Samhain_ the Ancient Roots of Halloween and the Crone

We have been speaking of the return of the Divine Feminine for quite a while now and at this momentous time it seems appropriate to speak of the wise woman referred to as the Crone. She is is often depicted as a narly old woman but not so! She is a beautiful Wise Woman, who has earned her wisdom from years of growth and integration. She is a spiritual grandmother, having acquired her title from experience and initiation. She is You! Read what Cathy Pagano has to say about the Crone and the Grandmothers who are needed so desperately at this point in time. ~ Blessings, Mary

The Celtic root of Halloween.In Celtic Ireland about 2,000 years ago, Samhain was the division of the year between the lighter half (summer) and the darker half (winter).In the Druid tradition, Samhain celebrates the dead with a festival on October 31 and usually features a bonfire and communion with the dead. On this day, the Celts believed the veil between the living and the dead was especially thin. This allowed spirits of the dead to visit the living. The family’s ancestors were honoured and invited home whilst harmful spirits were warded off. People wore costumes and masks to disguise themselves as harmful spirits and thus avoid harm. Later, November 1st and 2nd were celebrated by the christians as All Saint’s and All Soul’s Day_something we do to this day.