The Festival of Samhain was an ancient Celtic festival, falling on October 31st. A day which also marks Catholic All-Souls-Day and the secular Halloween, both strongly colored by the Celtic festival... This was a common flame binding together the entire community. Read the rest of this entry » Originally published at Michael and Jaspenelle by Jaspenelle . Please leave any comments there.

I was reading this article on Witchvox, and the author quoted a little piece originally published in Llewellyn's 2009 Magical Almanac, and I thought it was really lovely and clever.  Some simple words... actions, and spirit everyday. C hant, sing, celebrate, and create something every day. A ct consciously on your beliefs in some way every day. L earn something new and teach something every day.

OCTOBER 2008 Your 8 Personal Month There may be much more activity this month than in September. Business affairs have been relatively quiet most of the year, but some movement will begin to take place... particularly after the insights you gained last month: I gained a lot of money yes... but this is for my appartment cannot use it... :P From October 28th on: I have to see the result of it... final point

To my surprise (and delight) I no longer feel as if I am entering prison every morning as I come in to work, nor do I feel like I'm escaping prison when I leave. It's still not my favorite way to spend...steadily I am gaining faith in vocation and feel increasing excitement about living it out in public. All of this adds up to a much happier and more contented Me than I've been in a very long time

"All this talk and turmoil and noise and movement and desire is outside of the veil; within the veil is silence and calm and rest." -- Bayazid al-Bistami I have had conversation after conversation...be good days again. The best thing to do is retreat into the quiet of your own energy daily in whatever fashion you can. Trust that silence. And trust the truth that comes out of it. It will save you

A shakuhachi tale – the northern wind blows across the twilight fields

Lesson 130 It is impossible to see two worlds. 1. Perception is consistent. What you see reflects your thinking. And your thinking but reflects your choice of what you want to see. Your...for the one, and we will not see the other... until the next time we have the opportunity to choose again. And if there is anything the Course  has taught us, it is that we may always choose again.

  Sometimes I love Fox. Most times though, I hate Fox and wish I could have had a different animal. Whatever I may think of Fox though, there is no denying that Fox has always been there and is, without...having more than one partner at once.  So that's my evaluation of my totem. I'm still learning and studying Fox, and look forward to more years with this totem which chose me from early childhood.

The Silence of God speaks a deeper connection beyond words. Silence that regenerates. Silence that affirms. Silence that loves. We stand in awe of the Mystery, in awe of watching a rainbow appear in the sky, a symbol of God’s covenant love. We pray in gratitude for the reminder to love always. Amen.   Denise Pyles, M.Div. Visit me at Weekly Spiritual Reflections

So I'm reading a book about Lakota Sioux traditions for a class, and yesterday I got to the detailed descriptions of various ceremonies, like the sweat lodge. And I was really enjoying it and thinking...the ultimate point of my own prayers and studies?  I've felt really spiritually unfocused lately, and I probably need to follow this guy's example and reconnect the sacredness of all those little acts