GWE: "Pick 3" Samhain Altar Item Swap

Merry Meet, Ladies.

I don't know about you, but I LOVE Samhain and I LOVE the idea of "pick 3" swaps. They give the sender a little elbow-room in what they can send to their partner, while still meeting the swap's requirements and having fun. And since Samhain is right around the corner, I thought it would be a cool idea to combine the idea of a "pick 3" swap with a Samhain-related swap.

Samhain is the doorway into winter where the old year dies and the new year begins. It is the third and final harvest of the year in which the Lord sacrifices his life to ensure the abundance of next year’s crops. Samhain is a deeply spiritual time of contemplation, remembrance, and connection with the spirit world. As you look ahead to the approach of Samhain, you might want to create an altar in advance based on the following suggestions:

Samhain colors include black, brown, purple, burgundy, burnt orange, and harvest gold. Use these colors for candles, altar cloths, place-mats and table cloths. Samhain nature-themed decorations include brightly colored autumn leaves, dried cattails and corn-husks, acorns and nuts, red and yellow apples, pomegranates, dried ears of multi-colored Indian corn, miniature pumpkins and small gourds.

For this swap, you will send your partner 3 items from the list below to add to their Samhain altar. You can check your partner's profile for likes/wishes, but it is NOT required (just thoughtful).

1. A candle

2. A crystal

3. An ornament (pentacle, triple moon goddess, triquetra, etc.)

4. A spell (typed/printed or written neatly on a card)

5. A FOOD recipe relating to Samhain (not really an "altar" item, but I will accept this as a substitution because most do ritual cooking for the sabbats)

6. A store-bought or handmade wand. If handmade, it MUST be lightly decorated (don't just mail a stick). Hint: Oak is God-charged, Willow is Goddess-charged. Please give thanks if you remove it from the Earth.

7. Incense (sticks, cones, resins and dried herbs are all acceptable).

8. A censor/votive dish/incense holder.

9. One bottle of essential oil (check for allergies).

10. A decorative pumpkin, gourd, or Indian corn. Corn husks and dried cattails are also lovely altar decorations.

11. A sage or sweet-grass bundle. Yes this is a separate option from incense.

12. An athame (ritual knife that is double-sided with a sharp point, like a letter-opener) or a bolline (herbal knife, like a utility or pocket knife).

13. A small ritual cup or offerings bowl.

14. Pictures of the dead, respectfully.

15. A small altar cloth or table runner (can be hand-made).

To ensure everyone gets their altar items before Samhain, the sign-up deadline for this will be rather quick, Monday the 12th. You will have 2 weeks to send your items. If you sign up then feel this is not enough time for you to acquire 3 things from the list, I recommend steering away from the hand-made items, as they take time to make. Everyone should be able to get 3 altar items packaged up in 2 weeks, otherwise. Items must be sent by Saturday the 24th. I recommend you send Friday, but if you send on the last day, remember to get to your Post Office before noon. I want us all to be able to enjoy a beautiful altar.

Don't flake. Communicate any concerns with your partners, and have fun!