Find Your People

This time --the few days between October 31 and November 2 is considered in many traditions as a time to connect with your ancestors.  The words they use is the veil is thin between worlds. 

The Celtic spiritual tradition known as Samhain, marks the midpoint between the Fall Equinox and the Winter Solstice.  The word literally translates to Summer's End.  It is pronounced sow-win.  It is the time to finish up fall harvests and bring the cows in from the pasture.  It is easy for me to understand the more earth based ritual times (holidays) because they are tied to something rather obvious and based in some actual reality.  Samhain marks the beginning of the the dark part of the year.

Celebrators of Samhain believe that it’s a time of year when the barriers between the physical and spiritual world break down, allowing more interaction between the living and the dead. The doors to the otherworld - the realm of deities and the dead - are opened, allowing spirits to more easily enter our world.

The Mexican celebration of Dia de Muertos translates to Day of the Dead.  Typically they set up altars indoors and out, and celebrate their ancestors in a variety of ways. For the same reason--they are more visible.   The purpose is to honor the people who came before and guide us.  

As a person who can easily reach to the other side, I don't quite notice the difference in energies between the worlds, yet I am more and more in touch with seeing the value in being in contact with my ancestry, making this time more and more meaningful.  I have recently launched into a time when finding my people has become worth exploring to me.  It runs parallel to shifting my perspective of how I view my ancestors and  weaving them into my daily experience.  I would describe it as a time to (re)connect with, and rejoice in the wisdom of those who came before.

You can easily look up a wide variety of rituals for creating a ritual of your own.

I recently was told of a modern ritual/celebration which I am excited about.  I might not be remembering all the details, yet it includes these few things.  Coming together around a fire, beginning with honoring the ancestry of the land itself.  Who was here before us.  Make an offering and appreciation to them in some way.  In this celebration --it is basically a pot luck meal, with a Samhain twist.  Bringing food --representing the last harvest, yet the dishes that participants bring are something that is inspired by a dish one of their people have made.  Something that reminds us of them.  During the meal, each person gets time to tell the story of their person and of their heritage.  I'm not exactly sure what I would make --who I would want to talk about first and which dish reminds me of them the most.  Just thinking about  it has me more connected to the people who cooked for me over all of my life.  I am taking a moment (or many hours) to reflect and give thanks for them for nourishing me

I certainly didn't grow up with any kind of celebration, at this time or any other, where we celebrated, or even acknowledged those who came before.  Once they were gone, that was pretty much it.  I have been enjoying all the ways other cultures bring their people with them.

May your Samhain season be filled with justice, hope, and profound connection with those who have crossed the threshold between the worlds.   

May you find your people.  In this world and those on the other side.