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"She seemed to come suddenly upon happiness as if she had surprised a butterfly in the Winter woods"
(edith wharton)


Saturday 3 May 2008

SAMHAIN

this weekend, I celebrate Samhain. The doorway of dark for me and for my friends in the northern part of our world, who celebrate Beltane, the door of light... perfect yin - yang... perfectly balanced. the goddess is wise!

if we could all be more in tune with the coming and going of the seasons, I am sure we would all feel more in balance. But we surround ourselves with 'creature comforts' such as central heating, wood fires, enveloped in insulated homes and sometimes, the seasons can come and go without us really experiencing them...

there is a wealth of information on the internet about Samhain... and I have gathered quite abit over the past few years, to make my own Book of Shadows or my soul journal as I call it.
I like to celebrate these days to help my soul and her thirst for ancient times... so I create little rituals, cook and make magick in my home to suit the season...

I will stack my wood near my door in readiness for my winter season and I will collect kindling, just as my ancestors might have done. I will clean out my chicken coop and give them new straw in their nest boxes. I will start to feed them hot porridge each morning to help them stay warm during the winter months. I will burn the Samhain incense that Daisy sent me last year.
And for Samhain, I am going to cook a chicken dish with apple, thyme and prunes... served with green beans & carrots that I bought from the organic co-op. Next year, I hope to use my own beans & thyme - and maybe even my own apples if I can store some.

Autumn Thyme Apple Chicken
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
cooking spray
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
2 medium tart green apples, cored and thinly sliced
1 small sweet onion, minced
2 tbsp. fresh thyme leaves or 2 teaspoon dried
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar (herb vinegar is okay too)
fresh thyme sprigs for garnish

Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C). Rinse chicken breasts and pat dry. Lightly coat a baking dish with cooking spray. Sprinkle the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Place in a single layer in the baking dish. Arrange apple slices over and around chicken breasts. Sprinkle with the onion and the thyme leaves; pour on the balsamic vinegar. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until chicken is done and no longer pink. Place the chicken on a platter and spoon apples and cooking juices on top. Garnish with thyme sprigs.

Samhain is a time for coming to terms with death, honouring/remembering of those who have passed to the Summerland, and wrapping up/finalizing projects from the year. This is a "dark" time where the darker and more wise parts of the self are brought out into the open and examined. It is a time for looking forward and backward, of seeing time as cyclical, of releasing the energy that has built up over the year. Samhain is the time to remember, to study, to meditate, and to release. . It is also a time to honour our Ancestors ~ (source unknown)

I think it might be time to take Daisy's name from my yahoo chat list, to take her name from my email address book.... it is something that I will struggle to do, I know... I have kept her there, as seeing her name each day, made her death seem not so final... I may even re-read her blog in honour of the friendship that we had...
Samhain is a time of transformation and inner work. Divination is very common during this festival, particularly scrying, whether into the fire, glass or a dark bowl. Past-life regression on this night is often successful. (source unknown)
after dinner, I went into my sacred space and sat, quietly. I closed my eyes and I felt the presence of my ancestors... I felt the presence of Daisy, my dear friend in spirit, I felt the presence of the Marys - Magdalene and Mother.... I chose some cards from my animal deck and my tree oracle deck - I chose Hazel:"seek wisdom in the depths" and I chose Crow:"seek wisdom in inner silence.". a sure message to me that I must take time to be silent and to ponder my inner wisdom that I know I have.

all these little things that I do, really do help me to feel as if I am the wise woman... they help me to feel as if I am connected to my ancestors and they truly, truly, quench my dreadful thirst for times past.
so to each of you - a sacred Samhain or blessed Beltane wherever you may be

blessed be!

19 comments:

Suzie Ridler said...

Blessed be to you Robyn! Yes, you are doing a wonderful job at being a wise woman, connecting with the sacred days and listening for messages. The veil is thinnest right now, I hope you manage to connect with them so they may pass on their wisdom to you.

It is hard to let go of the reminders of people who are no longer on this level with us. Sometimes seeing their name and those reminders become unhealthy. Letting go in this particular way does not diminish the connection.

Blessed Samhain to you!

Sorrow said...

Blessings in abundance...
LOVE

Julie said...

A blessed Samhain to you. I love that you celebrate it with rituals and cooking. The chicken recipe looks so good.

I love the phrase "passing to the Summerland". It is so much more comforting to me than the alternative words.

Kim Campbell said...

The recipe sounds yummy! Thanks for sharing and Blessed Samhain to you!

Cat said...

Blessings to you too!

Anonymous said...

Thank-you Robyn for reminding me to slow down and take a breath. Spring has sprung and my mind and body are awakening with renewed energy. Our days are getting long and I awake with the birds in the a.m. and have been going "full tilt boogie" until the sun sets at night and my head hits the pillow. Tomorrow is Sunday and sounds like it's going to be a rainy one. Rest.

I love your writings and rituals! Thank-you

Blessed Samhain Robyn, Kel

Everydaythings said...

Robyn I think no matter how hard this is going to be, I think that this would be a good time to release Daisy's name from your lists, I always get the feeling that when the time is right we have to release thos epeople who are no longer alive, after our greiving period is over and not keep them 'grounded' in our need to hang onto them. Daisy willalways be with you no matter if her name is on your list or not. her spirit within you lives on! JMHO.
Thanks for the samhain write up to, I have read about it before but you put it down so well.

Patty said...

I hope your having a wonderful Samhain. I must admit it is my favorite Sabbath, but here in the USA it comes with Halloween and I am a big kid at heart and love all the goings on associated with that time of year, so it makes it even more special. Any time the veil is thin I think we remember those who have passed on as you do your friend Daisy. I am sure she is with you in some small way each day.
Blessings to you my friend
Oh also the chicken sounds yummy I am going to write that down.

gma said...

Robyn
I still have Daisy's blog saved. She left so much wisdom. I havn't looked at it in some time, but I'm glad it's there. However I truly understand the need to remove her name from other lists...etc.(sigh)
Pass me a star
I'm rolling you the sun
with love
xx

Kathryn Knoll said...

No matter if you do remove Daisy's Name from the physical world and "let her go" to the Summer land, she is present, not past. This is the good news when someone leaves us for the otherside: They are more present to us now than they ever were when they lived on this side. She will continue to walk with you as all the ancestors do. Once we get this and begin to work with it, we don't have to yearn for the past. What we yearn for is the connections we had then with Gaia and her creative rhythms and the clan and kin connections humans had before we got so insular. I think it is important as we begin to realize how important our kinship is with Gaia to create new rituals and meanings for our times that capture the essence of the actions and observances of our ancestors. We all must create new ways to connect the spirit of Gaia in our bones, for we come from her and she is connected with the Universe! Thank you for being the anchor in your part of the world. Let us do the same where we reside...Many blessings, Sr. K

A bird in the hand said...

Every year I am sent a pocket agenda from Ireland which is in Irish and English. May is marked Bealtaine, which of course is Irish for Spring. I always think of you when I check my appointments! xoxo

Lola Enchanted said...

Blessed Be~
Thanks for sharing all of your magickal thoughts!!!!


Take care!

Kim said...

Blessed Samhain to you Robyn. I hope you find the peace you need to meditate and ponder.

Kim x

Anonymous said...

You ARE truly a wise woman, Robyn.
I too still have Daisy's bookmarks...but I do understand and some day when the time is right, may yet do that too. I think the symbolism of your timing is a lovely tribute.
Thank you for the recipe - I'm so excited that my green beans are coming up finally. Maybe someday I can use them in your recipe.
It always fascinates me, how the wheel of the seasons turn at our opposite ends of the world.
Wishing you many blessings in your new season, Robyn~XOXO

Gina E. said...

Mmmmm...I've just added that recipe to my menu for next week! And you've just reminded me - I'm going to cook your Equinox cake for my contribution to Mother's Day at MIL's place.
Hey Robyn, do you really feed your chooks porridge?? Ken has just added four Bantam hens to his aviaries, as I've been nagging him for years to breed a bird whose eggs we can actually eat, not just gaze at in awe!

Naturegirl said...

Dear Robyn : I have been away for 2 months in the Arizona desert so I have not been visiting my favorite sites..forgive me. So much to see and do and it is a shame I think to stay indoors at a computer. I hope that you find peace in putting aside the reminders of a dear friend ~Daisy~ who shall forever be in your heart. I look forward to her spirit visits to my secret garden this summer a place she so much enjoyed when I posted about it!
I see from a comment elewhere, that YOU ARE OFF TO VIETNAM!! hAPPY TRAILS to you..I shall be sending you mail soon.hugs a friend in Canada NG xo

AwtemNymf said...

Greetings Robyn.
Samhain is my all time favorite time of the year. I'm an Autumn child too, but still.... everything about it is enchanting to me!
Daisy will always have a paw-mark on your heart. She can still remain your familiar even though she has passed on. I still feel my Baby (beloved Boxer waiting for me at the SummerLand)when I do my devotionals and meditations.
I enjoy reading your posts, and you'r right about the yin-yang. You're celebrating Samhain- I'm celebrating Beltaine! Beautiful!
Be Enchanted-
AwtemNymf

Moonroot said...

Bon voyage!

I love the photo of your lemon tree. When we lived in Melbourne I was always very envious of the lemon trees in people's gardens. I love lemons but it's too cold to grow them in the garden here. I have a couple of potted lemon trees that come in for the winter, but it's not the same!

Caroline said...

I spent Beltane in Cornwall this year...