Lunar Samhain – drum-time of remembrance and dreamings…

we all come from the stars....
and to the stars, we must return...
on a bridge of rainbow light...
coming home... to who we are...
- weaver © 2006

It’s been an interesting number of weeks coming up to this time of Samhain this year… it seems every few weeks, i learn of someone i know dear who has suddenly died... from either a heart attack... suicide and cancer... young lives suddenly gone in an instant waaay too early... it just doesn't make sense....

It's been such a shock so many times over... and feeling so sad for the loss... and has certainly awoken many thoughts on what the "priorities" are in my life and what is truly important... those i love and cherish... family and friends...

Today, Friday, November 5th is also a new moon (in Scorpio) and we’re gathering to be in sacred circle to acknowledge and honour this special time of the year and to drum together…

Samhain (pronounced sow-wen) means “end” within the Celtic earth-based Wiccan shamanic traditions… Samhain marks the symbolic death of the Sun God and his passing into the "land of the young," where he awaits rebirth of the Mother Goddess at Yule.

In this cycle of the year it is the end of summer, the end of harvest-time and the beginnings of winter – the death and falling way of the old past year… a time of the great mother, our blessed earth mother begins her rest to go to sleep for the winter to regenerate to begin again in the spring…

When growing up on our family farm, i loved the musty smells of decaying burning leaves from the many burning bonfires scattered throughout our community…
It was the time of year was when the cows came in from the summer pastures… and our big ol’ barn was stuffed full of hay and straw… and the two towering silos seeped at their seams with their fermenting stink of silage… the machinery was maintained and put away… my mom putting up endless jars of canned perserves and squirrling them away in the basement cupboards... it was the completion of the harvest and the rains came…
i miss the smells of those times living in the city now...

Samhain is also the time of the “old white-haired crone”… the “wise ones”… the “elders”… “grandmother white wolf” and the “crystal teachers”… guardians who graciously open the gateway for our dear beloved ones who have passed to the enter the place of the “Summerlands” – a place to await to be reborn and live again…

The lunar new moon cycle is a magical time of new beginnings – an opportunity to recharge one’s goals that have already been set or create new ones. It’s a good time to also reflect on the last year… an opportunity to let go of that which no longer serves you or works… to release old habits or addictions…

It’s interesting re the “goal-thing” and the timing of this season…. as i’ve been building a new business and a big part of learning the new tools of this business is the importance of setting goals and intention of what i’d like to see happen in all areas of my life including this new business.

I’ve realized that i have never spent a lot of time actually writing down many of my goals in the past – it seems, most of my life, i’ve pretty much bumbled along juggling my many interests and passions mindlessly hoping for the best… and so, this exercise has been a good one for me and a new learning – it’s a time to really look at what and where i’d like to be and mindfully create that…

As we enter this season of darkness i invite you to write down all that you want or don’t want and all that you’d like to let go… shake the crumbs and dust from your pockets… then, gather it all up and take it to the sacred fire and burn it away - to become light… and, as it burns, let the flames inform you and teach you and warm you… and then, be open to receive the gift of the light returning transformed filling you back up to embrace your vision and your own dreamings… your own goals for the coming new year…

Samhain is a time when the "veils between the worlds" are the thinnest… where we can connect with our dear ones who have passed – to honour them and bid them farewell on their journeys to the light…

We also welcome all the newly born and celebrate their arrival blessing us with their bright light!

This night of the lunar Samhain… in sacred circle through the sacred drum’s ever-present open heart with prayers, we will honour our elders, our ancestors and our dear, dear friends and kin who have recently passed... setting chairs for them to be with us one more time... sending them our love and remembrance…

For… dear Skye MacDougall…

For dear Nancy Eagles (Patchouli)…

For dear Brent Astle...

For dear Anne Russell…

For dear Shelley Cromie...

For all our beloved ancestors... our dearly beloved… we will sooo miss you and wish you well on your journey home… and we honour you!

Blessed be… Hi-yi-yah! - We hear your voice!

What is remembered lives!

(((o)))

Song of Samhain

I am the hallow-tide of all souls passing...
I am the bright releaser of all pain...
I am the quickener of of the fallen seed-case...
I am the glance of the winter twilight....
I am the hearth-fire and the welcome bread...
I am the curtained awning of the pillow...
I am the unending wisdom's golden thread.
—Caitlin Matthews

(((o)))

...above, a video of ms. murphy and the crows in our backyard this Fall.......