October 31, 2006

Merry Samhain

What does Halloween mean really? In some ways I have great pride in its power, its majesty, its haunting vision. The dead bring forth ethereal powers where some make their covenants with worlds forces and dimensions other than those we can normally see or hear. To me and the Epical Church, it's like New Years Day. A time to reflect, summon and ask for guidance and help. To swear allegiance to the powers that be. To draw down the moon and become one with Mars. To make way for a new world order.

In a world where we are over run with the winged Right, fight wars for all the wrong reasons in the names of gods that could care less, and live a life where we are being oppressed by religion to the point of the stifling of freedom and free thought...take the time to try and do something that matters. We are all searching for answers and yet we don't realize the answer is within us. Like Shakespeare once said; "the fault lies not in our stars but in ourselves". Think about that when you put on your costume tonight.

Not to take the festivity out of it, I think many of use neglect the true meaning of Halloween and yet it seems to have many.

Read the extended entry for a brief analysis of Halloween on both sides of the spectrum :

From a post by the current High Priestess of the Church of Satan:

"Halloween is traditionally a time when the obscure portal into the realms of darkness, death and the supernatural is thrown open. Demons and spirits have free reign for one night, cavorting, enticing us into their revels and revealing glimpses into the future. As a child drawn to darker passions from birth, I always delighted in the fear and fantasies of Halloween. It gives even the most mundane people the opportunity to taste wickedness for one night. They have a chance to dance with the Devil, either stumbling, tittering and nervous in the arms of the Black Prince, or boldly, ravenously sharing in the sensual excesses and fright of others on this magical, unholy night."

An quick background anecdote from an entry from Religious Tolerance Organization :

"Religious Satanism is a valid religion, generally followed by adults. It is essentially unrelated to teen Satanic dabbling and to various other beliefs and practices that have been described as Satanism.

The largest of the many traditions within Religious Satanism is the Church of Satan (CoS), which some people believe was founded on Walpurgisnacht, 1966-APR-30, (I Anno Satanas) by Anton Szandor LaVey (1930-1997). It was actually founded later that year.

The CoS, shares one property of the Church of Scientology: it is so controversial that many versions of "the truth" have sprung up over the years. It is impossible to separate reality from fake history. The following essay is our best shot at describing CoS history.

The beliefs, practices and rituals of the Church of Satan have few, if any, points of similarity with the Christian or Muslim concept of Satan. The CoS' Satan is pre-Christian, and derived from the Pagan image of power, virility, sexuality and sensuality. Satan is viewed as a force of nature, not a living quasi-deity. Their Satan has nothing to do with Hell, demons, pitchforks, sadistic torture, demonic possession, and profound evil. There are references in LaVey' writings to having conducted a few Black Masses for publicity purposes, in which the Roman Catholic Mass was ridiculed. But, it is unknown whether these references were satirical or reflected actual rituals. Assuming that the black masses were fictional, all of their rituals have no connection to those of Christianity or of any other religion.

Some of their beliefs and practices are:

* They do not worship a living deity.

* Major emphasis is placed on the power and authority of the individual Satanist, rather than on a god or goddess.

* They believe that "no redeemer liveth" - that each person is their own redeemer, fully responsible for the direction of their own life.

* "Satanism respects and exalts life. Children and animals are the purest expressions of that life force, and as such are held sacred and precious..."
"

But the Feast of all Hallows is polarized with light also as the Internet Book of Shadows will attest:

"Samhain (pronounced saw-an), commonly referred to as Halloween, is a religious holiday celebrated by Wiccan and witch. The festival traditionally is a feast for the gathering of the family in love and remembrance. All the family including one's ancestors.

Wiccans do not regard physical death as an end but merely one more event in a continuing progress of the soul's in its path toward fulfillment of divine destiny. Because of these beliefs, it is only natural at this time of year to invite our beloved ancestors to remember and to celebrate with us.

If you do not find these beliefs in conflict with your own personal beliefs, please join us in the following ritual of thanksgiving and remembrance.

Whether you join with us or not,
May you walk in the Light of the Lady
and know the Wisdom of the Lord.

Blessed Be."

Posted by Darkstar at October 31, 2006 01:41 PM | TrackBack