June Ahern's Blog - Posts Tagged "celts"
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
CELTIC WOMAN, MOONWILLOW: A FINE WITCH INDEED
Photo from 7 Witches CovenBorn in Scotland, my heart belongs to the Celts. Raised amongst strong, vivacious and loving women I celebrate women's strength worldwide.
My soul led me to the Goddess, to know I am a Witch. Blessed be.
Now I honor a Celtic woman friend, who's poems and books I enjoy MoonWillow.
Excerpted from From Voices of the Ancients & the Shining Ones - New Edition, MoonWillow
Celtic Women are strong and truly independent women who live their lives to be free
We are born into this world knowing this is our birthright and how it is meant to be
We wear our battle scars of protecting those we love with such a deep and avid pride
We are fiercely protective of our kin and those we love and will defend this with our lives
We are stubborn independent women and to some we may come across as quite fierce
We're blessed with affinity with the natural magick that comes to us all instinctively
We work with the blessed powers of the ancients and our ancestors so rhythmically
We know to walk softly upon mother earth as she blesses and nurtures us with her grace
We know we're all as one as we connect with each other no matter your origins or race
About June: author of four books. June Ahern
RITUAL FOR IMBOLC: CLEAR THE MIND, SET A GOAL
IMBOLC
Imbolc known also as Feile Brighdeis the 'quickening of the year’ is a traditional
Celtic (Gaelic) festival , celebrated from February 1 through sundown February 2.
Based on a Celtic tradition, Imbolc was meant to mark the halfway point between winter solstice and the spring equinox in Neolithic Ireland and Scotland.
Also known as Brigid’s Day, Groundhog Day and Candlemas. It’s one of the eight festivals of the wheel of the year when fertility and light herald in the first signs of spring, the start of the agricultural year and the birth of livestock.
At this time the beloved pagan fiery power Goddess Brighid, (Gaelic name Breo-Saighead) is honored. The goddess of healing powers, fertility she is also the goddess of loving unions – marriage.
At this time what or whom will you “marry up” with to feel fulfilled?She is a Goddess of Fire, of the Sun and of the Hearth.
Burn the past - let go of it by clearing out that which is no longer useful in your life.
Clean the home in preparation for new.
When I clean and clear, how good and fresh my mind is.
It gives space to think, now what?
Do you feel that way too?
It's also a good time to make a wish - perhaps as in a petition to Brighid (Bridget) to help manifest something long desired into an attainable goal.
Contact us at sf coaching.
We will teach you the formula to successfully fulfilling goals.
https://www.thedarkangel.comThe traditional colors of Imbolc are white, red, and black, which are the colors of the Triple Goddess.
Also, colors of the ever-renewing forest, dark, deep greens, earthly browns, with the surprising pinks and yellow flowers that seem to pop up in the forest.
Close your eyes, clear your mind and mentally image sitting in a forest full of life in the quietness of it.
If you can, go into nature to clear your mind, heart and spirit and open to receiving images of - now what to grow?
www dot it sf coaching link it together dot it to com it.Learn more about June Ahern, author, professional speaker, retired psychic medium with paranormal investigations on The Haunted Bay with June Ahern YouTube.
June Ahern
