The Gray Witch Monthly e-zineOct 2011

2011 Cauldron of the Gray Witch

The Gray Witch Monthly E Zine Is brought to you by Cauldron of The Gray Witch, And some of its members

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Newsletter StaffDirector and Writer- Gray Witch Editor- and Writer - Sister Pluralone Asst.Editor and Writer - NorthWind ColuministsChristine SparkleWitch Lady Foxglove.. Others as able.

Columns Samhain / Herbal Grove Christine Mindfulness and Spiritual Awareness Pluralone Crystals-/Stones- LadyFoxglove From the Director- Lady Shadow

SamhainBy ChristineAll About Samhain Samhain: History: At Samhain (October 31) the Pagans say farewell to the God. This is a temporary farewell. He isnt wrapped in eternal darkness, but readies to be reborn of the Goddess at Yule. Samhain, also known as November Eve, Feast of the Dead, Feast of Apples, Hallows, All Hallows, once marked the time of sacrifice. In some places this was the time when animals were slaughtered to ensure food throughout the depths of winter. The God, identified with animals, fell as well to ensure our continuing existence. Samhain is a time of reflection, of looking back over the last year, of coming to terms with the one phenomenon of life over which we have no control, death. The Pagan feel that on this night the separation between the physical and spiritual realities is thin. Pagans remember their ancestors and all those who have gone before. After Samhain, Pagans celebrate Yule, and so the wheel of the year is complete. Samhain is known as the Witches New year. It is traditional to leave an offering of food or drink at the doorstep on this night to refresh those souls who may wander between the two worlds. This is our origin of our Western Halloween. Carved turnips were the original Jack-O-Lanterns and were carried by travelers going from feast to feast on Samhain night to dissuade any wandering spirits from interfering. This Sabbat celebrates the eternal cycle of reincarnation and marks the beginning of winter. Samhain is not a totally somber Sabbat, it is also a time of games and frivolity. Fall fruits such as apples, harvest foods of gourds and melons, and fall grains or nuts are typical decorations.

Colors: Black, Brown, Gold, Orange, Red, Silver, and Yellow Black: The color of protection and binding of negativity. We use black to release that which needs to be let go of and to help those who need the assistance in crossing. White: Attainment of a higher spirituality through leaving the physical body. White is thus symbolic during this time of year as those who have left us attain greater understandings than they had in life and we acknowledge that with white flowers and robes. Red: Energy and strength. The essence of the color conjures up courage and the will power to conquer the fear of the unknown. It is what remains of the sexual, reproductive potency of the Sun God as he is lain to rest on this night. It is also the energy of what we have reaped throughout the

three harvests, both literally and figuratively, as we stand on the brink of the pagan new year ready to apply what weve learned, to our lives. Stones: Amethyst, Asbestos, Beryl, Bloodstone, Cats Eye, Coal, Coral, Carnelian, Danburite, Fossil, Herkimer Diamond, Jasper, Jet, Marble, Mother of Pearl, Obsidian, Onyx, Petrified Wood, Pumice, Quart, Rhodonite, Smoky Quartz, Salt, Pink Tourmaline. Incense and Oils: Cedar, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Lavender, Lime, Mint, Myrrh, Orange, Sagebrush, Sandalwood, Copal, Mastic Resin, Benzoin, Sweetgrass, Wormwood, Mugwort, Sage, or Patchouli. Animals and Mythical Beasts: Stag, Cat, Bat, Owl, Jackal, Elephant, Ram, Scorpion, Heron, Crow, Robin, Phooka, Goblin, Medusa, Beansidhe, Fylgiar, Peryton, Erlkonig, and Harpies. God and Goddesses: Any figure of the Goddess in her Crone aspect, as well as Gods of death, such as: Hecate (Goddess of fertility, moon magic, and the witches protectress, Morrigan (Celtic Goddess of death), Cernunnos (Celtic fertility God), Persephone (Greek Goddess who dies and is reborn every year after being tricked by Hades), Arawn (Welsh King of Hel), Gywnn Ap Nudd (King of Faeries and of the Underworld), macha (Irish mother of life and death, one of the triple Goddesses of Morrigu), Scathach/Scota and Osiris (Egyptian God who dies and is reborn every year. Full Listing of Gods and Goddess: Anubis, Arianrhod, Astarte, Baba Yaga, Beansidhe (Banshee), Belili, Bran, Cailleach Beara, Cernunnos, Cerridwen, Crone, Dark Lord and Lady, Demeter, Hathor, Hecate, Hel, Horned God, Inanna, Ishtar, Isis, Kali, Kore, Lakshmi, Lilith, the Morrigan, Nephthys, Odin, Osiris, Oya, Persephone, Pomona, Rhiannon, and Tlzaoteotl. Symbols: Apples, autumn flowers, acorns, bat, black cat, bones, corn stalks, cauldrons, colored leaves, crows, death/dying, divination and the tools associated with it, ghosts, gourds, Indian corn, jack-o-lantern, nuts, oak leaves, pomegranates, pumpkins, scarecrows, scythes, and waning moon. Foods: Apples, apple dishes, cider, meat (traditionally this is the meat harvest), especially pork, mulled cider with spices, nuts, pomegranates, potatoes, pumpkins, cranberry muffins and breads, turnips, beets, ale, herbal tea (mugwort). Activities: Honoring the Dead, dumb supper, carving jack-o-lanterns (then making pie), making masks representing the Gods and Goddesses of Samhain, making a besom, divination, and most importantly, dont forget to leave milk and honey out for the Faerie folk. Spellwork: Release of bad habits, banishing, fairy magic, divination of any kinds, candle magic, astral projection, past life work, dark moon mysteries, mirror spells (reflection), casting protection, inner work, propitiation, clearing obstacles, uncrossing, inspiration, working of transitioner culmination, manifesting transformation, creative visualization, contacting those who have departed this plane. Herb and Plants: Apple, Cedar, Cherry, Elder, Eucalyptus, Holly, Horse Chestnut, Lime, Orange, Palm-Date, Oak, Peach, Pear, Pine, Plum, Quince, Rowan, Sandalwood, Willow, Witch Hazel, African

Violet, Agaric, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cinnamon, Coconut, Cuckoo-Flower, Cyclamen, Deerstongue, Devils Bit, Elderflower, Garlic, Ginger, Grape, Hemp, Huckleberry, Kalbs Cross, Lavender, Liquorice, Mandrake, Mint, Myrrh, Nettle, Nightshade, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Raspberry, Rhubarb, Saffron, Sage, Sarsaparilla, Sassafras, Sloe, Star Anise, Strawberry, Sugar Cane, Tea, Tobacco, Vanilla, Witch Grass, Wolfsbane.

Plant of the Season: Oak Magickal Uses: Magickally, the Oak represents strength and protection. It teaches persistence and endurance. Known as the King of the forest, the mighty Oak is traditionally associated with strength and courage. It grows to a huge size and great girth and is a very long-lived tree spanning centuries. Offering its gifts of protection, strength, and courage, Oak makes wonderful magical tools to last a lifetime or even a special heirloom to be passed down for generations. Sacred to the Druids and the Greeks, the Oak is a tree of strength, protection, and durability. It represents inner fire, courage and nobility of spirit. At the Greek oracle of Dodoni, The God Zeus speaks by rustling the leaves of the sacred oak. Many Germanic and Celtic tribes made truce and administered justice under the oak, and the Yule log is traditionally of oak as well. As it both attracts lightning and yet seems resilient to it, the oak is sacred to many storm and wind Gods, and its power to stand to lightnings transformative power may have something to do with its meaning in the Ogham, where it is Dur, door and Ogham of transformation, the ability to step through the door and create change. Dur is the turning point in the Oghamic calendar, falling at Summer Solstice, with Tinne (Holly) in the next month, representing the transition from the Oak to the Holly King. The acorn symbolizes the huge potential in small things. Uses: Protection, Health, Money, Healing, Potency, Fertility, and Luck. Medicinal Uses: The astringent effects of the Oak were well known to the Ancients, by whom different parts of the tree were used, but it is the bark which is now employed in medicine. Its action is slightly tonic, strongly astringent and antiseptic. It has a strong astringent bitter taste, and its qualities are extracted both by water and spirit. The odour is slightly aromatic. Like other astringents, it has been recommended in agues and hemorrhages, and is a good substitute for Quinine in intermittent fever, especially when given with Chamomile flowers. It is useful in chronic diarrhea and dysentery, either alone or in conjunction with aromatics. A decoction is made from 1 oz. of bark in a quart of water, boiled down to a pint and taken in wineglass full doses. Externally, this decoction has been advantageously employed as a serviceable as an injection for leucorrhoea, and applied locally to bleeding gums and piles.

Incense 3 parts Frankincense 2 parts Sandalwood 2 parts Mugwort

1 part Sage part Nutmeg part Lavender

Pathworking Take a long walk and thing about what is happening in the spirit world. Enjoy the cool, crisp weather, and collect a few pretty leaves to decorate the house with. Think about your mask and what the world sees that you dont agree with. Decide to more true to yourself. For dinner, make the favorite dish (or dishes) of a loved one, and enjoy some good memories as you eat. Share the food and the memories with someone you love, if you like. For dessert, have something made from pumpkin. Throughout the month, you can make small shrines to your departed loved ones by first placing their picture on a little out of the way shelf or corner of the room, and then add any memorabilia you have of them. Include items that you thinks they would have liked. You may have a poem or song that reminds you of them. You can leave a copy there, and maybe read or recite it to them on Samhain or sometime during the month. Dont forget to add a candle! Do some divination using whatever method you like. Try a few of them. Concentrate on your own Mysteries, where you are going on this path, who you really want to become. Meditate on the forces of dark and light, life and death. Notice how the dead, decaying plant life becomes compost for the seeds to feed on in the spring. Understand how all life feeds on life, and that all aspects of this process are necessary and sacred. Speak to a dark goddess you feel close to, if you will, of your fears and doubts. Let her take them from you. Know that she is the eternal Wise Grandmother---stern, yet loving and utterly powerful. Play spooky music, laugh, give candy generously to children---our future---in order to sweeten their future. Have a great time. Happy haunting!

Decorations: Make A Paper Twist Pumpkin You Will Need: A styrofoam ball - 3 inch or larger in diameter works best Orange and brown paper twist (available in craft stores) Tacky glue Scissors Something to use as a poker that DOES NOT have a sharp point

Step One - Decide where the top and the bottom of your pumpkin will be. Use the poker to make a small hole (about 1/4 inch deep) in the top and bottom of the pumpkin. Step Two - Measure the length from the top hole to the bottom hole. Add another 3/4 inch. This is the length to cut your strips of orange paper twist. Step Three - Untwist a section of orange paper twist. Cut a strip according to above measurement. Put a very small amount of glue in the top and bottom holes. Put an end of the cut section of paper twist in each hole. Use your poker to push the ends in the holes securely. Step Four - Repeat Step Three until your pumpkin is covered. Step Five - Cut a section of brown paper twist about an inch long. Do Not untwist. Glue the twist/stem into the top of the pumpkin. Let dry. Enjoy!

Make a Scrying Mirror Samhain is a time to do some serious divination - it's the time of year when the veil between our world and that of the spirits is at its thinnest, and that means it's the perfect season to look for messages from the metaphysical. Scrying is one of the best known forms of divination, and can be done in a variety of ways. Basically, it's the practice of looking into some sort of reflective surface -such as water, fire, glass, dark stones, etc. -- to see what messages, symbols, or visions may appear. A scrying mirror is a simple black-backed mirror, and it's easy to make one yourself. To make your scrying mirror, you'll need the following: A clear glass plate Matte black spray paint Additional paints (acrylic) for embellishment

To prepare the mirror, first you'll need to clean it. Use any glass cleaner, or for a more earth-friendly method, use vinegar mixed with water. Once the glass is clean, flip it over so that the back side is facing up. Lightly spray with the matte black spray paint. For the best result, hold the can a couple of feet away, and spray from side to side. If you hold the can too close, the paint will pool, and you don't want this. As each coat dries, add another coat. After five to six coats, the paint should be dense enough that you can't see through the paint if you hold the glass up to a light. Once the paint has dried, turn the glass right side up. Use your acrylic paint to add embellishments around the outer edge of the plate -- you can add symbols of your tradition, magical sigils, or even your favorite saying. The one in the photo says, "Thee I invoke by the moonlit sea, the standing stone, and the twisted tree." Allow these to dry as well. Your mirror is ready for scrying, but before you use it, you may want to consecrate it as you would any other magical item.

To Use it: If your tradition normally requires you to cast a circle, do so now. If you'd like to play some music, start your cd player. If you'd like to light a candle or two, go ahead, but be sure to place them so that they don't interfere with your line of vision. Sit or stand comfortably at your workspace. Begin by closing your eyes, and attuning your mind to the energy around you. Take some time to gather that energy. When you are ready to begin scrying, open your eyes. Position yourself so that you can look into the mirror. Stare into the glass, looking for patterns, symbols or pictures -- and don't worry about blinking, it's fine if you do. You may see images moving, or perhaps even words forming. You may have thoughts pop spontaneously into your head, that seem to have nothing at all to do with anything. Perhaps you'll suddenly think about someone you haven't seen in decades. Use your journal, and write everything down. Spend as much time as you like gazing into the mirror -- it may be just a few minutes, or even an hour. Stop when you begin to feel restless, or if you're getting distracted by mundane things. When you are finished gazing into the mirror, make sure you have recorded everything you saw, thought and felt during your scrying session. Messages often come to us from other realms and yet we frequently don't recognize them for what they are. If a bit of information doesn't make sense, don't worry -- sit on it for a few days and let your unconscious mind process it. Chances are, it will make sense eventually. It's also possible that you could receive a message that's meant for someone else -- if something doesn't seem to apply to you, think about your circle of family friends, and who the message might be meant for.

Herbal GroveBy Christine

Herbs in Medieval Times By Nancy V. Bennett Express permission to use this article, granted. How were herbs used by our ancestors in medieval times? You might be surprised to know that herbs were often employed as fragrant carpet, to be mixed with straw and rushes, to cover up the odor of one's hovel. Rue was used to protect one from plague, and a mixture of Chicory and oil was said to make your offers irresistible to anyone downwind of you. Not only for medicine, but in food, dyes, and rituals, herbs were part of our past. Here's a brief look at some of the ways herbs were part of history. Upper Crust Herbs For their unique tastes and scents, herbs were often used by the rich households. In their gardens, herbs such as mustard, borage and sage were grown for everyday meals, as they favored the strong flavors. Rosemary was enjoyed with a roasted pig, and it's scent was said to preserve a man's youth, so some carried it with them in boxes to breathe. For special occasions, spices brought from other countries such as cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom were added to the fare.

If you were among the very upper crust, you might be invited to enjoy a meal of Lombardy custard at a feast with King Richard II, a pie made from prunes, dates, figs, and bone marrow, with the addition of fresh parsley. For dessert you might be treated to a sambocade, a medieval version of cheesecake using dried elder flowers and cottage cheese. In the land of Baghdad, and beyond, herbs also had their place. For Muslims, a meal would not be complete without a dish known as madi ra, a thick stew made with mint and yogurt, onions, leeks and spices. It was a Middle eastern equivalent of chicken soup. Herbs like Thyme and coriander were used in the stuffing of large fish to be fried, and bread made with fresh rue leaves and pistachios, ground bay leaves, cloves, and rosebuds was a savory addition to the Armenian table. Herbs to Heal When the Black Death began to sweep through southern Europe in 1347, cures were useless and sometimes fatal. Bloodletting and the treating of the four humors were methods used by medieval doctors of the day. The treating of humors, or the four fluids of the body, came from the ancient Greeks. Depending on what humor was affected, doctors would prescribe purges or laxatives made by mixing herbs with drink or food, to balance out the humors. Angelica was used as a cure for patients and to protect healers form infection. Doctors would hang Angelica from their necks and chew upon it while ministering to the sick. Rue was also used as a deterrent. Male doctors relied on knowledge handed down such as the work of Galen, a Greek Physician, whose book on herbal remedies was widely used in schools. Unfortunately, his books on anatomy and surgery were also used as reference, and Galen had never seen or performed an autopsy. For those who came under the knife, the standard anesthetic was often made of potent ingredients such as hemlock, mandrake, and opium. The amounts were often incorrect, causing the patient to wake during surgery, or die before the first cut was made. Female healers also made their mark on medieval medicine. One was a German nun called Hildegard of Bingen, whose book, Causes and Cures, contained recipes for using herbs in the healing arts. Country Herbs Those who lived in the city had doctors, but in the country, people had to rely on themselves. For cures for anything from acne to removing warts, a medieval woman of the day need not look any further than her own herb garden. For skin wounds, a woman might make a poultice with daisies and mint to stop the bleeding. If one's sight needed sharpening, fennel or rue would be mixed with water to make a wash for the eyes. Basil was thought to dull vision, but it was good to season potatoes. Tansy would help with a pockmarked face, and betony with a sleepless night. A German housewife would mix a cream of centaury and butter to remedy the bite of a rabid dog. If livestock took ill, a mixture of herbs was used in a vapor bath to smoke the animal back to health. When someone died, a garland of herbs was placed on the body to help keep it smelling fresh until the soil could be broken for it's final home. These garlands were left on wooden markers once the body was buried, perhaps starting the tradition of flowers at a graveside.

A peasant's house normally was open during the day, so livestock intermingled with the home dwellers and left their droppings on the floor. The housewives would have to spread straw to absorb the mess, and as the stench was often high, herbs were also added to the mixture to disguise the smell. Lavender and rosemary were used for this, as they held up better than the tender herbs, like mint. To further disguise the smell pots holding mixtures of herbs. Flowers, and spices were left by the fireplace to rot. Later, someone discovered of you dried the herbs and flowers first, they were effective longer. This was the early beginnings of what we know as potpourri. If it came to dyeing cloth or wool, herbs were also useful. Marigold, weld, or broom could be employed for a yellow tinge, and if a woman wanted to dye the gray from her hair, she would use sage. For those who were beloved or wished to be, a nosegay of thyme, lavender and mint was carried. And what better way to attract a mate then with fresh, clean breath? For blushing maidens and wanting boys, wine was swished in the moth, then swallowed. This was followed by fennel, lovage, mint or parsley. Chewed each day, it was said to keep the breath fresh and the teeth white. In many ways, our herbal traditions grew from the castles and hovels of old. Rosemary, that's for remembrance, Shakespeare wrote, and it is with great fortune that we have history to thank for recoding the many uses of herbs for the generations to come.

Mindfulness and Spiritual AwarenessA series by:

pluralone

As an introduction to this series, the following is a brief overview of some of theterms and concepts to be explored in this monthly column. These are not necessarily in keeping with tradition; they are based on the personal experience of my spiritual path, and they are in no way intended as a means of defining spiritual reality, only as a means of discussing it.

Much has been written on the topic of mindfulness, and for good reason. In short, mindfulness involves being in 'the present moment'. At any given point in my day I can check in on my thoughts and find I'm thinking about something that happened in the past or that may happen in the future. Sometimes those thoughts take the form of worries; sometimes it's just about planning my day or thinking of something I need to get done. It's not 'bad' to have such thoughts, but it is really

handy to be able to bring oneself to 'now' on occasion and to just experience the moment as it is, not as it was or as it will or should be. It's a great place from which to begin the day, to end the day, and especially to enter a meditative state.

For the purposes of this column, 'spiritual awareness' is not about one's belief system; it is, rather, the direct experience of spiritual reality. It involves perceptions that are beyond - or in addition to - the five physical senses of touch, hearing, sight, smell and taste, senses that are a function of the spirit or energy body. Intuition is a function of spiritual awareness; others include, but are not limited to, the ability to see auras; sensing the emotional energy of others; astral travel, and the ability to sense and even communicate with spirit beings (what some call ghosts, angels, guides, spirits, etc). For those who are familiar with it, the concept is similar to, but not as specific as, 'Christ consciousness'.

'Spirit' and 'energy body' refer to the energetic/spiritual substance - the life force and individuality - beyond the physical presence of any living being; the part of the individual that continues to exist even after the body expires.

'Spiritual reality' is a term I use to denote that which is not perceived by the physical senses. In my own experience, I've found that there are many dimensions of reality, not just the physical one that we share as human beings. Those who are spirituality-minded have at least some acknowledgement of other dimensions, of the places folks go when they leave their bodies, the places where spirit beings reside.

In the coming months this column will present various aspects of mindfulness and spiritual awareness; exercises for bringing the self to the present moment as well as for exploring spiritual reality and expanding spiritual awareness.

As a member of the online forum, Cauldron of the Gray Witch, pluralone is editor and contributor of The Gray Witch's Monthly ezine. Response to this column is welcome; please address via private message to pluralone at Cauldron of the Gray Witch, http://thegraywitch@ning.com

StonesBy LadyFoxgloveSubject: Selenite, named for the goddess, Selene -----------Selenite named for the goddess, Selene Merry Meet, my brothers and sisters and visitors of the Cauldron of the Gray Witch! To honor the sacred month of Samhain, Ive decided to make the first crystal I page homage to selenithe. Because this is the time of year when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest and finally lifted on October 31, I thought it would be appropriate to write a bout a beloved stone that takes us between the worlds at any time of year. Selenite is a gigantic, whiteish, silvery translucent crystal that grows in large stalks in caves in Meico and Ohio. Pictures of selenite caves show tremendous stalks of the crystal the size of 2X4s used to build homes that dwarf the miners working there. Most crystal lovers are familiar with selenite in the form of small wands which are broken off of these majestic crystals. Some crystal dealers sell selenite in large blocks 12 to 18 long. These are wonderful for astral projection.

Selenite works on the top 3 chakras of the bodies, helping people to synthesize ascension energies with which were being bombarded right now. I have found, when Im feeling overwhelmed by all of the loving energies aimed at Gaia and her inhabitants from our star brothers and sisters (my world view, so humor me ), that if I grab a selenite bar or wand, I feel instantly soothed. My chakras align at once and I don't have a million questions running around in my brain. You can keep selenite near other crystals and it will not absorb the energies of the

other crystals. It stays neutral and it helps clear the energies of the other crystals as well.

This beautiful crystal is named after Selene, the Titan goddess of the moon. It is striated and flakey and iridescent and resembles the goddess herself , our moon in all her glory. There is a famous story about Selene and her forever love, a shepherd named Endimyion. The story goes that Sleene spied Endymion asleep in the fields and she fell instantly so madly in love with him that she begged Zeus to keep him in a state of perpetual sleep so he would remain ageless and immortal. That way Selene would be able to visit Endymion in his dreams for an eternity. Endymion loved Selene so much that he agreed and together this way they had 50 daughters some of them muses.

The reason I tell the story of Selene, who, by the way, also had Pan as a lover and it is said that Pan gave Selene her chariot as a gift is that selenite has dream and awake-while-youre-asleep properties. When I go to sleep, sometimes I cradle a large bar of selenite and it makes my transition into parallel planes and the astral smooth, protected and quite lucid. I return home from night school in the morning feeling refreshed and completely clear. I use selenite in spells as well. It has strong protective properties. I like to place a bar at each direction when I perform sympathetic magick rituals to heal mother earth. For more tips on selenite, feel free to write me. Lady Foxglove

From the Director Ascension Magick

Series By Lady Shadow

The Path of Ascension spiritual practices of integrating higher consciousness into everyday life. In this group we will look at what is Ascension magickAnd at.Ascended Masters Angels/ Star beings The Merkaba MeditationScience of the Seven ways Karma and Dharma, Channeling Atlantis The seven planes Conscious grids The Light Body The 13 dimensions of light Initiations Sacred Geometry There will be some exercises Please if possible get hold of the book Ascension Magick It will be what much of this is based and will help you

What is Ascension? Ascension is a Mystery, an experience found in mystery religions Mysteries in this context are experiences Words can try to explain, but they fall short. Those who experience the mysteries understand this. Some views of AscensionA global event, happens to everyone same time, and same way Part of the Personal path of enlightenment- with multiple manifestations This is just some, here we will focus more on Personal Ascension.This includedLiteral AscensionPosthumoous AscensionLiving EnlightenmentAscension to the Next ageReturning to the sourcePersonal initiationSymbolic Ascension

Working with the Ascended Masters Oracle This Oracle are messages from various great Spiritual Teachers and Healers With messages of guidance, encouragement, comfort, and spiritual advice Ascended Masters are powerful guides able to help you understand your life purpose, master the courage to make major changes and decisions, as well as develop psychic abilities. You do not need special training to receive their help, just open

There is 44 cards with their messages and guidance for you.

Trick O TreatOriginThere could hardly be a better example of the way that language and traditions migrate over time and across different cultures than trick or treating. This is well-known to be an American tradition, but its origins lie in medieval Europe. There are myriad Christian and pagan rituals and celebrations that have taken place on or about the 1st of November each year. These occurred in virtually every English-speaking and/or Christian

country. They have evolved and merged over the centuries and continue to do so. Common features of these traditions are - asking for food, dressing in disguise and a connection to the spirits of the deceased. The language of these traditions is heavily influenced by the naming of days in the Christian calendar. The central date of the rituals that herald the beginning of winter is the 1st of November, called All Saints Day or All Hallows Day. The following day is All Souls Day and the 31st of October is All Hallows Eve - shortened to Hallowe'en (i.e. the evening before All Hallows Day). The practice of souling - going from door to door on or about All Souls Day to solicit gifts of food in return for prayers for the dead - evolved from a pagan ritual that was practiced all over Europe, possibly as early as the 10th century. As a Christian tradition it goes back to at least the 14th century, when it is mentioned by Chaucer. It is still commonplace in many Catholic countries, notably Ireland, where soul-cakes are left out for the departed. The first reference to the practice under that name in England is John Brand's Popular Antiquities of Great Britain, 1779: "On All Saints Day, the poor people go from parish to parish a Souling, as they call it." The tradition has altered so that it is now children, usually dressed in disguise, who go about asking for gifts around the beginning of November. Some examples of this are from: England, where we have requests for 'a penny for the guy'. This derives from the bonfire celebrations that began to celebrate the thwarting of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605. Guy Fawkes was the explosives specialist of the plot. He was scheduled to be hanged, drawn and quartered, but escaped that fate by prematurely hanging himself by jumping from the scaffold with the noose

around his neck. He is now symbolically re-executed each year on 5th November (Bonfire Night), when effigies of him, called guys, are burned on bonfires all over England. The 'pennies' that children collect are traditionally spent on fireworks. This had a secular and political rather than religious or supernatural motivation, but it clearly inherited much from souling. The USA, where the tradition is trick or treating. This 20th century tradition has many of the features of the earlier rituals, a knowledge of which were of course brought to the USA by immigrants from Europe. Scotland, where it is called guising. This is a clear predecessor of trick or treat. The main difference between the two was that the children performed small entertainments before being given gifts - poems, jokes etc. This is now merging into trick or treating, with sweets being expected without the party piece. The earliest known citation of trick or treat in print is from an item in the Oregon newspaper The Oregon Journal, 1st November 1934, headed 'Halloween Pranks Keep Police on Hop': "Other young goblins and ghosts, employing modern shakedown methods, successfully worked the 'trick or treat' system in all parts of the city." Trick or treating spread across the USA in the 1930s and is cited then in newspapers from many states. For example, the Indiana paper The Vidette-Messenger, October 30th 1937: "Trick or treat. This seems to be the popular pastime among the younger folk and Valparaiso people... will hear it many times tonight, for it is Hallowe'en." From Washington state we have The Centralia Daily Chronicle item for 1st November 1939:

"Pranksters were bought off when oldsters complied with their 'trick or treat' demand..." It seems that the practice wasn't universally popular amongst adults when it appeared in the 1930s. Many of the early references to trick or treatingfeature 'what's the world coming too' type comments by outraged residents and police. The Reno Evening Gazette, 1st November 1938, alludes to Nevada children using methods similar to the protection rackets of the Mafia. Its piece was headed 'Youngsters Shake Down Residents': "TRICK OR TREAT WAS THE SLOGAN EMPLOYED BY HALLOWEENPRANKSTERS WHO SUCCESSFULLY EXTRACTED CANDY FRUIT FROM

RENO RESIDENTS . IN RETURN THE YOUNGSTERS OFFEREDPROTECTION AGAINST WINDOW SOAPING AND OTHER FORMS OF ANNOYANCE."

MONTANA BY THE END OF THE 1930S FOR THE HELENA INDEPENDENTNEWSPAPER TO BE ADVERTISING A 23 CENT "TRICK OR TREAT MIX" OF CANDIES. IT ISN'T CLEAR HOW MANY THEY SOLD THOUGH . ON 2ND NOVEMBER 1938, THE SAME PAPER REPORTED THAT SOME OF THEIR READERS HAD NOT TAKEN KINDLY TO BEING GIVEN 'AN OFFER THEY CAN 'T REFUSE' BY SMALL MASK -WEARING GHOSTS AND GHOULIES AND , ALTHOUGH THEY WERE THREATENED WITH LITTLE MORE THAN SOME IMPROMPTU WINDOW SOAPING , THEY EXPRESSED THEIR ANNOYANCE IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS - BY SHOOTING AT THE LITTLE DEVILS . "HALLOWE'EN PRANKSTERS IN SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE NATION CARRIED HOME LOADS OF BUCKSHOT LAST NIGHT. MOST PERSONS ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF SHOTGUN TREATMENT , BUT THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF SOME CHASTISEMENT." A RING ON THE DOORBELL , FOLLOWED BY "TRICK OR TREAT?", IS HEARD IN HOUSEHOLDS IN MANY COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD EACH 31ST

OCTOBER. THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SPREAD . PARTLY IT IS DUE TO THE MIGRATION OF US FAMILIES AND PARTLY TO THE CULTURAL DOMINANCE OF THE USA (WHAT CHILD WITH A TELEVISION SET CAN HAVE FAILED TO HAVE SEEN SPIELBERG 'S ET OR AT LEAST ONE OF THE SIMPSONS' SEVENTEEN TREEHOUSE OF HORROR HALLOWEEN SPECIALS?). PROBABLY MORE SIGNIFICANTTHOUGH ARE THE COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF THE MEDIA AND MANUFACTURERS . IF YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH SPENDING JUST CENTS THIS

23

HALLOWE'EN OR BONFIRE NIGHT YOU'LL HAVE DONE WELL.

Kids look forward to Halloween for many reasons. They like the dressing up in costumes but the mostly they like it for the candy and treats! Who wouldn't? Even some adults still like to go our trick or treating. It makes them feel young and happy again. While this section sticks mainly to guidelines for kids, they are just as useful for adults.

Some parents like to take first dibs on some of the candy that the kids have picked up during the night. It's their reward for taking them around from house to house! We suggest that you watch

the candy intake when you all get home, too much at one time can lead to stomach aches and indigestion. That includes mom and dad as well!

Make your child's Halloween a memorable holiday and they'll have good memories that last a lifetime! If you are taking your kids out for the night, dress up as well. Mom and dad should get into Halloween as much as the kids do!

Trick or Treating should be one of the great adventures of Halloween for kids! They can get dressed in scary costumes and go door to door, begging "Tricks or Treats!" from neighbors or at the local mall. Lots of small towns have a Halloween Safe Night at the community center or school so kids can Trick-or-Treat safely but going door to door is the stuff of childhood memories! It should be a fun time, without trouble and pain, so

following some easy tips can keep your child safe every Halloween. Children should always go out trick or treating accompanied by a responsible adult. If you have a group of kids going, the parents should choose two or three of them to go along and keep an eye on things.

Some towns set a curfew for trick or treating which makes it easier for townsfolk to know who's coming to their door. Make sure and stick to the curfew times and stick to subdivisions and areas with a lot of homes so your kids can get in as much trick or treating as possible in a few hours time.

Plan a safe route so parents know where their older kids will be at all times. Set a time for their

return home. Make sure that your child is old enough and responsible enough to go out by themselves. Make sure that they have a cell phone.

Let your children know not to cut through back alleys and fields if they are out alone. Make sure they know to stay in populated areas and not to go off the beaten track. Let them know to stay in well lighted areas with lots of people around. Explain to them why it can be dangerous for kids not to do this. If they are going out alone, they are old enough to know what can happen to them in a bad situation and how to stop it from happening.

Instruct your children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined by you. This way you can check for any problem candy and get the pick of the best stuff!

Instruct your child to never go into the home of a stranger or get into their car. Explain why this is not a god idea and what to do if someone approaches them and tries to talk to them.

Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars.

Let them know that they should stay together as a group if going out to Trick or Treat without an adult.

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