English: From Mal Corvus Witchcraft & Folklore artefact private collection owned by Malcolm Lidbury (aka Pink Pasty) Witchcraft Tools http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39NzdEVyfY8 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Samhain season is traditionally a time to honor the memories of those who have left the land of the living. Some people do simple things, like lighting candles and meditating in silence on the lives of their departed loved ones. Others hold a Feast of the Dead, in which a meal is shared by the living, but with a place at the table set for the dead. Still others go as far as to invite the spirits of the deceased to communicate with them, a practice which merits a note of caution. Being dead does not automatically confer good intentions on a spirit. Not all spirits poking about the thin veil are friendly, or even human. Make sure you have rock solid circle casting skills, and be wary.
As this is the end of the year, now is an ideal time for reflection. Think back over the past twelve months. What went well, and what didn’t? What have you accomplished, and what has fallen by the wayside? Do you see any patterns emerging? Dig deep. This kind of introspection is not always comfortable, but it is necessary for any kind of meaningful growth. Write down your thoughts, so that you may create new seeds of intention when the light begins its return at the Winter Solstice.
Another tradition of Samhain is the practice of divination. In the old days, a girl would name one hazelnut for each boy she knew, and place the nuts in the fire. The name of the first nut to jump would be the name of her future husband. Another method was for a girl to peel an apple in one long piece, and throw the peel over her shoulder. The name of her future husband would be “written” by the peel. These days, most magical folk gravitate to slightly less haphazard methods. Tarot cards are very popular, if the sheer number of available decks is any indication. There are some truly gorgeous Tarot decks out there, and it can be a daunting task to choose one. Indeed some of us choose many! However, with practice you will likely discover that one deck “resonates” more with you than the others. Tarot decks typically come with a little instruction book to get you started, outlining various layouts and basic interpretations. One simple Samhain Tarot divination is to thoroughly shuffle the cards, and lay them out face down. Close your eyes, and concentrate on your question, perhaps something like, “What do I really need to focus on?” or “What is my underlying pattern?” Then, pass your dominant hand over the cards until you feel it being pulled towards one of them. Turn that card over, and write down what it is, along with your impressions. At some point, you may wish for a more detailed interpretation than what was provided with your deck. Fortunately, there are many resources available online, and in your local bookstore!