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```*+*``` Autumn ```*+*```

Harvesting: The days of harvest are upon us.  The fields of grain are filled with workers who sing and laugh as they carefully cut down the sheaves, hay is being rolled into bundles for the winter months, fruits and vegetables are being picked, dried and canned.  Meals are lively affairs with tables set up for the workers and good smells filling the air. The vineyards are having nightly festivals of crushing the grapes underfoot to be put in vats and stilled.

Walks through meadows and fields in hazy sunshine give the remaining flowers and plants a golden glow.  Seeds burst into the air with a brush of a sleeve or pant leg, or dance on the soft breeze.   The birds that go south are gone while at night, you can hear the call of geese heading for their winter homes.  Monarch butterflies dance on the breeze in their flight southward. Squirrels and the other animals that sleep through most of the winter months are gathering their winter stores.  Fall is a time of preparation for the long winter months, but too, it's a time of celebration.  All Hallow's Eve will be upon us soon, a special time for the youngsters and older folks alike.  Be sure to welcome the Braidy family to Heathfield as part of your celebration. --  Sarah McDonough

Visitors: It has been reported that the good Queen Victoria of Devonshires was on a scavenger hunt during brightly colorful days. Mushrooms and berries her goal as she visited the esteemed Marquis Malcolm Douglas. Autumn days are not only for harvesting but fun and games as the weather sill permits outdoor activities. Dress warm when needed but in layers as the day wears on and becomes warmer only to melt back into the colder nights. Now is the time to stock up on fuel, be it coal, peat or wood for the winter months. Canned and dried foods along with sacks of grains a must to be stocked. Potcheen and wines for those cold nights spent in front of the fire to be enjoyed with a love one. -- Malcolm Douglas

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Sword and Sorcery
by Portia DeLanyea

When one thinks of the farthest north, we think of Vikings, harsh snow and rugged lifestyles.  But, it seems that one of those very inhabitants of a frigid and otherwise seemingly desolate climate has graced our warmer lands.  Not only has she found warmth in the temperature but in the hearts of those that reside here.

Jodis Njall is a native of the Scandinavian world.  Tribes and Chiefs that today's writers only whisper about in an elaborate set story they weave.  Often, as it seems, they are quite wrong.  "It is not always as cold as many 

suspect.  We had tree's and fresh fruit and vegetables to trade and eat.  We thrived like any other but faced dreaded winters."  Says Jodis in recalling her homeland.

She was the daughter of a man of high status within their society.  The High Commander's daughter, in fact.  Such prowess was passed down to her, the only born child of his blood.  This must certainly have been one of the many reasons for Jodis making such a splash at the Devonshires Tournament and the beginning of this year, taking home the Championship for Ladies.

It was not only her prowess of the field that helped her to achieve the victory against quite worthy attendants.  Jodis also wielded the 'magic' of her runes.  "The scores against the various stones have great meanings to my people.  In this, I weave a blessing and defense if needed.  Quite complicated and took me years to perfect as much as I have."

Those years were first spent with her mother, a Nordic Wise Woman, who made sure her own legacy was put within the caste of her daughter.  A woman grown and quite strong in mind and body.  And now, one of our own.  The culture of the lands is honored and blessed to know the woman of sword and magic.  The Rune Witch.

Life Around Here

Harvest is in full swing, with evening bonfires and good food to be had.  School is back in session and the youngsters are busy making piles of leaves, gathering pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns and planning pranks on grown ups. Contests will include the best painted pumpkin along with the best made costumes. All are being done as extra activities and gearing them up for the season. So give an extra cheer when they come trick or treating.

The gauntlet is keeping our knights hopping and not a few complaining of bumps and bruises. Masseuses have been regularly employed and there are hints a journey might be taken by three of the men. It is also said that another of King Peter's knight from off his island will be stationed within  to get to know his fellow knights here. We look forward to the addition.

A birth has brought joy to the Kearney family and the addition of a new family promises strawberries next year.  There's also a new ship docked in Heathfield, with the family just settling in.  Please make sure to welcome them to our lands.

Births: A daughter, Emma Marie, to Lochlan and Hannah Frasier Kearney. Marriages: None this Month. Engagements: None this Month. Deaths: None this Month. Citizenship: Please welcome the Braidy and Callihan families.

Manticores -- Originally documented in Persia, the feared man-eating manticore, or manticora, has been sighted in places as varied as the jungles of Brazil and Indonesia and, more rarely, the forests of North America and Europe. With the body of a lion and a tail of poisonous spines that some reports indicate can be shot like arrows, a manticore is a lethal predator. It eats its victims whole, using its triple rows of teeth and leaves no bones behind.

A manticore's face is said to resemble a human's and travelers through marshes have reported mistaking a manticore for a bearded man from a distance.

Manticores have a melodious call, lke the lower notes on a flute blown together with a trumpet. Despite the beauty of the sound, most animals know to flee when they hear it. Humans would do sell to follow their lead.

The food of a manticore mainly consists of large animals such as deer, antelope, gazelle and even humans. They will catch smaller animals such as rabbits, rats or shrews to supplement their primary diet.

  -- submitted by Kathleen Frasier - from Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide. Everyone should have one!

October

Hallow's Eve. From the Salem Witch Trials to the Day of the Dead, Halloween is fraught with traditions from around the world. Behind the name... Halloween, or the Hallow E'en as they call it in Ireland , means All Hallows Eve, or the night before the 'All Hallows', also called 'All Hallowmas', or 'All Saints', or 'All Souls' Day, observed on November 1. In old English the word 'Hallow' meant 'sanctify'. Roman Catholics, Episcopalians and Lutherians used to observe All Hallows Day to honor all Saints in heaven, known or unknown. They used to consider it with all solemnity as one of the most significant observances of the Church year. And Catholics, all and sundry, was obliged to attend Mass. The Romans observed the holiday of Feralia, intended to give rest and peace to the departed. Participants made sacrifices in honor of the dead, offered up prayers for them, and made oblations to them. The festival was celebrated on February 21, the end of the Roman year. In the 7th century, Pope Boniface IV introduced All Saints' Day to replace the pagan festival of the dead. It was observed on May 13. Later, Gregory III changed the date to November 1. The Greek Orthodox Church observes it on the first Sunday after Pentecost.

Despite this connection with the Roman Church, the American version of Halloween Day celebration owes its origin to the ancient (pre-Christian) Druidic fire festival called "Samhain", celebrated by the Celts in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Samhain is pronounced "sow-in", with "sow" rhyming with cow. In Ireland the festival was known as Samhein, or La Samon, the Feast of the Sun. In Scotland, the celebration was known as Hallowe'en. In Welsh it's Nos Galen-gaeof (that is, the Night of the Winter Calends. According to the Irish English dictionary published by the Irish Texts Society: "Samhain, All Hallowtide, the feast of the dead in Pagan and Christian times, signalizing the close of harvest and the initiation of the winter season, lasting till May, during which troops (esp. the Fiann) were quartered. Faeries were imagined as particularly active at this season. From it the half year is reckoned. also called Feile Moingfinne (Snow Goddess).(1) The Scottish Gaelis Dictionary defines it as "Hallowtide. The Feast of All Soula. Sam + Fuin = end of summer."(2) Contrary to the information published by many organizations, there is no archaeological or literary evidence to indicate that Samhain was a deity. The Celtic Gods of the dead were Gwynn ap Nudd for the British, and Arawn for the Welsh. The Irish did not have a "lord of death" as such. Thus most of the customs connected with the Day are remnants of the ancient religious beliefs and rituals, first of the Druids and then transcended amongst the Roman Christians who conquered them.-submitted by Kathleen Frasier from (http://www.theholidayspot.com/halloween/history.htm)

HALLOWE'EN

The ghosts of all things past parade,
Emerging from the mist and shade
That hid them from our gaze,
And, full of song and ringing mirth,
In one glad moment of rebirth,
And again they walk the ways of earth
As in the ancient days.

The beacon light shines on the hill,
The will-o'-wisps the forests fill
With flashes filched from noon;
 And witches on their broomsticks spry
Speed here and yonder in the sky,
And lift their strident voices high
 Unto the Hunter's Moon.

The air resounds with tuneful notes
From myriads of straining throats,
All hailing Folly Queen;
So join the swelling choral throng,
Forget your sorrow and your wrong,
In one glad hour of joyous song
To honor Hallowe'en!

-John Kendrick Bangs

MAKING JACK O' LANTERNS

Just take a golden pumpkin
 Of quite the largest size,
Cut all 'round the stem, just so, 
 Scrape out the inside below,
And cut two holes for eyes.
 And now fix a nose beneath,
 And such a great big mouth with teeth,
 And you've a jack-o'-lantern!

Then fix a tallow candle,
Just big enough to light,
 And when it flickers, see him blink,
 And when it flares up, see him wink
 And smile so broad and bright.
 This is the jolliest sort of a fellow,
With cheery face so round and yellow,
 This funny jack-o'-lantern.

-Anonymous

THE HAUNTED PALACE
By Edgar Allen Poe

In the greenest of our valleys
By good angels tenanted,
Once a fair and stately palace--
Radiant palace--reared its head.
In the monarch Thought's dominion--
It stood there!
Never seraph spread a pinion
Over fabric half so fair! 
Banners yellow, glorious, golden,
On its roof did float and flow,
(This--all this--was in the olden Time long ago,)
And every gentle air that dallied,
In that sweet day,
Along the ramparts plumed and pallid,
A wingèd odor went away. 

Wanderers in that happy valley,
Through two luminous windows, saw
Spirits moving musically,
To a lute's well-tunèd law,
Round about a throne where, sitting (Porphyrogene!)
In state his glory well befitting,
The ruler of the realm was seen. 

And all with pearl and ruby glowing
Was the fair palace-door,
Through which came flowing, flowing, flowing,
And sparkling evermore,
A troop of Echoes, whose sweet duty
Was but to sing,
In voices of surpassing beauty,
The wit and wisdom of their king. 

But evil things, in robes of sorrow,
Assailed the monarch's high estate.
(Ah, let us mourn!--for never morrow Shall dawn upon him desolate!)
And round about his home, the glory
That blushed and bloomed
Is but dim-remembered story
Of the old time entombed. 

And travellers now, within that valley,
Through the red-litten windows see
Vast forms, that move fantastically
To a discordant melody,
While, like a ghastly rapid river,
Through the pale door
A hideous throng rush out forever
And laugh--but smile no more.

Did you Know?

Incantations - The recitation of a spell.  In the working of magic, words are power.  Written words can be powerful, but spoken words are even moreso.  An incantation is actually far more than a simple recitation--it is a command.  Prayer is a request, while an incantation is a command for something to happen, made with the absolute assurance that it will happen.

In Ceremonial Magic, the magician is trying to summon spirits or entities to do his bidding.  They are reluctant to appear.  The only way he can make them do so is to use various Names and Words of Power, which are delivered in the most authoritative manner.  The words, as the words of any incantation, must be spoken with familiarity, firmly, and in a certain rhythmic manner.  Rhyme and rhythm are most important in the working of magic, especially with incantations.  If the actual incantation is not written as a rhyme, then it should be spoken with a regular, definite beat.

Incantations are often long and repetitive.  This is so the magician performing the incantation can gradually build up his or her energy through the rising inflections and sonorous, rhythmical, often rhetorical use of the words.  Doing an incantation should charge the magician with energy--he or she should feel it building and building until the words are almost being shouted.  There should be a rising state of intense excitement that explodes with the final declaration.

It is important to be thoroughly familiar with the incantation.  For this reason, it is not good magical practice to simply repeat, parrot-fashion, words that are written in a dead or unknown language.  It is necessary to know the language in order to give the correct pronunciation and the necessary inflections.  Incantations are done as a part of working magic, although not all magic calls for them.  Sometimes Witches use incantations in the magic they do. -- submitted by Aislin NiFaelen (taken from 'The Witch Book' by Raymond Buckland)

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