Well, it's that time of year again...
Earth's closest neighbor, occultic rituals are performed during a full moon. Hosptial and emergency room records show that the moon does effect a person's mood.
October 31st is exactly between the Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice. Those involved in astrology and the occult believed this to be the best time of year to commune with the dead, as the "veil between the worlds" of the living and the dead was thinnest on this day.
Looks scary, huh? It's supposed to. This is a night of fear, violence, and the occult.
Halloween began with the Celts, 2,000 years ago, on their New Year's Eve, October 31st. Ancient Druids who lived in what is now England, France, Scotland and Wales celebrated the Vigil of Samhain. This was in honor of their god, Samhain, lord of the dead. They believed the evil spirits of the dead came back on this day, to wreak havoc on the living. The holiday was designed to appease Samhain as well as the spirits of these evil dead.
Lord of the Dead? Evil spirits? But Jack looks so innocent!
According to Irish legend, there was a man named Stingy Jack. He was too mean to go to heaven, and he had played too many tricks on the Devil to go to Hell. When he died, he had to walk the earth, carrying a lantern made out of a turnip, with a burning coal inside.
When the tradition was brought to the United States by immigrants, a pumpkin was used for a Jack-O-Lantern, rather than turnips or other vegetables.
A black cat has often been associated with a witch, as it is believed that witches can transfer their spirit into the cat. A cat was called a witch's familiar because the cat would usually be killed along with the person suspected of being a witch. Mere superstition?
What exactly is Witchcraft?
| Witchcraft
(noun)is defined in thedictionary as: 1 a) The use of sorcery or magic b) Communication with the devil or with a familiar 2) An irresistable influence or fascination |
"It is an important holiday for us. Witches are diverse, and practice a variety of traditions. Many of us use this time to practice forms of divination (such as tarot or runes). Many Witches also perform rituals to honor the dead; and may invite their deceased loved ones to visit for a time, if they choose. This is not a "seance" in the usual sense of the word; Witches extend an invitation, rather than summoning the dead, and we believe the world of the dead is very close to this one. So on Samhain, and again on Beltane (May 1st), when the veil between the worlds is thin, we attempt to travel between those worlds. This is done through meditation, visualization, and astral projection. Because Witches acknowledge human existence as part of a cycle of life, death and rebirth, Samhain is a time to reflect on our mortality, and to confront our fears of dying."
Your doorbell rings. You open the door to kids and adults dressed in costume, expecting a treat. Sounds like innocent fun, except historically, food was often offered to appease an evil spirit.
While the traditions of Halloween today are largely symbolic, it's obviously a holiday filled with darkness. Demons, monsters, ghosts, and the like, all represent evil and death. But you need to decide for yourself. When trick or treaters come to our door this Halloween, we'll share with them the light of Christ. Won't you join us...and step into the light?
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