Reflections from Samhain/Samhuinn.
(Image description: A photo of my Brighid altar. Three illustrations depict Brighid as a smith, a poet, and a healer. A Brighid doll leans against the images, surrounded by fall leaves, pine cones, acorns, and Brighid’s crosses. An incense burner, an LED tree, a few candles, and a few lanterns shine in front of and near the Brighid doll. A few pouches and a bell branch are place around the edges of the altar.) Credit: My photo.
While the date of October 31st has come and gone, the season of Samhain is still here. Even with festivities around Halloween, the festival itself in the past and even now has had an air of uncertainty around it.
With it being the last of the harvest, people would still have to survive through the long and dark winter on what they had managed to garner from their crops and livestock. Ensuring that food would last throughout those long months would likely carry a worrisome undertone during whatever festivities people held to waylay threats and bring some manner of reassurance until the light of Imbolc would bring some relief.
I admit that Samhain Eve had an uncertainty to it, and even now, it still does. The astronomical date, the time between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice, is November 7th; so there’s room for continued observations. Despite the uncertainty, I will continue to focus on its themes throughout November.
As for my celebration, I carried out a flamekeeping shift and gave Brighid some milk, incense, flame, and a prayer, which is listed below.
A Light of Hope in the Dark
Blessed Brighid,
as You rest in the dark of the year,
aid me in the uncertainties of life.
May You kindle hope in my heart,
tending the flame tenderly.
May Your light shine in the dark,
guiding me and others on the path.
Guide my hands to craft and weave
with Your insight.
Inspire my mind to write and speak
what needs to be said.
May these things and more aid
in the healing of my being.
May I learn more of You,
Blessed Brighid.
May I understand Your wisdom clearly.
By Sky,
By Land,
By Sea.
The ogam I drew for the next few months are relaying a continuing theme, but there is a slight difference with the last letter. I received Tinne, Úr, and Ailm, with the previous reading instead including Fern. As it is still too early to tell, I can only guess Brighid might wish for me to bring something into the world through the strengthening of my artistic skills and through a lens including the earth, grief, the ancestors, or some other facet I don’t know about yet. As always, time will tell.
May the Samhain season bless you with rest and peace!
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