Halloween recipes from a real witch

Witches' dance

At these new year celebrations, the ghouls had their share of partying. The revellers who wanted to commune with the ancestral spirits learned herbal and gem lore from these ghouls, returning the knowledge to the community. These were the witches, who had second sight, for whom this feast period was a doorway between worlds and wisdoms.

So if you choose to dress as a witch, you have a great responsibility to share your knowledge, wisdom and healing with others.

Laying the table
The feast tables were laid for the ancestors and the spirits of the Earth, who brought forth the bounty. This is an honouring of the divine, so lay your table with care.

Decorate your home with great pottery or earthenware vases, and fill them with fruiting stems of plums or gooseberries. Remember that apples were sacred to the goddess Aphrodite (when cut in half crosswide, they have her 'star' in the centre).

Also, the colour red celebrates life force and energy - so red apples may well be the perfect choice for a table centrepiece. If you're lucky enough to have access to rowanberries, they too are a perfect colour celebration of the season.

Spray apples golden and leave a leaf attached. This ensures gold in your purse, and life stemming from it. Place them in a glass dish or bowl, to make the connection with the fire through which the glass has passed. As you decorate, sing songs - or simply visualise success (though not monetary).

Over the page: welcoming your guests