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nora_nevermore's review against another edition
4.0
Nice little overview of Samhain and how it connects to our current Halloween traditions. Also includes a few recipes, spells and divinations for the holiday.
aniarizona's review against another edition
4.0
Nice little book for a beginner Witch or anyone into the Wiccan wheel of the year. I've always seen this collection and went with my favourite time of the year.
Nothing really of interest for me, but would be a good book to someone learning.
Nothing really of interest for me, but would be a good book to someone learning.
toad_maiden's review against another edition
3.0
One of the better Sabbat-centered books I've seen; I look forward to checking out others in the series.
amalia1985's review against another edition
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.75
‘’At Samhain, the circle of the year has come to its final spoke in the Wheel. At this time, the harvest has finished, the dying god interred, and the goddess has descended to the underworld to be with her beloved. Above, her people prepare for the veil between the worlds to thin; dead ancestors will be visiting, and with the harvest tools put away, there’s a new year to think about, resources to manage, goodbyes to say, and plans to make. Meanwhile, the now barren land gives way to the rulership of the Crone.’’
As soon as August ends, we obsessed lovers of all that is mysterious and haunting, and spooky and spiritual, start preparing for Samhain. The end of October signifies the true turning point of the year as the curtain is about to fall before it rises again to reveal a new
‘’set’’ of 365 days that no one knows its course. We are at the heart of autumn, and it is during its most beautiful and lyrical days that the chasm - or is it truly a chasm? - between the mortal world and the land of the spirits closes. October brings a unique atmosphere into our homes and our hearts. Brown, red, orange, black. Before everything turns to white and grey. Before we start anew.
‘’October is a sad and beautiful time. Autumn leaves cover the ground like bright bleeding, leaving the trees bare. The grass fades from green to brown and in the mornings carries the white hoar of frost. The temperatures grow colder, forcing more and more time indoors, and with what we have gathered, we have just a bit more time to remember the loved ones we no longer have.’’
Samhain combines the extremes. Our mischievous and solemn nature, our fervent wish to live and the fascination with Death and the world beyond. In the lovely book, we learn about the bonfires lit by young boys in Wales and the Scottish Highlands that were called ‘’samghnagans’’ to scare the fairies and to protect their properties from potential witchcraft. We are reminded of the sad story of Old Jack whose evil nature was frowned upon even by the dark lord of Hell. So he had nothing to lighten his way to Purgatory but a turnip lamp. And thus, the jack - o’ - lanterns were born. In Ireland, the women of the house would make candles for their neighbours to pray over in a moving display of what it means to be part of a community. The candles also formed a path for the ancestors to find their way back to our world. Doors were left unlocked, cakes were set out to welcome the loved ones from the Other Side.
We meet the Lady Gwyn who seems to be either a gentle lost soul or a dangerous spirit that chases travellers in the middle of the night and the Dullahan, the headless horseman. The Faery Host and the less fortunate ones who would go ‘’mumming’’ in the custom that gave birth to the modern ‘’Trick or Treat’’. In Somerset, children would ask for money to pay for fireworks used on Mischief Night, representing the souls of dead children. In France, they were given flowers to decorate the graves of their family members. Make some harmless jokes on Cabbage Night, stand in front of a mirror to witness your future spouse. Participate in apple bobbing, form the letter of your true love with an apple peel, decipher the secrets of the hearth the morning after Halloween. Read the legends of Persephone and Hades, Morrighan and Dagda, learn about All Souls’ Day, Dia De Los Muertos, Autumn Dziady, Hop - tu- Naa and the fast-approaching Guy Fawkes Night. And you have to admit that dumb suppers are creepy...
What surprised me most in this book was the invocations to the archangels of the Judeo- Christian religions during a relatively Pagan ritual. Isn’t interesting and telling when religions come together in peace, even for the wildest of reasons?
I’ll leave the last word to Hecate because she simply rules!
‘’Praise to you, queen of all witcheries,
for this glorious night of magick!
Be gentle to us mortal beings -
let us see how we might sharpen our
wits,
strengthen our magick,
illuminate our souls.
Long have we been fain to learn all
sorcery,
so graciously have you taught us!
We pour libations, raise this toast
to the Keeper of the Keys of Olympus
to the Queen of All Sorcery,
to the lady who knows the secrets of the
gods!’’
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/
slenkic's review against another edition
4.0
I had been meaning to read Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials collection for a while now, and happened to come across the Samhain one a week before the holiday so I picked it up. Overall, what a gorgeous little book! I read it in a couple of days but felt so much information was included, in a very digestible way. First the good things:
- Layout and design: the book is easily laid out into logical sections and the illustrations are beautiful
- Acknowledgement of the Southern Hemisphere: THANK YOU Diana for acknowledging those of us practising under a southern sky! The very first few pages shows the Wheel of the Year in both the southern and northern versions, and explains how seasons differ and how many make their own wheel of the year celebrations depending on the climate they live in. Even at the end of the book, she includes a list of other celebrations happening during Samhain in the Southern Hemisphere, and I was really touched to see ANZAC day included.
- Historical Information: Good to see a thorough reference list and very interesting section on the history of Halloween/Samhain and the different cultures and religions who celebrate this Festival of the Dead. You don't even have to be Pagan to enjoy this section, I think many would be interested in the origins of Jack O Lanterns and dressing up as monsters. Plus, I liked the good Pagan history - the author acknowledges that the Pagan Wheel of the Year was only formalised in the 1940s and 1950s - no inaccurate 'Wicca is a religion that was actually practised for hundreds of years pre-Christianity' myth that was ubiquitous in Pagan texts of the 1980s and 1990s.
- Ideas for celebrating Samhain - there is just SO much here. So many ideas for foods, crafts, rituals and celebrations, suitable for all levels and whether you are celebrating solitary, in a couple of a group. There's a whole section of additional reading as well.
For the negatives.... honestly, I can't think of many! The only improvement I would make in the book, is to include a section on Gods & Goddesses for Samhain. There is a prayer section that offers a number of prayers and songs to various deities, but I didn't know why some were included - I don't know Egyptian mythology well enough to understand why Anubis would be considered suitable for Samhain for example. I would have included one more section that listed these gods and goddesses, plus included a short paragraph about who they are and their mythology/how that myth relates to Samhain.
However, that really is a small negative in what is overall a lovely and well-thought out book! I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
- Layout and design: the book is easily laid out into logical sections and the illustrations are beautiful
- Acknowledgement of the Southern Hemisphere: THANK YOU Diana for acknowledging those of us practising under a southern sky! The very first few pages shows the Wheel of the Year in both the southern and northern versions, and explains how seasons differ and how many make their own wheel of the year celebrations depending on the climate they live in. Even at the end of the book, she includes a list of other celebrations happening during Samhain in the Southern Hemisphere, and I was really touched to see ANZAC day included.
- Historical Information: Good to see a thorough reference list and very interesting section on the history of Halloween/Samhain and the different cultures and religions who celebrate this Festival of the Dead. You don't even have to be Pagan to enjoy this section, I think many would be interested in the origins of Jack O Lanterns and dressing up as monsters. Plus, I liked the good Pagan history - the author acknowledges that the Pagan Wheel of the Year was only formalised in the 1940s and 1950s - no inaccurate 'Wicca is a religion that was actually practised for hundreds of years pre-Christianity' myth that was ubiquitous in Pagan texts of the 1980s and 1990s.
- Ideas for celebrating Samhain - there is just SO much here. So many ideas for foods, crafts, rituals and celebrations, suitable for all levels and whether you are celebrating solitary, in a couple of a group. There's a whole section of additional reading as well.
For the negatives.... honestly, I can't think of many! The only improvement I would make in the book, is to include a section on Gods & Goddesses for Samhain. There is a prayer section that offers a number of prayers and songs to various deities, but I didn't know why some were included - I don't know Egyptian mythology well enough to understand why Anubis would be considered suitable for Samhain for example. I would have included one more section that listed these gods and goddesses, plus included a short paragraph about who they are and their mythology/how that myth relates to Samhain.
However, that really is a small negative in what is overall a lovely and well-thought out book! I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
megant713's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Loved this installment in this collection! Learned more about the histories and traditions associated with Samhain and how the traditions/practices have evolved over modern times. Another great reference guide for celebrating this Sabbat!
babayaga1989's review against another edition
5.0
Samhain/Halloween is my favorite time of year, and I think this book did the season justice. I particularly loved reading about the history of Samhain and how it ties into current practices from all different traditions. Looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series!
janastange's review against another edition
4.0
This was the first book I read from the new Llewellyn Sabbat Essentials series. With a few repetitions throughout the book, it was still an interesting read. Unfortunately I always find the activities in these kind of books not so easily doable here in Germany as they probably would be in the US. But I did enjoy the more serious or solemn approach to celebrate Samhain. I especially liked the ritual idea for couples and might try that if my partner agrees to it (not Pagan, but agnostic). I am looking forward to the next few books in the series already ordered since those are my favorite sabbats. The history part in the beginning was especially fascinating and I hope this will continue throughout the series. I also like the Prayers section although I did not care much for the ones in this particular book. A quick read to get you in the mood for the sabbat and a good inspiration for things you can do.
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