Halloween and Waning Crescent 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.

We are also at the waning crescent moon, the final phase of the Chrysanthemum Moon cycle. The next new moon, in four days, will be the Kindly Moon cycle. At the new moon I'll set my intentions for the month ahead.

But right now, at the waning crescent, it's time to evaluate and brainstorm, find purpose, and surrender. I'll open to curiosity and attention, contemplate what I might want in the 30 days ahead, and rest up for the move back into yang-action mode. These next few days are a chance to look back and look forward, and think about the big picture of my life.

Agenda:
1. Evaluation House

2. Monthly journal brainstorm

3. Surrender, rest, recuperate 

4. Plan a costume

5. Carve a pumpkin
6. Make Soul Cakes

7. Have a silent meal

1. Evaluation House:

Today I got to reflect back on the whole lunar cycle that I've just passed through. I reviewed the intentions I set at the start of the cycle and drew a house with 4 rooms: 

• A room for things I have accomplished and completed
• A room for things I will save for the next month (and new ideas)
• A room for things I will finish in the next couple days
• A room for the things I have released because they became irrelevant or didn't go as planned.

2. Monthly journal brainstorm:
Today I will write down my goals, dreams, and exciting ideas for the next moon cycle; just write lists of ideas without judgement - put down everything I think I should do, everything I really want to do, and everything I only dream of doing. Include these broad categories:

            -Self-care and life-style

            -Love, social skills, friends and family

            -Career/work and life path

            -Creativity and self-expression

            -Activism and service

            -Stillness, knowledge, skills and growth

            -Home and garden

            -Seasons and celebration

3. Surrender, rest, recuperate: 

This next few days is a time to be empty; the time for striving is past. As the moon’s light fades into darkness I get to relax and surrender to the universe. 

Some things will always be out of my control. As the moon's appearance dwindles, I let go of useless beliefs, unreasonable expectations, grudges, defensiveness, projects that don't fit into my life, and anything else that isn't working for me. I turn these all over to the Divine and give thanks, my way of opening to receive new intentions in the new month.

4. 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!

5. 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 jack-o'lanterns before their doors to keep out the unwelcome visitors from the otherworld.

6. 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.






3- Preheat the oven to 375ºF and grease 2 cookie sheets. Flour a board and roll out the dough to 1/2-inch thick. 

4. Cut into rounds with a coffee cup dipped in flour. Press the handle of a wooden spoon into each cake to make a cross on the top.







5. Place cakes on the pans and bake 15-20 minutes until slightly brown.

7. Have a silent meal:

Dating back to the Middle Ages, the Celts had a “dumb supper”, a meal eaten in total silence, to welcome and remember the souls of their ancestors. 

Today I plan to eat lunch near my ofrenda, and remember and celebrate my ancestors. I will light the candles, then eat in silence and reflect on my memories in peace. 

Dunk for apples:

Not a good idea during a pandemic, but the photo is too cute to leave off.