Hello! Happy Halloween and many Samhain blessings to you all! I hope this finds you enjoying the spirit of the day and having a bit of fun too.
I spent a good portion of yesterday getting ready for today. I took a quick drive to the farmers market for a variety of things, including cut flowers and a carving pumpkin. Then I spent the rest of the day setting my dining table and sideboard area for Halloween and The Ancestor Offerings. I made some banana bread using one of my grandmothers recipes and made a few plates with some of their favorite food for offerings to the Ancestors. One of my Grandmothers used to keep Zero candy bars in the freezer so when I saw a Zero bar in line at the grocers I just new I had to get it for her. I haven't seen these in ages! Some of the offerings include, pimento cheese sandwich (a favorite of my Great-Grandmother Ida), pasta with homemade sauce (for my Granddaddy, Lester, whose knickname in college was Spig, because he ate so much spaghetti having never seen it until he moved to NC), pepsi (my other granddaddy, George, retired from Pepsi Bottling Co. after a lengthy term of employment), and iced sweet tea (because everyone drank it).
I cleaned up my year-round ancestor altar on Saturday and spent this morning making up fresh bouquets for them and one for Maman Brigitte's altar. I used elements of the flowers I picked up yesterday and a few things from my own little garden.
I'm feeling very right today, I don't even know the correct word. I just feel as if I'm doing the things I should be and that everything is good. I pulled out one of my journals last night to find that I hadn't read tarot for myself since last Samhain. I read over the year reading I did and boy, was it spot on. I'll do another for myself for the coming year, tonight. (As I've been typing, the word I had been looking for came to me - balanced.)
I've walked the line between the worlds my entire life. For the most part I've kept it to myself, and/or hidden what I am and the gifts the Ancestors have given me. Recently, I've realized that this is the time to step up fully into those gifts and use them. What is the saying, use it or lose it? Well, I lost this gift several years ago and it was the most miserable year I've ever spent. Not like anything bad happened, I just didn't feel like myself. I didn't feel...whole. But this autumn, things are feeling balanced. Like I'm no longer trying to keep from tripping off the rope into one world or the other. So, I'm going to use it, as much and as often as I can.
I'd planned to do a giveaway at the beginning of the month so I could send out some Halloween goodies, but time and other things conspired against me and it didn't happen. However, there is no rule that says Halloween can't be enjoyed throughout the year! So, I'm having a little giveaway today. I have some Halloween items to send to someone out there in bloglandia. Included will be what you see in the picture above as well as a few other little things (like maybe some candy!). I'm also offering the winner a tarot reading. You can ask a question or just see what the cards and spirit have to tell you if you'd like.
To be entered in the giveaway, leave a comment telling me your most favorite Halloween memory* and I'll enter your name into the mix. I'll put everyone's name in the witches hat and draw one out (old school style!) on Saturday, Nov. 5th. Entries will be cut off at 11:59pm Friday (Nov. 4th).
*To be sure I don't add someone who doesn't want to be added please be sure to start your comment with "My most favorite Halloween memory is". For an extra entry, you can mention this giveaway on your blog. Nothing big, just a line or two will do. Leave me a separate comment that you did so, please, and I'll enter your name a second time.
Well, I just realized what time it is and I must run! I still have treat bags to fill and lunch to eat and a pumpkin to carve!!
thanks for stopping by!
love & blessings
~*~
