Inkanta
Group: Admins
Posts: 1453
Joined: Feb. 2000 |
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Posted: Mar. 04 2007, 23:20 |
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Hmmm...where to begin...others may have a different take on this....and you can read even more about it at witchvox.com or even on the wiki. There are also many helpful books.
Celtic people were very tuned into the rhythm of the year--their survival depended on it. It has been suggested that the season-based traditions practiced by the Celts had their origins over 30,000 years ago in the ancestors of the Dravidian people of the Indus Valley. Today, and probably in Celtic times too, there were eight major observances every year, which coincided with the solstices/equinoxes and cross quarters (e.g., Samhain [31 Oct], Beltaine [1 May], Imbolc [2 Feb], and Lughnassa [4 Aug] -- basically an observance every 6 weeks. Some are more festive than others, e.g., Beltaine and Mabon. Several of the sabbats are harvest festivals. Samhain is the final harvest festival (grain) but is also very solemn and can be very intense. I suppose there is an element of fear for those not comfortable with mingling with the dead. The dead are not conjured; no seances are held; rather, they are simply invited to join in the observance--and in our group specific departed ones are invited.
The way that it generally works in our group...after cleansing the space, inviting the deities, and casting the circle, we do some guided imagery activities, a few other things, have cakes & ale, and then release the circle. Then we have lots of food. At Samhain, it is very special. On Samhain, we generally pick one or two friends or ancestors to honor (and we may have talked to them during circle), and cook their favorite food. Before eating, everyone tells what they brought, and the connection the food has to their loved one. Then, they place a small amount of it on a special plate, which will be offered to the dead. When everyone has had a turn, then we mortals eat. This past Samhain I honored my friend who died in July.
Re: "Witch"--I really don't like that term because of all the negative connotations. "Wicca" is a fairly recent term, and not everyone is happy with that. We're really not very scary, nor do we fall into any of the stereotypes that have grown up about witches (and there is a reason that stereotypes and negative connotations happened--it has to do with the Catholic Church discrediting the existing folk belief systems of Europe). I have never met one with green skin, though sometimes green and pink hair.  I suppose I am a seeker--a pilgrim--on an earth-based spiritual journey that shares some commonalities to what would have been followed in Celtic times. The same? No, even though in our group there are people whose mother's mother's mother's mother etc. practiced in much the same way (sometimes called hereditary witches).
As for Mike, I think it's perfect, in a way. Remember Amarok--endings are only beginnings?  Well--Samhain is sort of like that. It's simultaneously the end of a year and the New Year....as I mentioned...it's a time of pause...a lifting of the veil....
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"No such thing as destiny; only choices exist." From: Moongarden's "Solaris."
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a bit sad
