Celebrate the Circle: Halloween and Full Blue Moon

October 31, 2020

Halloween and Full Blue Moon

Halloween is the modern name of the Irish and Scottish holiday originally called Samhain (pronounced Sow-win), a Celtic-Gaelic word meaning “summers-end”. It begins at dusk on October 31, and marks the doorway to the dark half of the Celtic year, the opening of a new cycle.

The early Gaels believed that the border between this world and the otherworld became thin on Samhain, and so spirits of the dead could visit the living.

Today is also the full moon, called the Blue Moon because it was the second full moon in October.

Actually, the original definition of a blue moon is a fourth full moon in one season, but I'm going with the newer definition- the second full moon in a month- because I don't have any better name for this moon. Both are correct, because it's folklore, and folklore is fluid.

Agenda:
1. Update my altar

2. Practice my theme of Abundance

3. Journal queries

4. Blessings walk

5. Creativity practice

6. Plan a costume
7. Carve a pumpkin
8. Make Soul Cakes

1. Update my altar:
At the full moon each month I discern what to put on my altar for the next month. (For my thoughts on altars see About Altars). I generally keep it simple and choose only things that speak to me and feed me, and reveal what I believe in. I ask, what quality of Spirit do I want to invoke? Today I cleared my altar except for:

dried corn- for the harvest
a God's eye- to watch over us
my straw doll- for luck and protection

I added:

a purple candle- for abundance and gratitude

2. Practise at my theme of abundance:
My theme this month is abundance. Abundance is wealth, success, accomplishment, endless possibility, and fullness of life. It's the great give-and-take of the Universe. Welcoming abundance into my life leads to hope, happiness, peace, generosity, creativity, optimism, resilience, and inspiration.

To attract abundance into my life (and into the world), I need an abundance consciousness: That is, I need to be aware of the abundance already in my life, connect with it, feel grateful for it, and accept more of it. Abundance consciousness opens my mind; I see my prospects clearly and accept obstacles as opportunity. It helps me to operate at a higher-level: When I believe there’s enough for everybody, I will take it as a challenge to figure out how to make it so. I will work harder to create a bright future for myself, my family, and my world.

For this month I'm going to practice several abundance habits:

I'm going to keep an Abundance Journal every morning,
I'm going to focus on my blessings on my morning walk,
I'm going to have a daily creativity practice, creating one new thing each day,
and I'm also reading The Joy of Appreciative Living, by Jacqueline Kelm.

3. Journal queries:

This month I plan to keep an Abundance Journal. I'll start with a few minutes of quiet meditation to expand my awareness of what I want for myself and for others in my life.

“Expansion is the great friend of abundance. It brings in the light, opening up new possibilities. In a relaxed, open state, your awareness sees farther, and life isn’t so confined.” Deepak Chopra

Then I'll write some goals for welcoming abundance into my life, such as to become more open to opportunities, to find ways to prosper, to become clearer about what I value, to be more generous, or to better show thankfulness

What do I want for myself and for others?
What area of my life feels pinched or lacking?
What steps can I take today towards abundance?

4. Blessings Walk:

I'm also going to practice a Blessings Walk as I walk my dog each morning:

1. Gratitude: Begin my walk, and concentrate on everything I’m grateful for. Say, “I’m grateful for the fresh morning air; that I’m healthy, and my family is healthy; for my friends….” Continue this for 1-2 blocks.

2. Wishes: Turn a corner, and focus on what blessings I hope for now. Create a clear picture in my mind of what I wish to do today, how I want to live, how I want my home to look, what adventures I want to have... Continue this for 1-2 blocks.

3. Mindfulness: Turn another corner, and pay attention to the moment, to the air, the sky the way my body is moving. Continue this for 1-2 blocks.

4. Prayer: Turn the last corner, and speak a prayer out loud as I’m moving; feel the power and energy move through me. Say:

“Spirit of the Universe, I am open and receptive to blessings from expected and unexpected sources. I am a limitless being, accepting from a limitless source, in an infinite way. I am incredibly blessed.”

5. Creativity Practice:

Creativity goes along with abundance. Each day I will pick one thing to make with my hands with care - a pot of soup, a candle, a painting, a letter, a stitched heart, a baby hat...

6. Plan a costume:
Originally, folks probably dressed in costumes and masks at Samhain to scare off any spirits that were bad. Now we do it because it's fun! Of course this year all my halloween parties are on line, and I can add a virtual scary background!

7. Carve a pumpkin:
Pumpkins didn't grow in Ireland or Scotland, but early Celts carved the images of spirit-guardians onto turnips and set these jacko'lanterns before their doors to keep out the unwelcome visitors from the otherworld.

8. Make Soul Cakes:

It was also a custom in Britain and Ireland to go ‘a-souling’ on Samhain- go door to door, singing and saying prayers for the dead; this is the origin of trick-or-treating! These people were called Soulers, and folks gave them Soul Cakes. Each cake eaten represented a soul freed from suffering.

Ingredients:

2-3/4 c. white flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. each ground cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg
3/4 c. butter
1 egg
2 tsp. white wine vinegar

Yield: 12 cakes-

1- Thoroughly mix the flour, sugar, and spices. Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

2- Add in a beaten egg and the white wine vinegar and mix with a wooden spoon until firm (I had to add a little water to get it to hold together); cover and put in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.