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Samhain Greetings to My Friends,
October 31st is Samhain, meaning “Summer’s End” in Celtic. It is believed to be the time when the veil between the physical world and the spirit world is most transparent and you can converse with your ancestors and guides, gaining valuable advice for the coming year. The period between Oct. 31st and Nov. 2nd is one of the most widely celebrated ancient traditions honoring death and renewal. Samhain is also a good time to release unwanted attitudes and beliefs: anything which holds you back from creating your vision for the future. It is an excellent opportunity to write what you choose to release and cast it into a fire.
This past Saturday evening, thirty women met for our Awaken Your Inner Goddess Samhain event at the Goddess Studio in Escondido (w.goddess-studio.com). The theme of the gathering was healing the shamed and dismissed aspects of our femininity. We chose the questions: Do you sometimes fear being judged or ostracized for the passion that lives inside you? Have you ever experienced being shamed for being emotional, intuitive or just for having a period and being a woman?
For the first time, we held it in the evening and took full advantage of the transformational stillness of twilight in the labyrinth. The highlight of the evening came when we released into a burning cauldron written words signifying the wounds from our life experiences. We then reclaimed ourselves as whole women, without the split between what we were told and who we truly are. It was a very powerful night filled with heartbreaking stories, deep healing and profound shifts as we each lit a red candle, symbol of the sacred feminine blood mysteries and our power as women. I wrote the following prayer for this ritual:
Our sexuality is the energy that empowers and ignites all beings. May we reclaim this power to be the sacred and erotic feminine here on Earth.
In ancient lore, the Goddess Hecate was especially associated with Samhain. She is always depicted in three phases: the three phases of the moon: waxing, waning, and full, and the three faces of the goddess: maiden, mother and crone. Hecate also walks between the three realms of earth, sky, and the underworld, where she presides over the passages of birth, death and rebirth. She stands at the crossroads where three roads meet. From there, she can see into the dimensions of past, present and future.
With 2012 approaching, we are called to make a shift in consciousness and have significant choices to make. More than ever, we are at a crossroads where we can make a change in direction, reaffirm what is precious in our lives, and/or choose new beginnings. It is truly a transition point as I’ve been saying for some time. The wisdom of three phases is one of the most powerful ways to approach major shifts—first to release unwanted images from our past, then to empower our present with conscious intention and finally, to vision the future from the place of possibilities. As you step onto the road to change, you may want to imagine Hecate at your side, protecting you when you have lost your bearings or when you feel trapped, hemmed in, without a safety net. And keep in mind that Hecate stirs the cauldron of creativity from which all possibilities are born. May you make the most of this precious period of time.
With Blessings, Linda
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