What a month this has been! I have a lot going on, and I want to give you a quick update before moving on into my usual Halloween post. First, though, my vampire reissue extravaganza is underway. TWILIGHT HUNGER has been out since the beginning of the month, and this week, EDGE OF TWILIGHT with its bonus, never before in print short, is hitting the shelves along with it. Next comes BLUE TWILIGHT.
This weekend, on Halloween Sunday as a matter of fact, my website will feature the premiere of my video and vocal homage to my Wings in the Night series. I hope you’ll all check it out. I poured heart and soul into it and loved every minute of it.
This week I’ve guest blogged at Fresh Fiction, and Bitten By Books, and on Friday I’ll be over at STEAMED.
It’s been busy to say the least. But fun too. Everything about Halloween is fun! But now, of course, you’re going to see a real Witch fly, as I tell you about what Halloween is and what it isn’t.
The flying, by the way, was very likely a euphemism for an out of body experience known in most circles as a Shamanic Journey. With the use of Fly Agaric, a hallucinogenic said to have been applied in ointment form, vaginally, with the aid of some phallic shaped object. Broomstick anyone? The Witches of old had to be very careful to conceal all they did, after all. That’s why they used everyday objects in their rites. Some Witches were able to take these journeys into the other worlds, just as Shamans of other cultures have done–and still do. I believe the experience is probably exactly like what the neuroscientist who had the stroke described in my last week’s video blog. If you haven’t checked that out, do. It’s a must-see.
Okay, back to All Hallows. Here are some fun Halloween Facts:
*The holiday was originally Samhain, or November Eve, and was celebrated at the exact halfway point (known as a cross-quarter date) between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice. This year, Samhain actually falls on November 7th.
*Jack-O-Lanterns were originally carved out of Turnips, not pumpkins, and were used to frighten away any spirits who might be out and about on Samhain night.
*Treats, too, or offerings, to be more accurate, were left outside doors to placate wandering spirits and send them on their way.
*If all else failed, wearing a mask and making the spirits think you were one of them would surely do the trick!
*The full moon of October is usually known as The Blood Moon, because this was the time of the final harvest, which included the annual slaughter of animals raised for meat. (The Blood Moon is always the full moon right after the Harvest Moon. And the Harvest Moon is the full moon nearest the Autumn Equinox. It’s also known as The Hunter’s Moon for obvious reasons.)
*The veil between the worlds is thin at this time of year, and so it’s the best possible time to perform divination or have readings done. But you don’t near Tarot cards or crystal balls to join in. Just sit in quiet meditation, ask your question and pay attention to what pops into your head. You might get answers in dreams, shapes in the clouds, or random gut feelings too.
*Any crops left the the field after Samhain, must not be harvested, because, according to lore, they may have been tainted by gremlins!
*There has never been a true case of anyone poisoning or otherwise tainting trick or treat candy. The only cases of tainted candy were found to have been committed by the child’s own family members, not by the neighborhood candy givers.
You can learn TONS more about the holiday’s history, legends, customs, and myths, by reading Silver Ravenwolf’s book HALLOWEEN, which I highly recommend.
Halloween is also the perfect time of year to reflect on what you’ve “harvested” during the “growing season” just gone by. What did you plant this spring, grow over the summer, and reap in the fall? It’s a beautiful time to truly appreciate the summer just gone by, and bask in the warm memories it brought. And for me, that’s truly what this holiday is all about.
So happy Halloween! And don’t forget to tune in to Maggie Shayne.com on Halloween Sunday for an update, spells, and the premier of my new video!