Dear Diary,
It Is Samhain, the end of Summer and the end of the Celtic Year. This word has been hijacked and is now in English Halloween. (All Hallows Eve). I do prefer Samhain, it has a beauty to it, it is soft and gentle while Halloween is too harsh for me. I just love words, they are like food to me and when I am in the dreaming stage or in the actual process of writing a poem the desire for words is like a hunger and finding the right ones is satisfying that need.
It is the time today when the Veil between our worlds, ours and the one our ancestors inhabit is the thinnest and spiritual communication can pass back and forth. I shall not write of ghoulies and ghosties but you can read my own personal ghost story on an older posting of mine - just type in ghost in the search engine on the right and you can read of my own true experience. Do leave a comment. I would do a link but I fear it may not work.
I have always been aware of spirits, my earliest experience began when I was six years old which was when my (lost) mother passed from this world. My mother and I were actually inescapably and tragically parted even earlier when I was a toddler but she has never been lost to me though as she always sits at my shoulder, she whispers to me and I can feel her sweet softness. Sometimes she strokes my shoulder everso gently. She has been a guiding hand all my life and I ‘take her instructions’ as it were. She has also communicated with others in my family. So I have lived with reassurance all my life and do not fear death. You don’t have to believe me, I am not worried about that. The world is full of sceptics.
I have other experiences too; angels send me white feathers when I am in need and we have an antique clock in our little snug which chimes only very occasionally and always when there is something going on, some trouble or worry in the family. Sometimes I walk through the little room and it will chime as I leave and sometimes it will do so in the middle of the night. I know our loved ones are not lost and that they are waiting behind the veil of invisibility, there where God or the Light is, in truth and in eternity, a forever land which is just biding its time as we learn our own particular lessons here on Earth. It is a time for remembering the departed, those who have given up their earthly clothing and a time for welcoming all spirits, even those yet to be born .
A time for sweet foods too, so that is a cause for celebration in itself. I will make do with feasting on fudge and bowl(s) of pancakes with ice cream; it is strange but I have such a sweet craving today. I cannot eat chocolate because it has started to give me migraines again so I have resorted to buying myself fudge; it is delicious though and gives much needed energy which is a bonus. I hide it away from the chocolate eaters in the household though, it is mine, all mine!
And now as Winter comes in it is a time for Rest, Renewal and Planning.
I love all those things.
Happy Samhain to you,
Go mbeannai Dia duit,
Cait.
PS Today's Samhain poem can be found on the previous post.
Whenever I read your words tears always fall out of my eyes, many many of them. Right now, they are making salty tracks. Why is that? I copied the poem on the right and put it on my own blog. I am Scotch Irish, maybe I feel things more. Thanks ever so much.
ReplyDeleteI love winter for it's time of rest, renewal and planning and welcome this opening door into that time.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that your spirits give you comfort and strength.
Happy Samhain to you too and enjoy your fudge.
Sad that you lost your mother so young, but she's still with you in spirit. My father has been dead for 32 years, and once, about seven years ago, I heard his voice guiding me in my dreams. The veil is indeed quite thin....
ReplyDeleteYesterday I listened to a documentary on Samhain on CBC radio - so interesting.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the veil is very thin. My family has always taken for granted the fact that there are things we see and hear and may not understand - but they are there nevertheless.
What a beautiful, sad story of your mother--and how nice that you feel her sitting at your shoulder!
ReplyDeleteI do believe that the sense of the veil between the "real" and spirit worlds thinning on this day is felt much more keenly in your part of the world than here in the states. It was rational-ized out of the culture early. (but as I've a wee bit of the Scot in me, sometimes I feel it). Thank you for this.
Have enjoyed reading your posts thanks to Elizabeth's listing for Halloween. Loved hearing your take on the origins of the event and that you love finding words for what you do. It does sound very satisfying.
ReplyDeleteI do like the word Samhain, too. Happy Samhain!
ReplyDeletePaz
I once wrote facetiously (it was Easter) that we should have an autumn festival and call it 'Wester.' Then you could roll up Samhain, Bonfire Night, Hallowe'en, Harvest Festival, Trafalgar Day and all the rest together with a couple of bank holidays and we should be sorted then until Christmas. Still it's more fun to talk of ghouls (what is a ghoul I wonder?) and graveyards - of spirits wandering free. But where do pumpkins come into it?
ReplyDeleteHappy Samhain to you, Cait.
ReplyDeleteI know what that first commenter means. I am often so touched by your words, and this is definitely one of those posts.
The concept of that thin veil intrigues me, and I want to read more about this. Would you recommend a particular book or books?
I also want to let you know how much I like the picture with the Celtic braiding round it.
Cait, what a treasure you are. xo
Yes, Samhain is indeed a lovely word, and I love the idea it is associated with sweet things. Beautiful picture, by the way.
ReplyDeleteOhhh Cait, please can I share a little piece of your fudge? ;-) Tfx
ReplyDeleteCait this is a beautiful tribute to not only your mother, but to the unseen presence/s that help us in our lives.May you continue to be blessed...and may your days never be short on feathers and fudge.xxx
ReplyDeleteA most beautiful but sad story of losing your mother at such a young age. It is comforting to know that your mother is still with you in spirit, her presence still with her daughter, you dear Cait.
ReplyDeleteI love the beautiful picture Samhain you have posted for us with braiding.
Long may you be continually be blessed Cait, we are blessed in having you post us such beautiful writings.
Fudge was a favourite of my mother's, I can still remember the litle jars on the pantry shelf they were kept in.
xx