Time of the dead

October 24th - October 31st

 When the Sun enters Scorpio on October 24th is when I consider the beginning of the holiday ending on 31st. Scorpio is the one zodiac that death is mostly associated which marks the beginning of death of the old year. At this time the vail is thinner and makes it easier for communication. You will have a strong connection to the other worlds that is connected to thousands of different spirits and entities but remember festival of the dead is that for the dead more specifically your relatives, pets and friends who have past.  It is also a special time unofficially associated with LGBTQ+.

Common Practices

Set out food offerings for the wandering souls near leave offerings on graves of those close to you even pets or around and in the home. Bonfires, guising, divination And any party games, romantic gestures. Self expression, Art necromancy, Osteomancy, Shapeshifting, ghost photography, Ghost "hunting". Curses, The direction west is important because west is the point that the sun dies (sets) and brings night until it is born again in the East.

Decoration’s

depicting devils or such is frowned upon unless it is the symbol of Baphomet not saying you can’t do that but a majority of religious Satanist find it a little disrespectful because to be honest a red and horned man is a Christian device to induce fear of "sin".  The regular is skulls of all sorts, skeletons, ghosts, black and white shrouds hang them on tree branches and furniture, Mirrors, Tomb stones, black and white candles, Jack o lanterns, harvest things like wheat, Indian corn, gourds, associated animals, Rosmary branches, marigolds, apples and branches, lavender,  Rowan. So really all the usual Halloween decor is normal for the most part just remember it’s a time for the dead and harvest. Don't be afraid to get creative.  

Correspondences 

Demons: Babeal, Baalberith, Eurynomous
Elements: Earth, Air
Planets: Saturn
Animals: Crow, Raven, Bat, Possum, black cat, spider, scorpion, Rat

Herbs: lavender, marigold, Apple, Rosemary, Rowan, Mugwort, Wormwood, Yew, Mandrake, deadly nightshade
Metals: Mercury, Silver, Lead
Stones: Bloodstone, Onyx, Smoky Quartz, Obsidian, Labradorite,
Colors: Black, Red, white
Zodiac: Scorpio
Association: Death, Change, mourning, coming winter, end of the year, Ancestors, communication, Guidance, afterlife, the void, darkness, Emptiness, Earthly world, crossroad, Transformation, hunger, Magic, creativity, Self Defense

Real Meaning of Halloween

If you don't understand so far what the real meaning is then here it is spelled out… Halloween or in our case "time of death" is in no way about fear… In Satanism we do not fear and we are not here for people to fear us. Fear is a tool that been used for a long time to hide, convince and direct people into doing something they have no reason to do. By all means go to “haunted” houses (or real ones if you like) let your kids trick or treat but just know it's not really about fear that came later of course you still had people back then in fear of evil spirits and such but that didn’t make Samhain a time of fear. It is the time of death don’t be afraid of death it's not a loss but more like a transition.

Harvest  Season Observances

The point between the autumn equinox and winter solstice The sun enters Scorpio on Oct 24th. The scorpion is One of the few animals that represent or symbolise Azazel also is more associated with death than any other sign. Look to the South horizon and find the constellation Phoenix raising. The bright star Fomalhaut from the constellation Piscis Austrinus Will guide you Folmalhaut will be above and to the right of the Phoenix wings. The Phoenix you probably know is a symbol of rebirth,reincarnation,immortality. The mythical creature’s old body explodes in a violent flame and out of the ashes the Phoenix is born again it’s a very powerful symbol of the season you can apply it to how the old year is becoming cold and dying to than once again be born in the spring not only is the festival of the Dead about death it’s also about rebirth

winter solstice

December 21st - January 1st

Winter solstice is the darkest night in the year, The sun stays still not moving toward or away from either of the earth's poles for two days. The Ancients during this time would consider it dead. This holiday symbolizes the decomposition process of the old year that died October 31st and the yearning for rebirth. Like October this month is still very deeply connected to spirits of the dead and other worlds and it is a great time for connection with them.

Common Practices 

One of the most powerful traditions of winter solstice would be doing acts or rituals that showcase the death of the season or birth of the new one. The burning of Yule log in the ashes of the old Is what I do because it is a part of my ancestral culture but anyone can do this. You can think of the log representing the year your currently in and you burn it in the ashes of last years log symbolizing the death and rebirth, while also providing warmth in the winter.  Of course today not a lot of people have fireplaces or any kind of fire pit so it is completely ok to have a decorated tree or have a log of cedar, pine, fir etc. and have three white Brown or green candles on it and burn them every year this way you don't destroy the log and you can decorate it also every year it will look different due to the melting wax. Other traditions That I practice are the hiding of the yule goat or wassailing, But It is very important to find your own tradition and to know why you do it and the history of, if it's something already established and if it's really appropriate.

 Decorations 

Green, White, Brown candles which are also Belials color correspondences Buy Fir tree or spruce (optional) Mistletoe hung over door ways. Deer are a representation of nature the earth and Furfur also their antlers are objects of sexual attraction and war similarly going through a bloody cycle of rebirth, anything natural and relating to winter Pine garlands, Holly, Ivy leaves and Cloved oranges. Things that could represent the Sun, moon or the Dark of night.

Correspondences 

Demons: Satan, Furfur, Belial

Elements: Earth, Fire

Planets: Saturn, Sun, Moon

Animals: Goat, Hart 

Herbs: Pine, Cedar, Fir, Red Cedar, Yew, Holly, Oak, Ivy, Elderberry, Cypress, Yaupon, Dogwood, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Clove Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Allspice, Frankincense, Myrrh, Ginger, Oats, Orange, Apple, Cranberry, Peppermint, Birch, Witch hazel, Mistletoe, Comfrey, Poinsettia, Chestnut, Pecan, Walnut 

Metals: Gold, Silver 

Stones: Clear quartz, snowflake Obsidian, Ruby, Garnet, Snow quartz, Blue calcite, Moss Agate, Emerald 

Colors: Black, Red, Green, White, Brown, Silver, Gold

Zodiac: Capricorn 

Association: Decay, Cold, Survival, Change, Darkness, baring no fruit, Family, Returning light, Yearning for Birth, Hope, Prosperity, Wealth, Giving, Warmth, Storage, Barren, hibernation, Starvation, Peace, kindness, Home, Comfort, Drinking, Spirits

Winter Observances 

During the 23rd the sun is directly over the tropic of Capricorn. Celebrating the return of light. Stars during the winter solstice are brighter you can Observe Orion, Taurus and many more.

The Feast

In 1644 Oliver Cromwell banned pie, calling it a pagan pleasure, he was most definitely right here are some of the many different pies that can be served on this sabbath

Mixed fruit pie, Cherry pie, Apple pie, Pumpkin pie, Pumpkin pie with pumkin crust, Pecan pie, Pork pie, Rye crust and goat cheese honey pie, Chicken pie, Cranberry pie, Black berry pie

Other foods include
Sweet potato casserole, Gingerbread, Biscuits, Dried fruits, Seeds and Nuts, Chicken, Beef, Ham Oranges, Apples, Celtic yule cakes, Fried honey cakes, Lemon poppy seed melts, Regular and Spicy Peanut brittle, Stuffing, Apple crisp with oats, Oatmeal, Taco soup, Pork roast, Snickerdoodle pinwheels, Sun king soup, Elderberry jam, mixed Wheat loaf, Wassail, Gin, Ginger Ale, Root beer, Cider, Peppermint tea, Corn, Peppermint jam, Peppermint bark, Black drink, Chamomile tea, Pine nettle syrup, Egg nog