It’s that time of year once more

As I sit here to write there is a distinct chill in the air. We’ve resisted turning on the central heating, and the forecast is for mild weather for the time of year, but I don’t think it’ll be long before we can’t resist anymore. The clocks have shifted to bring very early evenings and, at least here in Sussex, the leaves have been spared early Autumn storms and hang in beautiful golds and reds from branches ready to let go and enter a well-earned slumber. Yes, the veil between the worlds has been thinning for some time and tomorrow evening our doorbell will be rung by children dressed as ghosts and skeletons holding out their cauldrons for sweets and treats – their parents thanking us and wishing us a happy Halloween.

Something that I’ve noticed after over 30 years of celebrating the Pagan Wheel of the Year is that often life can fall into that seasonal rhythm. Of planting, growth, harvesting, and Wintering and I’m feeling that very much this year. Some of you will have read my last blog post (before Facebook flagged and deleted it as spam. Obviously too many of you were clicking the link and leaving the platform…), and I was overwhelmed by the love and support from so many replies. A couple of days ago I lit a fire in our fire bowl in the garden and brought down the four boxes of my parents’ memories – memories that meant very much to them, but that were of holidays, parties, moments in their lives that were theirs alone, with friends I’d never met. I couldn’t see them recycled, or placed into a landfill. So I sat there for the afternoon, looking at the photos and memories, then offering them to the fire. Sending them to the Forever where I hope Dad was looking at them and smiling. There is a corner of our garden in the west where we built a little cairn over the ashes of our last dog, Wizbang. It’s under a Yew tree we also planted, next to a Hazel. It’s the Ancestors’ Place. The remaining ashes of the fire will join those other memories and Spirits.

Samhain is a Gaelic word that means Summer’s End, Calan Gaeaf is the name of the first day of Winter in Welsh, with Nos Galan Gaeaf being the night before Winter. In Old English October was called Winterfylleth (Ƿinterfylleþ) which means the Winter full Moon, and it was named because the first full moon of the month brought with it the beginning of Winter. November was called Blodmonath (Blōtmōnaþ) – the month of sacrifices. When we look at the old traditions associated with Samhain we also see that November was the month when cattle were slaughtered and salted to keep throughout the Winter months – a blood-month indeed. This time of change has been marked by the Gaelic, Brythonic, and Germanic peoples of this island for centuries. It’s something that is incredibly deep within the blood and bone of the land. To me, it links directly with my animal instinct. It’s something I need every year, but this year even more than others. There is Wintering to be done, and so I welcome the dark months ahead. Let them bring healing, tears, smiles, and recapitulation, ready for the light to return once more.

Whatever and however you celebrate, and whatever word you use for this time of year, may you have that moment of reflection and peace, and may the dark months hold you and fill you with energy ready for the Sun’s return.

Peace, and blessed be.