Color of the day: Purple Incense of the day: Cypress Workers and weavers of life, I honor you this day. Close your eyes and focus on the things in your life that have shaped who you are. As you do so, twist the cords together. When you are finished, knot the ends together and lay it on the altar. Close your ritual by thanking the Fates, requesting aid for any changes you'd like to make, extinguishing the candles, and burying your cords. October is the tenth month of the year. Its name is derived from the Latin word octo, meaning "eight," as it was the eighth month of the Roman calendar. Its astrological sign is Libra, the Scales (September 23–October 23), a cardinal-air sign ruled by Venus. October is autumn's promise fulfilled. The resplendent colored leaves dazzle us in hues of gold, crimson, and orange, blazing throughout forests and neighborhoods. This is truly a magical month, with its climactic major holiday, Samhain (which means "summer's end") on the 31st. This is the last harvest festival of the year, the night when it's said the veil between the worlds is thin-a night to honor our ancestors and the souls of the departed. This night came to be called All Hallows Eve since the Christians named the next day All Saints' Day-this is the origin of the name Halloween. Decorations for this night abound on nearly every doorstep. Jack-o'-lanterns light the darkness, and the crisp, cool air seems filled with enchantment. Leave an apple outside for wandering spirits and light a candle in the window to guide them on their journey. October's Full Moon is called the Blood Moon in honor of the sacrificed livestock that would feed families through the winter. |