The Witches of
Samhain
For most
people, Halloween means ghosts, pumpkins, trick-or-treating and of course
witches. But the warty-nosed, pointed hat-wearing witch images that decorate
homes and stores at this time of year don't represent the millions of real
witches who live among us.
People who
practice the ancient religion of Wicca often call themselves witches. Their
faith predates Christianity and focuses on celebrations of the natural world,
including the change of seasons and sanctity of all living things. Some witches
belong to organized groups called covens where they practice rituals and
celebrate holidays together. Many other Wiccans are solitary practitioners who
adjust the faith's core beliefs to their own lives and needs. Because of this,
Wiccans don't all share the same beliefs or worship the same way.
Samhain, or
Halloween, is one of Wicca's major holidays. It represents the final harvest of
the year. As the year draws to a close, the Wiccan goddess is commonly depicted
as an old woman, or a crone. Samhain is the time of year when the veil between
this world and the afterlife is at its thinnest, so it's the best time to
communicate with departed loved ones. Hence the season's ghosts and spooky
images.
If you'd
like to learn more about Wicca and real-life witches, check out one of the many
books that will guide you on this fascinating journey. Many books have been
written about Wiccan history, including the popular The
Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft. If you'd like to
learn how to practice Wicca, Towards
the Wiccan Circle is an ebook that can get you started, and Scott
Cunningham's Wicca:
A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner is truly a classic. There are even Samhain
greeting cards that you can use to share the joys of this season with
friends and family.
However you
choose to celebrate, have a blessed Samhain!
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