I Write - Decade Edition - Roaring 20's

Samhain Celebrations

The veil between life and death thins
Our world, the Faerie world and that of the dead
Blend as one.
Superstition swells
As the night takes on a cloak
Of wonder and magic.

I wrap myself up and venture out into the dark
The wind picks up and scatters the leaves in my path
The crunch underfoot is surprisingly hypnotic
As I make my way to the graveyard
At the end of my street.

There I see Cailleach as she comes to strip the trees
Her bony fingers quicken the decay
So that the old passes away
And the new may come to life.

I make my way to my family's headstones
Touching each as I say hello
Their presence washes over me
Comforting me as I lay out my freshly baked loaf
Then sit among them.

This year has been a tempest
Full of upheaval and distress
I let my mind ponder my own mortality
As I thank my ancestors for their kindness and help.

When Cailleach passes closer
I ask that she take my unwanted aspects with her
She nods graciously
I smile my gratitude as a lightness
Sweeps over me
There is a calmness that permeates
It is a balm.

This year will pass away.
Soon it will be blanketed in fresh new snow
Life will move forward,
But for now in this moment
I stop and give thanks.
Trials and tribulations have been many
And though they have shaped me
They have not destroyed me.

I stand on the shoulders of my family
both human and animal alike
I gain strength from their love
Here or gone
They are my foundation
And for this
I give
Thanks.

Lines = 47.
Notes ▼

Honoring the Dead -

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Honoring the Dead  (13+) Reopens October 2024 #2128802 by Warped Sanity

It is Samhain tradition to set up an altar for the dead, often featuring offerings, photographs and symbols of death. Most Wiccans create a specific altar for this pagan holiday as it is the perfect time to honor nature, life and rebirth.