Today marks the Celtic festival of Samhain, or Halloween as it has been rebranded for the modern age. It marks the end of the harvests and the beginning of the long night of winter.
It is said that for our Celtic ancestors, all things began in darkness, with a time of dreaming and gestation, and as such, Samhain marked the beginning of the New Year, just as dusk heralded the start of a new day.
In this time and place we see death as a finality that comes at the end of life. A nothing, a void, an inevitable stopping. But what if we were to shift our vantage point a little, step to the side and see as our ancestors saw, that death is also that which precedes life. It just depends at what point on the wheel you want to step on.
Sitting in nature at the time of year it is easy to see this time of darkness and dying as the start of something new and quietly wonderful. Plants and trees shed their seed to be blanketed by fallen leaves, a soft slow beginning. So much has happened unnoticed, long before the first shoots of spring.
Observing the natural world we see how life and death each contain the seed of the other.
Samhain is also the time to honour the ancestors. Those who traveled their journey whilst we were still snug in the Earth, sleeping, sending down our strong roots and dreaming of warmer days to come.
Beautiful Lucinda, thank you. Have a peaceful day. x
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Thanks Vicki!
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So so beautiful. Thank you x
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Thank you Emma. ๐
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Enjoyed this articlevery much, hope you are well. I hear your little one is growing up and giving you all such joy. I for one have lots of fun with my grandchildren and I know your Mum and Dad have great fun with your little fellow.
Enjoy this beautiful time of the year.
Ann McLaughlin
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Thanks Ann, very lovely to hear from you! Wishing all the family a peaceful and happy festive season. xx
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A perfect blog post for today – words and images evoke such a glorious colour-filled ending and beginning – thank you
Go Raibh Maith agat. ๐๐
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Thanks Anita. Many blessings. x
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Lovely photos………..I can almost smell that wonderful woodsy scent of Fall.
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Yes I love that smell too! ๐
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Beautifully said. Happy Samhain everyone!
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Thanks Becky. And nearly happy winter Solstice now! ๐
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You can smell the moist, chill, muddy scent that only fall has when looking at these beautiful photographs. Great Job.
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Exactly what I was thinking when looking at the post.
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I’m so glad that feeling transmitted through the photos. Thank you.
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Good morning, wow your photos are just outstanding! I live right in the woods but your photos just bring all the beauty right indoors
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Thanks Kathy, I really appreciate your comment. ๐
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This is without doubt a most beautiful time of year. For me, a time for reflection. I have learnt a great deal since my father passed away.
Lovely autumnal post………..the images are beautiful, just like a walk through the woods. I can almost smell that woody, damp soil, scent…..
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Thanks Cheryl. Wishing you a peaceful and happy winter season.
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Exquisitely beautiful writing and photos….made my Season…..thank youfrom my heart to yours. ย I always love your posts, but this one really gotme in a great and profound way. ย Love and warmth to you and yours!ย In the Light of Love,Maia JOY “Be clear like a mirror reflecting nothing. Be clean of pictures and the worry that comes with images… Contain all human faces in your own without any judgment of them.”~Rumi
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Thanks so much for you lovely comment Maia. That quote from Rumi is beautiful. Winter Blessings. x
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Just … lovely. Thank you for this bounty of seasonal visual-riches! Samhain blessings to you. Jamie
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And many wintery and warm blessings to you too. ๐
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Thank you for sharing!! As always, your photos are so lovely and soul-satisfying. Happy Halloween !
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Thanks Konstantina, your comments are always appreciated! Wishing you a wonderful winter. ๐
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Beautiful, Lucinda. Samhain Blessings.
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Thanks Debra. Winter blessings for a peaceful and merry season.
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Loveliest of the lovely. Thank you!
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Ah thank you Lynn for taking time to comment, it is much appreciated! x
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Beautiful photos and words.
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Many thanks.
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At this time of year death looks so beautiful it’s a wonder we can be so afraid.
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Yes, this is the time we can see its place in the whole so perfectly.
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I love this post, thank you so much. I have been feeling cranky lately because I can’t stand the ugly, commercialized thing the modern Halloween has become. Decorations of severed body parts and dead babies hanging from trees…there is no beauty in any of that. But your post reminded me of the beauty that does exist at this time of year if we are willing to look, that the death of the warmth and light holds its own loveliness and promise.
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Thanks for your lovely comment Laura. Going to nature is always where I find sanity amidst the craziness of modern life.
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Beautiful. A blessed Samhain to all, and thanks to our ancestors.
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Thank you and many blessings to you.
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Beautifully written! Happy Samhain.
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Thank you Wendy!
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Perfectly beautiful in both words and photographs, Cindy. It is always such a pleasure to receive your thoughts and vision and this time you have truly excelled and given us all heart for the darker months!
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Thanks so much Keith. Hoping we will get to see you all over Christmas. ๐
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Lovely photo and good to have the REAL meaning on this time of year. Thank you. Love your newsletters
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Thank you Dawn! ๐
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Beautiful pictures as always, Lucinda, and your words brought tears to my eyes. Many Samhain graces and blessings to everyone.
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Thanks so much for your lovely comment Alice. I really appreciate you taking the time to leave your thoughts.
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Your words capture the whole essence of Autumn and the pictures are beautiful. Thank you Lucinda, I look forward to your next postings
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Thank you Irene, so kind of you to say.
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I marvel at your words and pictures. Thank you.
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Thanks so much Karin, your comments are very much appreciated. ๐
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Wonderfully written and evokes such calm peaceful thoughts. Thank you. Have a glorious fall.
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Thanks Theresa. wishing you a wonderful winter season.
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moved me..greatly. touched my heart. thank you so much.
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Thanks so much Beverly. I am really grateful for your lovely comment.
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One of these days I’m going to see that you have accumulated your herbal wisdom and all these beautiful photos into a book. I would not only cling to a book like that, I would gift it to friends. What a lovely daydream…
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Ah Lisa you are too kind and lovely. I am working on a book, slowly but surely! I hope to be able to make your daydream a reality. I will be sure to send you a copy when it is made manifest. ๐
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I’ll be waiting!
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So good Lucinda, Samhain Blessings to you!
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And wonderful wintery blessings to you too! ๐
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Beautiful, thank you for sharing!
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