Spooktacular Halloween Blog Hop ~ Samhain Sabbath Ritual

Welcome to my stop of the Spooktacular Halloween Blog Hop!! 

Below you will find an exclusive peek from my book, Aradia Awakens, of a ritual the Goddess Diana performed on Samhain, or Halloween, the night her daughter was reincarnated. I'm so excited to be able to post this today, as tomorrow I have an amazing Double Cover Reveal that ties into this series, so be sure to stop back by for that! (P.S. - these covers are soooo pretty!)

Tonight was Halloween to most, but to the Goddess Diana and the citizens of Ovialell, it was Samhain––the Witches' New Year, a night of celebration, when the veil between worlds was at its thinnest.

Samhain, or Summer's End, was the ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the "darker half" of the year. Traditionally, it was also a time of divination when ancestors were honored by placing candles in a window to guide their spirits home.

For years Diana had celebrated the Sabbath by carving her daughter's name, Aradia, into a candle and placing it in the arched window of her castle on Upper World. But this year, her daughter had been reincarnated, causing the tradition to take on a much more festive tone.

While Diana had no need for rituals or tools, as it was those who worshiped her that cast circle and said spells in her honor, her daughter's return left the Goddess feeling grateful as the swell of the universe tugged within her heart.

Alone in her altar room Diana used her silver athame to draw pentacles in the air as she called to the Elements:

"All hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East. Spirits of Air. Join me this night, and protect this sacred circle from any negative force that would try to enter. Hail and welcome Spirits of Air."

Moving deosil, or clockwise, she continued the rite.

"All hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, Spirits of Fire. Join me this night and bless this circle with your passionate light. Hail and welcome, Spirits of Fire."

"All hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, Spirits of Water. Join me this night and cleanse this sacred space of any lingering emotions and hate. Hail and welcome, Spirits of Water."

"All hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, Spirits of Earth. Join me this night and ground this rite in the traditions and power that flow from your womb. Hail and welcome, Spirit of Earth."

After the circle was complete, Diana moved to the center and arranged an ordinary pumpkin onto her alter. With the wave of her hand, she transformed it into a magical white centerpiece with sigils and celestial symbols carved into its glittering flesh. After anointing a purple candle, she placed it inside the pumpkin and set on the window ledge, then chanted:

"On this night, a hollowed eve,
Spirits walking, roaming free,
Guide them with this glowing light,
They have no need to bring us fright."

After completing her cakes and ale, Diana closed the circle and fell asleep with only the glow of the candle flickering in the dark, projecting protective images onto the stone walls of her room. For the first time in centuries, on this Samhain night, the Goddess found peace.

Thanks to Sabrina and Pam for including me in this great blog hop! Now, be sure to enter their amazing giveaway below because you certainly don't want to miss out on your chance to win all these great prizes!!

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TOUR STOPS:

~Oct.19 Racing to Read 
~Oct. 20 Author Ellie Potts
~Oct. 21 Read Between the Lines
~Oct. 22 Starry Night Book Reviews
~Oct. 23 Alexandra Anthony 
~Oct. 24 Tsk, Tsk, What to Read
~Oct. 25 JD Nelson
~Oct. 26 Tich Brewster
~Oct. 27 Daniele Lanzarotta
~Oct. 28 Tish Thawer (Me!)
~Oct. 29 Gracen Miller
~Oct. 30 CJ Pinard
~Oct. 31 Sabrina's Paranormal Palace