Have some fun!

Samhain, meaning "summer's end," indicates another change in the cycle of the year.

The Goddess gives up Her dominion over the earth to the God of the Hunt. In other words, it is no longer a time to cultivate food, but a time for hunting and gathering.

We don't do so much of this anymore on our own, but a trip to the grocery store will reveal which foods are no longer plentiful.

Enjoy the third harvest by holding a special meal of the foods of your area that are prominent at this time.

Hold a ritual for yourself to focus on the themes of Life, Death, and Rebirth. In another myth, the God dies at Samhain, spends some time (approximately 6 weeks) in the Underworld, and will be reborn at Yule.

This is also when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is said to be its thinnest. This is a good time to practice scrying as the energies are especially good for that kind of work.

You may wish to learn a new form of divination...if you are already good at Tarot, consider using this time to learn about the Runes, mirror scrying, or something else that interests you.

1. Volunteer to talk to your child's class about the origins of Halloween and how Wiccans really celebrate Samhain.

2. Together as a family, create an altar honoring your family's beloved dead (including pets). Use photos, mementos, keepsakes or anything that seems right.

3. Make candleholders out of apples, turnips, gourds and small pumpkins by hollowing out deep holes in the tops. Make sure the candles are well-secured in the bases.

4. Put candles in the windows to guide spirit travelers on their way.

5. Eat dinner by candlelight, setting a place at the table for your beloved dead.

6. If your children are older, try having a Dumb Supper where the meal is eaten in silence so the spirits are not frightened away.

7. Bob for apples in your cauldron!

8. Carve jack-o-lanterns to protect your home from malicious spirits. Have your children help make up a spell of protection to enforce the scary jack-o-lantern faces.

9. Plant flower bulbs in your yard or somewhere special. Think of this as a special promise for spring, a secret the earth will keep.

10. Take a walk and observe animals (like squirrels and geese) prepare for winter. At home, prepare for winter in your own way.

11. Make a family tree on poster board. Let the kids draw pictures of each of the people on your tree.

12. Snack on seeds and nuts (try toasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds). Or try making skull-shaped popcorn balls.

13. Tell your children stories of when they where younger. Then encourage them to make up stories of their lives in the future.

14. Why should kids have all the fun? The whole family should make costumes and go trick-or-treating!