Table of Contents

2. Samhain - As a time of Enlightenment

3. On Being Pagan and Community Responsibility

4. Upcoming Events

5. Resources

Mabon Reflections

Mabon, or Fall Equinox, represents the time when the Day begins to shorten and the Night begins to lengthen. It is also the time when the planet we live on, (here in the Northern Hemisphere), is pointing farther away from the sun. The axis of the earth shows a more oblique face to the Sun, until Spring.

In the Craft of the Wise, we see many celebrations that commemorate the in gathering of the Harvest, and the preparation for the "death" of the God, as he returns to the Otherworld for rest, and eventual re-birth in Spring.

Reflections

For me this year's Mabon celebration brought about strong remembrances of the year soon to end. In our own Mabon ritual we celebrated the in gathering of the harvest. We were thankful for the good things that have occurred for each of us this year. We gathered up those memories, and put them in storage for the winter, so we could pull them out when things get tough to help us remember that "This TO Shall Pass", and how what felt like a problem, turned into a blessing, when we examined, and learned the lesson that we were being taught. After all, we control our own thoughts and deeds.

A Plan for Action

Even though Mabon is past, you can still look at the last years blessings, and store them up. Take some time to examine this past year objectively, and acknowledge the blessings.

Write them down, put them in a sacred place, and take them out and look at them when times are tough, FEED on them, RELISH them, and be thankful once again.

Samhain - As a time of Enlightenment

It is these messages that I refer to when I say it is also a time for Personal Enlightenment. These messages are meant for each of us in our own walk. Even the "dark" things we see are our own interpretation of what is going on in our own psyche, and life.

As most of you know, when I assist others in connecting with their ancestors, and to travel in the Otherworld, I always caution the first time traveler to push out visions of "demons", "vampires", "werewolves", and see them as "interpretations" of messages that the conscious mind doesn't want you to see and understand.

I encourage them to see the truth of every vision and to interpret what they see in that context. I also speak about applying Honor, Respect, and Personal Responsibility to every image, and action in these visions. After all, we apply them to everything in our daily walk, so why not in the Otherworld.

The Plan

First understanding the meaning of these words are important.

Honor = Honor yourself and others by standing firm within your own boundaries and not allowing another to "change" you.

Respect = Yourself and others, by accepting your own choices and the choices made by others as what you and they desire without manipulation.

Personal responsibility = There are no Victims, in this, accept the consequences of your actions and non actions, and decisions, and work with them. If you do not like the consequences, own them and make the necessary changes within yourself.

Everything else is Not YOUR Problem

Second, look at the messages you receive OBJECTIVELY, and analyze them without emotion for the content they are. If your great grandmother appears to you and admonishes you for something, accept it, and examine it.

Third, meditate on the messages you receive for 3 days, and be open to the interpretation you get, as long as it is within Honor, Respect, and Personal Responsibility.

Lastly, EMBRACE the visions you receive in dreams, ritual, and even walking down the street. These messages coming in a flood during this time are a GIFT, not a curse.

Bright Blessings for a FRUITFUL Samhain.

On Being Pagan and Community Responsibility

Mother Nature herself, though sometimes seeming harsh, is never vindictive. The popular "law of nature", The Survival of the Fittest", is actually a theory of Charles Darwin and his interpretation of what he observed from HIS perspective. He IS entitled to his own perspective, and we are also entitled to our perspective, as long as each individual does not seek to impose their will on another.

This brings us to the purpose of this article. Community Responsibility is that which we profess is the basis of our own path. A Pagan, Witch, Heathen, even a Hindustani, Sikh, and Kabbalist, have a similar view of community. Each individual takes on the responsibility of their brothers and sisters, whether they are Two footed, four footed, scaly, or many legged. Some paths do not kill another creature, no matter what. Others kill for food, and utilize everything they can while honoring the spirit of the entity in question.

There are several other things that we as pagans can do that will serve as the EXAMPLE for all others.

Do you Reduce, Re-use, Recycle? Anyone who has come to my house see that we are pretty intense in this practice, even down to making Jar's Glasses!!!

Do you pick up the trash you come across when you are walking on a forest, or park path and dispose of it correctly?

Do you smile at others, even if they think you are up to something?

DO you separate your personal emotions from situations to allow yourself to analyze correctly?

Do you honor the Moon, Sun, and everything else in nature on a regular basis? This does not have to be in a group, you can go out to your own backyard and acknowledge them and open up to the energy they produce and return it to them!!

Is there a group that may not be pagan that holds to some of your ideals and can you step up to help?

One example that sticks out in my mind is from an associate in New Orleans, a out of the closet Pagan/Witch that has a Coven. After Katrina, they went out to a Black cemetery and began to return the bones of those departed to their crypts, and graves, fixed the covers of those graves, and continue to honor the dead, by keeping the areas cleaned, mowed, and in general repair. One day, a person, spoke to the caretaker who was working right along side the coven members, and said, I know these are Witches, how can you let them on consecrated ground, are they stealing the dead? The caretaker told the man, leave off, these are OUR witches, if you want to help, come on down from that there high hill you're standing on and get dirty, otherwise get on home.

A Christian individual in authority, telling another Christian, that it is OK, to work side by side with Witches. YEARS of hatred, and mistrust, undone, one individual at a time.

These are just some of the things each of us can do to show the LOVE of the Goddess. Find that thing that you can do to help bring this LOVE into the physical and just do it!

It will be a very rewarding experience, and even mend some bridges in the process.

Upcoming Events

October 10

Intuitive Readings 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Crescent Springs Metaphysical Shoppe To reserve your spot contact: the store

October 13

The Tree of Life in YOUR Daily Walk 6:30 - 9:30 PM Crescent Springs Metaphysical Shoppe To reserve your spot contact: the store

October 19

Core Shamanism Level 2

12:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Council Bluffs, IA This is a closed course

October 31-Nov 2

SAMHAIN

Resources