As Halloween approaches and this year a Blue Moon as well, I’ve been considering how this time of year tends to unfold for me, as well as the ancient tradition of Samhain, where we can remember those that have gone before us. Bear with me as we have a meander down some leaf littered Autumn paths, this all comes together at the end…
It’s no coincidence that last year, around this time, I was very drawn to revisit my family tree and try to find out more about the story of my Great Uncle George. He was in the SOE, or Special Operations Executive during World War II, the equivalent of MI5. As those of you who have researched your family tree know, it can be quite an emotional journey. Finding documents about family members who were in workhouses, rat catchers, ladies maids and so forth. Each relative has had their journey, just as we have ours during 2020. Doing our family tree brings history to life. My Uncle George’s story fascinates me and there is still more to be uncovered.
The Veil Thins
As we approach this time of year, Halloween, and hear about the ‘veil thinning’, but what does that mean? Around the second week in September, I’ve noticed a shift within me for many years. In the past it was characterised by depression, concern about the night’s drawing in, the darkness and cold of winter. Over the years with better diet, more understanding of my own darkness and issues, through counselling and therapies, I have the tools to manage that. I can embrace winter and snuggle down and think of it as a time of rest, instead of dreading it. I appreciate each season as it comes. Many people, myself included, notice more in their periphery vision as we open up and spirit come closer, it can be more apparent at this time of year, as with my Uncle George’s presence.
And this year it’s my Great Uncle John’s turn again. In my consciousness, he is at the forefront, i.e he makes his presence known by coming to mind. This is one of spirit’s ways of making themselves known to us and when we learn to trust and be OK with that, amazing things can happen to validate it. Appreciating that those who have passed are still around us can be reassuring for many, especially for those who have passed early, it may bring some sadness. For some it may be scary. Do realise if so, that the majority of the time ‘we are are own worst fears’, our ghouls are often our own fears within, our fear tends to be in our mind. The media hype things up, shops hype things up at this time of year. Spirit do not come through with scary music, they present as they were – or as with my Uncle John, spirit come as a thought and we may respond with a desire to find out more about their story. So, I started to look deeper into that. He was a Japanese Prisioner of War in Saigon and a book called ‘The Prisioner List’ documents that time, so I ordered it. On opening the book, which arrived recently it was dedicated, ‘for Emma’. This synchronicity (a meaningful coincidence) wasn’t lost on me as you will also see below, I was on track. Watching films also gives me insight into what that experience was like for him. One of the memories I have of him from childhood was as a quiet, shy, gentle man, loving the birds and feeding them.
Generational Healing
Synchronicity had also recently brought to me a book, thanks to a friend, by Mark Wolynn called ‘It didn’t start with you’. Generational healing (often called ancesteral healing) is the idea that cellular memories of trauma and difficulty can be passed down to us. It was a concept that was introduced to me by a therapist 25 years ago, but not much was talked about it then and I wanted to focus on what was happening in the the here and now. However, we also know more now about generational trauma. To illustrate the concept here’s a family example, my Nana’s father died when she was a teenager. What impact did that grief and sorrow have on her down the family line? It was said that she never really got over it and that contributed to how she was as a person and the impact on those around her. My Uncle John wasn’t able to forgive the Japanese for his experiences, he always seemed bereft. Difficulties in my life have challenged my process of forgiveness, so does it all compound as it comes down the family line and hangs around in the family consciousnessness ? Often it’s not talked about, but it’s the elephant in the room. Can it be passed on to us in a cellular way? Some believe it can and it’s something that I’ve considered over the years and worked with. So we may look to clear that to help ourselves and I’ll discuss that a little later on.
Harvesting and reflecting on our achievements
Traditionally at this time of year, we also have the harvest festivals. We celebrate what had been harvested. Perhaps now is an apt time to reflect on what we may have harvested this year. What have you achieved? Can we give gratitude for that, as gratitude is wonderful nourishment for feel good feelings! For some of us it might mean if you are feeling at rock bottom just getting through the day – that is no mean feat, well done, if you have been struggling. It has definitely been a challenging year.
Over the years at my rock bottom I have prayed and written with intention about how I would like my life to be,sometimes this is called manifesting our destiny or co-creating our lives. My life now is looking very close to those initial manifestionations back in 2003 so it can take some time, don’t give up. I now have health, enjoy my job, have published my book about what helped me and will help others.
Letting go
I love the meme which says ‘the trees are about to teach us how good it is to let go’. As their leaves fall to the ground we are reminded of the cycles of life, how we don’t have to carry some of the burdens that we do, we may want to leave behind people, places or jobs. And certainly that ties in very nicely with the fact that there is a blue moon on October 31st. A very special event, as a blue moon is the second full moon in a month. Along with the leaves, perhaps its time to let go of some of the old energy that you no longer wish to have around you. Lets make way for the a period of gestation, which traditionally occurs in the dark like the seed in the soil, and let something new be cultivated over winter.
Treatments and energy therapies are a great way of helping to us to clear old energy, but not so in person in lock-down! If you use Californian sage or have some mugwort you can intentionally clear your energy with that, I write more about this process in my Self-Care book, in the Chapter ‘Energy Hygiene’. You may also wish to write a list of the things that you would like to leave behind. You can then visualise and write down how you would like your life to be…for example ‘I want to be free of unforgiveness.. I see myself at peace with those around me’. I focus on how I feel being at peace and that may even go up the generational line, back to my Uncle and Nana who found it hard too. I finish by burning the paper (do be careful fire Hazards!) to let it go.
Ancestor’s Tea Party
Another way that I am really looking forward to doing tomorrow is having an Ancestors Tea Party. This idea came from a shamanic group I belong to where they suggested a meal and I’ve adapted it for my ancestors. Particularly as we are in lock-down in Wales what better way of celebrating Samhain than afternoon tea for the ancestor’s! Not being a huge fan of gatherings anyway, I can think of all sorts of jokes about the invited guests!! But in the true ‘spirit’ of it, my love of cake and baking and the joy that gives me, most definitely comes from my Maternal Grandmother. I will be inviting her and other ancestors with a place in their honor and a plate of food in remembrance. I will be getting my Gran’s afternoon tea plate out, and for my Uncle John and his birds some seeded scones. My Uncle George liked sailing and we have a Lowry placemat with boats on, so to honour his life I will set the plate upon that…Afterwards, the meal will then be placed out to to feed the birds afterwards, which will also please my Gran as well as my Uncle, as she loved doing that also.
So, with gratitude and thanks all round, it’s all certainly food for thought. What can you let go of, what achievements have you made this year, what would you like to look forward to, how would you like your life to be different, what are you grateful for right now and who would you invite to your Ancestral meal this Samhain?
