Witchvox Article

Author: CatDancing
Posted: November 1st. 2009
Times Viewed: 1,097

Two days ago my husband and I spent most of our Sunday working in the front yard. As we trimmed the overgrown forsythia near the front gate, cut down dried stalks left from JoePye, goldenrod, boneset and thoroughwort, a definite chill could be felt in the air after a night when the thermometer had dipped to nearly freezing. We had started our work around 10:00 a.m. and as the sun climbed up over the mountains that surround our home we began to slowly thaw out and the dogs stretched themselves at the end of the porch to soak up the much appreciated warmth.

After the long weeks of drought that have plagued eastern Kentucky not much was left of what I had so carefully planted in spring and early summer, but a few violet colored zinnias had persevered and the morning glories along the twig fence were still showing off their hot pink blossoms.

As I pulled weeds I thought of the hummingbirds that had buzzed around them so often in the heat of summer and of the many times I had stopped to enjoy the sight of dozens of butterflies working on the Iron Weed and other wild plants that spring up across the unmown parts of our property. Even knowing that a heavy frost warning was out for the coming night I couldn't bring myself to go ahead and clean out what remained in bloom – let them bless us with their beauty for one more afternoon! These last mellow days of autumn are gifts to be treasured for soon the piercing winds of winter will come to replace them.

Since then we have had two nights of below freezing temperatures and now what remained of summer's bounty and glory is slumped into a lifeless heap of frozen leaves and stems. The last of our green tomatoes are waiting to be fed to the hens and only a few of my hardier herbs still are holding on. Most of these will soon join the bundles of mint, thyme, oregano, lavender and marjoram already hanging from racks in the kitchen to dry. A few clusters of late-blooming wild asters remain to dot the yard as leaves drop from the dogwood and viburnum in every sudden gust of wind.

The name 'November' is believed to derive from the Latin 'novem' which means 'nine'. In the Roman calendar of ancient times November was the 9th month after March. According to Pagan beliefs it is the time of the 'Snow Moon', and the period described as the 'Moon of Falling Leaves' by Black Elk.

At Samhain we celebrated the final harvest – fields and orchards have given up their fruits, nuts, vegetables and grains in preparation for the big chill of Winter. From now until Yule the days continue to grow shorter as the nights lengthen. Our mountain mornings wear a shawl of fog making the world seem a far-off place, foreign and unknown, making us long for the comfort of logs crackling in the fire and the soft, magickal glow of candlelight.

Although those of us following pagan paths do not have a sabbat to celebrate during this month, November is nonetheless a month of many feasts and celebrations, beginning with a festival known as Reign of the Old Woman Cailleach in honor of the ancient Celtic Crone-Goddess. Romans honored Pomonia, the harvest goddess of all fruit bearing plants to mark the end of the growing season.

Many of today's modern witches celebrate the day following Samhain with a feast commemorating maturity, immortality and resurrection. Latin Americans honor the spirits of deceased loved ones with offerings of food on the Day of the Dead. November 2nd or All Souls Day brings the festival of Woden (or Odin) as god of the dead and the Christian Church honors those departed spirits that have not been elevated to sainthood.

On the 7th of the month a fire festival known as the Night of Hecate was held once a year in ancient Greece to honor the goddess Hecate with most of the worship being performed at night at a three-way crossroad. This day is also a yearly Hawaiian harvest festival as well as the feast of St. Leonard who was known for slaying dragons. Thailand brings us a traditional wish-magick ritual on the 9th of November involving little boats made of banana peels and lotus leaves. These are filled with candles and offerings to the Gods and as they are set adrift on the river secret wishes are made. If the candles keep burning until they are out of sight the wishes are said to come true.

On the 10th in olden times, Old November Eve was celebrated throughout the Scottish countryside and Nienevin, an aspect of the goddess Diana was honored with prayers and feasts. She was believed to ride through the air and make herself visible to mortals on this night. On Old November Day, the 11th, the evil Celtic Sidhe fairies are honored and appeased with a festival known as Lunantshees.

November 12th brings the festival honoring the Roman God Jupiter along with goddesses Juno and Minerva, and the 14th an ancient Druidic festival known as the Feast of Musicians. The Hindu New Year rings in on the 16th with the Festival of Lights in honor of Lakshmi and the 21st is sacred to the Pagan gods Chang'O, Damballan, Tammuz and Quetzacoatl.

Not the least of the celebrations of November is the Thanksgiving holiday, which, although not Pagan in origin, is celebrated by many along with family and friends following a variety of spiritual paths. As Pagans we have already celebrated Mabon which is often referred to as the “witch's thanksgiving”, but it can never hurt to set aside an extra day in the course of the year in which to think of our many blessings and be grateful for them.

Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote, “Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts”, and never is this more true than during the holiday season when we are frequently reminded of old traditions and of drawing close to hearth and home. The patterns of frost on leaves and windowpanes, pumpkins on the front porch steps, birds crowding eagerly into the feeders and the aroma of fresh bread baking in the oven, are treasures beyond price.

These are the mellow days of November – time for serenity and quiet thoughts, for drawing close to those things and people which are near to our hearts – both here with us and those who have passed beyond this realm. To Pagans the darkness of this time symbolizes spiritual activity, with the veil being thinnest at Samhain, but with continued spirit activity until Yule.

Think of incorporating herbs of the season, such as ginger, wormwood, hyssop, hops, patchouli, nutmeg, and star anise into any rituals you may be preparing. Flowers to use include dahlias, chrysanthemums and white lilies, and trees such as pine, elder, cypress and yew.

Spirits associated with November are banshees and other beings who carry messages between the worlds and animals to call upon are bat, sow, dog, wolf, snake, owl, falcon and raven. Call upon the deities Kali, Maman, Nepthys, Sekhmet, Astarte, Calleach, Circe, Cybele, Freyja, Cerridwen, Hathor, Hel, Holda and the Horned God and make use of the stones onyx, obsidian, topaz, and Apache tear.

Incorporate the colors of black, white and purple into your altar and home decorations. There are still many items from nature that can be used in decorating so as you take those brisk November strolls be on the lookout for dried seed pods, cones, twigs, grasses, apples, and grains to bring the magick of nature into your home.

Our garden chores are winding down, but this is the time to clean up any remaining garden debris and rotting foliage, clean and store garden tools, drain hoses to prevent freezing and bursting, and rake leaves for composting or mulching. You can continue to divide and replant perennials as long as the ground is workable and hardy chrysanthemums can be cut back to 2 or 3 inches after flowering.

Think of planting bulbs for spring bloom and also of potting bulbs such as amaryllis, paper white hyacinths, jonquils and crocus for indoor forcing during the winter. Nothing warms a gardener's heart during the long, gray winter days like the early blossoms of tulips or other bulbs, or the sweet fragrance of potted hyacinths!

Give some special attention to houseplants as they adjust to being moved indoors, making sure that they have adequate moisture, humidity and light. Trim any dead or unhealthy looking foliage and give a light feeding. If you're planning to purchase a live tree for Yule this is the time to dig a hole for later planting before the ground is frozen hard. Cover the removed soil with plastic or multiple layers of newspaper to prevent freezing.

Clean bird feeders and get in a supply of food for your feathered friends. If you have grown and dried gourds or purchased them, why not use a couple to make feeders. Simply cut a round opening on both sides being sure to leave enough space in the bottom to fill with seed. A wooden dowel can be pushed through for a perch by making a small hole on each side to accommodate it. Decorate your feeder by painting, adding a design or simply leave it plain with a protective coat of spray on polyurethane. Mark the location of newly planted bulbs so that you'll know their location when spring arrives.

The stunning afternoons of summer are past until the wheel continues to turn and brings us back once again to the time of planting and growth. But, we are rich in autumn's gold, filled with an abundance of the heart, and our spirits are illuminated by the magick of candlelight and the mysteries of the season.

MINIATURE PUMPKIN CANDLE HOLDERS

This is a fun and easy decoration to make for your special celebrations. You will need:

3” to 4” mini pumpkins in orange or white
10” to 14” inch tall taper candles in autumn colors
a sharp knife for cutting the holes in the pumpkins
Ribbon, raffia, colorful silk leaves, berry clusters, etc. for decoration

Cover your work surface with newspapers or plastic. Cut out around the stems from the pumpkins leaving a hole the size of your candle bases. You may need to scoop out a little of the pumpkin flesh – a small size melon baller is handy for this.

Insert candles into the pumpkins.

Decorate around the base of the candles by tying around a length of raffia and making a bow. Small stems, leaves, seasonal flowers, berry clusters, etc. can be inserted around the base.

Always place the pumpkin candleholders on a small plate or on a small piece of plastic to avoid leaving a ring on wooden table surfaces. These little pumpkins can be very hard so use caution when cutting. Place cards can be easily added if desired by cutting a slit across the top of the pumpkin.

ABOUT...

CatDancing

Location: Mayking, Kentucky

Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MountainWitchsCottage

Bio: CatDancing is a solitary eclectic green/hedge witch practicing in the mountains of eastern Kentucky where she shares a mostly quiet lifestyle with her husband, 5 cats, 4 dogs, 1 ornery goat, and a small flock of hens and noisy roosters! When she is not tending hearth,
home and herb garden she enjoys reading, writing, designing pagan-themed needlework, painting and photography. She is currently the
owner of the 'Mountain Witch's Cottage' group on Yahoo, co-owner
of 'The Mother's Magickal Herb Garden' and moderator of 'Stormy's Book of Shadows', also both on Yahoo. She can be reached at catdancing@fastmail.fm.

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