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!
Sun, Mar 01, 2009
" Have you noticed the way the world views Pagans and Witches, specifically? Oh, yes; it is a formed opinion that permeates the entire world. Concentrated more so perhaps, in America, but indisputably reaching all across the globe. Pagans are often regarded as archaic, ignorant and inherently just wrong, by the mainstream majority...."
Sun, Mar 01, 2009
Who says you shouldn't play with fire? Take a walk through the history, beauty and excitement of Firedancing
Sun, Mar 01, 2009
"Today many Middle Eastern countries forbid women to perform the dance. During the 1950's, bellydancing was declared illegal in Egypt. After a popular uprising ensued, the government repealed the ban with one condition -- that dancers no longer show their stomachs. (That law still remains in effect.) .."
Sun, Mar 01, 2009
All Credits for Song, Article and Photograph Listed Below Article~ All Rights Reserved for Individual Parties~Copyright 2009~
Sun, Mar 01, 2009
"The May Dance of ancient origin, as it dates back to the dancing at the "Feast of Flora." Flora was the goddess of flowers, and festivals in her honor were held the last of April and the first of May (as in Robin Hoods Day). Originally, In celebrating the rites of Spring, the girls entering womanhood would be gathered up and allowed to participate in the making of the Maypole and its dances."
Sun, Mar 01, 2009
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace." -Jimi Hendrix
Sun, Mar 01, 2009
As I tried to get an Interview with this Beloved Belly Dancer, I did a valiant effort but found this wonderful interview back in 2004~ Salome Had Done this Interview with Rachel Brice back in 2004~
Sun, Mar 01, 2009
"Beltane is the cross-quarter festival that marks the start of the summer quarter of the year and the end of the spring quarter. This is a time when nature blossoms and felicity and fertility return to the land. In times past, the livestock stockaded at Samhain was returned to summer pastures at Beltane."
Sun, Mar 01, 2009
The following ritual is taken from the book Ostara by Edain McCoy. You can find Edain McCoy's Books at Amazon.com~
Sun, Mar 01, 2009
"Watering systems for your landscaping vary. Find one that is most efficient for your needs. A good rule of thumb is that the larger the water drop delivered and the closer to the ground the better it is. Using a system that delivers a fine spray up into the air will lose much of the water to evaporation and to wind."
Sun, Mar 01, 2009
"Being aware of the sun and shade conditions in your garden is critical to proper plant placement and, in turn, to the long term health of your plants. Improperly placed plants are a main reason for unnecessary transplants. Most plants prefer at least some shade during the day..."
Sun, Mar 01, 2009
May 1 is a holiday known as May Day in most of the world but in Hawaii that holiday is known as "Lei Day" and it is celebrated by wearing a lei and also by organizing lei-making contests, festivals, and concerts, and other celebrations throughout the Hawaiian Islands.
Sun, Mar 01, 2009
Personal thoughts on just being who you are regardless of what is *In* and following your own voice~
Sun, Mar 01, 2009
Manifest your dreams through the creation of your own Vision/Dream Board~
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