-=> October Lore -- the Dumb Supper <=-

Samhain is a celebration of death, and as such it is marked by several
traditions.  One of these is the Feast of the Dead, sometimes called the
Dumb Supper.  This has many variations -- from a complete meal shared by
the living, with places set at the table for the dead, to the simple
leaving of cakes and wine, or any similar combination, by the fireside
on Samhain Night.  And this is the most traditional time for
communication with the dead.  For this reason, after welcoming them into
your Samhain Circle through the Western Gate, the direction of death,
you can allow the spirits of the deceased to communicate with you if
they so desire.  One method is the wineglass.

Similar to a ouija board but without the undeserved sinister reputation,
the wineglass is just that, an inverted wineglass (the champagne type is
better than the wine type, as t is less likely to tip).  The glass is
surrounded by a circle of letters.  An alphabet in Gothic style drawn on
squares of white paper helps to create an appropriate atmosphere.

It must be mentioned here that many occultists turn up their noses at
such devices as the ouija board, the pendulum board, and, no doubt, the
wineglass, preferring instead personal mediumship, or channeling, as it
is currently being called.  But we believe that entities willing to take
control of the body or voice of another individual cannot be of the
highest calibre.  Nor is every scene that passes before the inner eye
psychic or spiritual, or the motivations that created them always
spiritually pure.  This is not to say that we do not believe in either
channeled information or that which is received psychically.  We most
certainly do, but we have seen many instances of self-delusion, which is
one of the greatest barriers to true spiritual development.

The wineglass, on the other hand, has several built-in safety devices.
It cannot be easily operated alone, so spiritual possession is less
likely, and since two or more people are operating it, self-delusion is
not so easy.  It is interesting to note, too, that the wineglass brings
with it some intrinsic symbolism.  It is a vessel or container for wine,
itself a symbol for spiritual awareness, so the wineglass is a container
for spiritual knowledge.

The wineglass can be used within the Samhain Circle.  The four quarters
of the Circle may be marked with candles in jack-o'-lanterns, and an
extra candle, an indigo blue one (the colour symbolizing the higher
spiritual planes), should also be lit.  This candle might be anointed
with oil and marked with a rune such as š` that describes the travel
between the planes.  After a moment of meditation each person present
places a fingertip on the upturned base of the wineglass and the
traditional "Is anyone here that wishes to give us a message?" is asked.
Then as the glass slides from one letter to the next, rapidly spelling
out messages, read the words.  You may find it easier to use a tape
recorder because it can get confusing.  At this, the most solemn of
Pagan festivals, the messages are often personal and profound.

                                             from: "Wheel of the Year"
                                             by Pauline Campanelli