Merrie Meet
Samhain is a festival that marks the end of the harvest season and the start of winter or the "darker half" of the year. Traditionally, it is celebrated from 31 October to 1 November, as the Celtic day began and ended at sunset. This is about halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice.The God, as the Sun King is sacrificed back to the land with the seed until the Winter Solstice, and the Goddess, now as The Crone, mourns Him until His rebirth at Yule. He travels the Underworld learning its wisdom. This is the time of the descent into darkness, of pre-conception, out of which new life, new ideas, will eventually emerge.
Death is always followed by rebirth and while this is the end of the old year, it is the beginning of the new year. For the Celts the day did not begin at dawn, it began at sunset, it began with darkness. Light is always born out of darkness, they are inseparable, interdependent, and necessary. Darkness is fertile with 'all potential'.
With the beginning of this dark phase comes the opportunity to rest and reflect on the past and to dream of new beginnings. The seed now hidden in the earth will germinate in its season. Look for the seeds in yourself!
A SHORT PIECE OF CANDLE MAGICK
This is a wonderfully simple ritual which can be shared with both friends and family, or worked alone. You can include children in it - it begins in darkness and ends full of light.It's a great balance to trick or treating!
You will need a supply of small candles, either black or white, or a supply of night lights.You need a heat proof container or tray of sand or earth to put them in. Place one in the centre of the container from which all the others will be lit.
Switch off all the lights and sit gently in the darkness. Allow the darkness to enfold you.Ask for the presence of your ancestors to come to you. When you are ready, light the central candle saying
"We welcome our departed loved ones into this home and honour your presence amongst us".Allow each person in the circle to spontaneously remember someone who has passed to the Summerlands and remember something about them and light a candle for each person from the central candle.
Allow this to continue for as long as it takes to complete the re-membering. You will end with a tray full of radiant candles. When all is complete, give thanks, and allow the candles to burn to completion. (extracted from a piece on The Goddess and The Green Man website)
Produced in association with
Click This Link To Listen to The Samhain Show with The Merlin
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And so at this very special time of our year I would like to wish you all a very
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