As we approach the darkest night of the year on the Winter Solstice, I thought I’d share with you all some information about the ancient pagan festival of Yule that falls on this day… Origins of Yule The word Yule is thought to mean either “wheel” or “feast”. This joyful pagan holiday, celebrated by many… Continue reading
As we approach the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, I am called to draw my attention to the end of yet another cycle. As we have gathered our harvest for the year and begin to lay the earth to rest, so too can we find our own time for respite. This is a time to… Continue reading
Sitting here at my computer, trying to recover after a busy but wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, I am left with the lingering sentiment of gratitude. How could I not feel anything but grateful for all the wonderful blessings in my life? Surrounded by cherished loved ones, a cornucopia of good food, shelter and comfort, I have… Continue reading
Celebrations are such wonderful demonstrations of the human spirit; full of great generosity and gratitude. Diwali has all these elements and more. It pays respect to, and references, several historical achievements of good triumphing over evil, but like other autumn traditions, common across many cultures, it’s a Festival of Light. As the harvest ends and… Continue reading
Here’s an interesting article highlighting some of the spirit of Halloween. The History of Halloween or What is Samhain? Author: Vivienne D’Avalon Samhain, pronounced sow-wen, is a Celtic word meaning “summer’s end.” It is also the Irish Gaelic word for the month of November. Samhain is the last of three harvest festivals in the Celtic… Continue reading