Celtic Wheel of Life ~ Samhain/Beltane
Welcome to Celticai Connection’s article. This month, I am focussing on the Celtic tradition as a living, vibrant and practical guide to modern life, grounded in the natural world and respectful of creation.
The Celtic Wheel of Life is a cycle of seasons and related celebrations that assists us in co-creating with Mother Earth and Father Sky; developing spiritual, emotional and physical connections that assist us to live abundantly. ‘
On May 1, The Celtic Wheel of Life prepares to turn again. Whether you are in the Northern Hemisphere or the Southern, this period of Beltane and Samhain represents beginnings and endings.
Beltane symbolises new growth, fertility and love. It is so very appropriate to see Prince William and Lady Kate marrying at this time of the Celtic Year! For those of us who are not marrying ~ it is a time to begin new projects, to step forward and ‘leap the fire’; to dance with the fertility gods and goddesses so that they may bless our projects, our dreams and our relationships.
Samhain symbolises death, slumber and wisdom. For us in the Southern Hemisphere it is an intense period of introspection. Are we living our lives authentically? How can we move ourselves forward? It is a time for planning, organising and connecting with our ancient wisdom so that when the Circle turns once more, we can step forth with full confidence.
You can interact with any number of ‘gurus’, read a number or books, browse thousands of websites… the most important part of understanding the practice of utilising the Celtic Wheel of Life is understanding that there is no wrong practice!
Connecting with the Spirit, Guardian, Energy (whatever you wish to call it), is an important part of this time of year. You can follow the outlines presented by so many people as a guideline, however by just making time to sit in your yard and connect with your garden is so very rewarding.
When I began to interact with the land around me (specifically the grounds on which our house resides) and the greater local lands, it became apparent to me that what is appropriate for one is not necessarily appropriate for another.
I call the energy of our land, the Cameron Spirit ~ it is a specific energy that is collective of the people, soil, animals, birds, insects, flora and people that reside here. By sitting and connecting to this, I can learn, understand and apply what is needed to show my love and devotion to it. Nurturing the energy of your residence, allows abundance to flow naturally through co-creation with Spirit.
So how can you connect with your land? Try these simple ideas:
- Find a place outdoors near your residence, sit, relax and quiet your mind.
- State your intent: Spirit of my land, I come to you to connect in mind, body and spirit so that I may co-create with you for the full blessing of abundance available to us through the Universe. I am here, I am listening.
- Listen. What do you hear? Fine tune your senses, becoming aware of the beauty you are in and it will help clear your mind. Take a journal with you to record what you see, hear, smell, and feel. Spending time regularly in solitude with nature allows the elementals to begin communicating with you
- Take a small offering to your space ~ a glass of wine, some bread and I know this is going to sound strange… but some tobacco! J Place this at the base of a tree or pour it into the soil and simply say: This is for you. Thank you for providing this beautiful space for me to live in.
- Take your shoes off and allow your feet to connect, centre and ground.
- Do these simple things often and you will begin to connect with your Elementals.
As an Australian, we often forget the importance of our land’s first inhabitants. As I connect more deeply with the land around me and the beautiful country within which I dwell, I can appreciate the connection the Aboriginals have with this country as well. Aboriginal author and Yorta Yorta woman Hyllus Maris (1934-86) expressed this connectedness with the land beautifully in her poem Spiritual Song of the Aborigine:
Spiritual Song of the Aborigine
I am a child of the Dreamtime People
Part of this Land, like the gnarled gumtree
I am the river, softly singing
Chanting our songs on my way to the sea
My spirit is the dust-devils
Mirages, that dance on the plain
I’m the snow, the wind and the falling rain
I’m part of the rocks and the red desert earth
Red as the blood that flows in my veins
I am eagle, crow and snake that glides
Thorough the rain-forest that clings to the mountainside
I awakened here when the earth was new
There was emu, wombat, kangaroo
No other man of a different hue
I am this land
And this land is me
I am Australia.
Reference: Aboriginal Indigenous Spirituality and Beliefs
On Tuesday May 3, I will be discussing the traditional meanings of this time of Year with Leonore Newson from Plymouth, United Kingdom so that listeners are able to understand the links and themes that flow across opposite sides of the Wheel. If you would like to listen to this program, please click on this link after May 3rd: Celticai Connections.
May the ancestors deliver blessings on you and yours…
May the new year bear great fruits for you…
May your granted wishes be as many as the seeds in a pomegranate…
May the slide into darkness bring you light…
May the memories of what has been keep you strong for what is to be…
May this Samhain cleanse your heart, your soul, and your mind!
— traditional Samhain blessing
I hope that you find this connection to your land and this time of year empowering. Namaste.