June Ahern's Blog - Posts Tagged "celtic"
Talking to the Dead Halloween Ritual
Halloween – dress up - dress down to the bone, it’s all for amusement, right?
Not if you follow some ancient beliefs about this special celebration. In ancient times Halloween (Holy Eve or All Hallows) and the days following November 1st - All Saints’ Day - November 2nd - All Soul’s Day or Day of the Dead, were more than fun; it was a sacred time of the year for people such as the Celts to honor their elderly, ancestors and dead. Festivities and rituals of these three days can be found in Celtic paganism history and later Catholicism holydays combined pagan beliefs with saints. In the Celtic pagan tradition it was thought that the veils between the two worlds - the living and dead - thinned so that spirits of the dead could float through or walk the earth to visit their living relatives. Then they crossed back over to the “underworld”.
During the spirits’ visit spooky things happened, as you can imagine. The living would dress-up in hopes that some spirits wouldn’t recognize and haunt them. But if they wanted the spirits to visit they would invite them with a similar ritual below.
To connect with the spirits of your loved ones to say hello and/or ask a question do this beautiful sacred ritual.
Gather: Pen (perhaps a favorite color) and paper
Flower – any kind
Photo of deceased
Incense – pleasant plus helps create a mood
Candles – white, black and orange – white – clear visions, black - spiritual unknown and orange for season and color of renewal
Burning vessel – ashtray or cauldron and matches
Glass or bowl of water – signifies the other world and also can douse any fire mishaps.
Sweet & beverage – Symbolic gesture for visiting spirit guests
Table or clothe on floor – to lay the above upon.
Chair - optional
Or you can do it simply by lighting a white candle, place it in a window along with a treats and add a chair for a spirit to sit and visit. Remember to snuff candle before leaving the room for the night.
For a few minutes quiet your self, then say, ‘Only good can enter herein.’ Perhaps add a prayer to the Divine to bring forth healing, loving energies to you and protect you from negative fearful thoughts and/or energies. After all it is Halloween and negative energies/entities can roam free along with your loved ones’ spirits.
Next - make a list of all of those who have passed, and how they affected your life. I write thanking my departed loved ones for all they gave me - love - support etc and to my ancestors for bestowing blessings upon me such as the abilities and talents that help me living fully.
You can fold the paper, keep it overnight and bury in earth or burn it while performing your ritual. As the paper burns it turns to smoke rising up and is symbolic for sending your thought to the mental psychic airwaves. Doing either is ‘mailing your message’.
Peer into the water, relax and connect to the psychic mind - perhaps an image will form or a memory will be recalled. After that, invite your spirits to visit by taking your white candle, sweets and beverage to a window so as they walk the earth they will see the light and recognize you (home.)
Stay as long as you like, thinking of your loved ones, talking to her and him. If you hear, think or sense a message was given, take note it for later examination. Or, after your ritual (remember to snuff the candles and incense), you might dream about the spirits, as this is an easier way for them to communicate.
Spirits often can’t get through to their loved ones because the grief is so strong. To your best ability, endeavor to be calm, upbeat and peaceful. You might get a message for another (relative or friend). If you do, share it.
Spirit communication is often stronger when conducted in a group - even two people - so perhaps a relative and/or friend might want to do this ritual with you to share in the experience.
Wishing you a merry frolicking good time and a cauldron full of blessings.
In my novel, "The Skye in June", the main character communicates with the dead, her angel and the living telepathically. Read more at www.juneahern.com
The Skye in June
Not if you follow some ancient beliefs about this special celebration. In ancient times Halloween (Holy Eve or All Hallows) and the days following November 1st - All Saints’ Day - November 2nd - All Soul’s Day or Day of the Dead, were more than fun; it was a sacred time of the year for people such as the Celts to honor their elderly, ancestors and dead. Festivities and rituals of these three days can be found in Celtic paganism history and later Catholicism holydays combined pagan beliefs with saints. In the Celtic pagan tradition it was thought that the veils between the two worlds - the living and dead - thinned so that spirits of the dead could float through or walk the earth to visit their living relatives. Then they crossed back over to the “underworld”.
During the spirits’ visit spooky things happened, as you can imagine. The living would dress-up in hopes that some spirits wouldn’t recognize and haunt them. But if they wanted the spirits to visit they would invite them with a similar ritual below.
To connect with the spirits of your loved ones to say hello and/or ask a question do this beautiful sacred ritual.
Gather: Pen (perhaps a favorite color) and paper
Flower – any kind
Photo of deceased
Incense – pleasant plus helps create a mood
Candles – white, black and orange – white – clear visions, black - spiritual unknown and orange for season and color of renewal
Burning vessel – ashtray or cauldron and matches
Glass or bowl of water – signifies the other world and also can douse any fire mishaps.
Sweet & beverage – Symbolic gesture for visiting spirit guests
Table or clothe on floor – to lay the above upon.
Chair - optional
Or you can do it simply by lighting a white candle, place it in a window along with a treats and add a chair for a spirit to sit and visit. Remember to snuff candle before leaving the room for the night.
For a few minutes quiet your self, then say, ‘Only good can enter herein.’ Perhaps add a prayer to the Divine to bring forth healing, loving energies to you and protect you from negative fearful thoughts and/or energies. After all it is Halloween and negative energies/entities can roam free along with your loved ones’ spirits.
Next - make a list of all of those who have passed, and how they affected your life. I write thanking my departed loved ones for all they gave me - love - support etc and to my ancestors for bestowing blessings upon me such as the abilities and talents that help me living fully.
You can fold the paper, keep it overnight and bury in earth or burn it while performing your ritual. As the paper burns it turns to smoke rising up and is symbolic for sending your thought to the mental psychic airwaves. Doing either is ‘mailing your message’.
Peer into the water, relax and connect to the psychic mind - perhaps an image will form or a memory will be recalled. After that, invite your spirits to visit by taking your white candle, sweets and beverage to a window so as they walk the earth they will see the light and recognize you (home.)
Stay as long as you like, thinking of your loved ones, talking to her and him. If you hear, think or sense a message was given, take note it for later examination. Or, after your ritual (remember to snuff the candles and incense), you might dream about the spirits, as this is an easier way for them to communicate.
Spirits often can’t get through to their loved ones because the grief is so strong. To your best ability, endeavor to be calm, upbeat and peaceful. You might get a message for another (relative or friend). If you do, share it.
Spirit communication is often stronger when conducted in a group - even two people - so perhaps a relative and/or friend might want to do this ritual with you to share in the experience.
Wishing you a merry frolicking good time and a cauldron full of blessings.
In my novel, "The Skye in June", the main character communicates with the dead, her angel and the living telepathically. Read more at www.juneahern.com
The Skye in June
