Saturday, October 31th, at 8:30 p.m.

Samhain, also called Halloween or All Hallow's eve, is a time when the past and the future are linked by the transition of one year to the next. During this time of year, most cultures observe some holiday to remember, honor, and perhaps even communicate with the dead as the veil of time is so thin. Also, divination at this time may be more accurate for the same reason.

This year at the Church of the Earth, Andrea and I will lead a "Bardic Samhain" by torchlight. Relax, I'm not going to sing. There will be no singing. By “Bardic” I am referring to an older meaning of the word, reciting epic poems of heroes and kings. So be ready for a Samhain mystery, recited in verse and poorly acted out by brave players foolish enough to make eye contact when we were looking for volunteers. We will also create an ancestor's altar, so if you like, bring an item or picture that helps you feel a connection with a lost loved one, or a short note written to them.

After the main ritual, the sacred space will remain available for those who wish to meditate or perform divination at this special time of the year.

Johnson
a.k.a. Silly Rabbit

Close your eyes and take three deep breathes. In through your nose and out through your mouth.

You visualize yourself leaving the Gardens and stepping out onto a path. Funny, you hadn’t noticed that path before. And not just any path, or any one’s path, but your own personal path. Just let your heart be the compass to the way to go. Your path starts in the city, full of noise, people, and distractions. But as you walk, the city and the noise begins to slowly fade away. Soon you find yourself in a field of tall green grass, with a gentle breeze blowing and birds singing. The smell of newly bloomed flowers in the air and the peace that comes with being alone in nature. You want to stop and take in all the beauty, but your path continues on, and so you must as well. At the edge of the field is a great forest, full of ancient trees and alive with the songs of the birds and the rustle of the leaves blowing in the wind. You enter the forest and continue on your path.

All along the way you are greeted by the presence of the creatures of the forest, whose fear of humans keeps them at a distance. And yet they do not run away from you, for in you their keen senses can pick up your love for the earth and all its life. And while they do not approach you, they do gaze upon you in wonder, for far too often their contact is with humans who carry guns or drive bulldozers, only seeking to kill them or destroy their home. Or to just simply gawk and point at them, instead of reveling in their beauty. But you must not tarry with the animals, no matter how much you may want to, because you have an important appointment. So you continue on into the forest, deeper and deeper you go.

You notice all around you the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. All vestiges of the world of humans and your every day life are gone. And yet here you feel at peace, like finally returning to a long lost home. And further still your path goes on. Till at last you spy an opening into a large glade. Passing under an arch of flowers, you come out into the glade. Looking around you, you see that the glade is a great circle of trees, and in the center of the circle is a bright sphere of light. You are drawn to the light and move towards it without even thinking.

As you approach, the intensity of the light lessens until you can see two large thrones. One throne is gold, with a sun above it. The second throne is silver, with a moon above it. The gold throne is empty, for the God is out in the forest, caring for and running with the animals. Upon the second throne sits the Goddess. You know this to be her, just as you would know your mother, your sister, or your daughter. And just as each person has their own mother, so each has their own vision of the Goddess, and yet all are one in the universe.

You rush forward and throw yourself at her feet, awed be her presence. Quietly she stands and pulls you to your feet. Slowly you lift your head and cautiously you look into her eyes. You want to explain why you’re here and what it is that you’re seeking. But with a look you know she all ready knows. The way is hard, answers difficult to find. The stress, the pressures, and the struggles to exist. Wordlessly you implore her for the answers, for her aid.

Slowly she reaches her hand to you and places her palm against you chest. At once you feel the spark with in begin to glow. It was always there, just too dim to notice sometimes. It’s light glows and begins to fill you with light, her light, the light of the Goddess, and his light, the light of the God. Always there, always connecting you with deity. And you start to understand that the answers you seek from deity are within yourself. You just have to empower it, and help it to light our way down the path of life. The goddess removes her hand, knowing you have seen that the answers within you, and always have been.

The path of life isn’t easy, it was never meant to be. We struggle to make it thru, discover ourselves, find meaning, and happiness. But deity is always a part of you and you of them. They give us strength when we ask them for it, and they point the way when we ask for direction. And when we share our heart with another, we feel that spark of the deity burn within them and join with our spark.

It is now time to leave, the Goddess having shown you what you needed to see, has others she needs to see, to help, to show the way. You bow and make your exit back to the path and the arch of flowers, the spark still burning brightly within you. You reenter the forest and the glory of nature. Off in the distance you see a herd of deer running free through the forest. You’d like nothing better then to run with them, but you know you can only gaze at them. You notice a figure at their head, running and leading the way. You know at once it is the God, and for a second he turns his head and smiles at you, and gives you a jaunty wave of the hand, before running on. The Lord of the Forest is ever busy, ever caring for the animals and watching over the forest, but always keeping an eye in our direction. For though we no longer dwell in the forest, it was once our home, and one day be again.

But for now, back we must go, through the forest, through the fields, and back to the Gardens. Our time here is not yet done, but the forest will wait for us, as will the Goddess and the God. As we go out from here today and continue on with our lives, let us not forget that they are here within us, to help guide us and strengthen us. We have only to ask. If we were truly meant to be alone, there wouldn’t be anyone else here and that would just be too boring.

BLESSED BE.