Samhain

Ceridwen - Welsh goddess of inspiration and wisdom. Lexi Snowsten Art

I am Ceridwen, one with the drifting tides of life, keeper of the cauldron of awen, goddess of inspiration and wisdom, word-weaver, spell-binder, shape-shifter.

Greetings on All Hallow’s E’en

This festival is old as time.

As am I.

I am worshipped in sacred groves and stone circles, at Pentre Ifan and at cromlechs and cairns throughout the land.

I have walked the blessed path from the barrows of West Kennet to the ancient Rings of Avebury, blazed the sacred fire on the hills of Tara and the Tor of Glastonbury.

Tonight, I travel on wings of wind and breath of ocean from the misty isles of Albion to speak to you of Samhain.

Samhain- Summer’s End.

This is the turning point of the year, when the harvest is gathered and mother earth draws her vital energy within, to renew and regenerate. All of nature turns inward. The sap returns to the roots, plants fold back into the earth, and rest. Many creatures burrow into folds of earth and sleep.

Winter settles on the land.

Samhain marks the beginning of a New Year. For the ancient people the year begins with winter, just as the daily cycle begins at sunset. All life begins in darkness and moves toward the light.

This transition in time is celebrated in the lands of the East also, and is known as Deepavali, the festival of lights.

At this threshold of time the veils between worlds are at their thinnest. Spirits and fairies travel abroad— some make mischief among men.  The souls of the ancestors reach out, and ask that we remember them.  Many set a place at table for the souls of their dead kin. People dress in disguise to fool harmful spirits who may be seeking them.

The centre of each home is the hearth, the heart, the place where fire dwells. Fire is sacred and vital. On earth fire represents the heat of father sun.

On Samhain, as the sun sets, the fire in each hearth is extinguished, and for a short time darkness reigns supreme.

As the moon rises, people gather on heaths and wild land and light the sacred fire, the bon fire. They make merry with songs, feasting and dancing. It is a joyful time, a celebration of a new beginning, a time to honour the ancestors and rejoice in the bounty of nature.

The festivities conclude with a ceremony of gratitude for the gift of life and light. At this time, when the light of life is receding into the earth, we offer our thanks and vow to cherish and nurture this sacred light.

Each family takes a portion of the bonfire home to kindle their hearth fire. In this way the hallowed fire resides in every home, as it does in every heart.

So now I invite you to take a moment to offer your gratitude and send blessings to the hallowed light of life, the spark of divinity that lives in all, the light that turns inward during this season of renewal.

May the hallowed light always fill our earth with abundance, peace and unity. 

Pentre Ifan