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~The Autumn of Our Lives~
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
"I am one of those who serve the Goddess. Here is my proof: I have eaten from her drum. I have carried her sacred objects. I have prayed in her sacred chamber"~Author Unknown~
Samhain Blessings Gentle Readers!
It's that wonderful, mysterious and hauntingly beautiful time of year again! Autumn! The Season of the Witch! Days are shorter, nights getting longer and the Thinning of the Veil can easily be felt as we draw closer to All Hallow's Eve; Samhain!
It's a time for trick-or-treating, pumpkins, witches, scarecrows, cinnamon, vanilla and other comforting aromas permeating throughout the house. We begin our decent into the Darkest part of the Year and in Honor of Samhain this Issue focuses on the Crone Goddess. Mysterious, full of Wisdom and a time for Death. Death of our gardens as we continue to prepare for Winter, in addition to old patterns, and old behaviors and old ways that no longer serve our Highest Good.
Cover Art by Lynda S. Mihaly
As quoted from Ellen Lorenzi-Prince from her website Croneways.com, "The Crone is the ancient holy one. She is grandmother, witch and hag. She has been ignored, trivialized, blamed and feared, for she holds powers that others deny. Powers of time and transformation. Powers we may fear, but would do better to understand.
The Crone is the Mother of all Mothers. She knows all your bedtime stories, and all your worst nightmares.
She is the One Who Knows Death. She will introduce you to your shadow. She can free you from your fears. The Crone is She Who Has Gone Beyond.
She has lived many years and many lives. Her feet know the paths of the Ancestors. Through her we can touch those who have gone before. She has lived for love, for power, for grace. Now she lives for herself and her journey. She travels new roads and dares the unknown.
She is ancient, but not always aged. She may be beautiful, but she's not pretty. She Who Has Gone Beyond goes beyond our idea of what a deity or a woman may be." ~Tarot of the Crone
Our Cover Story written by Lady Abagail delves into the Path of the Crone with her beautifully written article, "Autumn: The Croning Time". Lady Abagail has also contributed a few more articles within this Issue that Honors the Crone and this Season of the Witch. What a mesmerizing writer!
Our Gallery of Witch Artists is filled with all New Artists to Ye Olde Witches Brew and what an amazing journey it was to find these eclectic, talented and warmhearted people. From Grim, to Vintage, to Eccentric; it's all here awaiting for your visit into the Gallery.
Ye Olde Witches Brew would like to welcome Author, Jacqueline Ciminelli Korda to our Writer's Den Department. See what's brewin' with this Gothic/Erotic/Horror Author!
Read about the Baba Yaga, an informative and beautifully written article about this Russian Folktale which is probably where the infamous sterotype about witches eating small children came from.
Don't forget to browse and read our Columns and Other Departments filling your Samhain Holiday with everything from Crafts, Recipes, Rituals, Magick and Beautifully Haunting Tales from our amazing Writers and Contributors~
Have a Very Blessed Samhain!
Cover Story
Featured Stories
~Coffins,Spiders, and Ghouls, Oh, My!....At a Wedding?!~
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
Make a solemn vow to frighten your friends with a haunted wedding reception party theme. This creepy get-together gently pokes fun at tradition by putting an ominous spin on wedding customs. Artwork done by Sue Miller~All Rights Reserved 2008~All Artwork is Copyrighted and can not be reprinted for any reason without expressed permission from the Artist herself. You can find all of Sue Miller's Artwork by visiting www.suemillerart.com
Sisters of The Craft~In More Ways Than One~
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
Merely a Dream Art Studio ... for a dream dreamt alone is merely a dream
You Call it the Autumn Equinox, We Call it Mabon
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
Spring scarce had greener fields to show than these Of mid September; through the still warm noon The rivulets ripple forth a gladder tune Than ever in the summer; from the trees Dusk-green, and murmuring inward melodies, No leaf drops yet; only our evenings swoon In pallid skies more suddenly, and the moon Finds motionless white mists out on the leas. Edward Dowden, In September *All Rights Reserved* This Article Can Not Be Reproduced Without Expressed Permission from the Author!~ Artwork~Artist Unknown~
The History of Samhain/Halloween
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
"This Celtic festival was observed at a time the people called Samhain...the largest and most significant holiday of the year...also commonly referred to as "All Hollows" Eve. The Celts lived approximately 2,000 years ago in the areas now known as Ireland, the United Kingdom and Northern France. It was believed that at the time of Samhain,...." This Article Can be Seen Along With a Wealth of Information at www.novareinna.com ~All Rights Reserved~All Articles are the Copyright of the Author and can not be reproduced without the Expressed Permission from the Author!~ Artwork by Ron Byrum www.ronbyrum.com ~All Rights Reserved~
Fairytales and Witches~My Interview with JM Leotti~
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
"Imagination is that place, that moment before creativity, where anything is possible. It's a place where dreams form out of nothing, out of everything, and coalesce into reality, born of the artist's hand. This is the place where I live, work and play. So follow me into the path of light. Step into the realm of Faerie Moon Dream!"~JM Leotti
Lead Stories
In Loving Memory...
Thu, Jul 17, 2008
"It seems to me, the people that touch our life briefly.......are the ones that leave the most lasting impact. The ones we truly remember, teaching us life’s lessons in a blink of time. Although their parts to play were small.....the impressions they left were undeniably huge..."
Classic Ghost Stories
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
I adore Classic Ghost Stories. I obviously did not write any of these but compiled a bunch of some the most widely told ghosts that have been around for generations. So get comfortable, turn the lights out, and get ready to relive some of your favorite Classic Ghost Stories~ ~Artwork Done By Ron Byrum www.ronbyrum.com~ ~All Rights Reserved~All Articles are the Copyright of the Author and can not be reproduced without the Expressed Permission from the Author!~ ***Art Done by Ron Byrum at www.ronbyrum.com ~All Rights Reserved~
Terrifyingly True Ghost Tales
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
Excerpts from a couple of the terrifying True Encounters with Ghosts and Hauntings from True Ghost Tales.com~ ... My heart started racing. We both knew what was happening now and we had refused to believe it before. This was the ghost that haunted this part of the mountain side... "...My mom and I just bought a house that had been around since the late 1800's, she insisted on moving in, but something about the house just put a shiver down my spine. Here is my story of the hell I went through in this haunted house...." ***Video from Youtube called "The Untold", Music by Dead Can Dance, Song 'The Host of Seraphim' The Music just fits the mood for these True Tales of Terror~ ***This Article Can be Seen Along With a Wealth of Information at www.trueghosttales.com ~All Rights Reserved~All Articles are the Copyright of the Author and can not be reproduced without the Expressed Permission from the Author!~
Samhain Ritual Evoking Hecate
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
"Hecate approaches, and as She does so, her face keeps changing from maiden, to the mother, and to the crone, because there are many faces of Hecate, as She is the three and the one. As She stands before you, her face stops changing and rests the way you see Her. You look deep into her eyes and you see..." ~All Rights Reserved~All Articles are the Copyright of the Author and can not be reproduced without the Expressed Permission from the Author!~
Modern Halloween Traditions
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
"With the arrival of European immigrants to the United States of America, came the varied Halloween customs indiginous to their former homelands. However, due to the rigid Protestant beliefs which characterized early New England, celebration of Halloween in colonial times was extremely limited in that particular area of the country. Halloween festivities were much more common in Maryland and the colonies located in the South. As the customs practiced by these varied European ethnic groups meshed with traditions employed by the native American Indians, a distinctly American version of Halloween began to emerge...." This Article Can be Seen Along With a Wealth of Information at www.novareinna.com ~All Rights Reserved~All Articles are the Copyright of the Author and can not be reproduced without the Expressed Permission from the Author!~ Artwork by Ron Byrum of www.ronbyrum.com ~All Rights Reserved~
Halloween Celebrated Around the World~
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
As one of the world's oldest holidays, Halloween is still celebrated today in several countries around the globe, but it is in North America and Canada that it maintains its highest level of popularity. Every year, 65% of Americans decorate their homes and offices for Halloween...a percentage exceeded only by Christmas. Halloween is the holiday when the most candy is sold and is second only to Christmas in terms of total sales. This Article Can be Seen Along With a Wealth of Information at www.novareinna.com ~All Rights Reserved~All Articles are the Copyright of the Author and can not be reproduced without the Expressed Permission from the Author!~ Artwork by Molly Harrison~All Rights Reserved~
A Witch’s Familiar
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
"Just like Witches, Familiars have been misunderstood and misinterpreted throughout their history. In the times of the Witch Trials, familiars were considered to be demons given to Witches by the devil to act as servants and attendants"...
Symbolic Origins of All Hallows Eve
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
Jack O'Lanterns, Costumes, and Trick or Treating...Where did they orginate? How did it start? Let's take a look at all the common but most beloved Halloween Traditions.." Artwork by Ron and Sherry Byrum. Visit www.ronbyrum.com to see more of their Fantasy and Witch Art This Article Can be Seen Along With a Wealth of Information at www.novareinna.com ~All Rights Reserved~All Articles are the Copyright of the Author and can not be reproduced without the Expressed Permission from the Author!~
Mabon Ritual of the Second Harvest
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
Celebrate the Second Harvest with this Mabon Ritual including an Earth Healing and Peace Spell~
Columns : ~Walking the Solitary Path~
Experiencing Ritual Fellowship When Practicing as a Solitary
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
"The energy, fueled by our laughter and encouragement, was tangible. It was there in that room I discovered as a solitary that I still could find ways to ritually celebrate with others while retaining my own private path."...
Columns : ~Spiritual Journeys~The Path of Parenting with the God and Goddess~
Getting Into the Groove of Halloween Night
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
"I know that I enjoy going out on Halloween night as much as my children do. Every year I am a witch. Most folks I meet on our candy-laden journey have no clue that this is not dress-up for me but a part of who I am in real life, there is a joyful energy that I feel every Halloween night as I walk out that door...." ~All Rights Reserved~All Articles are the Copyright of the Author and can not be reproduced without the Expressed Permission from the Author!~ ~Artwork Unknown~
The Leaf and the Wind
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
The Leaf and the Wind taken from the book "Tell Me Another Story," by Lisa Suhay ~All Rights Reserved~All Articles are the Copyright of the Author and can not be reproduced without the Expressed Permission from the Author!~ Visit Her Website at www.lisasuhay.com
MEAGAN'S MABON
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
Come with Meagan as she learns some lessons as well as celebrate Mabon with her family and best friend, Cindy. The season of reflection, change and abundant harvest~ Art by Jan Pierce of Moonhallow Vintage which can be seen at www.moonhallowvintage.com ~All Rights Reserved~All Articles are the Copyright of the Author and can not be reproduced without the Expressed Permission from the Author!~
Columns : ~Garden Witchery~
Plant Lore of Samhain & A Witches Fall Garden
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
Talk a walk through a Witches Garden in the Fall and let our Author, Stacy Parata, guide you through some more Samhain Lore filled with a beautiful Autumn flair~
Fall Window Box Gardening
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
Don't throw in the trowel--there's still time to garden. These fiery fall container combos will last all season. **All gardening tips and information and much more can easily be found by visiting www.countryliving.com One of my all time favorite magazines and websites!** ***Don't Miss Our Yule Issue as I will also be bringing you ideas for your Winter Gardens...Yes, we can still garden in the Wintertime!!***
October/November Gardening Tasks
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
As the leaves change into their brilliant fall colors, and you awaken to a distinct chill in the air, you realize that winter is just around the corner. It's time to put the garden tools away for the year, settle back, relax, and wait for spring to arrive...... WRONG!!!!! In most areas of the country, you will still have many tasks to accomplish... even after the first frosts. Information provided by http://www.fernlea.com/fall/fallfact.htm ~All Rights Reserved~All Articles are the Copyright of the Author and can not be reproduced without the Expressed Permission from the Author!~
Fall Flower Gardening
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~Albert Camus~ Information provided by http://www.fernlea.com/fall/fallfact.htm ~All Rights Reserved~All Articles are the Copyright of the Author and can not be reproduced without the Expressed Permission from the Author!~
Columns : ~Earthwalk~
A Beginning History of the Day of the Dead
Mon, Sep 01, 2008
"The Mexican celebration of the Day of the dead is rooted in the notion that ancestors and other departed loved ones return to earth one day a year and visit with family members and close friends. These ancestors offer advice and guidance and are to be treated with respect and every hospitality."...
