
Happy New Year!
Yes, you read that correctly.
But today is 31st October, you say.
Yes, it is 31st October, a day many know as Halloween, and elsewhere as Day of the Dead, with festivities taking place across the globe. However, the origin festival for this date is Samhain, a Celtic fire festival marking the first day of the Celtic new year. The festival was mentioned in 9th century Irish literature and the Irish word for the month of November is to this day Samhain.
I have personally been observing Samhain now for more than forty years (Oh, my! Time!) as I became interested in Celtic paganism all those years ago. Nowadays, whilst I do not follow every festival day within the Celtic year in an action led way with events or ritual, I do quietly observe Samhain, as it is one of my most favourite festive days, along with Imbolc and Beltane.
Here, on Samhain, it is said that the veil is thin, that the boundary between worlds is less separate. The realms of the unborn, life, and death are easily intertwined and we can make use of this time to honour our ancestors, to let go of what no longer serves us and to call in the new.
A simple act of lighting a candle and taking some time to reflect, think of those who have passed, to give our blessings and to sit awhile in stillness – this is a most beautiful, profound and impactful act. There is great power in simplicity.
This feels like a good contemporary song to share, Hymn Of The Big Wheel by Massive Attack (original 1991 / remastered 2012).
The great wheel turns, may we all be well, and all manner of things be well.
And, if you did any apple bobbing for Halloween celebrations, then I hope any bite you took was heart shaped ❤️
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For those of you living in our lovely West Cornwall, whether in Penzance where I am based at the Penzance Natural Health Centre, or if you are living in surrounding areas such as Newlyn, Mousehole, Gulval, Marazion, Hayle, St Ives, St Just - and any other place nearby - then book in a restorative session with me! Come be nurtured, relax on the therapy couch and enjoy a Reflexology, enjoy deep rest in the Earthing & Balancing treatment, achieve detox and reset with a Reflexology Lymph Drainage, or have a luxuriously organic Ayurvedic Facial.
Autumn, winter, spring, summer – may we all be Well Beings 💚
