Dreaming of the Dead

If the weather here wasn’t already cluing me in to the shift in the seasons, my psyche is. 
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The last two nights since the equinox I have been dreaming of the dead (and the living too). The blending of worlds has been vivid. 
Are they just rememberings or messages?
I’m unclear. 

But they left a mark and invited deeper rememberings and conversations. They spurred my hand to pen a letter to people I haven’t seen in years but who were an integral paper of my life in my twenties. 
In a text to my mom this morning I shared that I’d dreamed of my grandparents vividly last night and she replied that it must have been a night for dreams as she too had vivid interactions in her sleeping hours. 

What is it about the Autumn that brings us closer to the other world? 
The shortening of days and the dying back of plants and trees are a death of summer and growth and can ignite the memories of those we have lost or bring us closer to reflection on our own mortality.

Throughout the world there are festivals that celebrate and honor the dead during the fall season. In North and South Korea the festival is called Chuseok and it is a time for tending to graves and honoring those that have come before.
In Hindu traditions the celebration is called Pitru Paksha and spans 16 days. 
In Mexico and other parts of South America, El Dia De Los Muertos is a time of celebrating and leaving offerings for the beloved dead, it is a celebration of connection and some say an acknowledgement of our own mortality.

In Witchcraft we celebrate Samhain. This is actually an ancient Celtic festival that was added to the Wheel of the Year celebrations by Wiccan traditions (most cross quarter holidays have their roots in Celtic origins). This is a time when the veils are said to be thinnest between this world and that of the dead. 

As Autumn begins so too does the thinning of this veil. 

In our home we have an altar up year round for our beloved dead. This is also my working altar where spells and intentions live as they are being worked. 
In the Autumn (usually around October 1st), I bring a little extra care to the space, dusting and reorganizing and adding flowers and decorations of the season. 

My dreams suggest I might want to do this today instead of next week. 
I think I might also pay a visit to my Dad’s grave and bring him a bouquet of some autumnal flowers. 

What have you been dreaming? 
Who is visiting you? 

Simple Spell for Connecting with your Beloved Dead. 

Drink a dream tea before bed. 

Chamomile on it’s own can be good for this and very gentle too

Other herbs to consider are catnip, mugwort, lavender and valerian root. 
If you are unsure of how your body might respond to these herbs (ex: mugwort tea often gives me a headache), you can sleep with the herbs beneath your pillow or stitch them into a pouch to hang above your bed. 

Take a picture of your loved one and place it beneath your pillow or next to your bed. 
Then think about what you might like to ask your loved one, or say to them and write this on a piece of paper or the back of the photo. 

As you fall asleep think of your loved one and in the morning write down any dreams you may have had that you remember. 

Not everyone remembers their dreams and most of us do not remember ALL of our dreams so also take time to note how you feel when you awaken and if you had a question how does that live in you today vs yesterday. Sometimes our visitations and dreams change us and our perspective without our conscious mind being aware. 

Did you register for the Season of the Witch? 
If not, you can still sign up and I promise you won;’;t be disappointed that you did. 
We gather in just under two weeks. 

I will kick things off with a little preconference Ritual/Workshop, Rewild Yourself on Thursday evening October 5th.
The conference will begin in earnest on Friday the 6th with two full days of classes, ritual, giveaways, community and a whole lot of magic. 

If you are feeling the pull to deepen into your practice, this is a fabulous way to inspire yourself to try new things and gain new perspectives. If you are new to the Craft and curious about different topics this is a great place to explore and discover what might be calling most to you at this time. 
I am looking forward to seeing you there!
(the full line up can be found at the bottom of this email.)
Register here

Everyday Magic
As I mentioned in an email I sent out on Friday, there was a bit of a miscommunication about the timing of the free Every Day Magci class I taught for the Parsippany library last week. 
As a result many people missed the livestream. 
This is a very foundational, beginners class, looking at a brief history of Witchcraft, modern day Witchery and its ties to natural cycles, Intention and Intuition and several practices you might bring into your day to day to make Every Day more Magical. 
I will be offering this one hour class LIVE one more time, this Friday, September 29th  at 4 pm PT. 
You can sign up for this free offering here.

With Love and Blessings,
Emily

Schedule for 4th annual Season of the Witch conference
8:30 Opening Ceremony
9-10:15-Alchemy in the Cave of the She-Wolf with Rachel S. Roberts
10:30-11:45-Dancing with the Divine Lover - Solo sexual magic for every witch with Halo Quin
12-1:15-Ancestral Death Doulaship: Ceremony, Rites & Rituals with Jess the Death Empath
1:15-2-Break
2-3:15-Dancing with Deity: Relating to the Divine with Irisanya Moon
3:30-4:45-Voodoo and African Traditional Religion with Lilith Dorsey
5-6:15-An Alliance with Elemental Dragons with Angelina Caporale


8:30-Welcome to Day 2
9-10:15-Song of the Soul: Voice as a Divine Gateway- with Jessica Fein
10:30-11:45- Create Your Magical Herbal Apothecary with Erin Lafaive
12-1:15- Longing- Energy & Manifestation Workshop with Karena Osborne
1:15-2-Break 
2-3:15- Self Care for Your Sun Sign with My Tarot Lady Christine Michele
3:30-4:45-Working with Crystal Skulls with Celena Spolarich
5-6:15 pm - Creating Your Personal Relationship and Rhythm with the Moon and Lunar Cycles with Pati Diaz
6:20-Closing Ceremony

Join us here

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