🍂 Weekly Witchy CHALLENGE - Magick for the Season

[BryWisteria]

Merry meet and season’s greetings!

Thank you once again to everyone who joined in for last week’s Weekly Witchy Challenge - Palmistry

After reaching into the handy world of palm magick, it’s time to grab on to the present moment. Whether you are in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, this week calls on all witches to enjoy the season around them!

The theme for this week’s challenge is…

Seasonal Magick - Making the Most of the Season

Take some time this week to stop and appreciate the joys of nature-
A seasonal witch knows how to make use of these fleeting gifts!

Samhain (Beltane for friends in the Southern Hemisphere) is quickly approaching! No matter where in the world you are, the upcoming holiday marks the point between the equinox and the solstice- the official “midpoint” of the current season.

This week, perhaps as you prepare for the upcoming festivities, this challenge calls on you to draw on the current season to enhance your practice. From using foods that are in season to appreciating the current phase of nature’s cycle and more- there are many ways to welcome nature into your Craft!

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This week’s theme challenges you to embrace the season in your practice - but as always, how you do so is up to you!

So are you ready? Because it’s…

CHALLENGE TIME!

Art by Vulpinoid: Seasonal Witch

STEP 1 : Magick of the Season

This challenge is all about palmistry- there is a whole handful of ways you might grab onto this challenge!

Still not sure where to begin?

To help you get started, the following list has a few suggestions in which a witch might approach this challenge!

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What is in Season?

Many of us are blessed with an abundance of choices in the supermarket, but choices from afar can sometimes cause disconnect from the present.

This week, consider passing by products that came from far away climates and focus on local goods- what current fruits, veggies, and products are currently in season in your location? These are great ways to connect with the natural world around you

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Kitchen Witchery

What are your favorite foods this time of year? Are there any traditional dishes that you associate with the season?

This is a Kitchen Witch’s time to shine- consider adding some magick as you jump into the tasty delights of this time of year!

Magickal Kitchen Witch Blends

Tools of a Kitchen Witch

(Past Challenge) Kitchen Witchery

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Meditation & Mindfulness

Meditation and mindfulness practices are great ways to sweep out any mental clutter and find joy by being present in the moment.

If formal meditation isn’t your cup of tea, consider more casual ways of being present in the moment- such as a causal tea meditation or thoughtful walk

Walking Meditation for Restless Energy

Cozy Up Guided Meditations

Guided Candle Meditations

(Past challenge) The Magick of Meditation

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Holiday Preparations

Are you ready for the Sabbat? If not- no worries! The Sabbats are all inherently tied to the season and the passage of time- feel free to use this challenge as a chance to get your preparations and ideas in place

Samhain Ideas

Beltane Ritual

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Seasonal Spellwork

Open up your Book of Shadows or Grimoire and play a game of seek and find- I bet you’ll find some fun spells that draw on ingredients or energy of the season! Whether it’s autumn leaves, apple spellwork, or rituals for ancestors- there are plenty of spells out there that are tied into the season. And you can always make your own spells too!

• How to Use Apples in Witchcraft Magic and Mythology
• Autumn Leaves for Spellwork
• Pumpkins and Witches : Scary Lore and Carvings
• Discussions about Eggs in Magick
• Etc.

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…And More!

Does thinking of the season call you to create? Whether you want to do handicrafting, art magick, enjoy witchy autumn music, or more- as always, you are free to draw on your creativity and pursue this week’s theme in ways that suit your unique magickal practice

From Patheos: Samahin and Autumn Crafts

STEP 2 : Share Your Experience

Please click here for notes about challenge inclusivity

Everyone is welcome to join the challenge by practicing magick in line with the current theme. For lurkers and those who don’t feel comfortable sharing, it is absolutely okay to follow along with the challenge but keep your entry personal. Feel free to join in spirit and do what feels most comfortable for you!

That being said, please know that if you would like to receive a prize and a public shout-out, it is required that you share your experience.

For your entry to be counted towards the challenge, please share:

1. How you explored seasonal magick this week

In order for your entry to be counted, all you have to do is write/share about your experience and label it as your challenge entry. There is a lot of chatting here (which is awesome- chatting and discussion are very welcome!) so please clearly write that it is your entry so I know to count it!

Where Should I Share My Entry?

You are welcome to post it right here- just click “reply” to this post and write your experience in the text box that pops up!

Alternatively, you could create a new thread in the forum (doing so keeps your entry separate and is a good option if you have a lot to share)

Note : If you choose to create a new thread, please add the “challenge-entry” tag and/or add a hyperlink back to this post so that it can be easily found- thank you!

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Deadline

This challenge will close in 6 DAYS

To join in, please share your experience by:

Tuesday, October 25th at 7:00 AM CET (Central European Time)
( 2022-10-25T05:00:00Z)

(Note that the time zone is CET- you can use this time zone calculator to switch into your time zone!)

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Prizes

For their efforts, all participants will receive a special shout-out and a small prize!

Acknowledgments will be given in a Props and Presents Post that will appear in the forums on Tuesday.

After the challenge closes, you are still very welcome to post but please be aware that no additional prizes will be given. This discussion will remain open for about a week after the challenge finishes.

Art by Swan Keller: Season Witch

A warm reminder that all challenges are designed to be very open- everyone is encouraged to participate in a way that honors and reflects their unique practice

If you have any doubts about if something is acceptable to post or say, please double-check with the Forum FAQ and/or reach out to your friendly Moderator Team .

And for those new to challenges- welcome! Know that the goal of these activities is to help you further diversify and strengthen your abilities and to bring together the Spells8 forum family to inspire and support one another in creative ways

Picture from Pinterest

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Crunchy leaves or chirping birds-
A feeling that goes beyond words,
So step outside and take a breath-
Sense the season’s life and death.
For when you blink it shall be gone-
So make the most of this season!

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Blessed be!

[Amethyst]

Huh. I’ll have to think on this one since I already posted my Samhain ritual. LOL! This will be fun!

[ashley69]

Magick For The Season Challenge Entry:

Calling The Bone Mother (Cailleach) Samhain Ritual

First, I want to say I am in love with this week’s challenge! The Autumn Season is one of my favorite times of the year! I am a ritual lover… so it would make sense that being embraced fully by the liminal is where my magick thrives!

This year for Samhain, I am planning a ritual that honors my own rededication & renewal, the liminal transition into Crone Season, and the genius loci of where I live & how it ties to my ancestral roots that once honored the Bone Mother of the Appalachian Mountains through the form of The Cailleach this time of year.

For some context, I live at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountain range, and for some time now I have been feeling the magick of these old primordial mountains call me. These mountains that I call home once belonged to one of the oldest mountain ranges that once spanned over various continents including Ireland and Scotland during the time of Pangea…all of which were told to be formed by the ancient crone Goddess The Cailleach. So, in theory, and in my opinion The Cailleach not only thrives in Ireland & Scotland but also crosses the great distance of the Atlantic to thrive right here within my own backyard. This is also probably why so many Scot/Irish people felt familiarity and settled in this region.

Nancy Lankston says, "The Cailleach was worshipped by the Celts as the sacred Earth Mother in her bare winter form. And she is not just a dark and evil hag who arbitrarily decides how long winter will be. The Cailleach is also the Bone Mother who collects the bones of the animals that die in the winter. The Bone Mother is said to sing or pray or sleep over the bones all winter long. She does this out of love so that the animals will cross over and can return as new life in the spring. Do you step forward with renewed life force and a fresh outlook? Or does your life become defined by your painful old bones? You must bury your old bones! ”

The Cailleach teaches us that to be born anew we must allow our old obligations, and our identities formed around those obligations, to be buried with the ones who have crossed. In this way, we become free to live the rest of our lives, with fresh shoots and bright new green leaves when Spring returns.

Some Components of The Ritual:

• A Lit Spiral Labyrinth w/ An Altar In The Center - Symbolizes the Cycles, Seasons, and the 3 Faces of the Goddess.

• A Black Candle, Cut-Out of Bones w/ Releasing Written On Them, & A Cast Iron Cauldron - I plan to burn the cut-outs and then bury the ash.

• Mountain Spring Water - To bless and anoint myself during my rededication. Also, it symbolizes The Cailleach as a water Goddess and as a powerful and liminal element of Autumn.

• A Bull Roarer - Symbolizing The Cailleach as a Weather and Storm Goddess and as a way to communicate with the Spirit Realm.

• A Corn Dolly - To symbolize an old Irish farming custom of the Cally-Berry. The farmer would look after the Cailleach for the entire winter until the start of the next sowing season. If the farmer could provide hospitality for the Cailleach all winter, they would be rewarded with an extra bountiful harvest the next year.

This ritual isn’t fully prepared yet, and I didn’t want the post to be too long lol.
I am sure I will add more as the days pass and as we get closer to Samhain. I know I will also be including offerings of food to honor my beloved departed as well. I thought I would share what I am currently working on for this challenge. Anyway, I hope everyone has a blessed Sabbat

[Phoenix_Fire]

Omg !!! Im so excited by this challenge

[Mistress_Of_Herbs]

@ashley69 that’s so cool that u live in the Appalachian mountains. I live near them in NC. Love your ritual.

[Kasandra]

I finally have an idea, after some thinking. I’ve been wanting to do some bottle magick, but the smell of cinnamon powder from my dragon bottle was just too good to clean out.
I could make some black salt to store in the bottle to use at Samhain for protection during the darker half of the year.
Let’s see…if I burn Bayleaf, a fiery herb of protection, I could mix that in with some sea salt…
Oh, I can’t wait to make my first black salt!

[Garnet]

116 Weekly Witchy Challenge – Magick for the season

Challenge entry – Garnet

When our precious TravelWitch_bry set forth the newest challenge, I thought of food. (as you can see from my frail butterfly pic) I love food and I love pink, hence the wig…hee, hee.

Whether it is called Halloween or Samhain, this mystical holiday is celebrated around the world

Seeley Fae or Unseely fae, Samhain was the time of the wild hunt! Ghosts and huge bonfires!

The word Samhain is pronounced ‘Sow(as in Cow)Inn’ and is sometimes written in the Old Scottish Gaelic form as ‘Samhuinn’. It is said that at this special time of Samhain the veil that separates the worlds is at its thinnest. So our world, the world of Faerie, and that of the dead blend as one. It is no wonder then that this night has become so wrapped in superstition. It is a night of wonder and magic. On this night the Cailleach (the Crone) comes to strip the leaves from the trees, to quicken the decay of the flesh of the year, so that it may feed the new life to come. We can also ask Her to take away the unwanted aspects of our personal year so that these too might be transformed. Yet even on the darkest night of Samhain, whilst our minds ponder our mortality if we listen carefully, we can hear the sound of a new-born child crying for its Mother’s breast, for soon it will be** Alban Arthan**, the Winter solstice, and the Wheel will turn once more.

At Samhain (which corresponds to modern Halloween), time lost all meaning, and the past, present, and future were one. The dead, and the residents of the Other World, walked among the living. It was a time of fairies, ghosts, demons, and witches. Winter itself was the Season of Ghosts, and Samhain is the night of their release from the Underworld. Many people lit bonfires to keep the evil spirits at bay. Often a torch was lit and carried around the boundaries of the home and farm, to protect the property and residents against the spirits throughout the winter.

Samhain / Samhuinn - Rituals & Traditions | Halloween | OBOD

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Samhain is one of the major festivals of the Wheel of the Year, for many Pagans the most important festival of all. It is the third and final harvest festival of nuts and berries and a fire festival. All the harvest is in, all is complete, it is the end of the cycle of birth and growth, and it is the point of death. The harvest seeds have fallen deep into the dark earth, they are unseen, dormant, and thus apparently lifeless.

The God, as Sun King, is sacrificed back to the land with the seed until the Winter Solstice, and the Goddess, now as Crone, mourns Him until His rebirth at Yule. He travels the Underworld learning its wisdom. This is the time of the descent into darkness, of pre-conception, out of which new life, and new ideas will eventually emerge.

Traditionally the veils between the worlds are at their thinnest now. Boundaries dissolve and all is laid bare. It is time to honor and offer hospitality to, our ancestors.

At Samhain, the dark half of the year commences. It is a truly magical time. Death is always followed by rebirth and while this is the end of the old year, it is the beginning of the new year. For the Celts the day did not begin at dawn, it began at sunset, and it began with darkness. Light is always born out of darkness, they are inseparable, interdependent, and necessary. Darkness is fertile with ‘all potential’. With the beginning of this dark phase comes the opportunity to rest and reflect on the past and dream of new beginnings. The seed now hidden in the earth will germinate in its season. Look for the seeds in yourself!

https://www.goddessandgreenman.co.uk/samhainhalloween/

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Samhain foods

Fruit

Apples are harvested and stored for winter

Pomegranate is the fruit whose seeds formed the contract between Hades and Persephone so that she would spend six months each year in the underworld. If cut during the ritual, it “bleeds” dramatic trickles of dark red juice. Processed pomegranate juice is also available.

Nuts include hazelnuts, acorns, and walnuts in particular but there are many other types. Tropical nuts are not ideal unless you live where they grow. Nuts may be used in divination, decoration, or snacks.

Root vegetables such as beets, turnips, and potatoes are among the last to be harvested. These represent death, rebirth, and mystery because they come from underground. Turnips were once the precursors of the modern jack-o-lantern, carved as lights.

Autumn squash such as acorn squash and pumpkin also count as late-harvest foods. These may be baked in halves, mashed, or made into pies or other dishes.

Pan de Muertos is the “Bread of the Dead,” a rich egg bread covered with a sugar glaze. It is traditionally made for Dia de Los Muertos, in the shape of bones and skulls and such. It also makes terrific Samhain bread.

Meat for the Samhain feast may come from domestic animals — beef and pork were Celtic favorites — or wild game such as venison. Large roasts or even whole small animals may be served. It is customary to honor the spirit of the animal so that there will always be plenty of food.

Candy and other sweets include chocolates(umm, chocolate!), candied fruits, pastries, sugar skulls, skeletons, mummies, etc. If you get the kind that is pure sugar, as for Dia de Los Muertos, consider breaking them up to put in coffee or tea instead of eating them plain.

samhain - Greenhaven: A Pagan Tradition

This next pic is just for fun.

Image Source

samhain

I don’t have a lot of energy today so I’ll end here

Happy Samhain, and many, many blessings

Garnet

[jessica72]

Challenge Entry

Ok so for me here down under we’re upside down and back to front so it’s Beltane for me =)

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Perform a Purifying Fire Ritual

Light your fire with the intention to purify, cleanse and free you from the past. Dance around the fire and/or jump over it (please do this carefully) with those intentions in mind. If your lucky enough to have a fire pit or large cauldron in your backyard, take full advantage of that. If not, a candle will do just fine.

Say a Beltane Blessing

"Fire blend and fire light
I celebrate Beltane this warm spring night
The Goddess gives birth to all things
Blessing all with the bounty she brings
Beltane brings the passion to grow
To reap the benefits of seeds I’ve sown
The days grow longer, a shorter night
I stand in my power, strong and bright"

Write Wishes On Coloured Ribbons

Ask for a wish or blessing from the Fae by writing your wish on colourful ribbons and tying them to tree branches or plants in your yard. Traditionally the Celtic people would do this with the Hawthorne tree. Be sure to leave an offering for the Faeries when making your wish. A dish of honey or milk, sweet cakes, fresh fruit, coins, crystals or anything shiny is sufficient. When your wish is granted be sure to leave another offering to say thank-you.

Above with credit to:

Witchin' Wares | Spiritual Supply Store | Australia

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The following comes from ‘Spells for a Magical Year: 100 Rituals and Enchantments for Prosperity, Power and Fortune’ by Sarah Bartlett.

‘Eve of Beltane: An Enchantment for Starting New Enterprises’

Nature Spirits were thought to be especially active at Beltane. The symbol of fire was used to benefit growth and to call on the spirits of nature and bring the waxing power of the sun to bring a creative beginning to the season.

On the eve of Beltane, this spell harnesses the spirits of nature and the energy of the sun to benefit you in any new enterprise or creative endeavour for the months ahead. It will also prepare you for tomorrow’s May Day and Beltane celebrations , an important point in a Wiccan or witch’s calendar.

What you will need:

• A large piece of paper and a pen
• A cauldron or cooking pot
• 5 twigs, preferably from 5 different species of trees: oak, rowan, elder hazel and willow. (If you can’t find them, take photos or images of them from a book or the internet and paste them onto separate pieces of paper.)

On your main piece of paper, draw a pentacle: a five-pointed star within a circle, with the fifth point to the north or top of the circle.

Write the magical elemental words between each of the points as follows:

To left of the top point, “Spirit.”
To the right of the top point, “Air.”
Above the bottom right point, “Fire.”
Between the two bottom points, “Earth.”
Above the bottom left point, “Water”.

Now place the five twigs into the cauldron or cooing pot and with an imaginary wand encircle the cauldron five times and say,

“Five woods into the Cauldron go
Burn them fast and burn them slow.
When the wheel begins to turn
Soon the Beltane fires will burn.
Where the rippling waters go
Cast a stone, the you’ll know.
These Eight words Rede fulfil
‘An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will.’”

The spirits of the woods, trees and waters will be there to help you activate any new enterprise in the coming months.

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[BryWisteria]

@Amethyst Your gorgeous Samhain ritual was posted within a day of the challenge and it fits the theme perfectly- I would be happy to count it as your entry if you’d like!

@Ashley69 If I remember correctly, there have been quite a few mentions of the magick of the Applachain Mountains here in the forum- you live in a truly fascinating and magickal place, Ashley! I love that you embraced your magickal heritage and connected with the place you call home for this challenge, what a wonderful way to be present in the season Beautiful work and gorgeous ritual- please feel free to keep us updated as you continue to prepare it! Wishing you a very blessed Sabbat too

@Phoenix_Fire Hooray!

@Kasandra You’ve got some exciting ideas brewing, Kasandra- and I completely relate to not wanting to purge bottles/jars that hang onto good smells! The garlic jars, on the other hand… Good luck and have fun!

@Garnet Garnet!!! Look at you and your super cute wig- you are rocking that cut (and color)! Thank you for sharing the Samhain tips and wisdom and most of all FOOD- goodness, my stomach is rumbling now! I hope you are able to get some good rest and that your energy returns too- blessed be!

@Jessica72 Lovely fire ritual, Jessica- this sounds perfect for Beltane! And the wood spell is very interesting- I was just reading about Elder yesterday and all it’s benefits in spellwork. Wishing you all the best with your Sabbat celebrations- have a very blessed Beltane!

[Amethyst]

@BryWisteria

@Amethyst Your gorgeous Samhain ritual was posted within a day of the challenge and it fits the theme perfectly- I would be happy to count it as your entry if you’d like!

We’ll see if I can think of anything else! I don’t want to be unfair to everyone else. But thank you!

[BryWisteria]

@Amethyst

We’ll see if I can think of anything else!

Looking at the time stamps, I can see it was posted within the same day as the challenge launching- the theme was a secret and it was a case of honest thinking on the same wavelength, so I’d have no problem counting an entry that was a bit early! That being said, I don’t want to undermine that brilliant, creative mind of yours, Amethyst- if you feel called to create something else on this theme, I would welcome it with open arms!

Blessed be!

[SilverBear]

Challenge Entry

I am adding these since it’s very pretty here in NH with the leaves!!

Leaf it!

older video but does the trick… and of course it’s almost Samhain!

Three Day Samhain Ritual

[Medea]

Weekly Witchy Challenge - Magick for the Season Entry

I keep changing my mind on Witch… way I want to go with this Challenge. I think I am going to start with the local Farm Markets. Then I will incorporate my Craft through Folklore. Ok, change my mind again. I believe I am going to research local Hauntings, Witch’s and Warlocks, and so on. There are many stories, more than I realized.

This gave me the opportunity to come up with an activity that I can practice Magick for the Season. I will be taking my older grandkids to Durand Park and maybe we will see the "Lady in White"

Medea

[Artemisia]

Challenge Entry: Magick for the Season

While I might add to the challenge before the due date, I decided to make my favorite Rosemary Olive Bread. The recipe comes from Cook’s Illustrated and I’ve used it for years with varying success.

This year I had access to my own homegrown rosemary to use,

which I harvested with my boline. I then chopped the rosemary finely and added it to the bread machine

I rolled out the dough onto which I placed chopped green olives, which I rolled into a log, then rolled it on itself to sit and rise. After several more rises, folds, and turns, I formed two loaves which I allowed to rise another 90 minutes. Let me tell you, I am not a patient person and baking can be trying and unsuccessful for me because of that. However, this time, I slowed down and allowed the time to let this bread become what it was meant to be.

I was pleased at how well it turned out after baking.

I think it was my best effort yet!

[Artemisia]

I have already picked my three leaves for this Ritual!

[SacredBee]

Challenge Entry: Magic for the season

On this morning’s forage I decided to honor the milkweed! You’ve probably seen those pods of feathery bracts that float around like fairies. The milkweed flower supports pollinators in the warm months. Butterflies lay their eggs in them and the bees love ‘em too. Then in late summer the flowers are gone and these incredible large bumpy pods appear. When the plant is dying, it does its one last miraculous thing for nature and releases thousands of seeds that travel through the air to reach new territory for next year.

After thanking the milkweed for its gift to us, I took some of the dried, pod shells, bursting with seeds. And did a little chant as I helped them fly away in the breeze

The pods are very cool looking and I used them on my altar.

If you can see the green disk in the middle - it is made with my Dad’s ashes. There is a glassblower who takes ashes and your choice of color and fires these one-of-a-kind hand stones. She said that people’s ashes behave differently. My Dad’s were very bubbly! I only received this gift from my sister on Tuesday, so it was timely for my altar.

I’ve seen so many creative and deep altars and rituals from all of you! I love the thought, ritual detail, and creativity. I learn every day. Thanks so much!

[Medea]

Weekly Witchy Challenge - Magick for the Season

This Challenge is going to be informational and informative. This is the first time I did research on my hometown and wrote about it. I have heard many “scary” stories throughout my childhood but that did not stop me from watching horror movies as long as someone was there. “Scream” really terrified me.

"New York has a surprisingly rich history of witches and witchcraft. These stories are known locally in the towns where they occurred but have Witches and Warlocks of New York is a collection of legends and historical accounts about witches and warlocks from the Empire State" (1)

**What are some of the best upstate NY Ghost Stories? **

The White Lady might be one of the best-known ghost stories in Upstate NY, but it’s far from the only one. New York State history meets myth at many historic sites across the state, including: The Sagamore Hotel, Bolton Landing: Sightings of a little boy who used to sell golf balls until he was hit by a car. Willard opened in 1869 and housed 1,500 patients by 1877, making it the largest asylum in the country. For one day a year each spring, the grounds of Willard Asylum in Seneca County are open, with hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people attending each year. Spook Hill, The Fox Sister’s, and the list goes on.

Willard Asylum for the Chronic Insane.

(8)

I read this book about the Willard Asylum and all the ghost’s that wandered the halls at night. The screams coming from nowhere and everywhere. I was left in awe for days. For as long as I can remember, I always hard about this place. I believe all parents in the 60’s and 70’s use to threaten kids with the asylum. If we were bad, they would tell my sister and me to get in the car, they were taking us to Willard. I forgot they use to say that to us…hmm. I could not believe what happen to those people. They were thrown out into the streets without anything. No meds, no clothes, no shoes and no personal possessions.

Ghost hunts in Upstate NY: Where to take paranormal tours this fall: (Kanaley, 2016)

                                          (5)

THE HAUNTING OF THE WHITE LADY
The origins of the stories that surround the hauntings of “The White Lady” in this Rochester, NY park are open for interpretation. But what is real…is that for decades, a White Lady has been spotted along the roadways of this park near Lake Ontario. Rumors in these parts suggest that even the local law enforcement have seen things that they cannot explain. Is it a daughter that never returned? Or a widow waiting for her husband’s ship to arrive? The stories told for decades cannot be ignored. (5)

Spook Hill

Spook Hill - Middlesex, Yates County NY [2013] - In The Finger Lakes

Legend has it this spot in Yates County is a former Native American burial ground, with spirits still at the scene. If you drive your car along Route 364 to Middlesex, then turn left on South Vine Valley Road and left on Newell Road, you’ll find a big hill where your car rolls backwards up the hill. Look for Spike Road down the hill, stop just before the sign and leave your car in neutral. (6)
I have been here at Spook Hill, and it is just like it says. It is a wild crazy ride because there is no scientific explanation. I was 18 years old when me and some friends drove up there. Knowing the “things” I know now, science has nothing to do with this. It is on a old burial ground … should I say more?

Conclusion
I will be going to “The Haunting of the White Lady” to brush up on my intuition, try to sense, find, or feel any portals or Demon Energy. This place is almost on the lake, and I live just up the road from Durand Eastman Park. I am going to bring my older grandkids with me. I am looking forward to spending time with them. Doing research for this Challenge has shown me that within 25 miles of my house, there is a lot of stories of Witches and Witchcraft. I am going to start a spot in my Book Of Shadows on unexplained hauntings, Demons, paranormal activity, Witches, and Witchcraft that are local and try to examine what the situations might be and what spells or potions could have been used. For me, this is a great way to enjoy the Season of Magick.

Source:

1. State of New York State History Witches in America: A Tale of Three New Yorkers May 15, 2018 by Peter Feinman
2. 1493063413 (ISBN13: 9781493063413) Witches and Warlocks of New York: Legends, Victims, & Sinister Spellcasters by Lisa LaMonica,State of New York State History
3. https://www.thestar.com/The Witches of New York an “enchanting” read that’ll leave you horrified,Tara Henley, Sun., Oct. 30, 2016
4. https://www.newyorkupstate.com/Ghost hunts in Upstate NY: Where to take paranormal tours this fall, Allison Kanaley, Oct. 07, 2016
5. https://youtu.be/O8EeON571dI Spook Hill
   6.13 creepy stops to make on a haunted tour of Upstate NY - newyorkupstate.com 13 creepy stops to make on a haunted tour of Upstate NY Published: Apr. 18, 2016, 12:00 p.m.
   By Nick Canedo | ncanedo@newyorkupstate.com
6. http://chetter.com/willard-asylum-for-the-chronic-insane-willard/ sealless,March 30, 2016

[crystal5]

My Challenge Entry

Here is my Samhain altar. Yesterday we visited the aspens in the mountains. I collected leaves and snail shells for decoration and to connect to nature. I collected aspens leaves for my 3 day Samhain ritual I will follow next week.

[crystal5]

Good thing we went yesterday.
Here is our glorious sunrise this morning.

Red sky in morning
Sailors take warning.

Here is the view now

[TheMuslimWitch]

My challenge entry

• is in light of Beltane and the season spring here in Australia is a poem i shared recently:

Beltane Incarnation

With fire lit across the land,
A couple leaps whilst hand in hand.
To mark their union of this rite,
For they know tonight’s the night!
As they run through the darkened wood,
And find a glassy glade, they should.
Remember well of who’s around,
For bands of faeries all surround.
The couple as they consummate,
The faeries cheer and seal the fate.
Of plants and flowers, shrubs and trees,
Whilst the god’s upon his knees,
Impregnating the mother to be,
From sowing deep his natural seed.
And so in time the goddess will birth,
The Magick that’s nature, on this earth!

– 2022 Witch’s Diary (Southern Hemisphere)