Lorri@Mabon_House 10/2/24 Lorri@Mabon_House 10/2/24

Embracing Samhain on a Nature-Based Spiritual Path

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Samhain, often referred to as the Witch's New Year, marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Traditionally celebrated on October 31st, Samhain is a time to honor the ancestors, reflect on the past year, and prepare for the coming darkness of winter. For those following a nature-based spiritual path, Samhain can be an enriching and deeply meaningful celebration. Here are some ways to honor this ancient festival in a modern, nature-based way.

Creating an Ancestor Altar

An ancestor altar is a central element of Samhain. This can be a simple yet profound way to connect with your lineage. Choose a quiet space in your home where you can set up a small table or shelf. Decorate it with photographs, heirlooms, and mementos of your loved ones who have passed. Light candles, place autumnal flowers like marigolds or chrysanthemums, and offer seasonal foods such as apples, nuts, and grains. Spend time here in quiet reflection, perhaps meditating or speaking to your ancestors, thanking them for their guidance and wisdom.

Nature Walk and Foraging

Take a walk in nature to gather items for your Samhain celebrations. Look for fallen leaves, acorns, pinecones, and other natural elements that signify the changing season. This practice not only grounds you in the rhythm of nature but also allows you to bring the outside in, creating a deeper connection to the Earth. Use these gathered items to decorate your home or to craft a seasonal wreath or centerpiece.

Fire Rituals

Fire is a powerful symbol during Samhain, representing transformation, warmth, and light in the coming darkness. If you have a safe outdoor space, consider building a small bonfire or lighting a fire pit. Write down things you wish to release or let go of from the past year on small pieces of paper, and then safely burn them in the fire. This act of releasing helps to clear out old energies and make space for new intentions. If you don’t have space for fire pit, there are table top versions available.

Divination Practices

Samhain is considered a time when the veil between worlds is thin, making it an ideal time for divination. Whether you use tarot cards, runes, scrying, or pendulums, take some time to seek insight into the year ahead. Create a quiet, sacred space for your practice, and approach your divination with an open heart and mind. Journaling your insights can also help you reflect on the messages you receive. These are my favorite journals.

Feasting and Storytelling

Gathering with loved ones for a meal is a wonderful way to celebrate Samhain. Prepare a feast with seasonal foods like root vegetables, hearty stews, and apple-based desserts. As you share this meal, tell stories of your ancestors, recounting their lives and the wisdom they have passed down. This not only honors them but also strengthens your connection to your heritage.

Samhain Crafts

Engage in seasonal crafts that reflect the themes of Samhain. Carve pumpkins or turnips, create herbal sachets with protective or comforting herbs like rosemary, sage, and lavender, or make a Samhain-themed wreath with your foraged natural items. These crafts can be meditative and imbued with your personal intentions for the season.

Meditation and Reflection

Take time for personal reflection and meditation during Samhain. Find a quiet place where you can sit comfortably, perhaps near your ancestor altar or in a favorite spot in nature. Reflect on the past year, your achievements, lessons learned, and what you hope to cultivate in the coming months. Use this time to set intentions for the new year, focusing on personal growth and spiritual development.

Samhain is a rich and evocative celebration, deeply rooted in nature and the cycles of life and death. By incorporating these modern practices, you can create a meaningful and personal Samhain celebration that honors the old traditions while embracing the new. Whether you are alone or with loved ones, these rituals and activities can help you connect deeply with the spirit of Samhain and the turning of the year.

How are you celebrating Samhain?

The Folklore of the Fae

The concept of the Fae, or fairies, has deep roots in European folklore and mythology, with influences from various cultures and traditions. Here’s a brief overview of the origins and evolution of the Fae:

Early Origins

Celtic and Gaelic Traditions: The Fae concept has strong ties to Celtic and Gaelic mythology. In Irish and Scottish folklore, the Fae are often referred to as the "Sidhe" (pronounced "shee"), which translates to "people of the mounds" or "fairy folk." They were believed to inhabit ancient burial mounds and other sacred places. The Sidhe were considered to be a supernatural race with their own distinct realm, often seen as existing parallel to the human world.

The Welsh have their own rich tradition of fairies, including beings like the "Tylwyth Teg," who are similar to the Sidhe and also inhabit the natural world.

Norse Mythology: In Norse mythology, there are beings such as the "Elves" and "Dwarfs" who share similarities with the Fae. The elves in Norse mythology were considered to be light or dark beings associated with various aspects of nature and magic.

Germanic and Anglo-Saxon Traditions: Germanic folklore also includes various nature spirits and magical beings. For instance, the "Alfar" (elves) and "Huldra" (forest spirits) share traits with the Fae. In Anglo-Saxon culture, there are references to "fairy" beings in texts such as Beowulf, where the term might be used more broadly to describe supernatural entities.

Medieval and Renaissance Influence

Medieval Literature: The concept of the Fae became more defined and widespread during the medieval period, particularly through literature and poetry. The "fairy" in medieval literature often appeared as an enchanting and sometimes malevolent being. The works of Geoffrey Chaucer, such as "The Canterbury Tales," and later writers like Edmund Spenser in "The Faerie Queene," contributed to shaping the image of fairies in English literature.

Renaissance and Early Modern Period: During the Renaissance, the portrayal of fairies became more elaborate and romanticized. Shakespeare’s "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is a notable example, featuring fairies as both whimsical and capricious beings. This play, along with other works of the time, solidified the fairy as a key figure in English folklore.

Folklore Evolution

Victorian Era: The Victorian era saw a resurgence of interest in folklore, including the Fae, which was often depicted in art and literature as delicate and ethereal creatures. This period romanticized the fairies, influencing how they were perceived in popular culture.

Modern Interpretations: In the 20th and 21st centuries, the Fae have been reinterpreted and incorporated into various spiritual practices, including modern nature-based spirituality, Wicca, and other pagan traditions. Contemporary portrayals often blend traditional elements with new age or fantasy elements, reflecting a wide range of beliefs and practices.

Books About The Fae

There are many books and resources to help you learn more about The Fae, inclduing some excellent reference books:

The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Fairies: Your Complete Guide to the Magick of the Fae

A Natural History of Fairies (Folklore Field Guides)

Fairy Magic: All about fairies and how to bring their magic into your life

The Fairy Bible: The Definitive Guide to the World of Fairies

The concept of the Fae is thus a product of various cultural, historical, and literary influences, evolving from ancient mythological roots to become a rich and diverse part of modern spirituality and popular culture.

Lorri@Mabon_House 9/20/24 Lorri@Mabon_House 9/20/24

Endings and Beginnings

Hello Friends,

I hope this finds you well and safe and enjoying the season of Mabon. Here in Western Maine we have moved from the warmth of late summer into crisp, cool mornings and evenings. Life has been busy, but I’ve managed to get outside and enjoy the changing of the seasons. One of my favorite places to walk and think is a big field near my house. It has beautiful views of the mountains and runs along a quiet little river. I always joke that this place is my church, my gym and my therapist’s office.

Do you have any special places in nature that you enjoy?

Turns out I am Not Taylor Swift and I Can’t Do It With a Broken Heart

You may have wondered where I’ve been for the past month. I mentioned over on Patreon that I was taking a hiatus from Mabon House while I got my bearings around nursing school and life in general. But that was not all that was the full story.

One area of life that I rarely share about is my personal relationship. My significant other and I have always kept things private and low key. We’ve been together for well over a decade. We don’t share kids or live together or co-mingle finances. We just had this kind of unique relationship of his place/my place and it worked for a long time. Until it didn’t. So on top of school and work and life in general, I’ve also been weathering a rather gut wrenching break up. I have forgotten how much heartache hurts. I think the worst is over, but for a few weeks I wasn’t able to do anything beyond the bare minimum, while listening in turns to Taylor Swift and Noah Kahn on repeat.

I’ve experienced enough loss of loved ones over the past few years to recognize that what I am feeling most right now is strait up grief. I’m just grieving for the relationship and the empty place where it used to be.

It was not a dramatic, angry ending. Rather two people who love each other, but recognize our paths no longer align. I’m glad that we left things on good terms. But there are moments when I think it’d be easier if I was just angry. Anger blunts the sharp edges of loneliness, grief and sadness.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to continue writing at all, I was feeling so overwhelmed. And I know there are more ups and downs to come, but today feels like a good day.

The leaves are beginning to fall and my gardens are full of delicate asters and dancing goldenrod. The growing season is in its last act and soon we will bid goodbye to all the reminders of the past year. It is both an ending and a new beginning.

So thank you for being here, friends.

side note: I love Noah Kahn, but one should not listen to his music if one if already feeling sad and depressed.