Wait For Me: Samhain

originally posted in the online religion magazine Creedible, 2012

Like the pages from a Bradbury short story, October sweeps in with cold wind, bright colors and the scents of damp leaves, sugar and candy. The summer has been long and hot, school and work are in full swing and the holidays are right around the corner.

This shift in seasons is called the Wheel of the Year, and as the wheel rolls from the brightness of summer to the darkness of winter, the subtle swing from October to November marks a very important holiday in the Pagan calendar.

Known to most as Halloween (or All Hallows' Eve), Samhain is a favorite holiday among many Pagans. Considered by some to be the Pagan New Year, this holiday rests between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice and is a time of letting go of the old to make room for the new.

Commonly pronounced “Sow-ehn” (though this is debatable!) the observance of this special time of year has roots in ancient Europe, particularly among Gaelic and Celtic tribes. Many modern Halloween festivities observed in the United States come from Irish settlers who brought their folk stories and traditions with them to the new world. Trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins (or other vegetables) and wearing masks and costumes all come from old Samhain customs.

While Halloween may seem spooky to some, Samhain is a time to honor the blessed dead and to pay respect to those who have passed. Many display an “ancestral altar” with photos of friends and family as well as the deceased’s favorite food and trinkets. This isn’t too unlike the Catholic Day of the Dead festivities, where households pay their own respects in a similar fashion. Some Catholics also celebrate All Souls Day and All Saints Day shortly after Halloween, too, in which the hallowed and the dead are honored in other ways.

For Halloween this year, sit quietly outside. Listen to the leaves as they fall. Hear the kids laughing as they put on costumes and eat candy. Watch a few scary movies and indulge in the shadowy, darker aspects of life. Eat some crisp apples. Think of friends and family who were loved and lost. Celebrate the “Dumb Supper” and set an empty plate out for them at dinner time.

As the wheel turns and the year is new, think about those old, harmful things that no longer serve a purpose. Dismiss them and banish them away. The winter will be hard and cold, and there’s no use in keeping useless things around. As the nights become longer, contemplate on the shadow aspects of life. The wheel turns towards the darkness at Samhain. It will turn once more at Yule and the Solstice when the world will be brighter than ever.

In the meantime, Happy Halloween!

Pagan Blog Project - P#1 - Pagan Pride Project

This is a repost from the online religion magazine Creedible, 2012

Pagan Blog Project - P#1 - Pagan Pride Project

From the months of August to October, people from all over the world gather together to celebrate their pride in being Pagan. Centered around the autumnal equinox (often called Mabon in some traditions) Pagan Pride Day is a chance for Pagans, non-Pagans, friends and family meet in the spirit of community and open mindedness.

The Pagan Pride Project is a non-profit organization with the primary purpose of the “advancement of religion and elimination of prejudice and discrimination based on religious beliefs.” Many people who identify as Pagan still keep their religious practices and spiritual beliefs “in the broom closet” and keep their lifestyle a secret from their family, friends and coworkers. Pagan Pride Day might be the only chance they have at gathering with other Pagans in an environment that encourages open-mindedness and acceptance. For others it might be the only time in the year that they have a chance to be around other Pagans.

The first official Pagan Pride Day was in 1998, and since then the event has grown from a couple hundred people gathering at a few small events combined to a few thousand gathering at individual festivals held in all the corners of the globe.

Each PPD aims to “foster pride in Pagan identity through education, activism, charity and community.” Pride events hold workshops, open discussions and panels to share ideas, challenge beliefs and to also help educate new comers and curious folks who may not be familiar with Paganism.

Mabon a holiday of Thanksgiving and thankfulness, so it is the perfect time of year to give back to the community. Pagan Pride Day is run by volunteers who offer time, energy and money to the event. PPD is free, but donations of canned goods or other nonperishable items are collected upon entry at the gate. Some events even host blood drives or give back to the community in other ways.

Pagan Pride Day isn’t just for Pagans, and people from all backgrounds and religious paths are welcome to enjoy the day and the festivities. A goal of the Pagan Pride Project is to encourage education, and that would include educating those who are still afraid of witches and druids, Pagans and Shamans. These events are a chance for Pagans to put on their best public face and encourage positive impressions and create new perceptions, while fostering a strong and helpful presence in the community.

With public rituals, workshops, vendors, and entertainment, there’s a lot to do for the whole family. It is a good opportunity to meet other Pagans and find groups, organizations, events and workshops.  There is usually entertainment in the form drum circles, bands, dancing, and lots of shopping. Volunteers host workshops for children, and there are often labyrinths, face painting, information booths and plenty of people to talk to. Some events are just a few hours long, while others last all day or even all weekend.

The Pagan Pride project helps coordinators with setting up events in new areas, and offers a wealth of resources and support to directors and PPD sponsors. The number of Pagan Pride Days grows every year, with more Pagans coming out and gladly celebrating their pride.

Those interested in the Pagan Pride Project can find more information at http://www.paganpride.org/.

Run On: Lammas

http://tigerchanter.blogspot.com/2011/08/blessed-lughnasadh.html

originally posted in the on-line religion magazine, Creedible, 2013

August often seems to bring in the most desperate days of summer. The sun beats down heavily, school is right around the corner, and the pace starts to pick up again at work. Everyone tries to squeeze in one last vacation, one last trip to the mountains, one last trip to the beach, one last hotdog, one last camping trip, one last barbeque. 

In the wheel of the year, August marks the end of summer and the start of the harvest season. Fruits, herbs and grains are ready to be harvested and gathered, and summer’s bounty is almost, but not quite, overripe. Observed on the first of August, Lammas celebrates this time of sun, heat, harvest, sweat, games and celebration. 

Also known as Lughnasa (Loo-nuh-sah or Loo-nah-sah), this Gaelic holiday with Irish roots observes the funeral games the hero Lugh (Loo) hosted in honor of his foster mother, Tailtiu. Tailtiu is a grain deity who died from exhaustion after preparing Ireland for agriculture and cultivation. Her sacrifice and death mirror other Corn Mother myths throughout the world, including goddesses from ancient Greece, the American Southwest and Japan. Her gift of preparing Ireland for planting manifests itself through the harvest enjoyed during these summer and autumnal months. 

The exploits of the hero Lugh and his games held in honor of his mother are mimicked in our own summer games of baseball, swimming, soccer, and other outdoors sports. Maybe it’s a coincidence, but some Pagans feel as if nothing could be more appropriate this time of year than holding the Olympic Games, a glorious celebration of accomplishment and human potential. 

Though we’re not Olympic athletes, this is still the perfect time to go outside and do something sweaty, fun and incredible. Though winter seems to be a lifetime away, the cold will be here before we know it. For Lammas, share a hearty feast with your friends and family, partaking of seasonal fruits, vegetables and local dishes. 

Summer is a good time of year for family reunions and gatherings. Like Lugh and Tailtiu, honor your family and the accomplishments of those close you. Family legacy and memories live on when we share the stories that make us laugh and beam with pride. 

Be sure to boast and brag about yourself a little, too.  We all have a lot to be proud of because we’ve all done something heroic in one way or another, so share your accomplishments with those who you care about and who care about you. As the wheel turns and turns again, one day your exploits will be talked about, celebrated and remembered during the sweaty, fun-filled summers to come.

No One Can Stop Us Now: Gaia's Circle Lughnasadh 2014

 My eclectic ritual group, Gaia’s Circle, celebrated its 5^th Lughnasadh today!  We first gathered on Mabon of 2009, and I’m really quite proud of the beauty we have created together over the years.  The group takes turns hosting and writing, and one of the members was really excited for the chance to write what she called “a proper Celtic ritual for Lugh.”  She writes the most beautiful liturgy, and the ritual was pretty stellar.

Gaia, Berkana, and Beith

We began with a little processional to the ritual space, some light smoke cleansing with cedar, and then the lighting of the hearth fire.  My friend’s tradition is Ár n Draíocht Féin (ADF) which means “our own Druidry.”  The ADF ritual structure is totally different from what I do as a Neo-Wiccan, so her rituals are always a unique treat. 

She asked if I’d like to offer the prayers to the Star Goddess and Celestial realm, as well as to the Earth Mother.  I was very pleased to do both.  (Very fitting for a Space Witch!)  In preparation for these tasks I learned a little bit about Tailtiu (Tall-Chew), who was Lugh’s foster mother.  She is said to have died from exhaustion after clearing Ireland’s lands so people could farm.  In her honor, Lugh founded the festival, games, and holiday of Lughnasadh.

Crom Dubh

My Druid friend did some really cool things with the elements and chanting, and we learned about Crom Dubh and Lugh.  Crom Dubh protects us and preserves us, but sometimes this can perhaps be a bit overwhelming and a little-too self-preserving, protective but holding us back at times.  Lugh inspires us with his wit and skill, and with his blessings all things are possible.  Both Gods were given gifts and honor during this ritual, reminding us to protect ourselves, but not to compromise our daring and magical potentiality. 

Lugh

We also enjoyed mead and corn bread, had an anointed champion who will protect the luck of the group with them throughout the year, and we had a huge feast.  We had pazole (a ceremonial soup traditional to Mexico), salads, veggies, cheese, wine, watermelon and a special treat of caramel corn.  It was a lovely time to catch up with friends and also welcome new ones, too.  I’d never really worked with Lugh before, or Tailtiu or Crom Dubh, and it was great to learn about another pantheon, their stories, and their traditions.  (I’m sure my Celtic ancestors were very pleased, too.)

I’ve been a bit melancholy and anxious these days, vexed about the various Pagan groups I’m in, some Pagan and personal projects I’m working on, sad about not having a job, etc.  But this ritual helped me to appreciate the protective touch of Crom Dubh, the sacrifice of Tailtiu, and the skill and wit and inspiration of Lugh.

After the ritual, I went home with this song on my heart (from Sharon Knight and T. Thorn Coyle)

We are beauty, and we are darkness 

We are light, and we are change