Light & Shadows of Chalandor

Mute Supper

At Samhain, along with places set for human guests, the table also holds places for those who have passed beyond the veil. The chair at the head of the table is shrouded in black and represents the deity. The host or hostess sits at the opposite end of the table. There are six rules for the Ritual of the Mute Supper:

All dinnerware and the tablecloth should be black.

Candlelight or lamplight should be used.

Each living guest should bring a divination tool.

Begin the feast at midnight on Samhain Eve. Invite family members, coven members, friends -- the choice is entirely up to you. If inviting friends or extended family, this feast works well as a pot luck supper.

Prior to the ritual, place a black votive candle at the seats of all deceased family members and a white votive candle at the head of the table. Cast a circle, call quarters or ritually clean the area as you see fit.

Place your hands on the shrouded chair at the head and invite the Spirit to your feast. Walk around the table touching each ancestor's place, while explaining that the feast is in their honor.

As each guest enters the room in silence, they place the prayers for each of their ancestors under that ancestor's plate. All living guests should then join hands and pray silently for the blessing of the meal and those present, both living and dead. Afterwards, the host or hostess serves the empty plates, then the living guests from oldest to youngest.

Since no one can speak during the course of the meal, the host or hostess must attend to the needs of the guests by passing food around the table. (Food could be placed at both ends of the table to make serving easier).

When the meal is over, the living again join hands and ask for the Blessing of the Spirit on the living and the dead. They then leave the room in silence. When the guests are gone, the host or hostess closes the circle and/or the quarters, after which the guests may return to assist in cleanup. At this time, guests may discuss any impressions they received during the feast.

When the table is cleared, the guests break out their divination tools. They may pair off or do a group reading. Allow the candles to burn until the last guest has gone home, then snuff each candle.

Make a Mask of your Shadow Self

At no other time are we faced with our shadow self more than at Samhain. Now we encounter the dark time of endings and completion, dissolution, and diminishing. The days grow shorter and the nights longer. The Earth is plunging into its winter darkness as the veil between the worlds grows thinner.

Halloween's monsters and frights are merely representations of our repressed fears and shadow side. One way of easing the tensions of the season is to shine the light squarely on our shadows. Examine it and in the process lose all fear of it.

Wear your shadow mask on Samhain and then burn it in the bonfire or cauldron fire -- or leave it on your altar as a tribute to your dark side.

Making a representation of your shadow mask can be liberating. You can feel empowered, because you have better control of the shadow when you can see it before you. Once you eternalize the shadow mask, you know what it is made of. You drain it of any power it holds over you because you know longer hide from it. You then gain magical power because you have changed your consciousness and now know when the mask is worn and when it is not. -- Timothy Roderick, Dark Moon Mysteries

Meditation to Find Your Shadow

Tape record this mediation or have someone read it to you. Find a quiet, comfortable place to perform the meditation, some place where you will not be disturbed. Be sure to answer the questions after the meditation below. (from Dark Moon Mysteries, page 27.)

Close your eyes. Imagine that a soft white glow is forming at your feet. It begins to swirl upward and it forms a protective shell around you. It lifts you up and takes you on a journey to the core of your being.

The misty glow sets you down and dissipates to reveal a marble staircase that spirals downward. The light is very dim along the walls of the staircase and you can't see all the way to the bottom, but you know this is a place into which you must venture.

You begin down the staircase and you notice it spirals in a counterclockwise direction. The light in the staircase comes from candles flickering in small carved niches along the walls. The staircase walls are made of smooth, cold marble that your occasionally touch as you continue to journey downward.

As you work your way down the stairs, notice on the walls that there are occasionally sigils, magickal symbols formed out of metal and embedded into the walls. These are the symbols of your shadow masks. Take note of whichever one is most prominent. This is the symbol for your primary shadow mask.

Reach up and touch the symbol of your primary shadow mask and you'll find that it comes loose from the wall. As you hold it in your hands, you can feel the cold weight of the metal symbol and you can see it from all sides. Hold on to this symbol as you continue down the stairs.

When you reach the bottom, you find before you a great golden door. You try the door, but it is locked. Look at the keyhole and you will find that it is oddly shaped. Slip the metal symbol you hold into the keyhole and you'll find that it unlocks the door. Open the door d enter the chamber.

The room is cold and quite dark, except for a single point of illumination that emanates from the far side of the room. The light comes from a mask that hangs on the far wall. Go over to it and look at it. You notice that it is well within reach, so you take it down and examine it thoroughly. On the inside of the mask is its name. Take note of it.

After you've examined the mask, place it on your face and ask: "How do I resolve this shadow mask?" Listen carefully to the answer. Once you've heard the message, ask one more question: "What does this shadow mask keep me from doing?"

After you've queried the mask, take it off and place it back on the wall. Exit the chamber and lock the door with the medal symbol you retained. As you climb the stairs, you can place the symbol anywhere along the wall and it will set itself within the marble. Continue to head to the top of the stairs,this time moving much more quickly than before.

Once you have reached the top, the white glow enfolds you once again, lifts you up, and brings you back into your body.

When you have arrived back fully, take a moment to contemplate your experience and do the exercises and answer the questions below:

1. Draw the symbol of the primary shadow mask.
2. Draw your shadow mask.
3. What is the name of the shadow mask?
4. What part do you play in keeping this mask alive?
5. What are the effects of this shadow mask on your life?
6. What does this shadow mask keep you from accomplishing?
7. What action must you take in order to resolve you primary shadow mask?
8. What have you to learn from this shadow mask?

Make a Mask Base

Mask bases and human head forms can be found in most craft stores. Should you desire to do make the mask base yourself, use the following directions from Dark Moon Mysteries.

Items needed:

Mixing bowl
1 cup water
1 cup flour
1/2 cup white glue
20-30 pieces of newspaper or paper towels cut into 1" by 6" strips
Plastic wrap

In a mixing bowl, pour 1 cup of water. Add flour in 1/3 cup increments. As you add each 1/3 cup flour, stir it well, using the fingers to break up any clots. Once completely mixed (it should be the consistency of plaster) add 1/4 cup white glue. Stir well.

Buy a mask base at an arts and crafts store, or use the wearer of the mask as a model. If using a human model, spread Saran Wrap or plastic over the person's face. IMPORTANT: BE VERY SURE TO INSERT A STRAW OR OTHER SUCH DEVISE THROUGH THE PLASTIC THROUGH WHICH THE MODEL CAN BREATHE.

Dip paper strips in flour mixture one piece at a time. Shake off excess mixture and smooth either side of the strip to take off more moisture. Begin to lay strips along the outer rim of the person's face or mask base, along the brow, the temples, the jaws, and the chin. Be sure to overlap and interconnect all strips as you lay them out. Smooth each strip into the others with your fingers. Next lay strips across the nose and connect those strips to those at the cheekbone area. Next begin to fill in empty places on your model's face and around the cheeks and forehead.

Repeat process a second time to create a stronger mask base.

Drying time will vary. Use a blow dryer to speed the process if desired. Once the mask is dry enough to be taken off the model's face, place it in a warm place for 24 hours. Decorate when dry.

The Witch's Besom

In Ireland, the besom, or witches broomstick, was sometimes called a "Faery's Horse." Today, "jumping the broom" has become an important aspect of Wiccan Handfastings, symbolizing the transition from the Maiden phase of life to that of the Mother. It also became a symbol of Samhain because of its fertility symbolism. The broomstick is a phallic symbol used by female witches in fertility rites, and it is from this idea that the witches of Halloween ride broomsticks. The sweeping end was traditionally made of the broom herb, a feminine herb.

The notion of the Halloween witch riding upon a broom also may have been a misrepresentation of astral projection. As Samhain represents a time when the veil, the threshold between the world of the living and the realm of the spirits, is very thin, it is the perfect time for astral projection and communion with the souls of the dead.

Traditionally, the broomstick is made of a limb from an ash tree.

The World Tree, which connects the world of the living and various realms of spirits, can be identified with the Yggdrasil of Norse Mythology, the Sacred Ash upon which Odin hung crucified for nine days and nine nights before receiving the Sacred Runes. It can also be recognized as the May Pole entwined with ribbon in the Spring, and it is also the Witch's Broomstick at Halloween. Using this broomstick, or Faery's Horse with its shaft of ash, the Witch traditionally rides up the chimney of her hut and over the Moon to the spirit realms on Halloween night. -- Pauline Campanelli, Ancient Ways: Reclaiming Pagan Tradition

Making the Besom

To make a traditional besom, you'll need:

A four-foot ash limb for the broomstick
Willow (the long strands to which the leaves are attached) for binding the broom end to the shaft
Brush from a birch for the bristles
Scissors
Water and salt for soaking

(Substitutions for the ash broomstick and birch bristles below)

Soak the herb you'll be using for the bristles overnight in warm, lightly salted water (to make them pliable). Allow them to dry a bit before using. They should be damp and pliable when binding the broom. Should they get too dry, soak them some more.

Line the straws alongside the limb, about 3 inches from the bottom. THE BOTTOM OF THE BRISTLES SHOULD POINT TOWARD THE TOP OF THE BROOM. Begin binding these around the broomstick with the pre-soaked willow binding. Tie them very securely. Add as many layers of bristle as you want, depending on how full you want the broom end to be.

Bend the top of the bristles over the willow twine. When they are gently pulled over, tie the bristles again just below the fold. Leave the broom overnight to dry.

Decorate the broomstick, if you wish, with your magickal name, magickal symbols or sigils. Consecrate the finished broom as you would any ritual object.

Other materials are often used for the besom, including:

Masculine trees suitable for the broomstick: Hazel, Oak, Rowan

Feminine herbs suitable for bristles: Myrrh, Mugwort, Thyme, Willow branches

Cotton or hemp twine can be substituted for willow strapping.

Consecrate the finished broom as you would any ritual object.

Making the Witches Ladder

Items needed:

<DIR>

3 cords of equal length, each 3 feet long (Traditionally, these cords are red, black, and white for the three aspects for the Goddess, however you may substitute any color for its magickal correspondence.)
9 feathers
Ring on which to tie cords to anchor them while braiding (Optional)

</DIR>

Assemble materials. Cast circle or create sacred space. Light a candle in a color corresponding to your magickal working. (Blue for peace, etc.) Burn incense which corresponds to your purpose. Have a small bowl of salt and a small bowl of water at your workspace.

If using a ring, tie one end of each of the three cords side by side to the ring. (You could even use a belt buckle or hanger). Anchor this ring to a doorknob, handle, or chair back. If not using a ring, tie one end of the cords together loosely. Begin to braid, saying this or a similar rhyme:

<DIR>

Yarn of red, black, and white
Work your magick spell this night.

</DIR>

As you braid, work all nine feathers (all one color or a combination of colors, depending on your magickal intent) into the ladder, one at a time, as evenly spaced as possible. As you insert the feathers, begin this or a similar chant:

<DIR>

With this feather and this string,
Protection (or peace, etc) this charm will bring.

</DIR>

When all nine feathers have been tied onto the cord, and the length is braided, tie the ends of the cords together to make a circle (after removing the braid from the ring). Consecrate the ladder by passing it through the incense smoke and candle flame, asperge it with salt and water, saying:

<DIR>

In the names of the Goddesses
And the God
By Air, Earth, Fire, and Water
I consecrate this charm
Of feathers nine and cord of three
As I will, so mote it be!

</DIR>

Hang the witches ladder high in your house where it will not be seen by others, but where you can see it everyday.

Feathers

FEATHER COLOR	MEANING
WHITE	White feathers symbolize purification, spirituality, hope, protection, peace, and blessings of the Moon.
RED	Red feathers symbolize physical vitality. Also courage, good fortune, and life.
BLUE	Blue feathers give mental abilities, peace, and protection. Also psychic awareness.
YELLOW	Yellow feathers give cheerfulness, mental alertness, prosperity, and blessings from the Sun.
GREEN	Green feathers symbolize money, prosperity, growth, health, and fertility. Green and red mixed feathers affect financial matters.
ORANGE	Orange feathers bring attraction, energy, and success.
PINK	Pink feathers attract love.
GRAY	Gray feathers symbolize peace and neutrality.
BROWN	Brown feathers give stability and respect. They also symbolize the home and grounding. Brown feathers striped in black, like the tail feathers of a pheasant, give a balance between the physical and spiritual life. Brown feathers banded or mixed with white bring happiness and give the kind of protection that enables one to go unnoticed amidst those who would harm them. Brown and red mixed feathers bring healing to animals.
BLACK	Black feathers give the mystical wisdom that comes with true spiritual initiation. Black, iridescent feathers give mystical insight. Black and white mixed feathers give union and protection. Black (or gray) feathers banded or mixed with white give hope, balance and harmony. Black mixed with purple means deep spirituality. Black, white, and blue mixed feathers brings change.

I am directly copying this chart and hoping it will transfer correctly. MSN uses a different format than a lot of web sites. If it doesn't show correctly you will find another post directly below where I typed it out manually, here's hoping though! mdr

> Candle Color Correspondences
Choose a candle color to match your magickal intent. Also listed are correspondences for the zodiac and days of the week.

White -- spirituality, purity, truth, protection, and peace (Aries) MONDAY

Red -- health, energy, strength, courage, sexual potency (Taurus) TUESDAY

Pink -- love, affection, and romance

Orange -- creativity, attraction, ambition, career matters, and the law (Leo)

Yellow -- intellectualism, imagination, memory, and confidence (Gemini) SUNDAY

Green -- fertility, abundance, good luck, healing and harmony (Cancer) FRIDAY

Blue -- inspiration, protection, peace, and devotion (Pisces, Libra) THURSDAY

Purple -- psychism, spirituality, wisdom, enchantment (Aquarius) WEDNESDAY

Brown -- Animal magick, earth awareness (Capricorn)

Black -- banishing, Crone magick, mourning, loss (Scorpio) SATURDAY

Silver -- clairvoyance, , astral energy, and intuition, the Moon, Goddess (Sagittarius)

Gold -- wealth, prosperity, enthusiasm, the Sun, God (Virgo)

Some Herbal Correspondences

These are the herbs that work particularly well for me. There are many, many other herbal correspondences. Try out as many as you can and find what works best for you. Refer to Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magickal Herbs and Paul Beyerl's The Master Book of Herbalism. Or Check out Sacred Mists huge reference section on the this board!

Money -- cinnamon, chamomile, basil
Creativity -- vervain (the artist's herb), lavender
Psychic power -- cinnamon, mugwort, thyme, honeysuckle, yarrow, broom, bay
Divination -- mugwort, broom, camphor, dandelion, hibiscus, borage, honeysuckle, dragon's blood, black willow
Protection -- sandalwood, basil, frankincense, rosemary, fennel, sage, angelica, ivy, cinquefoil, foxglove, dogwood
Health -- sandalwood, rosemary, frankincense, myrrh, bay, sage, pine, mugwort, St. John's Wort, cypress (eases pain), cedar (speeds healing)
Love -- rose, lavender, gardenia, jasmine

Herbal Oil Correspondences

Again, these are the oils I use on a regular basis. You may find others work just as well for you. Refer to Scott Cunningham's The Complete Book of Incense, Oils, and Brews.

Money -- patchouli, basil, sage, cinnamon, honeysuckle, ginger, lemon balm, nutmeg
Psychic power -- jasmine, lemongrass, myrrh, nutmeg, yarrow, star anise
Divination -- jasmine, lemongrass
Protection -- pine, juniper, pennyroyal, vetivert, clove, geranium, black pepper, lime, patchouli
Health -- lavender, eucalyptus, myrrh, peppermint, clove, garlic
Love -- jasmine, rose, lavender, rosemary, lilac, vanilla, carnation

Simple Beeswax Candles

You will need:

Rolled beeswax sheet (buy these in a color that matches your magickal intent)
Lengths of cotton wick
Magickal herbs
Sharp craft knife

To roll your own beeswax candles, warm the beeswax sheets until floppy (a blowdryer works great).

Right side down, sprinkle the magickal herb all over the inside of the sheet.

Tightly roll the sheet around a length of wick which has been cut slightly longer than the length of your candle. You can cut the beeswax sheet to make smaller candles, or leave the sheet whole for taller candles.

If you prefer, cut a diagonal from the top left-hand corner of the sheet to about half-way down the center of the right-hand side and tightly roll up the beeswax, so the candle becomes tiered as it takes shape. Experiment with different angles of the diagonal, cut to create a variety of tiered beeswax candles.

Gently press the end of the sheet into the candle to seal it. (The idea is to give it as seamless a look as possible.)

Using Molds or Containers

I use a plastic votive candle mold I found in a craft store. I've also used milk cartons, jars, toilet paper rolls, small cat food cans, and even a Parmesan Cheese canister. Be creative. Conch shells could make beautiful candles, as could heavy glass tumblers. (Be very, very careful when pouring hot wax into jars or glasses. Use only thick, tempered glass, like that used for canning jars.)

Scented Candles in Containers

Items needed:

Wax of some sort -- granules (which can be bought pre-dyed) or blocks
Cotton wick, depending on the diameter of containers (the larger the container, the thicker the wick)
Pure beeswax (optional)
Double saucepan or a metal can over a pan of simmering water
essential oils and/or herbs of your choice

1. Once you know the diameter of your container, you can buy the correct size of cotton wick, simply
by matching your measurements to those on the packets of cotton wick. A wick of the wrong size
will not burn properly, so read the information on the packet carefully.

2. Gently dissolve some white wax granules or wax block (Optional: add a small bit of beeswax in the top of a double-saucepan; use about ten parts wax to one part beeswax. The beeswax will add a little color and scent to the candles.) IMPORTANT: Be careful not to overheat the wax.

3. Cut a piece of wick about twice the length required for the container. Dip the wick into the melted
wax, and leave to dry and stiffen. Now attach the waxed end of the wick to the base of the container
with a small piece of modeling clay or putty, and hook the top end of the wick over a pencil lying
across the container top.

4. At this stage, scent the candle wax by adding several drops of essential oil and or dried herbs. Add color by dropping in crayons or candle dye. Read the dye directions for appropriate amounts. Melted wax will dry to a lighter shade.

5. Gently pour the melted wax into the container, and leave to cool. You may need to add a little more wax if the cooled candle shrinks too much. Any spare wax can be cooled and re-melted for other candles.

Molded Candles

Cardboard canisters and cartons make good molds as they can be peeled off after the candles dry. It helps to spray the molds LIGHTLY with non-stick cooking spray before pouring the candles.

Follow steps 1-5 above

When candles are cool, remove the molds. Rapping a plastic mold sharply against a surface will loosen the candles. They should drop out after one or two raps. (As plastic molds get older, candles may become harder to remove. Don't forget the cooking spray.)

Dipping Candles

Dipping candles is a little more challenging than container or molded candles. The trick is getting the wax to just the right temperature. If it's too hot, the wax will melt every time you dip the wick. If it's not hot enough, the wax will glob. It takes a little experimentation to get it right.

Find something to drape the drying tapers on while layering the wax onto the wick. A dishtowel rack or one of those collapsible clothes drying racks work well. The rack should be wide enough so that candles don't touch when hanging on it.

Cut the wick long enough for two candles plus a bit extra for hanging across the rack.

Fill the top boiler pan or metal can as high as you want your candles to be plus two inches.

Dip both ends of the wick into the wax, allowing it to hang dry slightly between dips. (To taper candles, after several dips, gradually dip less of the candle into the wax with each dip.)

When candles are the desired size, pour the remaining wax into containers or molds. Let the tapers cool, then roll them gently on waxed paper on an even surface (This presses out the lumps and imperfections). Leave them hanging on the rack to dry on the rack.

Sabbat Candles

Use herb, oil, and color correspondences for each Sabbat to create your own unique seasonal candles. Check correspondences for each of the holidays. Have fun! Here are only a few ideas:

Samhain: Black or orange candles with dried rosemary and/or dried mugwort and patchouli, musk, or sandalwood oil. Carnelian, bloodstone, or jasper crystals can be dropped into the candle as it cools. Skull candles (symbolizing wisdom) and pumpkin-shaped candles are entirely appropriate.

Yule: Red or green candles (also gold and silver) with ground cinnamon; and bayberry, cedar, spruce, pine, or cinnamon oil. Decorate the candles with poinsettia, holly, red roses or white carnations. Drop quartz, garnets, blue topaz, or pearls into the cooling wax.

Imbolc: Red, black, and white candles with dried dragon's blood or red and white rose petals; and carnation, vanilla, or vanilla musk oil. Garnets, clear quartz, or pearls may be added.

Ostara: Pastel green, yellow, pink, and blue candles (egg-shaped is appropriate) with purple clover, lilac, lavender, vervain or lemon balm herbs; and heather, lilac, lavender or new mown hay oil. Decorate with daisies, tulips or daffodils. Clear and rose quartz, lapis lazuli, agates and amethysts can be dropped into the wax as it sets.

Beltane: Purple, gold or green candles with honeysuckle, roses, lilac or vanilla; and rose, lilac, or vanilla oil. Decorate with daisies, roses, lilacs, fern, or violets. Drop in peridot, citrine, amethysts or rose quartz.

Litha: Orange, gold, yellow, or green candles with rose petals; and violets, rose, orange, lime, or thyme oil. Or include nine sacred herbs of the season: mistletoe, vervain, St. John's Wort, heartsease, lavender, mugwort, sage, rosemary, and honeysuckle. Decorate with roses, marigolds or sunflowers. Add citrine, peridot, carnelian or calcite crystals or drop in a hazelnut.

Lughnasadh: Brown, yellow, or orange candles with copal, tangerine, musk, or patchouli oil. Decorate with marigolds, corn, wheat, grapes, sunflowers, ivy, barley, or any wild flowers and plants. Use tiger's eye, citrine, aventurine, golden topaz, obsidian, moss agate, rhodochrosite, or clear quartz.

Mabon: Orange, brown, tan, or yellow candles with cinnamon, rosemary, marigold, sage, or clove; and cinnamon, tangerine, or orange oils. Decorate with fallen leaves, rue, yarrow, or other fall plants. Use citrine, rose quartz or moonstone crystals.

All of these incredible activities, crafts, instructions

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