    The perceptible, and apparent, decline in the strength of the sun
    at this time of year was a source of anxiety for early man
    and the lighting of the Winter Fires here symbolised mans attempt
    to assist the sun on its journey across the skies.

    Fire is the earthly counterpart of the sun and is a powerful
    and appropriate symbol to express mans helplessness
    in the face of the overwhelming sense of the decay of nature as the winter sets in.

    Now the sun has descended into the realm of the underworld,
    the forces of the underworld were in the ascendency.

    The lord of the underworld, unfettered from the control of the sun,
    now walked the earth and with him travelled all those other creatures
    from the abode of the dead.

    Ghosts, fairies and a host of other non-descript creatures went with him.

    The Lord of the Dead in Celtic mythology can be identified as Donn.

    Mythology tells us that when the invaders of Ireland known
    as the Miliseans landed at the Boyne, they made their way to Tara.

    Once there, they were advised by the Druids that they should return to their ships
    and sail off the shore to the length of nine waves.

    When they were on the sea a great storm arose which scattered their fleet.

    The commander of one of the ships was Donn.

    His ship was broken to pieces in the storm and he himself drowned
    along with twenty four of his comrades.

    He was buried on the Skellig Islands off the coast of Kerry.

    He is the first of the new wave of invaders to meet his death in Ireland and,
    as such, he became elevated to the status of god of the dead.

    The place of his burial became known as Tech Donn - The house of Donn,
    and soon became identified with with the otherworld.

    The Celts were fascinated with tracing their ancestry back as far as they could
    and often they identified their earliest ancestors with the gods of their peoples.

    Hence, a belief arose that when they died they went to the house of their ancestor,
    the god of the otherworld.

    It is interesting to note that the abode of Donn, on the Skellig Islands,
    is just a few miles from the traditional home of Mog Ruith at Valentia Island.

    As well as being geographical neighbours, both are closely associated with Samhain,
    when it can be said that Mog Ruith as sungod sojourns at the realm of the underworld,
    the abode of Donn.

    Donn is seen as a retiring god who prefers the isolation of the bleak Skelligs
    and remains aloof from the other gods.

    His name means "brown" and he is associated with the shadowy realm of the dead.

    O'hOgain tells us that a ninth century text attributes
    a highly significant quotation to him
    "To me, to my house, you shall come after your death"

    Many other sources say that the dead assemble at his house
    and describe deceased people travelling to and from here.

    Fishermen in the area were wont to hear strange boats passing
    to the island at night and the names of those who disembarked were called out.

    Later Christian writers claimed that the souls of the damned lingered
    at his house before departing for hell.

    Not surprisingly, aspects of his personage have been adapted by
    Christian writers in their portrayal of the devil.

    Samhain being the feast of the dead can now be clearly seen
    as incorporating the cult of Donn into its celebrations
    but how they did so remains uncertain.

    The Fires were in all likelihood lit in honour of the sungod
    - here manifesting as Mog Ruith,
    but certain other of the trappings are clearly associated with the Lord of the Dead.

    The idea that Samhain is a juncture between the two halves of the year
    saw it acquiring the unique status of being suspended in time
    - it did not belong to the old year not the new.

    It could be said that time stood still on this night a
    nd the implications of this were immense.

    During this night the natural order of life was thrown into chaos
    and the earthly world of the living became hopelessly entangled
    with the world of the dead. But the world of the dead was itself
    a complicated place, peopled not only by the spirits of the departed,
    but also with a host of gods, fairies and other creatures of uncertain nature.

    The unwary traveller, caught away from home on this night,
    could expect to encounter any one or many of these creatures
    and it was always advisable to stay indoors.

    Ghosts were everywhere and may or may not have been harmful to the living.

    It is interesting to note that the manuscripts tells us that all fires in the country
    must be extinguished on this night and could only be relit from the great flames
    from Tlachtga.

    This, of course, is not to taken literally but symbolised the brief
    and temporary ascendency of the powers of darkness at this time of year.

    During this period all the world was in darkness and the dead were abroad.

    When the fire at Tlachtga was lit, it gave the signal that all was well
    and all other fires could now be relit.

    The fires at Talchtga were the public celebration of the victory of light,
    while the relighting of the household fire marked the domestic celebration of the feast.

    Now the spirits of dead ancestors could be welcomed back into the home
    with safety and posed no threat to the household.

    This theme is repeated constantly in Irish literature.

    MacCollugh tells us that the cult of the dead culminated at the family health.

    Very often the spirits of ancestors sought warmth around the fireside on this night.

    Fires were left lighting in the grate to warm the spirits and food was left out for them.

    Even though the ancestral ghosts were benign,
    it was still a good idea to avoid them by going to bed early.

    However, the ghosts may not have been entirely benign.

    They needed some sort of appeasement in the form of ritual offerings on this night.

    So long as the offering was forthcoming the ghosts were happy and benevolent,
    but if the offering was withheld another side of the ghosts features were presented.

    Bad luck would descend on the household and all would not be well the coming year.

    Some vestiges of this tradition may survived in the modern Halloween custom
    of "trick or treat".

    Children, dressed as ghosts and witches,
    invite the household to make a donation or face the consequences.

    The 'treat' may represent the ritual offering while the 'trick',
    nowadays a harmless prank, may have in antiquity,
    represented the malevolent consequences of inadequately appeasing
    the ancestral ghost on this night.

    But it was not just time that was dislocated at Samhain.

    Just as the festival stands on the boundary between Summer and Winter,
    all other boundaries were in danger at this time.

    The boundaries between a mans land and his neighbours were a dangerous place
    to be on this night.

    Ghosts were to be found along these points and a style
    between adjacent land was a place of particular dread and best avoided.

    Bridges and crossroads were also likely places to encounter ghosts.

    Naturally enough, burial places were avoided on all nights
    but particularly on this night.

    Every sort of a ghost was to be seen here and the dead mingled freely with the living.

    The practice of divination - telling the future, was an important part
    of everyday life for the Celts and it is certain that this art
    formed a central part of the festivities occurred at Tlachtga at Samhain.

    Vestiges of this can be seen today at Halloween are familiar
    with the practice of going to the church at midnight on Halloween
    and standing in the porch.

    The courageous observer will see the spirits of those who will die
    in the coming year if he watches closely,
    but runs the risk of meeting himself.

    Similarity, girls watching in a mirror on this night
    will see the image of the man they will marry but also run the risk of seeing the devil.

    Those brave enough to go to a grave yard at midnight a
    nd walk three times around the graves will be offered a glimpse
    the future but again run the risk of meeting the devil.

    This latter example is interesting as it preserves the three time
    sunwise turn so important to the Celts in the ritual.

    The possibility of meeting the devil may represent the well known Christian
    attempt to associate the pagan god of the dead with the devil of Christian belief.

    This being the case, Donn the Lord of the Dead,
    left his island home on this night and travelled freely throughout the country.

    Whether he carried off souls is unclear, but it is likely that he did.

    The ritual offerings on the Winter Fires may have been an attempt
    to appease him until, such time in history,
    he was replaced on the arrival of Christianity by the devil.

    The early Irish manuscripts are littered with references to the magical significance
    of Samhain. It marked the end of the fighting and hunting season
    for the warrior troop known as the Fianna.

    At Samhain they retreated into winter camp,
    quartering themselves on the general population
    until the return of Summer at Beltainne.

    Fionn MacCumhail chose Samhain as the time to present himself
    before the court at Tara for the first time,
    while it was also at Samhain that the god Lugh
    made his dramatic entrance to the same court.

    The Connaught queen, Meave, waited until Samhain
    before setting out on the great Cattle Raid of Cooley.

    Fionn MacCumhail, Lugh and Cuchulainn - Meave's opponent,
    are the three great figures of Irish mythology and it is interesting to note
    how Samhain is the time chosen by the writers to introduce their arrival on the scene.

    The Battle of Mag Tuired (supposedly in County Mayo)
    was fought at Samhain.

    It seems that when the early writers wish to impart a magical quality
    to the events they are depicting, they choose the Festival of Samhain
    for the occasion.

    There remains little doubt that Samhain held a central place
    in the imagination of the Celts, where the festivities associated
    with several local gods became entangled,
    over the course of perhaps a thousand years,
    with the feast of the god of the dead.
    Remnants of these celebrations have come down to us
    in our own celebrations of Halloween.

    An excerpt from Tlachtga: Celtic Fire Festival by John Gilroy.


    Ancient cultures such as the Neolithic (Stone Age) people
    who build Newgrange in Ireland aligned their monuments
    to the major solar events,
    the Winter Solstice, the Spring Equinox, the Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox.

    The solar year was further divided to mark the half way points
    between the major solar events giving the cross quarter days of
    Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain.

    www.newenglandwitchesalliance.org/pages.asp?ID=17
    THEeXchanger
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    Post  THEeXchanger Thu Oct 31, 2013 7:36 pm

     Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger 1393217_402345129868265_1809385023_n
    THEeXchanger
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    Post  THEeXchanger Thu Oct 31, 2013 9:20 pm

    A Prayer to the Ancestors

    O Ancestors,
    those who have tread upon this earth before us
    those whose blood now flows inside us
    those whose journey we continue
    those who have seen the years of old, as we now see the new

    we open our eyes to the time you have seen
    may we now learn from the things that have been
    we open our ears to your wise words and voices
    you who have walked many roads, and named many choices

    we ask that you lend us wisdom and light
    when troubles and vices blur our sight
    we ask that you lend us courage and desire
    that no dark act can erase our inner fire

    we ask that you lead us to our destinations
    that we may not fall into resignation
    to make decisions we were born to make
    to choose the paths we were born to take

    O Forebears,
    those who have tread the soil that we now tread
    those who have breathed the air that we now breathe
    my gratitude I send across the Greatest sea
    to the light in the horizon, shining endlessly
    we remember and wish you well,
    wherever you may dwell
    a sound that never dies
    an infinite bell

     Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger Candlelight
    http://www.orlandowelcomecenter.com/images/candlelight.jpg

    http://a-mad-light.blogspot.ca/2012/05/prayer-to-ancestors.html
    THEeXchanger
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    Post  THEeXchanger Thu Oct 31, 2013 9:24 pm

    A Prayer to the Ancestors
     Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger Firework-by-Jeff-Golden-300x199

    Photo by Jeff Golden

    In the United States, the Fourth of July is a day to celebrate liberty and independence.

    Most other countries have some variation on this theme, a day when we honor the sovereignty of our land and the blessings of nation.

    Some may honor Lady Liberty or another deity of freedom, or even the deity of the land itself, but for me, it’s a day to honor the ancestors.

    As a pagan woman who works daily at pursuing her dreams,

    I am aware, every day, of the liberties I have that my ancestors of a hundred or a thousand years ago would not have had.

    My imagined ancestress might no more have been able to pray as she wanted,

    let alone work or make any of the other hundreds of choices I make every day.

    I am one of the fortunate, and I am here only because so many of my ancestors fought a good

    (or occasionally very bad) fight to make this life possible for me.

    Without the ancestors, I would not be, and for their sacrifices, I give thanks.

    Ancestors, I pray to you today,

    On this day when we celebrate our freedom.

    I honor you who shared my blood, my dreams, my vision,

    And those of you who could not see but still did fight.

    Ancestors, I pray to you today.

    I give you thanks for making this life possible.

    You took up arms and you fought for your children,

    And even if you did not fight, you still did dream.

    Ancestors, I pray to you today.

    For those less fortunate than I, I pray.

    Inspire us now to fight and dream on their behalf,

    To take up the cause of those who have no space for dreams.

    Ancestors, I pray to you today:

    Give me your courage and your strength.

    I pray that when I join you, those who come after

    Will give thanks to me for dreaming when they could not.

    Ancestors, I pray to you today.

    I give you thanks.

    http://www.solitarydruid.org/blog/a-prayer-to-the-ancestors/
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    Post  THEeXchanger Thu Oct 31, 2013 9:26 pm

    A Prayer to the Ancestors

    This is the night when the gateway between
    our world and the spirit world is thinnest.
    Tonight is a night to call out those who came before.
    Tonight I honor my ancestors.
    Spirits of my fathers and mothers, I call to you,
    and welcome you to join me for this night.
    You watch over me always,
    protecting and guiding me,
    and tonight I thank you.
    Your blood runs in my veins,
    your spirit is in my heart,
    your memories are in my soul.

    [If you wish, you may want to recite your genealogy here. This can include both your blood family, and your spiritual one.]

    With the gift of remembrance.
    I remember all of you.
    You are dead but never forgotten,
    and you live on within me,
    and within those who are yet to come.
    THEeXchanger
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    Post  THEeXchanger Thu Oct 31, 2013 9:31 pm

    “There is a deep longing among people in the West
    to connect with something bigger — with community and spirit.”
    Sobonfu Somé

    Interview by Randy Peyser:

    Accessing the Wisdom of Our Ancestors

    http://www.sobonfu.com/articles/interviews/interview-by-randy-peyser/



    Sent to America by the elders of her tribe, Sobonfu Somé, shares the wisdom of her people, the Dagara of western Africa,

    as she discusses how we can contact our ancestors in order to heal ourselves, our loved ones and our spirit relations.

    Somé is the author of many inspirational works, including: “The Spirit of Intimacy: Ancient African Teachings in the Ways of Relationships;

    ” “Welcoming Spirit Home: Ancient African Teachings to Celebrate Children and Community;” “Falling Out of Grace: Meditations on Loss, Healing and Wisdom, and others.

    She is also devoted to giving the waters of life to the Dagara people through a project called,

    Walking for Water. For more information, please visit www.sobonfu.com or www.walkingforwater.org.

    Randy Peyser: I understand your name means “Keeper of the Rituals.” Why are rituals important?

    Sobonfu Somé: What food is to our body, ritual is to our soul. A ritual keeps us connected to our spirit, our soul and our purpose.

    Rituals are also activities in which we call the spirits of our ancestors to come forward.

    Our ancestors can see cross-dimensionally, which means they can help us to plot our course.

    For example, they can help us connect the [energetic] wires that have become loose within us

    so that we can regain our health or our consciousness.

    RP: How do you work with the ancestors? Are their prayers that you invoke?

    SS: In the Dagara tradition, the ancestors are the ones you go to before you go to God. The ancestors know you.

    They know how you feel. They know about certain issues. You might tell the ancestors,

    “I know there are all these other people screaming at God to help them.

    Would you please go to God when He or She is not busy? I need to get my prayers in, and I am really in a hurry here.”

    RP: It’s that simple? You just ask them to help you?

    SS: It is important to create a relationship with the ancestors first, but it cannot be a one-way kind of relationship.

    Your relationship with your ancestors is a relationship that must be nurtured like any other relationship.”

    Anytime the ancestors come through in answering your request, you take a gift to them.

    That gift can be something that was in your family, such as an ancestral food that has been passed down from generation to generation,

    or something old or antique. Your gift can either be something they like or something that you like.

    When you give them the gift, you would say something like:

    “Ancestor, I am really grateful for what you have achieved. I’m very happy that you stepped forward, and you really made this happen.

    As my gratitude to you, I have something that I hold dear that I really enjoy. Here is a flower. I really love gardenias. Here is a gardenia for you. Thank you.”

    RP: How often do you call on your ancestors?

    SS: As often as needed.

    For instance, we speak to our ancestors every morning and every evening. In the morning, we wake up and say:

    “Wow. Thank you. I am alive today.”

    We always tell them what we intend to do in that day.

    We might say something like: “I’m human and I might err here and there.

    Please show up and help me remember what I said I was going to do today.

    If there are obstacles, please remove them,” and so forth.

    At the end of the day, we report back to them about how our day unfolded.

    We might say: “Hey, that was a great day. Thank you for helping out,”

    or “It wasn’t such a great day. Maybe I didn’t make myself clear. Here is what I really need,” or “Hey, I asked for this, and I need it delivered

    . What’s up with that?”

    RP: What happens in the case of a relative with whom you or someone in your family

    didn’t have the best relationship? Is there a way to heal those kinds of relationships once someone has died?

    SS: In the Dagara tradition, when someone dies they become smarter.

    You may need to do some healing work with a particular ancestor.

    So you pray for them and for yourself and talk to them.

    You tell them about something they did that might have been an innocent act,

    but that is still driving you crazy today.

    You tell them that now that they are smarter and know exactly what happened,

    that they need to go and unplug those things that are driving you or your family crazy and put in the right “plugs.”

    On the other hand, even if you haven’t called on an ancestor, they might call on you first.

    You might be the only one in your family who feels like something is not right, or that something within your family is making you crazy.

    Or everybody in your family might be wondering why you think certain things that happened in your family are important

    when none of them think it is important. In this case, you are the one who was picked by the ancestor

    to actually be the bridgemaker between this world and the world of the ancestors.

    After someone dies, they look around to see who in the family can really help them achieve their goals?

    They knock on different doorways. They think, maybe if I make enough noise they might wake up,

    or they find someone who is available and wide open, and why not call on that person?

    They will call on you to help them make right whatever they have done wrong because of the limitations of the body.

    RP: How does a person receive this message from an ancestor?

    SS: Through dreams, or through feelings, such as by feeling uncomfortable about things that have happened in the family.

    Sometimes a person has an uneasy feeling in which they wonder why nobody ever talks about a particular ancestor,

    or how a person died in a certain way, or why nothing has been done about it by anyone.

    When you are the one who has been picked by that particular ancestor, you continue to think about the ancestors.

    RP: When calling on an ancestor, should we only contact those beings who were from our immediate families?

    SS: If it is difficult for you to go to an immediate ancestor, you can go to what we call, “the pool of the ancestor.”

    The pool of the ancestor has nothing to do with your genealogy; it can be anyone who is an ancestor.

    It can be the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr, or the spirit of Gandhi, or Eleanor Roosevelt,

    and all the brave, “crazy” women who encouraged women to speak up and not let their voices go silent.

    Trees, animals, rocks, rivers and mountains are also considered to be part of the pool of the ancestors.

    In the case of someone needing help in creating a bridge to their ancestors, they could call unto the pool of ancestors to come and give them instructions.

    RP: What about people who were very evil in this lifetime? Would they also be in the pool of ancestors?

    SS: Yes. As I mentioned, in the Dagara tradition, when someone passes away, they become smarter.

    To not call on a person would be putting a limitation on him or her as to what he or she could be after death.

    When you are dead and have become smart, you now owe it to people to make things right. For example, someone like Jeffrey Dahmer could be a great asset.

    Most people would never think of calling on someone like Jeffrey Dahmer when they are calling on the ancestors.

    He was a criminal who murdered many people. People would fear that by calling on his name, they would bring in a negative energy.

    However, if you know of someone who is about to commit a murder, you could go to Jeffrey Dahmer,

    and say: “Look Jeffrey. We know you were very destructive when you were alive.

    Here is the situation that is about to happen, and you know exactly the kind of mindset that it takes for someone to think of committing this kind of crime.

    We know that from where you are, you want to change things.

    We ask for you to come and to blow the cover for this person before he commits the crime he is about to commit.”

    He can then come forward and clean up his track record.

    RP: Can you give me an example of an appeal you made to an ancestor and how you were helped?

    SS: I am going to answer that question in two ways. It depends on the state I’m in.

    There is what I call “a prayer of deceit,” which is when you go to the ancestors and say something like:

    “Oh ancestors, my life is miserable. If you have the time for it and if you really feel that I deserve to have a better day, come and show me.”

    That’s what I call a “prayer of deceit” because what you are really saying is:

    “I don’t deserve this. If you think that is really important, then come and help me.”

    That’s like telling someone that you want them to come, but if they don’t feel like it, then don’t come.

    When I go to the ancestors and I don’t have clarity, they will say:

    “When you have clarity come back and we can have a conversation, because obviously you are not clear about it.”

    When I have my clarity and I go and speak from my heart and from my gut and say:

    “I really need you to show up right now, because if you don’t, I am going to die, and then guess what?

    You won’t have someone to be your voice anymore.

    So if you need me to continue to do what I’m doing, you’d better show up.”

    There are many different situations where I have gone to the ancestors

    – sometimes screaming, sometimes yelling, and sometimes crying

    – and I have always gotten an answer because I have made the issue important.

    One time I said: “I don’t really know why I’m sick.

    I want you to show up in my dream and show me exactly what I need to do to get well.”

    Every single time I have asked that, I have always gotten better. I have always gotten the message and clear images of what I’ve needed to do.

    RP: Is there a special place you go to when you speak with your ancestors?

    SS: There is usually a shrine that you go to and use to invite your ancestors through your prayers in the morning and at night.

    The shrine is like a gateway, where the ancestors come and you go to in order to interact with one another.

    RP: When you create a shrine to an ancestor, are their particular objects that you place on that shrine?

    SS: First of all, each shrine has to have a purpose.

    What is the purpose of this shrine? What will it help you achieve?

    Creating a shrine to an ancestor is not just a particular shrine to an ancestor;

    the purpose of a shrine can be to create a deeper relationship to that ancestor,

    or to create a shrine where that ancestor can be put to work in correcting certain things that are happening within the family or within society.

    You have to understand the purpose for that shrine, and then the purpose will dictate the kind of things you would have on the shrine.

    A shrine to an ancestor will have anything that reminds you of your ancestors.

    If it is for a particular ancestor, you can put pictures of that ancestor, or include things that they love.

    In the Dagara tradition, shrines for the ancestors include the color, red. And they feature things that are old or antique. They also can have masks.

    The shrine cannot contain a contradiction.

    For example, you cannot create a shrine for peace and have all kinds of things about war on it.

    That is a contradiction. Instead, think about all the kinds of things that could bring about peace, and include those kinds of things on your shrine.

    RP: Calling on our ancestors and working with them is one very powerful way in which we can work with ritual.

    What are some other things that women can do to reclaim the sacred in their lives?

    SS: The number one rule of women is that we need a women’s circle; we need to create trust between women.

    One of the most heartbreaking things for me is to realize, that in the West, we don’t have trust.

    In Africa, when I was growing up, it was a given that you were always honest and truthful with other women.

    When I went to another woman and said, “between women,” that term meant that you were not allowed to cheat or to lie;

    you could only say things the way they were. The understanding is that women work with the web of life.

    As a result, if someone comes to you and says, “between women” and you lie, then you are shooting lies into that web of life,

    and impacting all women around the world. Bettering our relationship with other women is very important.

    In my tradition, the best ally of a woman is a woman; and your worst enemy is also a woman,

    because a lot of times, how we allow ourselves to be taken advantage of in the world comes from an ingrained voice

    from a sister or mother who always said: “It’s okay to let someone abuse you.”

    When you are in a relationship and your partner is abusive, a lot of times you can hear your mother’s voice, saying: “It’s okay honey. Just take it.”

    There is a lot of healing that is needed in the root, in the foundation of the feminine.

    We need to do what my grandmother said, which was to: “Speak your gut. Liberate your mouth. Speak it out!”

    so that we no longer have women who are silent and just surviving, and who just take it, and take it,

    and take it until they collapse. The backbone of society rides on women. In order to have a healthy community, you have to have healthy women.

    In the Dagara tradition, they say the best way to destroy a culture is to destroy the women first.

    My suggestion is that we work on ourselves and on each other in bettering our relationship with the feminine.

    As we work on our relationship, we can have a stronger relationship with other women so we can have a balance

    and the kind of powers that enable us to carry out a healthy relationship with men.

    Remember that to be a woman is an honor.

    Learning to harness the power of the feminine will help us get to our purpose.
    THEeXchanger
    THEeXchanger


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    Post  THEeXchanger Fri Nov 01, 2013 2:14 am

    HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides
    - Susan Lynne Schwenger

    How do you connect to,
    and, Pray for Ancestors, Guardians or Guides ?

    and, do it, so you can cover all the bases ?

    First, you get yourself to your quiet, sacred and safe place,
    this is your special place,
    where you will NOT be disturbed.

    Then, simply:
    ask, ask, ask - three times
    a very simple, command and demand statement:

    The eXample:

    command and demand,
    in 100% alignment
    with your missions,
    purposes and tasks.

    Then, simply:
    sign this off, with your own soul sigil aka soul signature
    ie; 333 333 315* ***
    it will consist of 13 letters
    (never, give another soul, all 13 of your letters)
    in the spirit world,
    this soul sigil aka soul signature
    could be likened, to someone have the cell phone number
    that goes direct to your soul.

    If you want details on how to draw your soul sigil aka your soul signature
    then, simply go to this link:

    http://www.thuban.spruz.com/forums/?page=post&id=9834EEEA-8D5C-4881-8C09-34C5B013AF02&fid=73202E8F-6404-4AB8-A825-FDDBD7D765EE

    Next, utilize a technique you are familiar with,
    in the creation of the drawing of your sacred circle,
    and, utilize a technique you are familiar with,
    to put, your guardians & your guides,
    that are also, in 100% alignment with your missons, purposes and tasks
    ~anything you choose, prenatally
    and, anything you choose,
    to amend after incarnating into your current life cycle.

    It is always a good idea,
    to put all of your sacred notes to paper,
    and, through writing of these sacred notes with your hands,
    all of this information,
    will become part and parcel of your "Book of Lives" and, of this lifetime.

    ~ it is a good idea,
    to ask for this book to be given to someone you trust,
    at the end of your life,
    so, they might learn from it
    ~and, then, they should burn it.

    A lot of people, do NOT really know,
    exactly how to do this:

    This is the first time, in this life cycle
    that, i am without my dearly departed Father aka My Popa.

    Sadly, he departed back on 08 May 2013
    he was, in my opinion, a very special soul
    he was born, on 31 OCT 1931
    at 10 lbs 3.1 oz at 10:31pm est

    so, here goes...

    The Best Way to Attract, Call-In, and, to Honour your Ancestors, Guardians & Guides...
    both The Matriarchal Lineage, which is the divine female lineage
    of female grandmothers, aunts, sisters, cousins, etc.,
    going back for seven (7) generations x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 times
    & The Patriarchal Lineage, which is the divine male lineage
    of male grandfathers, uncles, brothers, cousins, etc.,
    going back for seven 7 generations x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 times
    (this will cover approx 8,234,543 generations - with approx 25 years to a generation)
    if you wish to go further back, just simply multiply for another 7 times, to infinity.

    Ask, Ask, Ask, three times:
    To go through all of your incarnations related to:
    your ancestral lineages
    along, with ask, ask, ask
    to go through all of your incarnations related to:
    your spiritual lineages
    along, with ask, ask, ask
    to go through all of your discarnate life cycles,
    where you have worked as spirit guardian,
    and/or spirit guide to other beings, or souls.

    Simply, know:
    "Will is The Way" ~ Susan Lynne Schwenger

    and, Simply, know:
    "Will it to be, so, it will be, and, so, it is" ~ Susan Lynne Schwenger
    when signed off, with your own soul sigil aka soul signature
    is very powerful stuff.

    This is a method, we know, where your will will work
    to help you to utilize correct methods of:
    eXchange & eXchanging with Your Ancestors

    through 7 subsets:

    Honour aka Honor, is linked, or is mated to Honoring,

    Gift, is linked, or is mated to Gifting,

    Hear, is linked, or is mated to Lower Hearing and Higher Hearing

    Offer, is linked, or is mated to Offering

    Pray aka Prayer, is linked, or is mated to Praying

    Give, is linked, and is mated to Receive & Receiving & Giving

    Receive, is linked, and, is gated to Give & Giving & Receiving

    See , is linked, or is mated to Lower Seeing and Higher Seeing

    This technique of Susan Lynne Schwenger will introduce you,
    NOT only, to a real ritual,
    but, will allow you to weave into The Web, of All Connections
    and, it will start a process for you, to forge your own special connections,
    those that will lead you back,
    to your ancestors, along with their guardians, and, their guides,
    and, also, to your 'true' connections
    to your own assortment of guardians, and, guides.

    This can be done, following:

    The The Ritualistic Rule of The Infinite Sets of Seven (7)

    First, create a special space,
    that is a sacred space,
    which measures approx 56" x 56"
    (you can utlise, any increment of seven(7),
    for example 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77, or 84...)
    and, always, utilize natural fabrics,
    and, always utilize the colour of white, or off-white fabrics.

    Always, when introducing any item, to your alter,
    ask the item,
    if it wants to work with you,
    and, if the answer, is yes

    proceed, to anoint,
    and, to pray over your items
    with a clean, clear and focused mind
    and, an open, pure and sincere heart
    so, that you can clearly define,
    your intended missions, your intended purposes, and, your intended tasks
    related to your 'real' intentions for putting this item,
    along with your will into your intended action
    relates to your task as The Creator of your creation,
    as, this is what will create the good contact,
    and, the forged eXchange,
    you are creating, so, it is always,
    and, in ways putting in your good intentions and, your good work,
    into the equation you have created,
    known as your creation,
    To The Connections with Your Ancestors, Guardians and Guides.

    Do NOT sit to do this type of work,
    ever with a child in your arms,
    as, you do NOT want The Spirit World,
    to think, you are holding up your child,
    as, an "offering", or "the offering".

    This, is why, in many tribal traditions,
    we do NOT carry our children, into the dance circle,
    and, instead,
    we choose to allow the child,
    to decide to dance,
    or, to enter a sacred dance circle,
    solely on their own power, to do so.

    Also, it is OK, for you to dance, sit, or stand, while you choose to do your chosen work.

    We offer, refer to this work, as, your 'good work'.

    Also, do NOT set up any sacred space in your bathroom, basement or bedroom.

    Prior, to doing this ceremony aka ritual
    get a very large glass, with a wide rim
    utilize a form of 'clean, clear, or natural' water
    and, put it into this glass, allow it,
    to sit for seven (7) full days.

    Do NOT touch it, and, Do NOT add any more water to the glass,
    just allow it, to be.

    You will likely begin to notice,
    that the water in the glass will start to appear to disappear,
    this is good, since, it will signify that your Ancestors, Guardians or Guides
    are beginning a process of Visiting aka Visitation
    and, that they are indeed taking to drinking your offering of the sacred water.

    NEVER, refill this glass, until after your ceremony is complete.

    Always be sure to utilize a white candle, in your work,
    along with white flowers (if, you desire to utilize a flower in your ritual),
    and, NEVER rush into any ritualistic work,
    and, NEVER rush out of any sacred ceremony, or sacred circle.
    Sometimes, it is at the very ending of a ritual,
    that, the most profound things begin to occur.

    It is important, to learn discipline, patience & respect
    with any ceremony or ritual
    that you choose, to do.

    It is a good idea, to set aside,
    at least, thirteen (13) minutes per day,
    one or three times per day,
    for a period of at least seven (7) consecutive days,
    and, to do it, in such a way, that you are always doing it,
    at exactly the same time of the day, or the night.

    When, you go to light your 'white' candle,
    always, utilize 'wood' match sticks,
    NEVER utilize a common lighter
    that is used for other things.

    Also, if you are also 'burning' a 'sacred' fire,
    you can, light the candle, utilizing the "fire keepers stick",
    as you begin the ritual process,
    to eXchange with your ancestors, guardians and guides.

    Some people, burn a candle, and, leave it burning,
    and, some people, burn a candle,
    for only the eXact period of time of The Ceremony or The Ritual,
    the choice, is always yours,
    to let it burn, or, to put it out.

    Also, NEVER offer your breath,
    to the candle,
    or, to the sacred fire...
    and, always make sure,
    you find a good way,
    to eXtinguish the flame,
    when you are finished your ceremony or ritual
    ~the rest of your sacred water, is the best choice,
    and, it is always there, ready for that purpose.

    It is a good idea, to make a list of your ancestors,
    as, well as, your spirit guardians, or spirit guides,
    and, when you start your ceremony or ritual,
    you can, call them, by their names...

    Always do your "calling in" process,
    by requesting them, by utilizing:
    We command, and, we demand
    in 100% alignment, with our missions,our purposes, and, our tasks,
    and, my stating this intention, three (3) times.

    Always start off your eXchange by:

    The offering of the gift ,
    by way of the offering and gifting of the water,
    to your Ancestors, Guardians or Guides,
    since it is the 1st element,

    Ask, Ask, Ask to develop your lower & higher levels of:
    hearing, feeling, sensing, and, seeing
    and, ask, ask, to develop your abilities of:
    eXchanging, through giving and receiving,
    through the offer to Pray,
    and, through offering Prayer, via your action of Praying.

    It is all about The eXchange, never forget that.

    Now, it is Time to Call in, your Ancestors,
    from all directions of time-space, space-time, and,
    anywhere you do NOT yet know where to ask for them,
    which will imply, everywhere...
    through all forms of energy,
    which is used to define us, and, them.

    "energy is, colour aka color, frequency, light, sound, tone and vibration,
    through the lower six levels, and,
    through higher expressed equations,
    through The Central Vertical Channel,
    both, The Lower Central Vertical Channel,
    and, The Higher Central Vertical Channel.
    After_all, mathematics is the language of relations,
    and, of love"
    - Susan Lynne Schwenger

    NOW, you might begin the process,
    of asking three times,
    to begin a dialogue with your Ancestors, Guardians or Guides.

    This could include things,
    like your expressed gratitude, for the good eXchanges you have had with them in the past
    like your expressed desire, for forgiveness
    like your expressed desire, to forgive them
    like your expressed desire, for healing of dis_ease
    (never utilize the word - dis*ease)
    like your expressed desire, to heal them
    like your expressed desire, for good energy
    like your expressed desire, to send them good energy
    like your expressed desire, to communicate with them
    like your expressed desire, to have them communicate with you
    like your expressed desire, to have them protect you
    like your expressed desire, to have them guide you
    like your expressed desire, to have them nuture you
    like your expressed desire, to develop the ears to hear them
    like your expressed desire, to develop the eyes to see them
    and, most importantly
    it can be a good idea, to express your desire, to sit quickly,
    and, allow them, to dialogue with you,
    anything, that they feel,
    that would be important to you,
    to hear, feel, sense or see,
    in that particular moment of The Now
    in this particular eXchange, and, eXchanging process.

    And, then, you might want to detail to them,
    what exactly your intent, or your intentions might be
    for wanting to exchange with them,
    to gain greater knowledge, or understanding on an assortment of topics
    ~ it never ceases to amaze me,
    what my own Ancestors, Guardians or Guides will come up with
    if you, will simply ask, ask, ask them,
    and, then, you will simply allow them,
    to act, as your ancestral ancestors, guardians, and guides,
    you must choose to make this intention, you chosen intent,
    before any of them, will come into action, and, enter the eXchange.

    All of these beings, your ancestral ancestors, guides and guardians
    will become an imporant part of your Arsenal of Defense,
    this is one of the most important duties, they will prove you with,
    should you choose to make this, a part of your ongoing requests.

    As, with any ceremony or ritual,
    it is important to follow the instructions,
    that are given to you.

    Always give blessings, and, ask for a blessing
    - good eXchange & good work are the two greatest blessings of all

    Write all of there names on a special piece of good quality 'natural' fiber cloth
    or, paper, and, leave that placed upon your alter,
    and, it is NEVER a good idea, to wrap this list,
    or, any item on your alter,
    in any unnatural or man-made type of plastic or wrap.

    We were taught, the importance of "calling-in" our ancestors - three times
    Address them, by their names;
    Example:
    Grandfather - and, then, their spirit name (if known to you)
    and, then, by their given names - first, middle, and, surname
    and, then, their birth dates (if known to you)
    and, then, their crossing dates (if known to you)
    and, then, state, your association to them,
    (ie; This is grand-daughter - Susan)
    following that, by stating, your spirit name, and, your given names
    (known as "333 333 315* ***", you also knew me, as Suzy)
    and, then get real clear, on your real intent(s) and, intention(s)
    you want to bring forth in this particular eXchange.

    You can call in, as, many or as few as you choose, it is always your choice.

    We have always found, it is best, to call in:

    The Matriarchal Lineage of females,
    followed by The Patriarchal Lineage of males,
    followed by Guardians & Guides,
    and, you can also ask for 'new' ones to join in,
    any that are in 100% alignment with missions, purposes and tasks,
    and, only those that have a desire, to come to us, at this time.

    Please accept my energy, and, my request to eXchange
    energy, knowledge~wisdom and power,
    and, to allow 'good work' to happen,
    through time-space, and, space-time,
    and, anywhere, that i do NOT yet know where to ask for it,
    which, implies EVERYWHERE.

    Always take the time,
    to express your gratitude, and, your love,
    and, do NOT ever forgot to tell them,
    that they are missed...
    and, that it is your sincere desire,
    to forge these roads of connection with them,
    so, that, good energies can flow, one to the other,
    as, you all travel these roads of connection, and, re-connection...
    which applying the virtues of:
    With the 'end result' being love.

    There is NO definite way,
    to tell someone, how it is, that they should choose to pray
    - it is only important to draw a sacred space in the form of a circle,
    and, to always remember, to close this sacred space,
    when you are finished working in the spiritual realms.

    NEVER, utilize pictures of ancestors, that also include any 'living' beings
    ~as, you do NOT want any living being or person,
    to be considered to be any part of 'The Offering' to the spirit world

    Always, be aware, that the spirit world,
    can sometimes work in mysterious ways,
    and, the answer, could come to you, in unusual ways.

    Pay attention to your dreams,
    dream_time, can be a very important time.

    Sometimes, it will be you, that dreams up a solution, to a problem, or the question.

    Sometimes, it will be your ancestors, guardians or guides,
    that will come to you, in your dreams, and, bring you the solution,
    to the problem, or the question.

    Sometimes, the problem, will just absolutely disappear or completely vanish.

    When awakening in the morning,
    it often helps, to remember your dreams,
    to keep your eyes closed for thirteen (13) minutes,
    and, if you can, keep a notebook & pencil on your bed-stand or night table.

    When doing spiritual work,
    it is advisable to honour yourself,
    by keeping your mind, body and soul clear of angry or bad thoughts,
    and, NOT being under the influence of alcohol

    and, always, and, in all ways being mindful and respectful

    in your relationships with others
    as, everything is interconnected
    and, what you choose to weave into your equation and, eXchange of life,
    also, gets woven into the greater tapestry,
    which is know, to all tribal people,
    as The Great Web of Life & The Great Web of Lives, which connects all living beings
    to The Sacred Hoop of Life & The Sacred Hoop of Lives.

    ~ Susan Lynne Schwenger

    workingwonders@aol.com



    Last edited by THEeXchanger on Sat Nov 02, 2013 2:37 pm; edited 2 times in total
    THEeXchanger
    THEeXchanger


    Posts : 5352
    Join date : 2011-06-04
    Location : My own little heaven on earth

     Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger Empty Re: Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger

    Post  THEeXchanger Fri Nov 01, 2013 4:28 am

     Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger Was8039111

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2013/10/31/Foreign/Images/Was8039111.jpg

    Children play behind a pumpkin carved and lit for Halloween, on October 30, 2013 in Monterey Park, California.

    On Halloween, the past and future live by Starhawk

    “What is remembered, lives.”

    It’s Halloween! Shop windows are full of decorations—Witches and ghosts and pumpkins galore. For those of us who are Witches — that is, who practice the ancient Goddess-centered traditions that hail from Europe and the Middle East — this time of year is both beloved and dreaded. Suddenly Witches are everywhere! But the Witches of the pointy hats and the spooks and cobwebs of your haunted house are themselves only faint ghosts of the real mystery of the season.

    For us, Halloween is the time of year when we come together to honor our ancestors, to mourn our beloved dead and celebrate their lives. In this autumn season, when the year itself appears to by dying. As the leaves fall, and the harvest is gathered in, we celebrate the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain or Summer’s End. The veil between the worlds is thin, we say, and those who have gone beyond can now return and visit us again, reminding us that death does not destroy our connection to those we love.

    Death and loss come to us all, in life, and to get through them, we need community. When we suffer a profound loss, the deepest comfort for our grief comes from the care and love we receive from friends and family and community.

    In our Reclaiming Pagan tradition, we proudly call ourselves Witches, in alignment with those who were burned and persecuted for holding to the old ways, those who guarded the ancient healing practices and mystical knowledge, those uppity women of wisdom and courage. We celebrate Halloween with intimate gatherings to honor our own beloved dead and with big, public ritual extravaganzas like the Spiral Dance we hold each year in the Bay Area, with elaborate altars, a full chorus, dancers, stiltwalkers, musicians, drummers, and a spiral danced by more than a thousand people.

    And we enjoy those common customs that still retain echoes of the old mysteries. For when the veil is thin, the Mysterious Ones come walking through. Once we expected spirits to come visiting and lit their way with candles and gave offerings of the harvest. Today they are likely to take the guise of children dressed as princesses and cowboys asking for a trick-or-treat. But children are, after all, the ancestors returning, and we still light their way with jack-o-lanterns and give them offerings.

    But this Halloween is different. As fires rage and radiation pours into the ocean, as climate change spins into an unstoppable cycle, the deep dread we carry is this: Will we leave a living world to those who come after us? Will we fail the ancestors, those who have gone before and those who return?

    In the old traditions of Witchcraft, the year is a cycle. Every ending, therefore, is a new beginning. The time of death is also the year’s rebirth.

    We can remember that lesson as we face the huge challenges and immense losses of these times. We need to make deep and profound changes in the way we live, if we want future generations to inherit from us a viable planet. Change can be frightening, but it can also be exhilarating. Halloween tells us to connect, to forge bonds of love that death cannot sever, to support one another as we face those things that are hard to face alone.

    Light a candle. Remember a friend. Cook a favorite dish of someone who has passed. Tell a story about their life. Pass the memories on. Trust that the ancestors want to help us, they want us to succeed. Accompany the little witches and cats and superheroes as they collect their candy offerings. Don’t eat it all at once, but savor the sweetness as the days grow darker. Know that you are an ancestor of the future, and your choices, your actions, your human hands can turn the wheel of fate.

    Starhawk is the author of twelve books, including The Spiral Dance, The Fifth Sacred Thing, and her latest, The Empowerment Manual: A Guide for Collaborative Groups. She is one of the founders of Reclaiming, an extended tradition of Pagan spirituality, and directs Earth Activist Training, which teaches permaculture, ecological design with a grounding in spirit. Her website is http://www.starhawk.org/.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/wp/2013/10/31/on-halloween-the-past-and-future-live/http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2013/10/31/Foreign/Images/Was8039111.jpg

    Children play behind a pumpkin carved and lit for Halloween, on October 30, 2013 in Monterey Park, California.

    On Halloween, the past and future live by Starhawk

    “What is remembered, lives.”

    It’s Halloween! Shop windows are full of decorations—Witches and ghosts and pumpkins galore. For those of us who are Witches — that is, who practice the ancient Goddess-centered traditions that hail from Europe and the Middle East — this time of year is both beloved and dreaded. Suddenly Witches are everywhere! But the Witches of the pointy hats and the spooks and cobwebs of your haunted house are themselves only faint ghosts of the real mystery of the season.

    For us, Halloween is the time of year when we come together to honor our ancestors, to mourn our beloved dead and celebrate their lives. In this autumn season, when the year itself appears to by dying. As the leaves fall, and the harvest is gathered in, we celebrate the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain or Summer’s End. The veil between the worlds is thin, we say, and those who have gone beyond can now return and visit us again, reminding us that death does not destroy our connection to those we love.

    Death and loss come to us all, in life, and to get through them, we need community. When we suffer a profound loss, the deepest comfort for our grief comes from the care and love we receive from friends and family and community.

    In our Reclaiming Pagan tradition, we proudly call ourselves Witches, in alignment with those who were burned and persecuted for holding to the old ways, those who guarded the ancient healing practices and mystical knowledge, those uppity women of wisdom and courage. We celebrate Halloween with intimate gatherings to honor our own beloved dead and with big, public ritual extravaganzas like the Spiral Dance we hold each year in the Bay Area, with elaborate altars, a full chorus, dancers, stiltwalkers, musicians, drummers, and a spiral danced by more than a thousand people.

    And we enjoy those common customs that still retain echoes of the old mysteries. For when the veil is thin, the Mysterious Ones come walking through. Once we expected spirits to come visiting and lit their way with candles and gave offerings of the harvest. Today they are likely to take the guise of children dressed as princesses and cowboys asking for a trick-or-treat. But children are, after all, the ancestors returning, and we still light their way with jack-o-lanterns and give them offerings.

    But this Halloween is different. As fires rage and radiation pours into the ocean, as climate change spins into an unstoppable cycle, the deep dread we carry is this: Will we leave a living world to those who come after us? Will we fail the ancestors, those who have gone before and those who return?

    In the old traditions of Witchcraft, the year is a cycle. Every ending, therefore, is a new beginning. The time of death is also the year’s rebirth.

    We can remember that lesson as we face the huge challenges and immense losses of these times. We need to make deep and profound changes in the way we live, if we want future generations to inherit from us a viable planet. Change can be frightening, but it can also be exhilarating. Halloween tells us to connect, to forge bonds of love that death cannot sever, to support one another as we face those things that are hard to face alone.

    Light a candle. Remember a friend. Cook a favorite dish of someone who has passed. Tell a story about their life. Pass the memories on. Trust that the ancestors want to help us, they want us to succeed. Accompany the little witches and cats and superheroes as they collect their candy offerings. Don’t eat it all at once, but savor the sweetness as the days grow darker. Know that you are an ancestor of the future, and your choices, your actions, your human hands can turn the wheel of fate.

    Starhawk is the author of twelve books, including The Spiral Dance, The Fifth Sacred Thing, and her latest, The Empowerment Manual: A Guide for Collaborative Groups. She is one of the founders of Reclaiming, an extended tradition of Pagan spirituality, and directs Earth Activist Training, which teaches permaculture, ecological design with a grounding in spirit. Her website is http://www.starhawk.org/.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/wp/2013/10/31/on-halloween-the-past-and-future-live/

    Children play behind a pumpkin carved and lit for Halloween, on October 30, 2013 in Monterey Park, California.

    On Halloween, the past and future live by Starhawk

    “What is remembered, lives.”

    It’s Halloween! Shop windows are full of decorations—Witches and ghosts and pumpkins galore. For those of us who are Witches — that is, who practice the ancient Goddess-centered traditions that hail from Europe and the Middle East — this time of year is both beloved and dreaded. Suddenly Witches are everywhere! But the Witches of the pointy hats and the spooks and cobwebs of your haunted house are themselves only faint ghosts of the real mystery of the season.

    For us, Halloween is the time of year when we come together to honor our ancestors, to mourn our beloved dead and celebrate their lives. In this autumn season, when the year itself appears to by dying. As the leaves fall, and the harvest is gathered in, we celebrate the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain or Summer’s End. The veil between the worlds is thin, we say, and those who have gone beyond can now return and visit us again, reminding us that death does not destroy our connection to those we love.

    Death and loss come to us all, in life, and to get through them, we need community. When we suffer a profound loss, the deepest comfort for our grief comes from the care and love we receive from friends and family and community.

    In our Reclaiming Pagan tradition, we proudly call ourselves Witches, in alignment with those who were burned and persecuted for holding to the old ways, those who guarded the ancient healing practices and mystical knowledge, those uppity women of wisdom and courage. We celebrate Halloween with intimate gatherings to honor our own beloved dead and with big, public ritual extravaganzas like the Spiral Dance we hold each year in the Bay Area, with elaborate altars, a full chorus, dancers, stiltwalkers, musicians, drummers, and a spiral danced by more than a thousand people.

    And we enjoy those common customs that still retain echoes of the old mysteries. For when the veil is thin, the Mysterious Ones come walking through. Once we expected spirits to come visiting and lit their way with candles and gave offerings of the harvest. Today they are likely to take the guise of children dressed as princesses and cowboys asking for a trick-or-treat. But children are, after all, the ancestors returning, and we still light their way with jack-o-lanterns and give them offerings.

    But this Halloween is different. As fires rage and radiation pours into the ocean, as climate change spins into an unstoppable cycle, the deep dread we carry is this: Will we leave a living world to those who come after us? Will we fail the ancestors, those who have gone before and those who return?

    In the old traditions of Witchcraft, the year is a cycle. Every ending, therefore, is a new beginning. The time of death is also the year’s rebirth.

    We can remember that lesson as we face the huge challenges and immense losses of these times. We need to make deep and profound changes in the way we live, if we want future generations to inherit from us a viable planet. Change can be frightening, but it can also be exhilarating. Halloween tells us to connect, to forge bonds of love that death cannot sever, to support one another as we face those things that are hard to face alone.

    Light a candle. Remember a friend. Cook a favorite dish of someone who has passed. Tell a story about their life. Pass the memories on. Trust that the ancestors want to help us, they want us to succeed. Accompany the little witches and cats and superheroes as they collect their candy offerings. Don’t eat it all at once, but savor the sweetness as the days grow darker. Know that you are an ancestor of the future, and your choices, your actions, your human hands can turn the wheel of fate.

    Starhawk is the author of twelve books, including The Spiral Dance, The Fifth Sacred Thing, and her latest, The Empowerment Manual: A Guide for Collaborative Groups. She is one of the founders of Reclaiming, an extended tradition of Pagan spirituality, and directs Earth Activist Training, which teaches permaculture, ecological design with a grounding in spirit. Her website is http://www.starhawk.org/.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/wp/2013/10/31/on-halloween-the-past-and-future-live/
    THEeXchanger
    THEeXchanger


    Posts : 5352
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     Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger Empty Re: Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger

    Post  THEeXchanger Sat Nov 02, 2013 2:42 pm

    edits complete above
    - need proof reader - thank you Wink

    also:

    remember

    "everyone is a dreamer
    - and, when the dreamer and,the dreamer become one and the same
    - everyone will wake up to their full 'raft of potentials' "
    - susan lynne schwenger

    workingwonders@aol.com

    Susan Lynne Schwenger is a Healer - Seer - Spiritual Medicine Woman
    who has operated "Spirits helping Springs" since 1975
    THEeXchanger
    THEeXchanger


    Posts : 5352
    Join date : 2011-06-04
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     Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger Empty Re: Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger

    Post  THEeXchanger Sat Nov 02, 2013 2:50 pm

     Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger 1395935_10202537132376649_407415322_n

     Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger 1395935_10202537132376649_407415322_n

     Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger 562503_10150642776382581_668190167_n





    Photograph by: Danny Moss

    Susan Lynne Schwenger is a Psychic healer, seer, and, spiritual medicine woman,

    this photograph taken of her,

    shows several lights projecting from her head,

    on my spiritual analysis photo, you can clearly see the healing spirits which she uses.

    Susan Lynne Schwenger  is an extremely talented spiritual healer,

    and she has a true control of these healing spirits.

    Thank You Susan for allowing the pleasure to reveal what these spirits look like in there ethereal form.

    ~ Danny Moss
    THEeXchanger
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    Posts : 5352
    Join date : 2011-06-04
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     Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger Empty Re: Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger

    Post  THEeXchanger Sat Nov 02, 2013 3:10 pm

     Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger 1017351_10202537110376099_1840345982_n

     Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger 28137_389475137580_743392_n




    you have nagas, and ixed healing energy, you should chant krishna rama more

    ~ Danny Moss

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    Posts : 5352
    Join date : 2011-06-04
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     Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger Empty Re: Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger

    Post  THEeXchanger Sat Nov 02, 2013 3:54 pm

     Samhain 07 NOV 2013 – The Celtic roots of Halloween - HOW to CALL in YOUR ANCESTORS, Guardians or Guides - Susan Lynne Schwenger 1456790_10201807226774413_139191939_n

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