Saturday 28 October 2017

Samhain - It's getting personal

Hi there, folks!

I decided to give my blog a bump. I don't really know why now, why today, but I just feel like it. Maybe it's the thinning of the veil I feel more intensely this year, maybe it's all the ignorant posts I see on Facebook about 'the source of all evil' that is Halloween. In this post, I hope to explain what this time of year, this date that everyone calls 'Halloween', means to me on a personal level. I've never been so open about my personal beliefs before, so please bear with me.

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Pagan

First things first: I'm a pagan. Many people don't know what that word means, or see it as something 'evil', so I gladly used Google to explain it to you (obvious example included):
a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions.
It is a common belief that witches and pagans are devil worshipers, but they are not.
No evil, devilish abracadabra. Everything different from christianism, judaism, islamic, or any other monotheistic religion is considered pagan. For example: native American beliefs are pagan. Traditional Slavic beliefs are pagan. And my personal beliefs are pagan.

Following a pagan path isn't a choice. One day, it just happened. I was called. Called by the Earth, the green Allies, the forest creatures. Called to see myself in a new light, to see myself as the person I really am. It's a wonderful journey, and I am grateful of this path every single day. It is not 'just a hobby' (some people really think that). It is my way of life.

Following this path means (among A LOT of other things I can't possibly write down right now) living with the seasons all year round.

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Samhain

Samhain is one of the eight holidays I celebrate in a year. I maybe tell you more about the others in a later blog post.
Samhain, as stated in de image above, is the Summer's end (I'm not sure the true meaning of the word is 'Summer's end', but it's a great way to explain this and come on, isn't that a pretty picture?! ❤) The end of the harvest. In older times, often the end of the hunting season. The meat is processed, livestock safely put away in the barns, pantries stocked up, wood hauled and stacked. All in preperation for the cold winter to come.
In the period before Samhain, I prepare for the winter, too. Of course I don't have livestock to look after and I don't rely on wood for heating and cooking. But I still prepare for the winter: I clean my house, tidy up, get rid of stuff I don't need anymore, plan winter proof activities (such as finally reading that pile of books, taking courses, sewing an apron for my sister, etc.). 

The period between Mabon (on September 21th, the fall equinox) and Samhain are usually very busy and chaotic for me. Besides school, work and a social life to keep up with, my head and heart burst with inspiration. I have to make things in this time of year. All kinds of things. Medicine, food, jewelry, candle holders, presents for friends, wall hangings, ritual items, you name it. I sleep less than I should and my hands have to keep busy all the time! 
I go outside, gather acorns, leaves and chestnuts to decorate my altar. 

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I visit my grandparents to talk with them, tidy up their grave and stick new candles in their lanterns. Because the closer we get to Samhain on October the 31th, the thinner the veil between our world and the Otherworld gets. And maybe this needs some explanation. I don't believe in heaven nor hell. I believe in different worlds or realms. They exist next to each other, but in another dimension. Most of the time, these worlds don't really mingle. But sometimes they do. And in the period around Samhain, they definitely do. The veil, as we call it, is so thin, that communication between worlds can take place. I believe that most people who die, go to the Otherworld. 

That's why I tend to my grandparent's grave during the time around Samhain. Because I know they will see that I care. They see that I gather their pictures and light them candles. My grandmother smells her favorite parfume as I put it on my wrists befor I go to school. My grandfather hears his mouth organ as I play a tune. And I remember them, honor them in this time of year. Because I am still grateful for their existence. Because I know they are not gone, but just in the Otherworld. 

I honor the dead. I don't 'worship' them. I remember them. I honer my ancestors, because without them, I would't exist. Because I am grateful for what they mean to me, for the things they taught me. On the night of Samhain, when the veil is on it's thinnest, I sit by my altar, telling stories to and about my grandparents. I eat my grantmothers' favorite Belgian chocolates. I laugh about my grandfathers' silly old jokes. And I remember.

Halloween

Halloween or Hallowe'en is a contraction of 'All Hallow's Eve'. It's very likely that Samhain is a forerunner of this holiday.

Last but not least

To people (friends, family) who read this and are surprised, feel overlooked, hurt, maybe angry: I'm sorry. But I can no longer deny who I am and what I believe in, and I think you should know that. If you have questions; please do ask. I only ask you to be open minded about this, to have as much respect for my beliefs as I have for yours. Thank you ❤


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2 comments:

  1. Johan Bestebreur29 October 2017 at 08:31

    Mooi blog. Goed om zo open te zijn. Ik vind het interessant om te lezen wat je nou eigenlijk gelooft. Ik weet dat je niet meer naar de kerk gaat maar je "met andere dingen bezig houdt", maar wat wist ik eigenlijk niet. Schrijf er gerust meer over.

    Vraagje,wat bedoel je met het "altar" in dit artikel? Is het een huisaltaar, of in een... ehm, kerk is niet het goede woord misschien... religieuze plek? (Ik weet niet of jullie een gemeenschap hebben met samenkomsten zoals wij -ik zeg nu "jullie" en "wij" maar bedoel het niet zo bot als groeperingen tegenover elkaar ofzo hoor- een kerk.) En waar gebruik je dat voor? Heb je in die religie ook iets van sacramenten/rituelen die je daar uitvoert?

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    1. Bedankt voor het compliment <3 Ik ben wel van plan om er in de toekomst meer over te gaan schrijven.

      Mijn 'altar' is inderdaad mijn huisaltaar. Mijn huisaltaar is er altijd. Het altaar staat symbool voor mijn geloof en waar ik op dat moment mee bezig ben. Momenteel liggen er bijvoorbeeld kalebassen op, die horen bij de herfst en bij Samhain. Er liggen eikels, die symbool staan voor wijsheid en kracht. Er staat een foto van mijn overgrootouders (voorouders). Er liggen wat stenen op die ik passend vind, zoals versteend hout. (Leuk weetje: voor de kerstening heetten de altaren van de Germanen (onze voorouders) 'hörgr'). Mijn altaar is ook de plaats waar ik rituelen uitvoer, zoals de samenkomst met mijn grootouders op de avond van Samhain. 'Ritueel' klinkt misschien heel zwaar en plechtig, maar dat valt echt wel mee hoor :D Rituelen kunnen al heel simpel zijn. Jij hebt ze ook. Denk maar eens aan bidden voor je eten. Dat is ook een ritueel.

      Jaarfeesten zoals Samhain worden zeker ook met elkaar gevierd. Ik doe dit niet, want de groep waarbij ik ben aangesloten houdt vandaag de viering in Koog aan de Zaan bijvoorbeeld, en dat is voor mij te ver weg. Tijdens zo'n viering worden er met de groep meestal wel rituelen uitgevoerd die bij het jaarfeest of andere gelegenheid passen. De meeste jaarfeesten vier ik gewoon zelf, maar bijvoorbeeld Joel is voor de meeste mensen Kerst, dus vieren we dat gewoon gezellig met familie.

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