\nSamhain marked the end of the harvest, the end of the “lighter half” of the year and beginning of the “darker half”. It was traditionally celebrated over the course of several days. Many scholars believe that it was the beginning of the Celtic year.[3][4][5] It has some elements of a festival of the dead. The Gaels believed that the border between this world and the otherworld became thin on Samhain; because some animals and plants were dying, it thus allowed the dead to reach back through the veil that separated them from the living. Bonfires played a large part in the festivities. People and their livestock would often walk between two bonfires as a cleansing ritual, and the bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into its flames.[6]<\/p>\n
The Gaelic custom of wearing costumes and masks, was an attempt to copy the spirits or placate them. In Scotland the dead were impersonated by young men with masked, veiled or blackened faces, dressed in white.[7][8] Samhnag \u2014 turnips which were hollowed-out and carved with faces to make lanterns \u2014 were also used to ward off harmful spirits.[8]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
So now that we have an overview of ghosts and jack\u2019o\u2019laterns we turn to another symbol of Halloween, the witch. In Irish mythology this image is represented in the more complex form of the Morrigan, a diety of three persons (said to be sisters) which represent the dark forces of the Moon. It was not unusual in pre-Christian religions to represent a powerful female deity in three aspects since this followed the natural cycle of the Moon, with the New, Full and Balsamic moons representing the life cycle of women, maiden, mother and grandmother. <\/p>\n
The Morrigan, was the dark goddess of war and prophecy, and also said to protect the sovereignty of kings (i.e. nations). How she is related to Halloween is in the story of the of the fight over Ireland between the enemy Fomorians and the people of the Sun God, Dadga, the Tuatha D\u00e9 Danann. To insure victory in battle, Dadga performs with the Goddess of War, the Morrigan the sacred ritual hieros gamos on Samhain itself. Thus ritual magic performed under the aegis of women of power was forever wedded with the day when the veil between this world and the otherworld was thin enough for ghosts to visit the living.<\/p>\n
Aries<\/strong>\u2014Can it be? Is Aries ready to settle down? Can be, since you are seeing that with responsibility comes the joy of having a partner to share them with.<\/p>\nTaurus<\/strong>\u2014You thought last month\u2019s problems with other women are behind you, but this week serves up a redux though in a different scenario. Use what you learned then.<\/p>\nGemini<\/strong>-You get serious about your relationships, and you find to your delight that others are happy to commit. See, not so scary!<\/p>\nCancer<\/strong>\u2014Dig into the basement or attic to find some junk that could be someone else\u2019s treasure. If you let go, you find luck comes your way.<\/p>\nLeo<\/strong>\u2014Jealous people may make snarky comments on how easy things seem to come you. Truth is you ARE getting a little cosmic help right now.<\/p>\nVirgo<\/strong>\u2014Passionate scenarios, or least passionate thoughts dominate this week. Make the most of good thing.<\/p>\nLibra<\/strong>\u2014Relationships aren\u2019t all love and kisses right now, but a least you know you have someone you can rely on.<\/p>\nScorpio<\/strong>\u2014Unusual encounters spice up your love life Just make sure you keep your private business to yourself.<\/p>\nSagittarius<\/strong>\u2014Other people seem to be having more fun than you. Nothing to be done about it, Sag, since we all have to work sometime.<\/p>\nCapricorn<\/strong>\u2014People do some things behind your back that is upsetting. Its not like you, Capricorn to be caught napping.<\/p>\nAquarius<\/strong>\u2014You may be fundamental in providing a platform for other people to realize their dreams. Be easy on the critique, because it could be perceived as criticism.<\/p>\nPisces<\/strong>\u2014If you allow work to overshadow your love life you\u2019ll be missing out. Let passionate messages lead you out of your cubicle for a little fun.<\/p>\n
![\"Weekly](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/astrologyexplored.net\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/Weekly-Forecast-Baby-Star.png?resize=400%2C381\" "\\"Weekly")
Astrology for the week of October 29 to November 4<\/p>\n