Halloween has always been my favorite holiday.
October brings the colors out in the leaves and plants here where I live. That is always pleasurable to me.
I have very fond memories of the years when we lived in Pennsylvania. We lived a very small community. I remember the crisp air and the smell of fall. There were many pumpkin patches all around that part of the country. I would get the children and we would go for long rides in the countryside looking for the elusive pumpkin patch. When the plants were all green, it was very difficult to see what was under them, However, as the leaves dried up, the orange pumpkins began to show. First you couldn't see anything and then you could see the orange peeking out and finally you could see a whole field of orange globes. Then the trucks came in and the pumpkins were harvested by hand. You could watch people on the ground tossing the pumpkins up to be caught by people in the trucks, who'd put them in the truck and take them to market. It was very magical to watch and amazing how accurately people tossed and caught those pumpkins. And then the fields were clean and ready to go to sleep for winter and all the farmers markets had all the pumpkins on display. Of course that meant that Halloween was coming and all the children were excited to figure out a costume to wear and to plan their outing. It was a safe and perfect little community and the children were always watched after by everyone. I am really glad that my children got to enjoy that part of their childhood.
I, of course, enjoyed that happiness but took very seriously the special time of year when the communication of my ancestors was more open. I've always have had little altars everywhere.
This is a personal part of my life where this particular altar is reserved for me only. It consists of pressed flowers and written notes between my family members that I have preserved and kept. I have pictures of my relatives and trinkets of things that they liked. It also consists of pictures of my animals that have helped me with my medicine. These are my domestic animals, but I also include the wild ones. My spirit guides and totems are present as well as pictures of my teachers who have gone on before me.
I have an altar cloth that is shimmery in orange and black. Everything sits on top of the altar cloth and when I burn candles the light reflects back off of the shimmering material.
I find it important to feed my altar and my relatives. I always have a small pumpkin and a gourd and an ear of corn and some nuts. I also include some chocolate. I try to set this altar up at the beginning of October so that I have a whole month of visiting it and adding things to it. I find great comfort when I pray there.
What does this magical season mean for you? How do you celebrate the thinning of the veil? Do you honor your own ancestors in any particular way this time of year?
In love and beauty all things are Holy. She who's name rides the Wind.
Grandmother Wind Daughter
I have an ancestral altar with pictures of relatives 4 generations back on my mother and fathers side. I leave it up all year, and pray with them when I’m drawn.