Eight Sabbats of Witchcraft By Mike Nichols Review
SAMHAIN
BUY THE BOOK HERE: The Witches' Sabbats: Mike Nichols: 9780971005020: Amazon.com: Books
(2005)
ALL HALLOW'S EVE
by Mike Nichols
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
" Halloween. Sly does it. Tiptoe catspaw. Slide and creep. But
why? What for? How? Who? When! Where did it all begin? 'You
don't know, do you?' asks Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud climbing
out under the pile of leaves under the Halloween Tree. 'You don't
REALLY know!' --Ray Bradbury from 'The Halloween Tree' "
________________________________________________________________
CYPRESS NOTES:
I truly enjoyed reading this book by Mike Nichols because it offers such a diverse perspective on The Wheel of the Year and the Witches Sabbats. He offers his viewpoint not only from a wiccan perspective but from a viewpoint that allows those that come from a secular or non-religious practice to appreciate his views.
In this excerpt the author, Mike Nichols discusses Samhain. He discusses that this is exactly the opposite from the celebration of Beltane. "A
night of glowing jack-o-lanterns, bobbing for apples, tricks or
treats, and dressing in costume. A night of ghost stories and
seances, tarot card readings and scrying with mirrors. A night of
power, when the veil that separates our world from the Otherworld is
at its thinnest. A 'spirit night', as they say in Wales."
"As in the pagan Calander, All Hallow's Eve takes place on October 31st - November 1st." He states that it traditionally begins at sundown. The holiday can be traced back to the British Isles.
This is a quote from the book,
"The Celts called it Samhain, which means 'summer's end',
according to their ancient two-fold division of the year, when summer
ran from Beltane to Samhain and winter ran from Samhain to Beltane.
(Some modern Covens echo this structure by letting the High Priest
'rule' the Coven beginning on Samhain, with rulership returned to the
High Priestess at Beltane.) According to the later four-fold division
of the year, Samhain is seen as 'autumn's end' and the beginning of
winter. Samhain is pronounced (depending on where you're from) as
'sow-in' (in Ireland), or 'sow-een' (in Wales), or 'sav-en' (in
Scotland), or (inevitably) 'sam-hane' (in the U.S., where we don't
speak Gaelic)."
Author Nichols states that Samhain is the beginning of the Celtic New Years Eve. He states, " There
are many representations of Celtic gods with two faces, and it surely
must have been one of them who held sway over Samhain. Like his Greek
counterpart Janus, he would straddle the threshold, one face turned
toward the past in commemoration of those who died during the last
year, and one face gazing hopefully toward the future, mystic eyes
attempting to pierce the veil and divine what the coming year holds.
These two themes, celebrating the dead and divining the future, are
inexorably intertwined in Samhain, as they are likely to be in any New
Year's celebration."
This is a very beautiful depiction of the pagan holiday we as witches celebrate known as Samhain.
He also describes Samhain as traditionally being a feast of the dead. Where those that have passed away for one night could come commune with the living.
"And so the great burial 4
mounds of Ireland (sidh mounds) were opened up, with lighted torches
lining the walls, so the dead could find their way. Extra places were
set at the table and food set out for any who had died that year. And
there are many stories that tell of Irish heroes making raids on the
Underworld while the gates of faery stood open, though all must return
to their appointed places by cock-crow."
Nichols also describes this day as a day of divination. He states that in Celtic culture the people had a very different view of time than in our modern era. Nichols describes in the text, "New Year's Eve is simply a milestone on a very
long road that stretches in a straight line from birth to death.
Thus, the New Year's festival is a part of time. The ancient Celtic
view of time, however, is cyclical. And in this framework, New Year's
Eve represents a point outside of time, when the natural order of the
universe dissolves back into primordial chaos, preparatory to reestablishing itself in a new order. Thus, Samhain is a night that
exists outside of time and hence it may be used to view any other
point in time. At no other holiday is a tarot card reading, crystal
reading, or tea-leaf reading so likely to succeed."
Here is a very fascinating excerpt from the text,
"There are so many types of divination that are traditional to
Hallowtide, it is possible to mention only a few. Girls were told to
place hazel nuts along the front of the fire grate, each one to
symbolize one of her suitors. She could then divine her future
husband by chanting, 'If you love me, pop and fly; if you hate me,
burn and die.' Several methods used the apple, that most popular of
Halloween fruits. You should slice an apple through the equator (to
reveal the five-pointed star within) and then eat it by candlelight
before a mirror. Your future spouse will then appear over your
shoulder. Or, peel an apple, making sure the peeling comes off in one
long strand, reciting, 'I pare this apple round and round again; / My
sweetheart's name to flourish on the plain: / I fling the unbroken
paring o'er my head, / My sweetheart's letter on the ground to read.'
Or, you might set a snail to crawl through the ashes of your hearth.
The considerate little creature will then spell out the initial letter
as it moves.
Perhaps the most famous icon of the holiday is the
jack-o-lantern. Various authorities attribute it to either Scottish
or Irish origin. However, it seems clear that it was used as a
lantern by people who traveled the road this night, the scary face to
frighten away spirits or faeries who might otherwise lead one astray.
Set on porches and in windows, they cast the same spell of protection
over the household. (The American pumpkin seems to have forever
superseded the European gourd as the jack-o-lantern of choice.)
Bobbing for apples may well represent the remnants of a Pagan
'baptism' rite called a 'seining', according to some writers. The
water-filled tub is a latter-day Cauldron of Regeneration, into which
the novice's head is immersed. The fact that the participant in this
folk game was usually blindfolded with hands tied behind the back also
puts one in mind of a traditional Craft initiation ceremony.
The custom of dressing in costume and 'trick-or-treating' is of
Celtic origin with survivals particularly strong in Scotland.
However, there are some important differences from the modern version.
In the first place, the custom was not relegated to children, but was
actively indulged in by adults as well. Also, the 'treat' which was
required was often one of spirits (the liquid variety). This has
recently been revived by college students who go 'trick-or-drinking'.
And in ancient times, the roving bands would sing seasonal carols from
house to house, making the tradition very similar to Yuletide
wassailing. In fact, the custom known as 'caroling', now connected
exclusively with mid-winter, was once practiced at all the major
holidays. Finally, in Scotland at least, the tradition of dressing in
costume consisted almost exclusively of cross-dressing (i.e., men
dressing as women, and women as men). It seems as though ancient
societies provided an opportunity for people to 'try on' the role of
the opposite gender for one night of the year. (Although in Scotland,
this is admittedly less dramatic - but more confusing - since men were
in the habit of wearing skirt-like kilts anyway. Oh well...)
To Witches, Halloween is one of the four High Holidays."
This is true what Nichols describes Samhain as one of the four High Holidays or cross-quarter days.
Nichols later describes a great way to celebrate Samhain.
"With such an important holiday, Witches often hold two distinct
celebrations. First, a large Halloween party for non-Craft friends,
often held on the previous weekend. And second, a Coven ritual held
on Halloween night itself, late enough so as not to be interrupted by
trick-or-treaters. If the rituals are performed properly, there is
often the feeling of invisible friends taking part in the rites.
Another date which may be utilized in planning celebrations is the
actual cross-quarter day, or Old Halloween, or Halloween O.S. (Old
Style). This occurs when the sun has reached 15 degrees Scorpio, an
astrological 'power point' symbolized by the Eagle. This year (1988),
the date is November 6th at 10:55 pm CST, with the celebration
beginning at sunset. Interestingly, this date (Old Halloween) was
also appropriated by the Church as the holiday of Martinmas. "
Lastly, Nichols states,
" Of all the Witchcraft holidays, Halloween is the only one that
still boasts anything near to popular celebration. Even though it is
typically relegated to children (and the young-at-heart) and observed
as an evening affair only, many of its traditions are firmly rooted in
Paganism. Interestingly, some schools have recently attempted to
abolish Halloween parties on the grounds that it violates the
separation of state and religion. Speaking as a Pagan, I would be
saddened by the success of this move, but as a supporter of the
concept of religion-free public education, I fear I must concede the
point. Nonetheless, it seems only right that there SHOULD be one
night of the year when our minds are turned toward thoughts of the
supernatural. A night when both Pagans and non-Pagans may ponder the
mysteries of the Otherworld and its inhabitants. And if you are one
of them, may all your jack-o'lanterns burn bright on this All Hallow's
Eve".
I adored reading this and I hope it can be helpful for you all. Thank you for reading.
.jpg)
