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Halloween; obscure facts you probably do not know
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Did you know that the association of cats to Halloween can be traced back to ancient Egypt? Cats were sacred to the early Egyptians. Their divine Goddess of all cats was Bast. When the Greeks encountered Bast they associated her with Artemis, who was known to the Romans as Diana. During the Middle Ages, Bast/Artemis/Diana became known as the Queen of Witches. Since the cat strongly connected to Bast the cat became a symbol of witches.
Scorpio, the constellation that resembles a scorpion, signifies a season of change. Some equate Scorpio with decline and even death. Since it sparkled overhead during the Celtic festival of Samhain, the Feast of the Dead, now known around the world as Halloween, its association with death continues.
Many Halloween rituals date back to the original nighttime festival of All Hallows Eve, a pagan festival. Early Christians changed the name to 'All Saints Day.' Also called the Feast of the Dead, Celtic Samhain or Vigil of Saman, Halloween is a time of magic when the veil between the physical and nonphysical world becomes thin. Some believed ghosts of the dead ancestors revisited the living, join their descendants for a feast and even offer otherworldly advice.
In Ireland, the sidh or fairy hills open for the special evening. A fairy hill is the mound of dirt over a grave.
The delicious custom of trick or treat is a remnant of the belief that the dead would brings gifts to the children of their family during this crack between the worlds.
It's good karma to appreciate your ancestors, even ones you may not like, because they all played a role in helping you become who and what you are today. Since you attract what you think about, thoughts of appreciation and gratitude will yield better treats. Happy Halloween to All.
Caryn Colgan
Coach, Karma Artist and Playshop Facilitator
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