{"id":1438,"date":"2022-10-25T09:00:34","date_gmt":"2022-10-25T13:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/thegardnerianlibrarian\/?p=1438"},"modified":"2022-10-22T11:40:16","modified_gmt":"2022-10-22T15:40:16","slug":"live-and-let-die-prepping-for-samhain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/thegardnerianlibrarian\/2022\/10\/live-and-let-die-prepping-for-samhain\/","title":{"rendered":"Live and Let Die: Prepping for Samhain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

I think it\u2019s pretty safe to say that most witches and pagans love Samhain the most, except for Jason Mankey \u2014 his favorite might be Yule! I\u2019m like any other average witch, though, and I adore Samhain. The costumes, decorations, Fall scents and colors, spooky movies and television episodes\u2026what\u2019s not to love? It\u2019s the most BOO-tiful time of year!<\/p>\n

Samhain is the time of year we tend to talk about death the most. It\u2019s also an excellent opportunity to set aside time to honor our ancestors or any other loved ones who have passed away. This time of year allows us sacred time and space to grieve for others and for the bittersweet, and sometimes cruel, aspects of Death. But what about ourselves? Do we allow sacred time and space to grieve for the losses that are ours and ours alone? Do we allow ourselves to celebrate the deaths of those things in our lives we no longer want or no longer serve us?<\/p>\n

Let It Die<\/h3>\n If you\u2019ve been needing a sign to let something end or die in your life then this is it. I\u2019m obviously not advocating for murdering people, folks. But is there a relationship that needs to end? A friendship that\u2019s run its course? A job that has caused you enough suffering? A health issue you\u2019ve been avoiding? Now\u2019s the time to\u00a0let it die<\/em>. It\u2019s also perfectly okay to be happy<\/em> that something is ending. Self-imposed martyrdom is not a virtue but is instead virtue-signaling.\u00a0Let. It. Die<\/em>.<\/p>\n This year I plan to write a eulogy for those parts of myself that need to die or have already died. I recognize that there are parts of myself that need to end and yet I\u2019m still grasping onto them for dear life. It\u2019s my feeling, though, that writing the eulogy for those aspects, even the ones still kicking and screaming, will serve to hasten their impending doom.\u00a0You\u2019re already dead to me<\/em>, I might write.<\/p>\n Image via Pixabay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhy Let It Die?<\/h3>\n So many pagans talk about the \u201cShadow Self\u201d and how we all need to do \u201cShadow Work.\u201d I\u2019m all for it, but most folks only think about how Shadow Work benefits themselves. However, all those craptastic aspects of ourselves that we haven\u2019t let die affect others, too. It\u2019s a ripple-effect. What I\u2019m\u00a0not<\/em> advocating for is self-harm of any kind. What I am advocating for is doing the Work to heal your wounds so that you don\u2019t harm others (emotionally, physically, or otherwise).<\/p>\n It\u2019s each of our responsibilities to bury our own shit and not leave it around for others to step in. Your shit is your shit, and shit eventually decomposes. There just aren\u2019t enough dung beetles to clean up everyone\u2019s mess, though. That mess gets into the waterways, y\u2019all! So, if you don\u2019t want everyone drinking and bathing in your crap water then please clean up after yourself. Get some spiritual doodoo bags and get to work.<\/p>\n Here Lies [Enter Your Name Here] : A Simple Eulogy Ritual<\/h3>\n\nRitual Attire: Funerary Garb<\/li>\nPaper & Pen<\/li>\nA small cauldron with a lighter, or lit fire<\/li>\nA hand shovel<\/li>\nSalt water<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Create sacred space any way that you like. This can take place in- or outdoors.<\/p>\n Take a few moments to write down on your piece of paper those aspects of yourself that have died or need to pass on, beginning your eulogy with, \u201cHere lies, [Your Name].\u201d This is not a time to be cruel to yourself, so steer away from making negative remarks about your body or calling yourself cruel names. You likely wouldn\u2019t talk shit about a dead person while delivering a eulogy, so treat yourself with the same respect.<\/p>\n Once you feel that you\u2019ve finished writing it all out, speak it aloud, word for word. Once you\u2019ve delivered your eulogy, light the paper on fire and place it into your cauldron (or light it from your fireplace, outdoor firepit, whatever). Let it burn to ash and then gather the ashes as much as possible. Your little shovel may come in handy for this part.<\/p>\n Dig a small hole in the ground, place the ashes into the ground, and then pour the salt water on top of the ashes. Replace the dirt on top and pat it down. Say, \u201cAshes to ashes, and dust to dust. Here dies what should and here lies what must.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Walk away from that miniature grave and never look back.<\/p>\n Follow me on Instagram @thegardnerianlibrarian<\/a><\/h3>\n***** ** <\/p>\n ** \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ** *****I think it\u2019s pretty safe to say that most witches and pagans love Samhain the most, except for Jason Mankey \u2014 his favorite might be Yule! I\u2019m like any other average witch, though, and I adore Samhain. The costumes, decorations, Fall scents and colors, spooky movies and television episodes\u2026what\u2019s not to love? It\u2019s the most […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4476,"featured_media":1447,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,187],"tags":[138,376,373],"class_list":["post-1438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-paganism","category-witchcraft","tag-death","tag-eulogy","tag-samhain"],"yoast_head":"\nLive and Let Die: Prepping for Samhain<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you've been needing a sign to let something end or die in your life then this is it. 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