13 Days of Samhain- Day 12

 

Photo courtesy of Paige Cody

Welcome to Day 12 of our Sirens Samhain Celebration!

Before we go further, let's share the winner of the Strength Spell and Inspiration Spell Bottles from Black Dahlia Boutiques...

Becky Harman!

Congratulations!

Today's Music Selection: Helvegen by Wardruna

submitted by Dawn Leith Dougherty

Today's Article: Connecting with Ancestor Energy- Oracle Reading with Renee Olson

Fall is my favorite time of the year. October is of course the best month as I feel more connected to, not only my witchiness but also to my ancestors. I love working with the dead more now than ever before in my life. As I begin to connect more with my Crone energy, I feel as though I am able to work better with the dead.  I sometimes start with an update to my ancestor altar.

Samhain is traditionally the time of the year for working with the dead. This is the time of the year when the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest, allowing us to make contact and work with them directly.

 The last ten years have been a real change for me as I lost my grandmother and a dear aunt that I was very close to. These are the energies I call on when I do my work with the dead. There is a strength there and a love that each had that resonates with me as I do my spell work. With intent and focus I call their energies into the room and look to them for information, answers or just energy to guide me through my work.

I look to Samhain as my new year. I treat it much the same way others treat January 1st. I take this time to shake off the old energies and connect with the new. I cut ties and begin new ventures. In recent years I've started doing a special oracle reading to help me get started for the new year.  I'd like to share this year's reading with you.

1. Past - What you've learned - The Direction Guardian tells us to choose our path. We look in all directions and evaluate our options. We trust our instincts to take us down the right path.

2. Past - What you've lost - The Summer card tells us to bask in the joy and light.  The world is a little less bright right now. The joy seems to have faded.

3. The Present - The Shaman tells us to trust in higher forces. Look within to find that inspiration, that force or energy to push forward.

4. Future - What you'll learn - The Snake tells us to shed old skin. Don't be tied down to things simply because it is the way it has always been done.  You are not your job, your race or your religion. Change can be good.

5. Future - What you'll gain - The Magick Guardian tells us to unlock the magick within. We should look within ourselves for this is where the magick is.  Cards, wands and robes do not, the witch make. You are the magick. Own it.

I hope you've enjoyed this reading. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions, leave comments if you'd like.

I hope you all have a safe and blessed Samhain.

Today's Cocktail: The Pumpkin King with Ciel Luciole

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon Pumpkin pudding (or butterscotch pudding if you can’t find pumpkin)

1 oz Hiram Walker’s Pumpkin Spice Liquor

Whipped cream

Candy corn

Directions:

Prepare the pudding mixture beforehand according to the instructions on the box (or not, if you are the experimental type).

Mix both ingredients and pour into a shot glass. If the mixture isn’t thick enough, you can add some heavy whipping cream until it reaches your preferred thickness/texture. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. After refrigeration, top with whipped cream and a piece of candy corn. This is one instance where I did opt for the can of whipped cream versus making my own to get the look I a going for. It’s also just easier when using shot glasses. 

This drink is adorable! Definitely a drink to trot out for social gatherings and parties. It is easy to make and the presentation is fabulous. The original recipe called for 1 oz of Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum but I, being ever on a mission to get the most Autumn-y flavor I can, discovered this bottle of Pumpkin Spice liquor and had to try it! Besides, a drink called The Pumpkin King had to be as Pumpkin-y as possible! Though we did try it with the Spiced Rum as well and found it to be quite tasty, so if you aren’t inclined to all things pumpkin spiced by all means, use the rum!

One thing I noticed is it can be somewhat tedious to make shot by shot so if you are entertaining (or just don’t feel like mixing a shot every time for yourself) I would definitely recommend mixing a large batch and filling the shot glasses ahead of time. There is a lot of room for playing with the ratios, as well. The recipe recommends using heavy cream to thicken it up but I didn’t want the cream to dilute the pumpkin flavor. You can also control the thickness of the end result with the amount of liquid you add to the powdered pudding when mixing it up beforehand. I will admit it would likely have given it a creamier texture but I preferred flavor over texture personally. Decide for yourself! Taste testing is a totally legitimate excuse.

All Hail the Pumpkin King!

Today's Recipe: Soul Cakes with Alexis Kennedy

The tradition of giving soul cakes to soulers came from Medieval Britain and Ireland. Soulers, mostly children and poor people, with songs and prayers went to the rich people. Round cookies were given to them “for the souls of the givers and their friends” at the Halloween season. This is considered the origins of "trick-or-treat" in the U.S. Soul cakes are easy to make, and they taste delicious. 

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup butter (please use real butter- margarine is terrible)
• 1 cup granulated sugar 
• 3 egg yolks (medium)
• 3 3/4 cups of flour
• 2 tsps of mixed spice (1/2 tsp each of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg)
• 1/2 cup raisins (for you haters out there, you can substitute dried cranberries or leave out)
• 6-7 tbsp milk
• 2 tbsp powdered sugar (for dusting- optional)

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 
• Add butter to the large bowl. Add sugar.
• Using hand mixer or stand mixer, mix butter with sugar.
• Add egg yolks and mix again.
• Sieve flour in egg, butter and sugar mixture.
• Sieve spices on top of the flour.
• Mix all ingredients in a bowl with a spatula.
• Gradually add milk, combining with a spatula until the dough comes together.
• Transfer the dough to the silicone mat or surface, dusted with flour.
• Knead the dough with hands until well combined.
• Add half raisins, and knead them in the dough.
• Add more raisins while kneading the dough.
• Roll the dough with a rolling pin about 1/4 inch thick.
• Cut the round shape cookies with the cookie cutter.
• Transfer the cookies to the baking tray, layered with parchment paper. Leave the space between the cookies. Cut the cross on each cookie. Bake 15-20 minutes until golden.
• Bake another batch of cookies. Let them cool for 10 minutes. Dust the cookies with powdered sugar, if desired.

Today's Giveaway: Day of the Dead Witchball from Cordelia's Charms with Kourtney Leaf

Dia de los Muertos is actually celebrated on November 1st, but for myself, feels like a culmination of a month long celebration of our ancestors. I adore the festive imagery of sugar skulls and the idea of an ofrenda, or home alter to the dead. It is this altar that I tried to embody with this witchball. 

This simple 8½" round glass ornament is filled with Calendula and Copal Resin with white tulle. The Callendula’s fragrance will lead spirits home, while the Copal Resin ensures that it will be safe for them to stay. It is then decorated with red, yellow and orange crochet thread knotted, macrame style leading to pretty tendrils with beads that include Sugar Skulls, Skeletons, Roses and Butterfly Wings; all festive imagery from Day of the Dead celebrations. The tendrils are also adorned mid way down, with smaller butterflies and flowers.  

This is a Limited Edition Cordelia’s Charms Witchball, with only three being made. You can find the other two listed in my Etsy shop CordeliasCharms.Etsy.Com

How to enter: (US residents)

Visit Cordelia's Charms shop, peruse the wares, come back and tell us about your favorite item in the comments.

Bonus entries:

Like/Follow Cordelia's Charms on Facebook

Like/Follow Sirens Life on Facebook

Follow Cordelia's Charms on Instagram

For Canada residents:

Your country's laws require us to test you in order for you to earn an entry. So, for four entries, here is your quiz question:

Where is Canada's most-visited historic site located?

To all:

We must have your name and email address in order to notify you that you won. If you like, you can put it in the comments with your entries. Or, for privacy's sake, you can enter here. We do not sell or give your information to any 3rd parties, and we only use it for this giveaway.

Your entries will be pulled tomorrow morning, east coast time, and will be numbered by Alexis Kennedy (sponsor). She will then run a number generator at random.org, and will announce the winner on tomorrow's blog post. The winner will be notified first via email. The winner has 36 hours from announcement to claim the prize, or it will go toward the Grand Prize Giveaway on October 31.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email sirensallaround@gmail.com and we'll happily respond. Note: The sponsor is not eligible for any giveaways.

That's all for today. Tomorrow is our last day of celebration, where we will announce today's winner, and have the grand prize giveaway. If you signed up for any of our giveaways during this celebration, you'll be entered in our grand prize giveaway drawing. Winner announcement will take place on the Sirens Life Facebook page tomorrow at 5pm EDT.

We'll see you on All Hallow's Eve!!