I feel a little mourning. What with the month-long festivities (both online and watching homes gradually become spooky labyrinths for trick-or-treaters), it all abruptly comes to a close and Christianity takes over the holiday (as with other sabbats.) I am not bitter.
Well, not completely. It's strange. I wasn't raised in a magical family, though many of the women on both sides of my family have tendencies toward magical work. Yet, I still feel a little slighted whenever the Pagan sabbats are overshadowed by the adaptations of Christian holidays. Perhaps it is my past lives speaking through me; feeling the oppression of the Church even now? Perhaps it is the frighten prospsct of the Health Care Reform Bill shutting out the well-being and choices of women based on their patriarchal beliefs? Whatever it may be, I need to overcome the feeling and enjoy each and every sabbat for what it is: the joy of life and the ever constant flowing circle it traces.
We are with you Crone in your season of death and sadness, as we have all lost those we love.
We are with you God in the Summerlands, as we all will wend our way to complete the circle.
We will all meet in the Summerlands someday.
So, anyway, today is All Saints' Day, and tomorrow is All Souls' Day. Both Christian versions of Samhain. The first is a celebration for loved ones lost that acheived Christian perfection in this life and have moved on to Heaven. The second is a day of work; prayer for those that have passed but did not make this life as it should have been according to the Bible. Those praying pray for the souls in Purgatory. (All of this info was read on Wikipedia.)
So, really, as you can see, the death of the God and the sadness of the Crone left behind are the building blocks of All Saints' and All Souls' Days.
Interesting side note: Leaving the heat so that passed souls on thier journeys might be warm on Samhain is something people used to do, other than merely leaving out food or lighting their ways. This is something I did not knw until this morning. This becomes especially interesting now. I woke up to my heater aflame. (I have a little gas heater hanging my wall in the living area.) Due to unseasonably warm (totally trick-or-treating weather!) air yesterday, I had no reason to turn my heat on. At least now I know why I was so hot last night. Also, it is lovely to know that my Aunt Kathy, and any spirits that may have been joining her made themselves at home!
Here's something kinda fun! Looking through my books this morning (though I could have slept in, I woke at 7:30, which, incidentally is now 6:30!), I saw The Hidden World of Birthdays book staring back at me. I haven't looked at this tome since it was given to me in a box of books of which someone was getting rid. How strange that it was talking to me now! So, here is what I have decided. Even if I have nothing to say, I will post a blog everyday until Halloween next year. In them, I will type out the attributes and other info about people born on every day of the year, according to this book! What fun! So I shall begin today.
November 1
Gem: Turquoise (Are you a material girl? This stone will help you find what you desire.)
Flower: Nasturtium (You are patriotic.)
Astral Color: Black (for protection, birht and beginnings)
Color Need: Red (for energy and stamina)
Apparel Color: Wine (for energy)
Frangrance: Cinnabar or other Mediterranean/Orient scents (for passion and unpredictability)
Tree: Walnut ("You are unusually helpful and always looking for constant changes in your life.")
Instruments: Oboe, French horn, flute, piccolo, clarinet, piano, organ
Composer: Bohm
Bird: Bird of Paradise ("you will shine and love extraordinary circumstances.")
Symbol: Crown (dignified)
Health Scent: Strawberry (promotes self-esteem and love)
Favorable Foods: Barley, beef, black figs, buttermilk, carrots (these are for health, not flavor)
Lucky #: 2, 4
Best Months: January, July
Best Weekday: Tuesday
Best Month Days: 4, 5, 23
Lucky Charm: "a new penny in your shoe"
Most Compatible Signs: Cancer and Pisces
**Again, this information was taken directly from this book. No copyright infringement intended. I didn't include all of the info, but rather, the quickest of which to make note.
well, our heat was not on, but i was uncomfortably hot last night!
ReplyDeleteI guess everyone who is not Christian feels slighted at least once in awhile...we poor atheist get it from all sides!!
I know someone who will be excited for tomorrows post! ;)
Yeah, I was little bummed that I am too old to go trick-or-treating in that weather.
ReplyDeleteHaha! No kidding! You get it from all sides, especially in this family! :P
Me, too! Me, too! *^_^*
Yeah, I used that 'History of Halloween' thing in my post yesterday. I get tired of how Christianity grabbed Pagan things, too. And I'm neither.
ReplyDeleteBut on the other hand, I guess I give it/Christianity credit for having the smarts, so long ago, to convert celebrations, the way they did. To give them their due, they were pretty sharp, about this. lol.
But I always try to 'sneak in' a wee bit of real history, on this holiday. 'Sneak in'... -giggles- If I did it, too boldly, -chuckle- some readers would bolt! As I've learned over the years of my blogging. They can get pretty scared. >,-) But if I .... tone it down... they learn something. >,-)
"No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds, November!"
^-^
Aunt Amelia
Oh and the Birthday idea is cooooool!
ReplyDeleteJust checking... To be sure you DON"T have that *dreaded* Word Verification setting on. I'm so grateful to you, if you don't.
ReplyDeleteWondering why so many bloggers do? Some of you do not and you aren't having huge problems because of it. I do Comment Verification anyway, so totally no need for me to make my readers go through Word Verification.
OK, now to Post and see if I'm right and there is no Word Verification here. -sigh- Yeah, if I could remember "past my nose," I'd KNOW from just commenting hu? -giggles
Ha! Oh, Aunt Amelia. I agree; Christianity was pretty clever...still burns my biscuits, though. The unknown causes fear for many. Fear leads to hate.
ReplyDelete...
Hate leads to the dark side...heh...couldn't resist!
Keep on keepin' on!
Merry Meet Rene of the fae. I am glad to have found your post. Its always great meeting and reading about others on the path of the mystic. Yes I myself am dreading the over christianized version of yule that we will be experiencing for the next few months. But I will get thru it with my own paganized version.
ReplyDeletemuch peace and luv
sadie
I feel ya, sista-friend...and agree with what you've said.
ReplyDeleteBut I do think the birthday idea is a good one. :)
)O(
boo
A eautiful post. I'm glad i found you :)
ReplyDeleteThank you all! I just adore being a part of this community of sisters! Every last one of you rock! *^_^*
ReplyDelete