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!