Is Halloween related to modern occult practices?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Although Halloween as commonly practiced today is a seemingly innocent time for most youngsters, it is a very serious observance for many witches, neo-pagans and other occultists. Before we proceed, it should be noted that the historic and contemporary occult associated to Halloween have produced something of a “crossover” effect to the larger society so that in some instances the observance of Halloween is not even a seemingly innocent practice. Reading through various histories of Halloween one is struck by the large number of superstitions and divinatory practices involved. Of concern is how superstitions may regulate or control one’s life in unsavory ways. Further, true divinatory practices are almost always consequential, as we discussed in our Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs (Harvest Hose Publishers, 1996). Indeed, since the last quarter of the nineteenth century Halloween has been regarded as a time “for working charms, spells, and divinations.” As we’ve
