Halloween Traditions

There are many Halloween traditions. The most popular are bobbing for apples, wearing costumes, carving pumpkins and going trick or treating. But what do these traditions mean?
Bobbing for apples is played by filling a large tub or basin with water and putting apples into the water which then float on the top. The object of the game is to get an apple out using your mouth only. The original idea was that the first single person to catch the apple would be the next to marry. Apples have long been associated with divining the future. It is said that peeling the apple you catch and throwing the peel into the water can reveal the initial of your future husband or wife.
Wearing costumes is usually favoured by children at Halloween but the tradition comes from an old superstition that ghosts can walk among us at Halloween and the costumes are so they won't recognise us.
Trick or treating is when children go from door to door begging treats. If they don't get them there could be a nasty trick in store for the home owner.
Jack o' lanterns are to ward evil spirits away. Faces are carved into the pumpkin and a lit candle set inside.
These are the most popular traditions that have survived over the years.

Image courtesy of creepyhalloweenimages.com

Samhain-Halloween

October 31st, or Halloween as we all know it, is a day to remember loved ones who have passed and pay tribute to them. It is also the time when the veil between worlds is at its thinnest. A lot more to it than costumes and candy!
If you have a loved one who has passed or if you simply want to remember your ancestors then you can create a   tribute to them. You can display old photos or mementos and keepsakes from your loved ones or if you do not have any then you can use something that represents that person for you.
Light white candles to represent the spirit world. Give thanks to your ancestors and spend time reminiscing about good times. This is a family celebration. I will be keeping you all updated this month with traditions for Halloween.

Happy Mabon

Today is the Autumnal Equinox. A day for celebration. Enjoy!

E-zine for Moon and Stars Online

There is a possibility we may be launching an e-zine in the near future. We hope to include articles from the public in the mag so all submissions are welcome. Watch this space.

Happy September

Happy September everyone! Autumn is here already and it is my favourite time of year. Mabon is on the 23rd of September and is a harvest festival. It is also the autumnal equinox with equal hours of day and night. It is a time for giving thanks and celebrating all that you have.
Mabon represents a time when there is balance between the light and the dark before the long nights start. The legend of Persephone and Demeter is relevant on this occasion. In Greek myth, Demeter's daughter Persephone was taken by Hades to the Underworld. Demeter was the Goddess of the Harvest and because she was so distraught at losing her daughter the plants and trees all began to die.
Zeus agreed to release Persephone as long as she had not eaten anything while in the Underworld. Unfortunately she had eaten some pomegranate seeds. A deal was made that she would stay in the Underworld for half the year and spend the other half with her mother on Earth. Thus we have spring and summer when she is above ground and autumn and winter when she leaves.
Use this time to reflect on your own life and whether you need more balance in it and how to achieve it.
Blessed Be

PSYCHIC PARTIES

Moon and Stars held its first Psychic Party. I think it went well, everyone seemed happy with their reading. I would love to expand on the parties and include more games for everyone to try. We try to keep our prices reasonable and every guest received a gift bag too. I think its nice to leave the guests with a good experience and   to give a little something extra.
Blessed Be

Happy August

Hope everyone had a pleasant Lammas yesterday. August is here already! It is the beginning of the harvest season. It's also the time of year to evaluate what you have been doing and how far you have come. For the kids summer is half over but there is still time to do something fun. Whatever you decide to do be safe and enjoy yourself.

Blessed Be