 Summer's end is now upon us and the Earth's natural descent into darkness has begun. In the Celtic world, the feast of Samhain (Sah-win) on and around October 31st celebrates the final harvest of the old year and is the traditional welcoming of the New Year! It is also traditional to honor the ancestors and the dead as part of these rites, and of course, the modern tradition of Halloween is the descendant of the Samhain New Year celebration.
Have A Blessed and Wonderful Celtic New Year!
In this newsletter we have featured the Ghostly, Ghastly and Ghoulish from our Book, Tarot and Music collections and free informative articles to help enrich your Hallow's Eve Celebration.
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Samhain/Halloween marks the Celtic New Year and the descent into darkness and winter. Winter is a time for introspection and study, so we would like to help in your inner journey by offering you this 10% off all book purchases by adding the coupon code HALLOWEEN to your cart! |
BROWSE ONE OF THE WORLD'S BEST SELECTIONS OF OF MAGICAL, METAPHYSICAL AND MYSTICAL BOOKS NOW! |
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TALKING BOARDS: A BRIEF HISTORY
by William Christy
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We all know the name; it's part of our common mythology, The Ouija Board® the mystifying oracle, the talking board, the witch board. But where did it come from and how does speak to us? The history and origins of the talking board are in some ways as mystifying as the oracle itself.
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HALLOWEEN AND PAGAN CHILDREN
by Karen Charboneau-Harrison
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Halloween can sometimes be problematic for Pagans with children. For us, it is one of our most sacred and important holidays, yet we are surrounded by green-faced, cardboard 'witches' hanging over candy displays, plus offensive greeting cards. Story hour at school often involves a scary tale with a 'witch' as a villain and our children receive coloring handouts at school that depict at least one flying, warty 'witch'. It is inappropriate to expect your child to challenge these misrepresentations at school or for you to arrive fuming to confront the teacher or principal. Tempting though it may be to forego public confrontations, the proper response is to deal with these inconsistencies in the privacy of your own home. Tell your children that these images are produced by people who do not really know anything about real Witches and that no hurt or insult is intended. You can also explain how current North American Halloween customs developed in order to show them how other people do celebrate an important holiday with us.
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TAROT MEDITATION FOR EMBRACING CHANGE
by Stephanie Sommers
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Changes appear in our lives in many ways. Sometimes they come crashing in with no warning, much like the Tower appearing in our Tarot reading. Sometimes they arrive as a gift or pleasant surprise. Sometimes these changes are something we have been working toward and planning for and are ready to welcome.
The Tower and the Star are like opposite sides of a coin. On the one hand you have the Tower, a sudden change that can feel very destructive when you are in the middle of it. Often it can eventually have positive effects. Much like plowing a field before planting, first you have to stir things up and turn things over before you can create something of value. Sometimes you need to tear things down to the foundation to build something stronger in its place. On the other hand, the Star is immediately positive change. This card represents change that flows into your life bringing growth and energy that you can see right away is making things better.
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FEATURED TAROT DECKS:
 MYSTIC DREAMER TAROT
by Heidi Darras
Step Into the Magical World of Your Dreams
Imagine strolling through a dark wood, the silver moonlight bathing your path in an ethereal glow. Now is the time to call upon your intuition and explore hidden realms of imagination and creativity. What secret messages do your dreams hold?
Acclaimed tarot author Barbara Moore presents an essential introduction to card-reading, insightful interpretations of each card's significance, and introspective questions to guide your journey. Perfect for both traditional and intuitive readings, the Mystic Dreamer Tarot invites you to enter a mystical world of personal exploration.
>> Go here to view full-colored, actual-sized samples of this deck....
 DARK GRIMOIRE TAROT DECK
by Michelle Penco
Deliciously dark and grimly enchanting, this dread tarot will help you connect with your inner shadow. Strange creatures and powerful sorcerers dwell in savage landscapes-an inspiring realm where magick is reality. This ominous, exquisitely crafted tarot is ideal for magicians, witches, horror fans, and anyone drawn to the dark side.
Boxed deck includes 78 full-color cards and instruction bookletBased on the works of H. P. Lovecraft, this deck is dark in color as well as tone, with depictions and, even creepier, intimations of the presence of the elder gods.
GOTHIC TAROT DECK
by Jospeh Vargo
Vargo's critically acclaimed and best-selling Gothic Tarot deck, featuring gargoyles, vampires, ghosts, and dark angels, gives this ancient oracle a unique Gothic flair. All of the Major and Minor Arcana are included in this set of 78 cards, and every card features a different illustration. Cards are rendered in full color with exquisite detail on heavyweight glossy card stock. 24-page instruction booklet included.
>> Go here to view full-colored, actual-sized samples of this deck....
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| FEATURED BOOKS:
 WALKING THE TWILIGHT PATH
by Michelle BelangerMeditate on gravestone sculptures, create a necromantic medicine bag, or contact your dark-side spirit guide as you follow the shadow side of magic.
Walking the Twilight Path introduces a unique spiritual path of personal transformation and rebirth. But first, you must venture through the gates of death. This mystical journey is for pagans, witches, goths, and anyone attracted to the beauty and mystery of death-a necessary and natural transition. Drawing on the wisdom of shamans, Tibetan Buddhists, and ancient Egyptians, Michelle Belanger illuminates death as a gateway to change and re-generation. Meditating on gravestone sculptures, creating a necromantic medicine bag, keeping a personal book of the dead, and other exercises will help you explore the vital, transformative forces of death. On this life-affirming journey, you will visit the "Otherside," reach out to spirits, and become a walker between worlds to bring healing and empowerment.
 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SUPERSTITIONS
by Richard WebsterTrivia fans and fun fact fanatics will adore this fascinating, flickable encyclopedia of superstitions! Richard Webster presents over five hundred of the most obscure, curious, and just-plain-freaky superstitions of the Western world.
Discover batty beliefs about baldness, beans, and the Bermuda Triangle, and peculiar practices regarding hiccups, hearses, and hunchbacks. From modern myths to centuries-old lore, The Encyclopedia of Superstitions offers a wealth of wonderfully weird beliefs on just about every topic you can imagine.
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FEATURED MUSIC:
This month we're featuring the entire musical catalog of one of our favorite bands, the gothic stars Nox Arcana. Featuring the dark and compelling music and vocals of Joseph Vargo and William Piotrowski, these CDs make the perfect soundtrack for Samhain gatherings or a gloomy afternoon any time of year!
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