help me with Samhain problem?

[astrokaiju]

i want to do something really special for Samhain. besides the fact that it's a really important occasion to me, i have been going through the most tumultuous time i have ever had in my life, and see a significance in the fact that i am reaching a turning point just as Samhain approaches.

the problem is that i will be spending most of the day with non-pagan family and friends. i will not be able to make it to any rituals, and i won't have a lot of time to myself. the family and friends i spoke of are interested in the mystical, but since they are not pagan i wouldn't try to involve them in a ritual. does anyone have any ideas?

[DragonLove]

Why not involve them if they are interested?

[astrokaiju]

i think they would be really uncomfortable with a formal ritual, and in the past when we visited public circles, they didn't really have a good time. i'm sure they would like something more informal, but i don't really have any ideas about what that would entail. we have gotten cards read together and stuff like that in the past, but this year we don't have any money for a reading and my own reading skills are pretty bad.

[Tammy Sullivan]

it's prime time for divination, read their cards or tea leaves. ;)
you're probably better than you think.

[Lumina]

It doesn't matter what your doing during the day.
All that matters is that around midnight have a little fun.

[zakzekezedd]

Just a suggestion but maybe instead of a formal ritual just take time to honor the spirit of Samhain. Maybe everyone could bring a covered dish that was a favorite of a loved one who has passed, and just before you all eat, you could each light a candle and say a few words about that person. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate, just something as simple as "I miss Grandpa Boris and the silly jokes he liked to tell." Then everyone gets to eat, and talk and just enjoy being together. If you feel comfortable doing it, you could take Zephrina's suggestion and read cards or tea leaves for those who are interested.

[Faery-Wings]

I really like the ideas that Zeph and zakzekezedd mentioned. Also don't forget that you can celebrate Samhain on Sat. instead of Friday if it is more convenient. There is no way my kids would give up Trick or treating so I can celebrate the holiday with them. So we always celebrate the next day.

[Morgandria]

Also bear in mind that some groups and people, such as myself, celebrate Samhain astrologically. This year Samhain falls on the 7th, in that regard. You may choose to take time for yourself then, or any time in between when you have it. :)

-M.

[*NeraViolet*]

Hmmm, perhaps you could ask if your non-pagan family and friends could give you a half an hour you could spend all by yourself?

[Jenne]

I like all these. But I think the decision about what you need and want to do to honor the Sabbat should be decided and then you find a time to do it. If you're going to include the non-Pagan fam and friends, it seems it would be a more mundane sort of ritual, and if you were going "full-blown" with invocations and chants, you'd find an alternate time than the evening of to perform it.

Good luck, whatever you decide. I'd prolly do both, were I you...something public *and* something private--but then I love Samhain above all other sabbats!:)

[astrokaiju]

i just wanted to thank everyone for the great ideas. i was having so much fun i didn't have an opportunity to reply until now. and even though i have confirmed that my tarot reading skills are as bad as i thought, i have discovered that an inaccurate reading can still be a fun reading...

[Flar's Freyja]

i think they would be really uncomfortable with a formal ritual, and in the past when we visited public circles, they didn't really have a good time. i'm sure they would like something more informal, but i don't really have any ideas about what that would entail. we have gotten cards read together and stuff like that in the past, but this year we don't have any money for a reading and my own reading skills are pretty bad.

Well, it's kind of late now, I suppose and this just expands on what some have already said. Some variation of a "dumb supper" would have been nice. You could simply set up a table with pictures or mementos of departed loved ones and set a place of honor at the table to represent them. You wouldn't have to tell them that this is an altar. You could then share conversation and memories about them, and then eat in silence for five or ten minutes to honor them. You could go a bit farther by burying the food or leaving a plate outdoors after dinner.

[Flar's Freyja]

i just wanted to thank everyone for the great ideas. i was having so much fun i didn't have an opportunity to reply until now. and even though i have confirmed that my tarot reading skills are as bad as i thought, i have discovered that an inaccurate reading can still be a fun reading...

Don't be so quick to assume that a reading is inaccurate! Sometimes a reading doesn't seem to make much sense at the time, yet these things become clear later.