With Halloween coming up, there is a great article written by Jo about
pumpkins for you to read and share your ideas on. I wanted to follow that theme by talking about Samhain.
I've already written about how to have an
eco friendly Halloween, but as Cloudburst pointed out, it's not all about costumes and trick or treating. Thank you for the inspiration for this article, Cloudburst!
Samhain is a special time of year. Unfortunately, the true meaning and sacredness has been lost for many.
In our culture, Spirits, rather than the loving reminders of our dead, are portrayed as frightening beings. 'Tricks' are the price we pay if we do not 'treat' visiting ghosts and ghouls.
For me, nature is showing us true trick or treating with global warming. Climate change is the price we are paying for not treating the natural forces of life with respect and reverence. Maybe this would be a good time to think about our own actions and the impact they have on the environment.
Samhain falls halfway between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice, signifying the end of the summer and the harvest season and marking the beginning of winter. Samhain marked the beginning of the New Year in the Celtic calendar. There was a feeling that, on the eve of this feast, time belonged to neither to the Old year or the New year, which is why it is associated with spirits roaming in our world.
During Samhain, we can understand that death is followed by rebirth and reduce our fear of death and dying. Last week I was sitting in the garden watching the trees shed their leaves. I was touched by how the leaves simply 'let go'. They didn't struggle or try to hang on, they knew it was time for release and in the spring time new growth would appear.
We can use Samhain to reflect on our loved ones who have died, think about our ancestors and consider the things we want to birth into our own lives.
In most pagan cultures, there were customs of providing food and fire to the souls of departed relatives as it was believed that during Samhain our deceased loved ones might try to contact us.
A way to honour this is to set up photographs of all your departed loved ones. Give thanks for everything this person (or animal) bought into your life and write letters to them if you still miss them. It's a great ritual for children to get involved with to help with closure and acceptance. Decorate the area with rosemary sprigs; the traditional herb of remembrance.
Have a special meal of thanks, and set extra places for the spirits of those who wish to join you.
You can use this time to let go of anything you no longer need in your own life such as old habits, thought patterns or destructive behaviours. Then focus on what you would like to bring into your life.
What would you like to bring into your life over the coming year?
About the author
Rachelle Strauss, dubbed the Green Goddess, writes for various magazines about green and environmental issues. Her first book is out summer 2009 - "Self Sufficiency: Household Cleaning", by New Holland Publishers. She lives with her husband and their daughter in semi-rural England and you can follow her family's adventures towards achieving zero waste on her
My Zero Waste website.