Samhain

Samhain, (pronounced SOW-in, SAH-vin, or SAM-hayne) means "End of Summer", and is the third and final Harvest. The dark winter half of the year commences on this Sabbat.

It is generally celebrated on October 31st, but some traditions prefer November 1st. It is one of the two "spirit-nights" each year, the other being Beltane. It is a magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily suspended, and the Thin Veil between the worlds is lifted. Communicating with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time, for they journey through this world on their way to the Summerlands. It is a time to study the Dark Mysteries and honor the Dark Mother and the Dark Father, symbolized by the Crone and her aged Consort.

Originally the "Feast of the Dead" was celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the "wandering dead". Single candles were lit and left in a window to help guide the spirits of ancestors and loved ones home. Extra chairs were set to the table and around the hearth for the unseen guest. Apples were buried along roadsides and paths for spirits who were lost or had no descendants to provide for them. Turnips were hollowed out and carved to look like protective spirits (the original jack-o-lanterns!), for this was a night of magic and chaos.

This was the time that the cattle and other livestock were slaughtered for eating in the ensuing winter months. Any crops still in the field on Samhain were considered taboo, and left as offerings. Bonfires were built, (originally called bone-fires, for after feasting, the bones were thrown in the fire as offerings for healthy and plentiful livestock in the New Year) and stones were marked with peoples names. Then they were thrown into the fire, to be retrieved in the morning. The condition of the retrieved stone foretold of that person's fortune in the coming year. Hearth fires were also lit from the village bonfire to ensure unity, and the ashes were spread over the harvested fields to protect and bless the land.

Other names of the holiday are Third Harvest, Samana, Day of the Dead, Old Hallowmas (Scottish/Celtic), Vigil of Saman, Shadowfest (Strega), and Samhuinn. Also known as All Hallow's Eve, (that day actually falls on November 7th), and Martinmas (that is celebrated November 11th)

Between the heavens and the earth
The way now opens to bring forth
The Hosts of those who went on before;
We see them now come through the door.

Now the veils of worlds are thin;
To move out you must move in.
Let the Balefires now be made,
Mine the spark within them laid.

Move beyond the fiery screen,
Between the seen and the unseen;
Shed your anger and your fear,
Live anew in a new year!
- Lore of the Door

Fall Equinox

Another burning man all by myself. This year the legs aren't quite right but I never claimed to be an artist. Made of oak, maple, pine and laurel; he's held together with woven honeysuckle vines and stood about 7ft tall. A wickerman or greenman sacrifice was used as blessing for a good harvest and an offering in hopes of an easy winter and that you would have what you need until it was planting time again. I hope we all have what we need and just maybe a little of what we want this season. The wheel turns on.

“The Wheel rolls more, and Autumn returns.

Cooler the rain; the Sun lower burns.

The coloring leaves presage the Year:

All things move into harvest’s sphere.

I vow to savor fruits first picked;

nor into grief shall I be tricked.

I vow to offer what once I spurned,

and face the Turning reassured."

- Asleen O’Gaea

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A Little Sunday Blasphemy

I came across this in one of the Reverend’s study books. Don’t get worried – I wasn’t reading it – he left this page open. Here’s what I saw:

What does “ye must be born again” really mean?

First, it means, "You must be born from above." James tells us that "every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." Then he tells us what he is teaching in the next verse. "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth" (James 1:17-18).

Second, it means, "You must be born a second time." Your first birth was of sinful parents, and you were born in their image. The second birth is of God, and we are born in his image. The first birth was of corruptible seed. The second birth is of incorruptible seed. Our first birth is in sin. Our second birth is in righteousness. By our first birth we were polluted and unclean. By our second birth we become holy. Our first birth was fleshly and carnal. Our second birth is spiritual and makes us spiritual. By the first birth all men are foolish and ignorant. By our second birth we become wise unto salvation. By our first birth we were slaves to sin and the lusts of the flesh. By our second birth we are made free from the dominion of sin. By our first birth we are all children of wrath. By our second birth we are children of promise. Our Lord says, "Ye must be born again," because we were all born wrong the first time.

OK, I’ll try to be nice here. First the reference to “Father of lights” sounds an awful lot like Lucifer, “The Light Bearer”. If that’s the case then the line: “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth” would mean there’s a whole lot of Pagans that will require an apology. The second bit analyzing the phrase is just more of the same old “we love you but you’re a horrible, disgusting person unless you agree with us”. In fact, that sentiment should fly in the face of Christianity. If we were all created by their God and he’s perfect then how dare they say the creation is foolish, corrupted and ignorant.

Another point here is that this whole “born again” business is yet another manipulated rip off of ancient Pagan beliefs. Every sect of Paganism believes in reincarnation “being born again”. Druids believe that we will continue to return until we have experienced everything there is. That means being rich, poor, attacker, victim and so on. Once we have passed through all of this, we can then move on to Summerland or what Christians would call Heaven. No judging, no book with names. YOU are responsible for your actions and by experiencing all things you make yourself more god-like.

Beltaine Project

This was today's project - a new fire pit. We needed something that was easy to mow around and I wanted to have something nicer than a patch of bricks with a chimnea on it. I'm going to go back and get some retainer wall rocks to make a nicer round base for the bowl but it'll work for tonight. Even though Beltaine has become associated with May day or May 1st, it's actually tonight, under new moon. So I'll be jumping over my new pit this evening for luck. It's supposed to be a night of celebration for fertility - mainly crop and livestock. Now, I don't have any livestock, only a small garden and I DO NOT want more kids! But ..... there is someone I wouldn't mind sharing my fire with. Shame they can't come up for a visit. Happy Beltaine - Blessed be.

Vernal Equinox

Equinox means "equal night" and this happens because the sun is positioned above the equator and at this time of the year - day and night are about equal in length all over the world. The Spring Equinox is sometimes referred to as the Vernal Equinox – vernal means spring so together the Vernal Equinox means “Spring Equal Night and Day”. This is the start of the Astrological year when the Sun enters the Sign of the Ram (Aries). The famous Egyptian priests built their Great Sphinx to point directly toward the rising Sun on this day every year.
The Spring Equinox is also called: Alban Eilir, Eostar, Eostre, Feast of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Festival of Trees, Lady Day, NawRuz, No Ruz, Ostara, Ostra, Rites of Spring. To Druids it is the time when day and night are equal in length and this happen when the Sun is at 0* of Aries and again in the Autumn when the Sun is at 0* of Libra. It's a time to celebrate that we made it through winter and that signs of life are popping up all around us.
Before there were clocks, the passage of time was measured by solar alignments and the penetration of the sun into stone passages to exactly light up a section of a stone with carvings upon it. This happens even today so the ancestral calendar is still accurate. The same solar alignment that determines the correct time for Spring Equinox is also the exact same alignment for the Autumn Equinox. This means if you were to stand outside of Cairn ‘T’ at Sliabh na Callighe or at Knowth and look 88* east of north you would see the sun rise to shine in through the passage and onto the Quartz standing stone inside on the Spring and Autumn Equinox.

Imbolc / Candlemas / St. Bridgid's Day

Since I'm married to a Bridgit (yes a fine Irish lass) I figured some general info on St. Bridgid's day is only appropriate. All taken from the web and edited down - I claim no credit beyond this point.

Imbolc has been traditionally associated with the onset of lactation of ewes, soon to give birth to the spring lambs. In Irish, Imbolc (pronounced im'olk) from the Old Irish, meaning "in the belly" (i mbolg), referring to the pregnancy of ewes, and is also a Celtic term for spring. Another name is Oimelc, meaning "ewe's milk".

Imbolc is called "St. Brigid's Day" or "Brigid" in Ireland and Great Britain. Fire and purification are an important aspect of this festival. Brigid (also known as Brighid, Bríde, Brigit, Brìd) is the goddess of poetry, healing and smithcraft. The holiday is a festival of the hearth and home, and a celebration of the lengthening days and the early signs of spring. Rituals often involve hearthfires, special foods, divination or simply watching for omens (whether performed in all seriousness or as children's games), a great deal of candles, and perhaps an outdoor bonfire if the weather permits. As both goddess and saint she is also associated with holy wells, sacred flames, and healing. The lighting of candles and fires represents the return of warmth and the increasing power of the Sun over the coming months.

In Irish homes, there were many rituals centered around welcoming Brigid into the home. Some of Brigid's rituals and legends later became attached to the Christian Saint Brigid, who was the Abbess of Kildare and seen by Celtic Christians as the midwife of Christ and "Mary of the Gael". In Ireland and Scotland she is the "foster mother of Jesus." The exact date of the Imbolc festival may have varied from place to place based on local tradition and regional climate. Imbolc is celebrated by modern Pagans on the eve of 2 February, at the astronomical midpoint, or on the full moon closest to the first spring thaw.

The tradition that some modern Christians and Pagans observe, of lighting a candle in each window (or in each room), is not the origin of the name "Candlemas", which instead refers to a blessing of candles, whether Christian or Pagan.

The eve of Candlemas was the day on which Christmas decorations of greenery were removed from people's homes; for traces of berries, holly and so forth will bring death among the congregation before another year is out. Another tradition holds that anyone who hears funeral bells tolling on Candlemas will soon hear of the death of a close friend or relative; each toll of the bell represents a day that will pass before the unfortunate news is learned.

In the British Isles, good weather at Candlemas is taken to indicate severe winter weather later. It is also alleged to be the date that bears emerge from hibernation to inspect the weather as well as wolves, who if they choose to return to their lairs on this day is interpreted as meaning severe weather will continue for another forty days at least. In the United States and Canada, Candlemas evolved into Groundhog Day celebrated on the same date.

Light/Dark Good/Evil

Light/dark, positive/negative – opposites are a basic part of nature. If it never got dark outside, you would have no real awareness of the sun. It would just always be there so you’d make no special notice of it. Contrasts make us see and appreciate things and help us react to different situations. All things have these contrasts or counterbalances and this helps to keep a natural rhythm and cycle going.

Contrast in faith exists in what mainstream religion terms as good/evil. I have come to really despise classing anything or anyone as “good” or “evil”. I have studied many things long before appearing online and blogging or deciding to become Druid. Most of what I studied dealt with demons, specifically the Goetia. I have also read several texts on the Gnostic and Luciferian paths. There is much in common with Druids and Gnostics / Luciferians mainly because Lucifer is held as a high god by Druids and all three have a strong tie to Cain. I am bringing all of this up to clarify this “evil” word that gets tossed around so easily.

Faith and religion are not exempt from the idea of contrasts. I believe that I have to explore the darkness and test myself to better understand my purpose and direction. The idea that I have the divine within myself and don’t need anyone to “save” me is much more appealing than living as a servant by rules that are impossible to follow and designed to make me feel inadequate. If I learn to see for myself and rely on myself then I can enlighten and illuminate myself on my own terms. That is the path of Cain, the lone path of self discovery that is considered “evil” and would brand me as “evil” or a “devil chaser” because I study it. I read lots of things and I blog lots of things. I know religion is a sticky subject but I also get asked a lot of questions that I feel are best answered openly. I’m not conjuring demons, not sitting in front of a cauldron or anything. I am simply trying to learn and understand.