The Witch Creek Wildfire was one of the largest and most destructive wildfires in the history of California. It broke out on October 21, 2007, when a power line malfunctioned in Witch Creek Canyon near Santa Ysabel. The flames quickly spread due to strong winds and the dry vegetation, causing the fire to rapidly grow in size. Over the next few days, the Witch Creek Wildfire burned through several communities, including Rancho Bernardo, Ramona, Poway, and Escondido. The fire destroyed over 1,000 homes and caused the evacuation of over 500,000 residents. It also led to the closure of major highways and disrupted power and communication networks in the area.
The first easy way to celebrate Samhain is to build a bonfire. This practice is one of the most honoured Samhain traditions, the fire symbolizes the welcoming of winter. You can begin your evening by communing with your departed loved ones through the fire. Invite friends and family to join you to create a welcoming space for the deceased, hold hands around the fire and embrace its warmth. You may also sing and dance, inviting the spirits to celebrate too. Telling stories around the fire is also common, either special memories you have of your loved ones or spooky stories of the dead or supernatural. If you’re not able to build a bonfire, use candlelight instead to welcome the new season.
An Altar is a sacred space that Witches use to carry out rituals and decorate for the Sabbats, for Samhain you may place photographs of your loved ones or personal items of the person you are honouring on your altar. Originally, Samhain known as the Feast of the Dead is a sabbat holiday celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving offerings on altars and doorsteps for the dead who have returned to their previous homes, and this practice is still carried out in certain places.
It also led to the closure of major highways and disrupted power and communication networks in the area. In total, the Witch Creek Wildfire burned approximately 197,990 acres of land, making it one of the largest wildfires in California's history. It took over a week for firefighters to fully contain the fire, as they faced challenges from the strong winds and the inaccessible terrain.
How the Modern Green Witch Celebrates Halloween
Each Halloween season, we are all accustomed to seeing images of pumpkin carvings, black cats, and cartoonized ghoulish creatures everywhere from the supermarket to our neighbor’s front yard. While this time of year is full of costumes and parties for some, it holds a deep spiritual meaning that is not forgotten among modern witches like ourselves.
This is the time of year where the veil between the spiritual and earthly worlds is said to be thinnest. The Celtics call it Samhain, in Mexico it’s Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), and for the Catholics it’s All Soul’s Day.
No matter what you celebrate, this is a time to pause and honor those who walked before us. We call in our guides and ancestors, express our gratitude for their gifts and wisdom, and in true Make & Mary fashion, let plant medicine and our intuition guide us along the way.
Here’s how the modern green witch is celebrating Halloween.
Set Your Space
As with any ceremony, set and setting are important. Set up an altar to honor your ancestors with photos, maps of where they come from, or items that remind you of them. Set out some water, and add offerings of plants or flowers if you have them, as a symbol of celebration. Read our blog on creating an altar as a ritual for inspiration.
Then pour your favorite tea, light some palo santo or some candles and welcome in your ancestors and guides. This Halloween is happening on a full Blue Moon, so consider a full moon tarot tarot spread to set the tone or better understand the messages they have for you. Of course, you’ll find us elevating the experience with the medicine of cannabis – we just added our favorite full-spectrum hemp vaporizer pen by Quill to the shop and online store. We love this pen because the hemp is sourced from the same family farm we work with. Also, it’s just pure hemp—no additives, diluents, fillers, or flavors.
Choose Your Plant Magic Ritual
There is an endless world of plant magic available to you beyond the tools we’ve just named. This ceremony is an opportunity to honor your ancestors as well as practice your own self care and nourishment. For example, you could create a herbal blend, tincture, or potion, prepare a sacred feast, or listen and commune with your plants in a brand new way.
We now carry several books to inspire and inform the modern witch on her journey. One of our favorites is The Green Witch: Your Complete Guide to the Natural Magic of Herbs, Flowers, Essential Oils, and More by Arin Hiscock-Murphy. We also sell Hiscock-Murphy’s The Witch’s Book of Self-Care: Magical Ways to Pamper, Soothe, and Care for Your Body and Spirit, among others.
Allow yourself to dive deep into the options, and listen when one calls to you. This is your ritual choosing you.
Purify and Awaken
Your ritual will be all the more powerful when you weave in an awakening element. We created our new CBD Hydrosol sprays for just this, and for day-to-day use too. Spray some in the air around you, and on your face for awakening and purifying. and in your mouth to comfort. You’ll experience the benefits of cellular plant water, created through a steam distillation process. If you come into our flagship store here in Portland, our house copper distill will greet you at the door.
Tulsi (Holy Basil) has been used in Ayurveda for thousands of years. Aside from purifying and awakening, other benefits include anti-inflammatory properties, calming of the stomach, balancing of the autonomic nervous system, and even strengthening of the kidney.
Anoint Your Skin With Oils
Next, choose some essential oils to apply on your wrists, neck, and third eye for anointing and protection. We love our calming Rosemary Lavender CBD Oil Roll-on for this – rosemary has been used to ward off evil spirits for centuries, and lavender supports you in opening and listening to the spiritual guidance that is available to you. Perhaps this is coming from your ancestors or guides, and perhaps this means better attuning to your own inner wisdom.
In the physical sense, CBD, rosemary and lavender oils are all known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The added benefit of 150 MG of Full Spectrum CBD extract aids in reducing inflammation, anxiety tension, headache and joint pains. The goal here is to find yourself open, relaxed, and free of distraction.
Perform Your Ritual
Finally, you have arrived at your ritual. You know what this is, and you’ve been carried here through a divinely supported process. Don’t second guess your intuition. Whether you’re creating with plants in the kitchen, blending herbs into a potion in your living room, or entering into a plant medicine meditation journey on your bed, this is your opportunity to connect and heal where it is needed most.
Herbalists were once called witches, and they were persecuted for it. We are grateful to those who have blazed the trails of plant medicine before us, as today we wear both titles with pride. We aim to carry out their missions to bring healing to our inner and outer worlds alike.
This Samhain, on All Hallow’s eve, remember: you are your own healer.
The Witch Creek Wildfire had a significant impact on the affected communities. Many residents lost their homes and possessions, and the fire caused the loss of several lives. The fire also had a severe economic impact, as businesses and infrastructure were destroyed or damaged. The cause of the Witch Creek Wildfire was determined to be a power line that was not properly maintained. San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E), the power company responsible for the line, faced considerable criticism and legal action following the fire. The Witch Creek Wildfire serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of wildfires and the importance of proper fire prevention and response measures. It highlights the need for vigilance, especially in areas prone to wildfires with hot, dry climates. Efforts to improve fire prevention and response have since been implemented in California to mitigate the risk of similar incidents in the future..
Reviews for "The Witch Creek Wildfire and Climate Change: Understanding the Connection"
1. Jane - 2 stars: I was really disappointed with "Witch Creek Wildfire". The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard for me to connect with them. The plot was predictable and lacked any real surprises. Additionally, the pacing was sluggish, and I found myself losing interest several times throughout the book. Overall, I felt let down by this novel and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Mark - 3 stars: "Witch Creek Wildfire" had an interesting premise, but unfortunately, the execution fell flat for me. The writing style was average, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. I also felt that the action scenes were poorly described, making it difficult for me to visualize what was happening. While the book did have some exciting moments, they were few and far between. In the end, I found myself underwhelmed by this novel and wouldn't read it again.
3. Sarah - 2 stars: I found "Witch Creek Wildfire" to be quite a disappointment. The plot was unoriginal and lacked any real depth or complexity. The main character was incredibly cliché and lacked any significant growth or development. The romance in the book felt forced and lacked chemistry. Additionally, the writing style was rather dull and lacked descriptions, leaving me struggling to imagine the scenes. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and unique read.