Onward the seasons dance

Samhain has once more been an odd time for me personally.  A time of remembrance yes but also a time of strong emotions.

Members of Tuatha de Bridget gathered on Sunday 2nd November along with a few very welcome first time attendees.  It was a good gathering of people of many ages. At the start of the ritual my dad and the author of that days ritual, Piet Kennedy, walked round outside to offer a libation to the spirits of the place.  The rest of us were gathered in the roofed and part walled sheltered area next to the garden.  We were gathered in a circle waiting for his return and for the ceremony to continue when off to one side I noticed he had come back in and was staggering.

Whether it was the spirits talking with him or the effect of pushing himself too hard while not being very well we will never know but his vision had gone strange temporarily and he was not his usual self. I had been the first to reach him and with another we took him though to the fully indoor section to sit and recover from this strange experience.

The ceremony went on without Piet as elder and author of that particular ritual.  My mum stepped into the breach and called on others to assist. I choose to remain with my dad so although we were close we were not part of the ritual which from all accounts went very well. The social aspect of the gathering that took place after the ceremony was lovely too but gradually people left.

It is our practice at Samhain to welcome the return or awakening of  the Cailleach of this Land, whether She is the same as the Old Ones of other places is not for me to judge.  From what I can gather Her presence was felt and yet also seemed distanced as if She was not fully awake yet.  To me that would seem in keeping with the strangely mild weather we are having.  We still haven't had a proper frosty morning here and it seems the season is still hovering on the edge of dancing fully into winter.  Some trees are still clinging onto their yellowing leaves and while some rosehips are deep red there are also still some late blooming flowers in my garden,

Soon though the dance will move on towards winter.  The light part of the days is getting ever shorter with each dawn and dusk,  The Winter Solstice and another gathering of our spiritual tribe and family gradually moves towards us.

We will gather once more on Sunday 21st December at the Old Barn and this time we meet at noon to make the most of the daylight.  Details as always by contacting us directly or via our Facebook group.