Showing posts with label #Pagan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Pagan. Show all posts

Welcome back and Happy Monday! This month is flying by us, and we're in the second to last week of  our celebration :)

We want to thank all of you for playing with us and we hope you're having as much fun as we are! Today, you get another sneak peek at the Grand Prize Giveaway which will be drawn on Samhain and announced on the morning of November 1. Remember, every time you enter a giveaway this month, each of your entries gives you a chance at the Grand Prize:



There's still time to send in your "Forget-Me-Not" to Kallan for the special Samhain tribute to those who have passed. Email her HERE.

As always, you can reach out to us through the contact form at the top of the page, or through email HERE.


Today, we honor Marvin Gaye





Safe Harbor
by Cap'n David Watson

I watch the horizon, awaiting the setting of the sliver of Moon o’er that expanse of liquid gold illuminated by the dying rays of the sun.

There, silvery luminescence, streaking across the edge of the world, then at last the stark, blue-white cold, finally in Her own sky, if only for a moment, the light spilling through the rigging and dancing across the water toward me, bathing me, filling my soul with a trembling solace, a tranquility that defies mere mortal words. This night, like no other night afore or hence, for this night marks the anniversary of my conscious awakening.

A quarter of a century has passed since I dedicated myself, mind, body, and soul, to the service of She who is Mother to all that is, was, and e’er shall be. The veil has split, the spirits move among us, and I…I await them with open arms.

This is Samhain night aboard Serenity. A thousand leagues from the waters where I opened my eyes, but then all waters are Her realm, for She is the water and all who dwell within it, upon it, or beneath it – the wellspring from whence all life emerged and shall one day return.

What better way is there to celebrate this one night, this magical night, than lying at anchor off some lonely coast, enveloped within the arms of the pervasive fog of San Francisco Bay? Damp, aye. Cold, most likely, but this night, this one night, the rum shall keep me warm as I offer a libation to Yemaya, and to those who have fallen beneath the waves o’er so many, many years. Here’s to you, brothers and sisters all, and lo though I shall join with you in years to come, come sup with me aboard Serenity this eve. Here you shall find safe harbor. Here you shall not be adrift alone.

Let this ship, this night, be your lifeboat. Let the anchor light be your beacon, your lighthouse across to that distant horizon where the shores of memory lie, to again breathe the sweet salt air in life as you reawaken in a new weave of flesh, to feel the spray upon your cheek and learn to fall in love with the sea all over again.

I shall lie here, at anchor, awaiting you, for mine is a spirit burning with life and I would share that life with you, to warm you upon this cold, foggy night. Aye, one is always alive, but not many are truly living. How many dead souls walk around in living bodies? How can you honor the dead when you are dead yourself?

With the coming of the dawn, I shall again sail with the tide back to my own port of call – a sheltered marina I have come to call home, but fear not – you shall not be forgotten. I shall bring back memories of my own of your hopes and fears, your loves and hatreds, but most importantly, your trust in me and my vessel to share this night, to be amongst a kindred spirit, to once more share in that camaraderie.

Your company upon those darkened waters on this one night among so many, though I know you not, is truly special to me. We share a common bond, you and I…we’re sailors.

I shall look forward to perhaps meeting with you again, many years to come, upon some distant, forgotten shore. Mayhaps I will be joining you upon your own ship, some darkened Samhain night, many years from now.
Aye, that would be a wonderful thing.

Until that time, I shall keep sailing. There are horizons to chase and lands to explore if one only has the courage to cast off the lines. My wife at my side, my kitten in my lap, tiller strong in my hand and wind in the canvas above me…aye, this is what it is truly about. There is plenty of time for dying. But this? This…is living.

Samhain isn't just about the dead. It’s about the dead again taking root in life. It’s about the spirits joining us in life until such time as they are again reborn. It’s about removal of that which weighs us down so that we may flourish – the weight of the grave, the guilt of our soul, the chains of despair, the longing, the loathing…let us all take from this night a lesson from those whom we guide across that bridge:
leave behind the detritus that eats away at our being and find our own lives. Let us return from this night refreshed…renewed…reborn…

Alive.

Captain Dave

About our Cap'n: David (Cap'n Dave) Watson is a real-life sea captain who lives with his wife and a hyperactive kitten aboard the s/v Serenity - a 32-foot long masthead sloop in San Francisco Bay. He is also a charter boat captain for the City of Oakland and teaches adults and children alike how to sail.

Initiated into Alexandrian Wicca on Samhain night in 1988, he has since adopted an eclectic spirituality that includes Native American Shamanism, Vodou and hoodoo rootwork, and is a devotée of Yemaya.

He loves everything having to do with art, sailing, playing the keyboard, cooking, walks along the shore of the Bay, or just lounging around being lazy. Simple pleasures for simple living.

Though not a siren, like any seafaring man, he has been lured by their irresistible call and has found himself washed ashore in this place of untamed beauty and bliss.
Caramel Walnut Squares

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup cold butter, cut
1 cup chopped walnuts
20 caramels
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 can apple pie filling

Preheat oven to 375*

In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, soda and salt; cut in butter until crumbly.

Reserve 1 1/2 cups crumb mixture and press the remainder on bottom of a 9” x 13” baking dish,  Bake 15 mins...remove from oven.

Add walnuts to reserved crumb mixture.

In a heavy saucepan, over low heat, melt caramels with milk, stirring until smooth.  Spoon apple filling over prepared crust, top with caramel mixture the remaining walnut crumb mixture.

Bake 20 mins or until set and golden brown.  Cool
*Serve warm with cinnamon or vanilla ice cream!
Blessings
Autumn
You can visit Autumn's blog at My Moonlit Path and her shop at Verbena Lane Botanicals!





Today's giveaway is from Tess at "A Witch by any Other Name"

A water pendulum - quartz pendulum, mother of pearl, banded agate value $28




Here’s how to enter: 

You have until 6am EDT tomorrow to enter. 

Drawing is held by random number generation and winner will be notified in email (that's why you have to have an email address listed). Announcement will be made on the October 22th blog post at 9am EDT.

Note: These giveaways are open to the U.S., Canada and where allowable. Void where prohibited.
Canadian residents, please pay close attention as by law, you have to use a different set of rules. Not to worry, we have you covered :)

You MUST provide a valid email address to enter the contest.

1. Go to A Witch By Any Other Name Facebook Page . Find your favorite item, come back here, and tell us about it in the comment section. (1 entry)

2. Like the Facebook page for A Witch By Any Other Name. Let us know you did  in the comments (1 entry)

3. Blog about this giveaway (make sure you link back here), come back and leave us a link to your blog. (1 entry)

4. Tweet about this giveaway (link to us, please), come back, and leave us a link to your tweet (1 entry)

5. Be a follower of this blog, Samhain's Sirens (1 entry)

6. Like Samhains Sirens on Facebook (1 entry)

Note: If you want your entries to count as separate entries, you must post them separately. If you post 1 comment with all of these on it, it will only count as 1 entry.

Canadian residents, by law, instead of the above, you must answer the following question to be eligible:

What is 3-1?


What's cool about being a Canadian? You automatically get 6 entries per giveaway for just answering 1 question! You still have to give us an email address :)


Good luck!!



The Winner from Friday, October 18th from RLC Creations is:

 Michelle Cove

The Winner from Saturday, October 19th from Sosanna's Craftacular Saturday is:

Jennifer Andrist





For the first time in 2 years, I've finally done it. I made a mistake in a winner announcement. To give you an idea of how that happened, I take all of your comments and compile them into an excel spreadsheet. I happened to have two Jennifers listed one after another on the Sally Dubats Giveaway last week. I emailed the right winner, and then posted the other one's name on the blog. Sally has graciously sent out e-books to both Jennifers, and I've ensured that the proper winner is added to both the blog and the winners page. Thanks to everyone for your graciousness and patience with me. I'll be even more diligent in the future.

The proper Jennifer is Jennifer Manley (PeonyFirestorm)

 We have lots more fun in store for you this week! Tune in for more tomorrow!
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WOOHOO!! Happy Friday everyone!

Are you ready for a great craft and giveaway?
Check out Autumn's DELICIOUS recipe and of course, Kestril's great music selection!
Remember, you'll have until Monday to enter this and tomorrow's giveaways. Enjoy your weekend!



Just a quick housekeeping note: I had to disqualify three people yesterday from the giveaway because they did not provide us with email addresses, either in the comments section or in email. By law, I cannot just notify you via the blog, and I cannot notify you through Facebook. I must email you. Please be sure to do that going forward. I hate seeing people put all of that effort into the contest, only to be disqualified for such a small but critical thing.

Today, we honor Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek of the Doors





Today's Forget-Me-Not is up on The Secret Life of The American Witch. Each week of the Samhain season, Kallan has been honoring a Pagan who has passed through the veil to the other side. She is opening up Friday, November 1 (Samhain) to the rest of the Pagan community to honor your loved ones. If you would like to have someone who has crossed over honored, please email her with the name(s), whatever tribute you'd like made, and a photo (optional) by October 28.





Tattered Webs

By Robyn Chausse

Weave a veil of lacey webs!  Caution: The meditative nature of this craft can make it difficult to stop weaving!







Craft Materials

Small spool of thread or embroidery floss
Scissors
Glue stick/pen (optional)
A supportive structure on which to build your web--this could be a clothes hanger, an empty frame, a “Y” shaped branch or the four legs of an upturned chair.


Craft Steps




Choose a support structure
Basically, anything you can use to suspend your web threads will work as a support for your web.

Create your frame threads if needed
You will need at least three frame lines or borders within which to build your orb web. If you are using a support structure with fewer than three sides simply tie a line with your thread to create the needed frame. These frame treads will become part of your design.

Create your bridge and radius threads
The bridge threads determine the radius of your web. Begin with a “Y” shape by tying one end of your thread to a starting point. Pull it across to the opposite side of what will be your web and tie a knot, but do not cut the thread. Pull the tread back to the middle of this line and tie a knot, then bring the thread down to the third point and knot. Bring the thread back to center.

Continue going around in the same manner to fill in the radius of your web. When the radius is complete, tie a knot at the center but do not cut your thread.
(All knots should be double knots)

Capture Line
Choose a spot on one of your radius lines close to the center of your web and tie a knot. Again, do not cut your thread. From here you will bring your thread around in a spiral, tying a knot at each line. If your knots slide, try dabbing them with a glue stick—that should provide enough tack to make them stay in place.


Remove your web by cutting the threads to your support structure. Be sure that the knot you created remains with the web. At this point you might want to dab the outer knots with a glue pen to insure your web stays intact, or leave them free to slide a bit for a more tattered look.

Connect your webs
Lay out all the webs and arrange them into a pattern. At the points where they meet, use the loose ends to tie the webs together. Leave the remaining ends as is or connect them with additional lengths of thread.

Enjoy!
Lay your veil on top of a solid color cloth for a pretty table runner, hang it over a mirror, or attach it to a hat brim.



Tips:

The busier your web becomes the easier it is to loose track of your knots. The best way to keep track while creating working on your capture thread is to get a rhythm going--go over your radius line, around it and back up to make a loop, then through the loop (over, around, up, and through).

Add an interesting twist by creating a second capture line in a different color.

The closer together and more taught you make your threads determines the look of your final piece. If you want the traditional web look, make the threads tight and precise. Less taught threads and slippery knots create a more open, loopy look—like an old, tattered web.

There is no “right” way to make a web-- each one will be unique, so if the cat steals your spool or you drop a stitch don’t fret. The end result may be more beautiful than you originally intended.


Celebrate your creative spirit with Robyn at Musiddity.com.





Oven Baked Squash

 1 - 2 lb butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes
 1/2 teaspoon salt
 1/4 teaspoon  pepper
 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom                                           
 1/4 teaspoon anise seed                                                                    
  3 tablespoons light brown sugar                                           
  4 tablespoons butter, melted
  2 tablespoons lemon juice                            


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease/spray a 2-qt baking dish.

Place squash cubes into a buttered 2-quart baking dish; sprinkle with salt and pepper, cardamom, anise seed, and brown sugar. Drizzle the melted butter and lemon juice over the top; toss to coat well.
Bake, uncovered, at 350* oven for about 30-40 minutes or until squash is to desired tenderness.

Blessings
Autumn


You can visit Autumn's blog at My Moonlit Path and her shop at Verbena Lane Botanicals!


Today's giveaway comes from Robyn's Shop, Creations by RLC!


Red Flight” Bracelet
Bats take to flight as a red moon rises. Handmade, one of a kind bracelet features original artwork set in resin. Measures 7”. Beaded elastic at back allows a bit of stretch for slipping it on. 
Retail Value: $15

Here’s how to enter: You have until 6am EDT Monday to enter. Drawing is held by random number generation and winner will be notified in email (that's why you have to have an email address listed). Announcement will be made on the October 21st blog post at 9am EDT.

Note: These giveaways are open to the U.S., Canada and where allowable. Void where prohibited.
Canadian residents, please pay close attention as by law, you have to use a different set of rules. Not to worry, we have you covered :)

You MUST provide a valid email address to enter the contest.

1. Go to Creations by RLC . Find your favorite item, come back here, and tell us about it in the comment section. (1 entry)

2. Blog about this giveaway (make sure you link back here), come back and leave us a link to your blog. (1 entry)

3. Tweet about this giveaway (link to us, please), come back, and leave us a link to your tweet (1 entry)

4. Be a follower of this blog, Samhain's Sirens (1 entry)

5. Like Samhains Sirens on Facebook (1 entry)

Note: If you want your entries to count as separate entries, you must post them separately. If you post 1 comment with all of these on it, it will only count as 1 entry.

Canadian residents, by law, instead of the above, you must answer the following question to be eligible:

What is 100 +1 ?


What's cool about being a Canadian? You automatically get 5 entries per giveaway for just answering 1 question!  Remember, you still have to give us a valid email address J




The winner of the signed hard copy of Sally Dubats's book, "Veil Between the Worlds" is:

Jessi Carr

The winners of the e-book copy of "Veil Between the Worlds are:
Jennifer Manley
Jennifer Hodgson
Loren Morris


Tune in tomorrow for Sosanna's Craftactular and Loren's Mixed drink recipe! Have a great weekend, everyone!
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It's almost the weekend!! Do you have any plans? It's great to have something to look forward to, isn't it?

We are so happy you've joined us.

Today, we have some really special treats for you - a blog and giveaways from author Sally Dubats!

Enjoy the fun today and remember to email us or use the contact form if we can be of assistance to you!


Today, we honor Jerry Garcia.





Samhain Quest
By Sally Dubats

We talk about the Veil Between Worlds being thinnest at Samhain. The worlds are usually thought of as this world and the next, where spirits and/or ghosts may dwell, and then move to worlds beyond. Conversely, the worlds can be thought of as various dimensions, and the thinning veil is said to create a higher degree of intuition and psychic abilities.

This year, in addition to investigating the thinning veil between worlds, perhaps we can take a look at our own veil -- the veil between our Personalities (the earthly body who has a name, a job, a family) and our Higher Selves (the spirit body that is eternal and loves unconditionally). There is a veil that keeps us from seeing our own beauty and greatness. We see glimpses, but most of us (me included!) live our daily lives unaware of our beauty and greatness, our ability to love and be loved, our ability to prosper, our ability to be keenly healthy. This veil keeps us blissfully ignorant of things that we do and say that we are completely unaware of; these things are usually based on our past conditioning and experiences.

What if this Samhain, we take the outward gazing focus, the focus that sees the world around us and interprets it based on our pasts and projects it onto our present, and turn that gaze inward? What if we tug at the veil that keeps us from moving forward, keeps us in our comfort zone?

One way to look at how we perceive ourselves is through the rich tradition of Story called Fairytales. Hearing stories is a terrific way to move from our logical, thinking brain to our creative, intuitive brain. Once our mind begins to visualize the pictures, we’re out of our logical brains, crossing the veil to intuition. I’ve created a fairytale here to illustrate how powerful this can be. As you read my fairytale, replace the Princess with yourself. See if you can interpret this story to fit over your life.

Once upon a time there was a beautiful Princess who, despite sincere daily gazing, could not find her reflection in the mirror. Instead, a Halloween curse only allowed her to see the busy insanity of her kingdom, or the insanity of her personal world inside the castle.

Occasionally the Princess would glimpse the shadowy figure of a woman in a long, flowing gown. This woman was different from the others. The figure would drift aimlessly across the landscape of the outer kingdom as the seasons changed. And now, toward the return of Halloween, the figure appeared more frequently. Sometimes the Princess would spy the figure where final crops were being harvested, or sometimes the figure would sit along the edges of the misty forest and watch the black crows silhouetted in trees where only a few dead leaves remained.

Then one day, the Princess again saw the figure in front of the forest. The shadowy figure raised her arms high, and a multitude of black crows swooped through the gray sky and landed in the branches. The Princess took a step backward, stunned. It was then that the figure turned fiercely toward the Princess. The mirror became a telescope, and the close-up shadow figure fixed her gaze on the Princess with a terrible, fierce purpose in her eyes, a desperate plea filled with powerful magic that beckoned. The Princess shrieked in horror, and ran from the Mirror Room.

The Princess could not sleep, but instead tossed and turned with the dark images. She couldn’t eat. Halloween was approaching and all the Princess could think about was the mysterious figure who beckoned. What did the stranger want? Why was the Princess so frightened?

Finally, on All Hallows Eve day, the Princess decided to go one more time to the mirror. She instantly became lost, fixing her eyes on the busy insanity of the kingdom that the mirror reflected. As she gazed, the Princess had certain knowings. She viewed the people of the kingdom, and could see each one filled with gossip and the sorrows of death. All this she spied through the mirror.

But the days of no food and no drink had weakened the Princess. Her own body had begun to deteriorate. The frail Princess was clothed in a long black satin gown with dark gray lace at the collar; the gown hung loosely on her gaunt frame. She had given nothing to herself, and everything to what she perceived as life in the mirror and, on All Hallows Eve, she sat in front of the cursed mirror, crying one moment and laughing out loud the next, nearing insanity. The mirror was culling her sanity away. The Princess was too busy caring for everyone and everything else in the mirror to care for herself until no one in the kingdom cared for her either.

Finally, midnight neared. The Princess was exhausted, spent, starving, and filled with a terrible thirst but could not drink. The mirror was dark with the exception of a few lights here and there that dotted the kingdom.

Midnight.
The veil between worlds was its thinnest.

The Princess’s eyes became heavy. The mirror shifted and glowed with an eerie darkness lit from within, like the inside of the darkest emerald. The mirror beckoned to the Princess with its dark magic. The Princess stood in front of the enchanted mirror, and her hands gripped its frame for support.

She gazed wearily and with heavy eyes into the mirror. The last hearth light was snuffed in the kingdom. All was dark, and the mirror was a slate of blank ink.

She had no world of her own, and no world in the mirror. This was more than she could endure, and the Princess, unable to see her reflection, closed her eyes and looked within. A dim, indistinguishable shadow was all she could see. She opened her eyes, and saw her own reflection staring back at her for the first time. She saw the gaunt thing she had become, large eyes sunken and bulbous, once rosy cheeks now hollow, glistening hair now dull and disheveled.

The Princess knew there had to be change. She took it upon herself to Quest Again, determined this time not to find a reflection, but to make one she could be proud of. She would become a Princess loved by the people, but more importantly, a Princess who loved herself. She began to see possibilities, change. She wanted desperately to know who the shadow figure was, because the shadow figure had power, and the Princess wanted to know how to get her own power back.

It was then that the shadow figure appeared, a beautiful, radiant woman in front of the Princess who reached out for the frame of the mirror on the opposite side, reflecting the Princess. The Shadow Figure whispered magic words that flowed into every fiber and of the Princess’s being. The Shadow Figure showed the Princess how to find herself again. The Shadow Figure showed the Princess what she looked like... beautiful, radiant royalty! The Shadow Figure showed the Princess a future where the Princess danced and sang to the Gods, a future where she held close to friends and made merry presiding over the feasts of the Wheel of the Year.

A radiant smile of love and hope shone on the Princess’s face, and she realized she was staring at her Self. The powerful shadow figure had just been waiting until called, and she had been afraid of her own power.

So, the Princess did indeed find herself in the mirror.  And every Samhain, the Princess looks in the enchanted mirror and sees her own shining and powerful spirit, a beautiful kingdom, and an incredible world reflected back in a dazzling panorama of color and Light.

Where are you on the Quest? Happy Samhain.

Come visit Sally at her site: SallyDubats.com


Praline Apple Bread

1 1/2 cups chopped pecans, divided
8 oz sour cream
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 tb vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups finely chopped and peeled apples


Photo Credit - A Taste of Home
http://www.tasteofhome.com/
Preheat oven to 350*

Toast 1/2 cup pecans in a single layer in a skillet for 6-8 mins, stirring occasionally; Set aside.

Beat sour cream, sugar, eggs and vanilla at low speed with an electric mixer for 2 mins.   Stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a medium mixing bowl.  Add to sour cream mixture, beating just until blended.  Stir in apples and 1/2 cup toasted pecans. 

Spoon batter into a greased 9” x 5” loaf pan.  Sprinkle with remaining pecans, and lightly press them into the batter.  Bake at 350* for 45 mins.   Cover with foil then bake for 15 more mins. 

Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 mins.  While it’s cooling, bring butter and brown sugar to a boil in a heavy saucepan, stirring constantly for 1 minute.  Spoon over bread and let cool.  Remove from pan.
Blessings
Autumn

3 Winners here!

Sally is generously giving away 1 signed hard copy  her book, "Veil Between the Worlds", plus 2 e-book copies!

Here’s how to enter:
Note: These giveaways are open to the U.S., Canada and where allowable. Void where prohibited. Canadian residents, please pay close attention as by law, you have to use a different set of rules. Not to worry, we have you covered :)

YOU MUST PROVIDE A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS TO ENTER.


1. Go to Sally's website and sign up for her newsletter.Come back here, and let us know you did in the comment section. (1 entry)

2.  Blog about this giveaway (make sure you link back here), come back and leave us a link to your blog. (1 entry)

3. Like Sally's Author Page on Facebook. Let us know you did (1 entry)

4. Tweet about this giveaway (link to us, please), come back, and leave us a link to your tweet (1 entry)

5. Be a follower of Samhain's Sirens via this blog. Be sure to comment below and let us know. (1 entry)

6. Like the Sirens Facebook Page. Let us know you did. (1 entry)

Note: If you want your entries to count as separate entries, you must post them separately. If you post 1 comment with all three on it, it will only count as 1 entry.


Canadian residents, by law, instead of the above, you must answer the following question to be eligible:

What is 9-9?


What's cool about being a Canadian? You automatically get 6 entries per giveaway for just answering 1 question!  Remember, you still have to give us a valid email address J

The winner from yesterday's giveaway by Kindred Kollections is:

Iesadora



Be on the look out tomorrow!  Robyn Chausse has your Friday Craft and Giveaway!
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Wow, can you believe we're already half-way through the celebration? Time sure does fly when you're having this much fun!

We have another great blog and offering today from Kourtney Leaf and Kindred Creations.

Since we're half-way through our celebration, I thought I'd give you a little sneak peek into the grand prize giveaway. I'll post it again next week, but I thought I'd at least whet your appetite:


Every time you enter, you get a chance to win all of this, so keep playing!

Ok, on to the celebratory fun!

Today, we honor Jimi Hendrix





Kourtney Leaf of The Multi-facted Experience

 For us witches, Samhain (aka Halloween) is the biggest day of the year. It's about much more than just costumes and candy, though that's not going to stop me from pulling out my pretty pointy hat and snagging a few chocolate bars from the kids' stash. But it does also serve as a reminder that everything is fleeting, that everything must come to an end eventually and that there is always a new beginning just around the corner. And as witches...we get a head start!

That's because this Sabbat doubles as our marking of the New Year. This totally makes sense to me. I mean, why not say good bye to the last year as we're saying goodbye to our loved ones? The sun is saying its goodbye, everything has stopped growing, the animals are settling in for the winter ahead; everything is coming to a close, just as our year is coming to a close.

It’s at this time of year that I like to reflect on all that the last year has thrown at me. I find meditation an excellent tool for such work. Grounding myself and focusing on the changes I've encountered over the last year, how they've affected the world around me and my family. I try to find the positive energies and aspects to events that have happened in the last year. Sometimes things can happen and we’re so entrenched in the why’s and how’s of them that we can’t see the positive effects and/or outcomes until much later. And most of the time, I find anyway, they aren't all that obvious. We sometimes have to dig in to reevaluate the circumstances. Sometimes it’s this reflection that can show us that the Universe really does knows what it’s doing!

When you start to look forward though, you’re going to want to make sure that you've released all the negative the last year may have dished out as well. But this is why I like to focus on the positive first; sometimes the negative isn't actually negative. So taking some time to make that distinction is a definite must. Once you have made those distinctions there are several ways to release them. My favorite is writing them down, including any and all feelings you have about them; any details that may carry forward or don’t seem to want to relent. I like to take a flame to them and watch them release through the smoke. I pay attention to the swirls of the smoke or the pattern the flame is taking through the paper. But I make sure to focus on letting them go. The smoke or the flame is just the path they take out of my life, out of my mind and off of my path.

Once the negative of the last year is reduced to nothing more than ash, I rely on the elements to do their thing. I’m most connected to Water, so I like to send them on their way on the waves of the ocean. But you can also let the Winds take them or even bury them in the Earth. It’s whatever feels right to you. I also make sure to pay homage to my Gods with an offering and a prayer. But this is also up to you and your relationship with your Gods.

Now that we've done away with the negative it’s time to look forward to the New Year. But I personally believe that New Year’s Resolutions are pointless. You can set goals but they tend to set you up for failure. I prefer setting intentions. “I intend to be healthier, feel sexier and love my reflection!” Vs. the goal of losing 15 lbs. and going to the gym three times a week. You’ll end up beating yourself up every time you skip the gym or when you don’t see the scale moving. Instead, set an intention and then repeat that intention each and every morning to reinforce it. Soon you’ll be eating better, becoming more active and all because you intend on feeling healthier. You aren't as concerned with the scale as you are with just being healthier all around.

And this year I intend on taking my own advice. I have a lot of things changing, moving and working right now. But I’m setting the intention to make the best of whatever situation presents its self. I’m looking forward to this New Year and all the wonderfully positive opportunities I see right over the horizon! And I hope ya’ll are as well! So here’s wishing you a Happy Samhain and a Wonderfully Witchy New Year!


About Kourtney: I'm a mother of two beautiful daughters, and the wife to an amazing man! I am a Gnostic Pagan practicing solitary, and have been on the path for nearly 10 years now. I love to craft, write, read and dance. You'll find me at several social networking sites, and I blog over at The Multi-Faceted Experience (The Multi-faceted Experience) and selling my crafty wares at Kindred Kollections on Etsy.
I'm truly honored to be a part of this great project and look forward to a wonderful month!




Slow Cooker Pork and Apples

1 1/2 lbs boneless pork loin, cut into 6 pieces or 6 boneless pork tenderloins
4 medium golden delicious apples, sliced  (can peel too if you want)
3 Tb brown sugar
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt

Place pork in the slow cooker.  Cover with apples.

Combine brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in small bowl and sprinkle over apples.

Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours. 

Great with potatoes or mac and cheese !


*You can shred it and put it on buns for a great sandwich too.  
Blessings

Autumn
You can visit Autumn's blog at My Moonlit Path and her shop at Verbena Lane Botanicals!




Our giveaway today comes from Kindred Kollections. A Witch-Craft Tote.
Photo Credit - Kourtney Leaf
This very roomy, drawstring tote is the everything - everywhere essential bag; perfect for your crafty projects on the go. A beautiful embroidered Crafty Witch (courtesy of Urban Threads) adorns the front of this bag This beautiful tote features a drawstring closure and a slide interior pocket with elastic closure.The reinforced lining gives this bag the ability to stand on its own, making it an easy bag to use on the go. You'll be sure to turn heads with the green, black, purple, orange and gold pallet of this festive tote. The handles are 14" long and feature our signature inlaid design. The tote measures apx 8" high, 7" wide and 4 1/2" deep.

Here’s how to enter: You have until 6am EDT tomorrow to enter. Drawing is held by random number generation and winner will be notified in email (that's why you have to have an email address listed). Announcement will be made on the October 10th blog post at 9am EDT.

Note: These giveaways are open to the U.S., Canada and where allowable. Void where prohibited.
Canadian residents, please pay close attention as by law, you have to use a different set of rules. Not to worry, we have you covered :)


You MUST provide a valid email address to enter the contest.


1. Go to the Kindred Kollections Etsy Shop  Find your favorite item, come back here, and tell us about it in the comment section. (1 entry)

 2, Go to Kindred Kollections and like the Facebook Page. Come back and tell us  you did (1 entry)

3. Be a follower of Samhain's Sirens via this blog. Let us know you are (1 entry)

4. Like The Sirens Facebook Page. Be sure to comment below and let us know. (1 entry)

5.  Blog about this giveaway (make sure you link back here), come back and leave us a link to your blog. (1 entry)

6. Tweet about this giveaway (link to us, please), come back, and leave us a link to your tweet (1 entry)

Note: If you want your entries to count as separate entries, you must post them separately. If you post 1 comment with all three on it, it will only count as 1 entry.


Canadian residents, by law, instead of the above, you must answer the following question to be eligible:

What is 14-11?


What's cool about being a Canadian? You automatically get 6 entries per giveaway for just answering 1 question!  Remember, you still have to give us a valid email address J
The winner of the PIP Designs Blogger Blog Makeover is:
Hex Parker

The 3 winners of Wendy Callahan's Phenomenal Book Giveaway are:

Danni Supplicki
Hex Parker
TK
Tune in tomorrow for more Siren Fun!!
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