Friendly Warning- this post talks about death. If this topic is upsetting for you, please click the back button and return to the main page of the forums.
Greetings to all!
Well done once again to all those who joined in for last weekās special Weekly Witchy Challenge- Catch Up!
The clock has struck and time is up- all previous challenges are once again closed. But when one door closes another one opens- and this challenge opens the door to all that lies beyond.
The theme for this weekās challenge isā¦
Honoring Those Who Have Moved On 
We have recently entered Scorpio season 
- a time ruled by the transformative planet Pluto who symbolizes the cycle of life and death 
With Halloween festivities and Samhain celebrations coming this week, this is a perfect opportunity to take some time to honor those who no longer have a physical presence in this world.
Although it may be a scary or sad conversation at times, death is an important and unavoidable stage of the cycle of life. It is a serious topic- but not one that should be shunned or given a purely negative context.
Consider the tarot card āDeathā- while it symbolizes the end, it also heralds a transformation and a new beginning 
In Wicca, The Horned Man dies at Mabon. But the wheel is always turning, and the masculine deity is reborn again to rise once more in the cycle of the year.
Some cultures and practices even consider death to be a joyous affair as it is considered to be a celebration of life itself 
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Whether you have a somber celebration or a joyous ritual- there are many ways to enter this weekās challenge. The goal this week is to see beyond the veil between worlds to honor those who have moved on.
Are you ready? Itāsā¦ CHALLENGE TIME!
STEP 1 : Honoring the Dead
In addition to the pagan holiday Samhain, there are many other rituals and celebrations honoring the dead all over the world.
Here are just a few to get you inspired:
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Japan has a variety of traditions including floating lit lanterns on lakes and into the sky for Obon.
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Polish people fill graveyards with candles and lanterns on All Saintās Day and commemorate lost ones on the following All Soulsā Day.
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The seventh month of the Chinese lunar calender is called the Ghost Month and China has the Zhongyuan Festival (Hungry Ghost Festival) in which they perform ceremonies and appease spirits of the past.
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DĆa de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a colorful and exciting time celebrated in Mexico.
Across borders, languages, and cultures- many people take time to honor their ancestors and loved ones that have passed.
The above holidays and celebrations are just a few ways that people honor death- here are even more you might consider:
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Make an altar- Consider setting up an altar in honor of the deceased. You might make an offering of their favorite foods or items.
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Attempt to communicate with spirits- You may try to connect or speak with those in another place. Perhaps try mediumship, an Ouija Board, or Heather to help you reach across.
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Worship a Deity of Death- Practice with a god associated with the afterlife or death. You might consider the Horned Man,
Persephone the Queen of the Underworld, or one of the many other deities of death. -
Meditate- take some quiet time to focus your energies and meditate on the cycle of life and death. Find answers within yourself about how you approach the cycle and what death means to you. You might include lighting purple candles.
- Do a Ritual for Samhain- such as the Samhain Solitary Celebration Ritual
Still not sure what to do? Here are some additional great Samhain resources that can give you more knowledge and guidance:
- How to Celebrate Samhain: Rituals and Ideas
- Samhain Spellwork for Witchās New Year Goals
- Samhain Playlist! Music with Autumn Vibes
- Samhain Ritual! by @SilverBear
- Halloween (Samhain) guide by @Missa
- Samhain as an Irish Pagan by @MeganB
- Discussion about Beginner Spells/Activities for Samhain
- Discussion about Samhain for Children
STEP 2 : Share Your Experience 
Whether you choose to celebrate Samhain, follow another cultural tradition, worship a deity of death, or follow another approach- you must share your experience to participate!
Please tell us about your experience honoring the dead
For your entry to be counted, please write about your experience in the comments below and/or create a new post in the forums. If you create a new post, please tag the challenge by adding a hyperlink back to this post - thank you! 
This challenge will be open for 6 DAYS!
To join in, please share your experience by 7:00 AM CET (Central European Time) on Tuesday, November 3rd!
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.
A warm reminder that all challenges are designed to be very open- everyone is encouraged to participate in a way that reflects their unique practice 
Please remember that members of the forum family come from many walks of life and different practices- you may encounter views and beliefs around death that differ than yours.
Also consider that some people may still be recovering from a recent loss of a loved one.
When responding to challenge entries of other people, please be respectful of the beliefs and situations of others.
This is a supporting and loving community- let that shine through now!
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 a moderator.
For those new to challenges, know that these activities are designed 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 
May honoring those who are gone give you an appreciation for the cycle of life and a reminder that love and joy can cross even the veil between worlds
Blessed be! 
actually snorted and now Iām crying.
I look forward to seeing how you set it up in honor of your grandmother- I know it will be lovely 
Maybe include some of your photo albums too? 
Whoopsies! Or maybe there is a Heather out there who can help you speak with the dead? 
Curiouser and curiouser! 
) too! I meditated and communicated with the departed with a written letter and I burned it to send it out to the universe. And I did some candle magic.
thank you! I just told her 
