"Remember who you want to be."
And while you're over there, check out my previous posts, too!
Showing posts with label wheel of the year. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wheel of the year. Show all posts
Thursday, October 1, 2015
"the best thing in life is knowing you put it together"
"Remember who you want to be."
And while you're over there, check out my previous posts, too!
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Them Summer Days, Those Summer Days
Find out more about my thoughts of summer, only at Cosmic Love, my blog over at Pagan Square.
http://witchesandpagans.com/pagan-culture-blogs/cosmic-love/them-summer-days-those-summer-days.html
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Wait For Me: Samhain
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!
Thursday, July 31, 2014
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.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Fireworks: Midsummer
 |
| http://wiccainromania.blogspot.com/2013/01/sarbatorile-wiccane.html |
Though this year’s calendar says June 21st is the first day of summer, the longest day of the year might more appropriately be known as the middle of the summer season. The sun is at its height and the days have been increasing in length, only to climax at the longest day and shortest night during the Summer Solstice. Twilight and dawn stretch out longer than any other time of the year, but after this week, the nighttime and darkness will slowly creep back upon the day.
Celebrated from June 19-June 24, the exact date of this holiday changes depending on the position of the earth to the sun. Midsummer, also known as Litha, marks the Summer Solstice and a time of great warmth, fertility and energy. Scandinavian and Northern European countries still celebrate this holiday that can trace its roots back to ancient celebrations of fire and abundance. In some places it is almost as popular as Christmas, which sits exactly opposite of this day on the calendar.
Medieval Christianity celebrated the birth of Saint John the Baptist on this day, and huge Saint John’s fires are still a major part of European celebrations, and often enjoyed by Neo-Pagans and other new age groups around the world. A good way to observe the fire and heat of this holiday is to light your own balefire, or even a bright red candle. Others capture the spark of the longest day of the year with a delicious barbeque, which is the perfect way to enjoy the outdoors, nature and heat.
For those who are familiar with Shakespeare, Midsummer is also said to be a wonderful night to enjoy the charms of the fairies. The magic of a summer night is something we all remember from our childhood. When enjoying the cool air, the moon, fireflies and the scent of flowers and fresh grass, remember the pleasure of summer.
As a holiday, Midsummer recaptures the magic and joy of youthfulness. Re-read your favorite fairytales, watch your favorite version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, go out and catch glowbugs or butterflies, or find a fountain and make a wish! Fill the longest day of the year with all of the things you love, and those games that make you feel like a kid again.
The summer is a special time of year, even for those who are well past their youth and fully engrossed in their 9-5 schedule. The sun is at its full power this week, so think of the sun to give your projects a little spark. Have lunch outside or take a short walk, no matter how hot it is. Summertime is in full swing, so enjoy the beauty of your neighborhood and community while the flowers and trees are thriving. Buy local produce and engage in town beautification projects. Take some time out for the kids in your life, and make a point to dance with the fairies. This is a good time of year to push your boundaries and step outside of your comfort zone, but also to return to those things that inspired us when we were children.
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