A Samhain Invitation
“It was the kind of moon
that I would want to
send back to my ancestors
and gift to my descendants
so they would know that I too,
have been bruised…by beauty.”
- Sanober Khan, Turquoise Silence
Blessings on this Samhain-eve! To express our gratitude for a magical harvest season, you are cordially invited to Pointy Hat Press's first Dumb Supper! Bring your favorite dish, divination tool, a curious heart, and we'll take care of the rest.
But first, let's talk about enchanted meals…
Enchanted meals have been ritualized for centuries, but with Pagan and ancestral folk practices finding their way back into the light, this year more than ever we've heard people discussing one of our favorite rituals – hosting a Dumb Supper.
If you've read our book, you know that Dumb Suppers were a big theme in the first installment of the Little Witch Series – but if this phrase is new to you, a Dumb Supper is a magickal meal to honor ancestral ghosts during harvest and wintertime. During the dark months, as the veil to the Otherworld thinned, families welcomed home friendly spirits for an evening of feasting and conversation. If the living planned to call forth certain relatives, they would display photos of the deceased, make their favorite dishes, and adorn themselves with a piece of clothing, jewelry, or something else that was handed down.
While the process of cooking time-worn recipes and decorating the home for visiting spirits was a joyous affair, as soon as people sat down to eat, the mood turned somber, and the room went quiet.
That is to say, Dumb Suppers were silent suppers.
Dumb Suppers were a ritual to remember the dead, offer them a platform to speak, and ask your greatest questions. It was also an opportunity for the living to inform the spirit world of important milestones within the community – so long as they didn't rely on their words.
Since speaking or making noise of any kind was forbidden during this magickal meal, people came up with silent, creative means to communicate. At a modern witch's Dumb Supper, people might lean on tarot, meditation, pendulum divination, channeled writing, or simply observation and an open heart to receive messages from visiting spirits.
Dinner is served…
Here at Pointy Hat Press, we're highlighting Dumb Suppers because a.) ancestral veneration is a big part of our craft! b.) ghosts are guides and oh-so-wise – best to keep them fed and happy! c.) food is nostalgic, food is magick (and we love food) and d.) it's taken a village to get where we stand today – so let's pay tribute to that village.
Dumb Suppers are romantic, they're (mostly) jolly, and they also offer an opportunity to hone our psychic abilities in the presence of others. These silent circles are a spell, a threshold, and they're not restricted to our immediate family. Consider inviting friends and coven members to help host and light candles for ancestral ghosts (even if you don't know them), deities, deceased artists or mentors, past familiars, or previous versions of self.
Magickal meals and feeding the dead is nothing new.
From Oct. 31st-Nov. 2nd, people in Mexico celebrate Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. During this annual celebration, people decorate their homes and communities with yellow and red marigolds in anticipation of receiving their dead. People wear colorful outfits and paint their faces. Elaborate and creative altars are crafted for lost loved ones and might include offerings of food, sugar skulls, and liquor.
In parts of China and Taiwan, people pay homage to their ancestors during the Qingming Festival. Also known as Tomb Sweeping Day, as its name suggests, people spend this day freshening up familial tombs. The living brew tea and sometimes share a meal or glass of wine with hungry spirits. Prayers are offered, gifts too, and although this festival takes place just after the Spring Equinox instead of Fall, the message remains clear: through our memories and rituals, the dead are very much alive.
In the ancient Roman world, people celebated the dead during Parentalia. During this week-long event, Romans were required to leave wine, bread, and flower garlands at ancestral tombs. These offerings not only fed the dead, but the Manes - also known as the Shades of the Dead. The Manes were earth deities that lived within the soil. They represented a family's foundation and therefore, the supposed souls of the dead. Ovid says that Romans observed Parentalia to keep their ancestors happy, but also to keep them far away for the rest of the year. Because even in spirit form, family members might meddle – especially if we forget to feed them.+
On that note, grab a seat at the table, we're about to light the candle…
This is a virtual Dumb Supper, but remember – magick is present in all realms, even the ones we craft on the internet.
Close your eyes and see yourself joining our circle. Your body is safe at home, but your spirit has been called to make magick on this night. You might see friends, family members, familiars, or unfamiliar faces, but we all share a common goal – to feed and listen to the spirit world.
Feel free to introduce yourself to others or simply watch and observe. While everyone is getting acquainted, this is an excellent time to share stories about which spirits you're calling forth tonight, and the intention behind the ritual.
If you've brought an old cookbook, ancient recipe card, or favorite dish to add to the meal, hand it to the host. Homemade pies and soul cakes are popular offerings to the dead, but the idea is to make your ancestor's favorite foods and keep their goblets full. Don't forget the wine or tea.
Next – take a seat at the table, pull out a chair for your ghosts, say your final words, and focus on your intention as the host lights the candle. For as long as the candle glows, do not speak, whisper, or make noise of any kind. Silence is sacred for the duration of the meal.
While you're eating – listen. Your ancestors have arrived, they're hungry, and boy do they have tales to tell! They may not communicate in words, so pay attention to any sudden thoughts, ideas, images, memories, or repeating words. You may also experience flashes of inspiration, nostalgia, or another emotion during this time.
Lastly - When your plate is empty and you are ready to say farewell, help your host clear the table. Once she snuffs out the candle, the silent supper has concluded. Write down what you heard, felt, or saw in your grimoire, and if you feel compelled, share any interesting/magickal/synchronistic experiences with your fellow guests.
Invite your spirit to reunite with your body and spend the next few minutes with your divinatory tool. Some questions to ponder:
How do we respond to experiences that transcend our physical reality?
How can we write about experiences that eclipse our words?
How might we learn from experiences that surpass our understanding?
Enjoy the Samhain portal, see you on the other side!
Crowdfunded by you and published by Pointy Hat Press, 'Little Witch Hosts Samhain Supper' is a Pagan Children's book about autumn, ancestors, and the Season of the Witch. No matter our age or occupation, we hope that Little Witch serves as an archetype for the inner child, liminal living, and the magick that exists betwixt and between each season of life. Order today!