Welcome to the Samhain's Sirens Celebration! October 1

Welcome to the fourth annual Samhain's Sirens October Celebration!

Our sponsor for these events is Kallan Kennedy. If you are new to our soirée, welcome! You should start with our About and Rules pages first. Even our returning veterans (welcome back!) should check out those pages, just for review and to be sure you haven't missed any updates for this year.


New this year: You can submit your email address once per giveaway (in other words, you don't have to submit it on every entry) and we'll accept it for all entries for that day. We must have an email address at least once per day in order for you to qualify for the giveaway.  All entries for each day will be compiled into a spreadsheet and used to draw the grand prize giveaway from LaPulia Studio.

We'll be hosting giveaways Monday through Friday, and our craft days will be Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays, we'll take a break, but feel free to check out The Sunday Stew while we're resting.

Our Forget-Me-Not Fridays are also back. This is where we take a moment to honor those who have passed through the veil. If you would like to participate in the community Forget-Me-Not Friday (October 30), please send your tribute and photo(s) to samhainsirens@gmail.com. If you have any questions, use the contact form at the top of the page.

We have new Paleo recipes and crystals this year, in addition to our blogs, crafts, regular recipes, drinks and giveaways. We think you're going to love what we have in store!

Without further adieu, let's get started!

Today's Blogger: Melissa "Chicky" Cassick

“Out of my Gourd”

Pumpkins sitting in a row,
with shining orange skins.
My husband grabs the butcher knife;
The ritual begins.

I sit and stare at my pumpkin.

The kids have penciled out their plans
For this year’s Samhain creatures.
Jagged smiles, and crooked eyes:
The standard pumpkin features.

I sit and stare at my pumpkin.

My husband’s patterns - so deluxe -
He carves with skill and ease:
Spiders, reapers, pentacles,
As quickly as you please.

I sit and stare at my pumpkin.

They lug their pumpkins to the porch;
Now comes the splendid part!
They light the candles placed inside,
Admiring their art.

I sit and stare at my pumpkin.

My pumpkin seems to laugh at me;
I stand up with a sigh.
Tomorrow I will laugh at him -
And eat a pumpkin pie.

The Siren's Song with Jennifer Rasmussen

We’re baaaaack...let’s get in started in here!

The Witches’ Kitchen by Autumn Earthsong

Happy October 1st my friends!  For most of us Witches and Pagans, it’s our favorite month of the Year!  I’m so looking forward to sharing my wonderful Autumn recipes with you and to reading Sirens every day right along with you!  It’s going to be a fabulous month!

October is all about sweaters, leaves, crisp blue skies, pumpkins and apples and Samhain etc.  So let’s start this first day of October out right with a favorite recipe at my house.  These muffins are great for ANY time of day!  They are Fall all wrapped up in a muffin!

Autumn’s Apple Crunch Muffins
1 1/2 cups sifted flour

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 cup soft butter

1 egg, slightly beaten

1/2 cup milk

1 cup Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced (or your favorite apple )

 Topping
1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

*Blend these ingredients in a small bowl.

 Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a mixing bowl.  Cut in butter until fine crumbs form.  Set aside.  Combine milk and egg and add to dry mixture.  Blend well.  Stir in apples; blend well.

Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling about two-thirds full.  Sprinkle with brown sugar topping mix.

Bake at 375* for 25 mins or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool.

*makes 12

**ok…it says it makes 12…I only got 8 nice big muffins.  I would make 1.5 times the recipe for 12….or double it and make a big batch….. then take some to your neighbor :)

Blessings and Love,
Autumn

Autumn Earthsong is back for the 3rd year as our resident Kitchen Witch. You may have seen her recipes in Imramma Magazine and The Sunday Stew as well.  Autumn has been a practicing Witch for 17 years and hails from Ohio. She is a wife, mother of two, and Nana to three busy little grandchildren.  Samhain is a favorite time of year for her….with her name indicating what Season she loves!   Hearth, Fire, love of family and good food is how she brings Magick to her home.   You can also find her blogging at www.autumnearthsong.com.   She looks forward to sharing her recipes with you all and hopes that you have a very Blessed Samhain Season!

Stones and Crystals with Jennifer Hodgson

Bloodstone

Bloodstone is a red-green color and is readily available. Bloodstone is used as a healing stone. It is believed to not only control the weather but to also banish evil. 

This crystal is a great grounding and protection stone. Bloodstone will help with intuition.

Bloodstone helps to reduse impatience as well as irritability and aggressiveness. 

This crystal will help to calm the mind and is an energy cleanser.

In anciet Egypt this crystal was used to shrink tumors. 

This is a great cleanser for the lower chakras.

October 1 Giveaway from The Pagan Business Network

Some of the businesses in the Pagan Business Network got together and are giving away a big mix of things.  This giveaway includes:

Autographed copy of Laura Perry’s The Wiccan Wellness Book

Autographed copy of Dru Ann Welch’s Mama D’s Practical Herbal Guide Book

Dru Ann Welch’s CD All Voices Are One

Roll-on tube of Muscle Rub by Gothic Charms

Hecate Water  & Coffin Nails by Charissa’s Cauldron

Bar of handmade boutique all natural soap by Ariel’s Treasure Troves

Stained glass Skull Pentagram by AZ Stained Glass

Set of lip balms by Phoenix Rising Apothecary

Set of candles by Wicked Wicc’n Candles

Hand carved incense holder by Max Will

Pyrography altar plate and set of magickal salts by Sleeping Gryphon

Forest Reliquary pendant by Poking Dead Things

Handmade heart shaped Tree of Life pendant by Winterwolf Charms

Art by Shauna Aura Knight

Set of magickal tinctures and incense by Mystic Echoes

The value of this package is $300. 

Here's how to enter: (Canadians, skip this part and go to your section)

Like/Get Notifications on the Pagan Business Network Facebook Page. Come back, comment on this blog post and tell us that you did. 

Remember to add your email address to the page (if you don't want to post it publicly, simply send it via the contact form at the top of the page).

Want extra entries??

1. Follow the Pagan Business Network on Twitter. Come back and comment that you did.

2. Tweet about this giveaway. Comment with the link to your tweet.

3. Blog about this giveaway. Comment with the link to your blog post.

4. Follow Samhain's Sirens on Facebook. Comment, and let us know you did (if you're already following, just comment and say so!)

5. Follow this blog so you'll be in on all of the fabulous fun throughout October! Comment here that you did.

That gives you 6 chances to win this fabulous prize!

CANADIANS: LOOK HERE!!

Canadians, your country requires that you answer questions instead of participating the American way ;) So, we're bringing you some good old-fashioned trivia about your country this year. Answer the question correctly in comments (don't forget to put your email address in the comment!) and you'll be given 6 entries in the giveaway!

Here's your question: 

Canada is a bilingual country, but what is the only officially bilingual province?

a) Quebec

b) New Brunswick

c) Ontario

d) Nova Scotia

This giveaway is open until 9pm EDT tonight. Winner will be announced tomorrow, October 2 at 9am EDT. Remember, we have to notify the winner in email first, so those email addresses are critical for you to qualify for the giveaway!

Good luck everyone!

Tune in tomorrow at 9am EDT for our Friday Paleo recipes, drinks, songs, and much more! See you then!