Samhain is the day on which the Celtic New Year and winter begin together, so it is a time for both beginnings and endings. It is the last of the three harvest festivals, the harvest of meat.

At Samhain, the old God dies and is returned to the Land of the Dead to await rebirth at Yule. The Crone Goddess goes into mourning, leaving her people in temporary darkness.

It is also the day we honour The Celtic Witches' New Year, and the third and final harvest. Now, while the veil between the worlds is thinnest, those who have died in the past year and those who are to be reincarnated pass through. The doors of the sidhe-mounds are open, and neither human nor faery need any magickal passwords to come and go. Our ancestors, the blessed dead, are more accessible, more approachable during the time of the dying of the land. Samhain is a day to commune with the dead and a celebration of the eternal cycle of reincarnation.

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*Bewitching*

  Home Brews

“Put on a Witches’ cloak and hat

Be friends with a big black cat,

Burn a candle; watch the flame

It will spell your true lovers name”

ARTHRITIS LINIMENT~~Mix in equal parts, wintergreen and yerba santa. Put any amount of mixture in enough olive oil to cover. Simmer for 30 to 60 minutes. Strain, and apply to affected parts when cool.

BEE/WASP STINGS~~A drop each of tincture or myrrh or onion juice will assist in drawing out the poison.

BURNS~~A poultice made from wheat flour, molasses and baking soda will relieve a burn and often hasten the healing process.

DRY/DAMAGED HAIR ~~ (all hair types) 1 egg (separate white from yolk). Whip egg white into a froth. Add 1 tbsp. water until mixture is creamy. Mix white & yolk together. Wet hair with warm water; remove excess moisture, apply mixture to hair massaging gently. Rinse hair with cool water. Keep applying until the mixture is used up. Rinse until all the egg is washed away.

MIGRAINE HEADACHES~~almonds: Eat 10-12 almonds, the equivalent of two aspirins, for a migraine headache. Almonds are far less likely to upset the stomach.

NOSE BLEEDS~~It is written that if you make chewing motions with your mouth while your fingers are in your ears, this will stop the bleeding.

OILY SKIN~~oatmeal, egg, lemon, apple:  mix 1/2 c. cooked oatmeal, 1 egg white, 1 Tb. lemon juice, and 1/2 c. mashed apple into a smooth paste. Apply to face and leave on 15 mins. Rinse.                           

SKIN TONER~~vodka, fennel & honey: Combine 2 Tb. vodka, 1 Tb. fennel seeds, and 1 1/2 tsp. honey. Stir well and allow to sit for 3 days. Strain mixture. Use full strength or add 2 Tb. water to dilute. Use a cotton ball to apply to face as a toner. This was also a tried and true recipe for wrinkles.

STOMACH ACHE~~ A tea of mint, strawberry leaf, catnip and blackberry with one tablespoon of brandy should ease the stomach.

STY~~A used tea bag which is stillwarm, applied to the sty overnight will assist.

TOOTHACHE~~ Oils of peppermint and clove mixed with a bit of rum and applied directly to the tooth ought to ease the pain until you are capable of going to a dentist.

VARICOSE VEINS~~Blackstrap Molasses: take 2-3 tsp. of blackstrap molasses daily. This also treats all kinds of circulatory ailments.

WARTS~~garlic: Try taping a slice of garlic to the wart. Be sure to first protect the skin with petroleum jelly. Or try this: sliced potato rubbed on the wart for 3 days then buried is supposed to be a sure cure. While I cannot say if this actually works, there are many reports to indicate that it does!