About Us
Our background and aims
Gylden Community is a magickal and spiritual group. We support, promote and organise pagan events within the Surrey, Hampshire, Sussex and Berkshire areas. It's a place for all those who feel drawn to nature-based beliefs and for meeting like-minded folk. You’ll find us at spiritual events throughout Southern England, celebrating sabbats, publishing regular magickal help and having lots of laughter at gigs, picnics and socials too.
Gylden Community is not a traditional pagan group. We link to our friends in Basingstoke, Portsmouth, Bracknell, Farnham and anywhere else that hosts magickal or spiritual groups. We visit to share fellowship – and they can visit us too.
As a pagan library, we share knowledge and experience with others, not only via monthly publications or online files, but also at themed discussions or fayres where we can put aside time to show others what each of us can do or have learned along our specific pathways.
Gylden Community works with Guildford & Godalming Interfaith Forum, Woking Action for Peace and other Interfaith bodies to promote spiritual tolerance. We raise funds for charity whenever possible via our presence at public fayres, including Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice and Step By Step charities.
Gylden Magick magazine
Our regular monthly magazine is also on: www.facebook.com/groups/gyldenpaganfellowship/
Our November 2024 issue includes the following features:
- November magick
- nature: the Arundel bypass
- science: cod liver oil and rickets
- crystals: sardonyx
- science: why music can help us work
- nature: blue carbon mapping
- Island Voices and Maori culture
- fungi to forage in November
- making a mushroom hot-pot
- archaeomineralogy
- celestial forecasts for November (also published in full on Facebook)
- folklore: a winter's tale.
Visit our Gylden Magick magazine archives for past issues.
Working with others
Pagan/ spiritual groups in the Gylden Community area - all are listed on meet-up or Facebook.
Arun Traditional Witchcraft (Arundel)
Association of Sussex Pagans
Basingstoke Pagan Circle
Basingstoke Pagan Moots
Berkshire Witches & Wiccans
Blackthorn Witchcraft UK (Havant)
The Circle of Ankerwycke (Staines)
CoA Southampton Witches
Colours of the Oak Moot (Bracknell)
Crawley and Horsham Pagan Moot
Godalming and Villages Moot
Guildford Mantra Meditation
Guardians of the Grove (Chichester)
Hampshire Pagans for Environmental Change (Southampton)
Horndean Positive Living Group
Horsham and West Sussex Pagans
Moon Rituals Portsmouth
North Surrey Pagan Circle (Weybridge)
Pagan Federation South Central
Reading Berkshire Pagans
Rollright Circle of Friends (Chipping Norton)
Rowan & Thorn Druid Grove (Alton)
Seasons of Albion Moot (Farnham)
The Witches' Inn (Redhill)
University of Portsmouth Pagan and Spiritual Society
University of Southampton Pagan & Witchcraft Society
Worthing Pagan Moot
Samhain/ Samhuinne 2024 ©
Samhain (pronounced sow-wen) is a Celtic fire festival, at the mid-point between Alban Elfed (the autumn equinox) and Alban Arthan (the winter solstice). It is both the end of one year and the start of the next - this year, it runs from the evening of 31 October to the evening of 1 November, but the Celtic festival lasted 3-6 days. It is worth noting that astrological Samhain doesn’t commence until 6 November 2024.
It was a community event for all in the Celtic settlements, both farmers and druids with ritual bonfires. Samhain marked the end of the harvest season (end of summer) and the beginning of winter – in fact, the Saxons described it as the Feast of Winter.
It is the time of year when the gates between this world and the next are open. It is a time both of communicating with the spirits (honouring the ancestors) and a time of divination or scrying, when the forebears could be asked for advice. For some pagans, Samhain is known as the Festival of the Returning Dead and it is common to find dumb suppers featured during personal ceremonies, a custom that originated in medieval times.
Our acceptance of this change is vital so that we can plan new ideas or seeds for the spring planting: winter is a time for all to rest, reflect and renew our energy for the future. This is a time for dreams, to remember the past and to build longer term visions. So, as the winter starts and the old year ends, we honour our ancestors and embrace our roots – seeking their wisdom and experience to guide us on our journeys.
In magickal terms, Samhain is the start of a new year and a time for releasing negative thoughts or closing matters or beginning new projects. It is the wisdom of the Crone that prevails at Samhain: asking for guidance, paying respects to departed ancestors and celebrating reincarnation.
A practical activity for Samhain could be to visit the place where your ancestor(s) is/ are buried or scattered. Afterwards, you could build a small ancestor altar in your home, decorated with photos of the person/ people that you wish to remember and any small keepsakes that remind you of them. And then, you can perform this little spell for remembrance.
What you will need: a small candle (any colour or a tealight) and a picture/ photo of the person for whom you wish to remember. Cast a circle of protection around the place where you perform your spell.
Ø Carve or write the person’s name on the candle.
Ø Set the candle alight.
Ø Visualise the person in the picture/ photo.
Ø The intention is to summon him or her and his/ her ancestors, to provide peace or strength to you.
Ø Say these words:
“Let this flame blaze through the night,
Bringing both wisdom and caring insight,
Let anger and hostility now depart,
As peace and harmony fill the heart.
At this special time and in my sacred space,
I request <your ancestor’s name> to share this place.
I welcome you upon this night,
With many blessings until the new day’s light.”
Ø Let the candle burn out and put the picture/ photo away.
Ø Blessed be.
© 2024, Written by Gylden Fellowship
Blessings for Samhain