Showing posts with label autumn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label autumn. Show all posts

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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Wednesday 30 September 2015

Hawthorn and medlar

(scroll down for Dutch/ scroll naar beneden voor dit artikel in het Nederlands)


Hello everyone!

This afternoon, I had a wonderful walk in the park nearby. I consider this park to be my 'home', because it's the nearest patch of green for me. When I feel blue or just when I feel I need some air, I go to 'my park' and everything is in perfect harmony, again!

Today, I went on a mission: I had to bring something home I had never brought before. Nature would tell me what it was. And it did!

First, I came by a single-seeded hawthorn. Hawthorn berries are edible and known for their healing and supportive properties in favor of the heart. I recognized the tree immediatly: its dark green, deeply lobbed leaves and -in this time of the year- its small, dark red berries (which are botanically speaking pomes, like apples!) (read more)

The tree was packed with ripe fruit, so I decided to pick some to make whatever would come to me. I picked about 80 grams; enough for a bottle of hawthorn-infused wine.

Single-seeded hawthorn / Eenstijlige meidoorn
(Crataegus mongyna)

Hawthorn in my field guide / Meidoorn in mijn veldgids

At home, I rinsed them and put them in the freezer. After a few days, they will have a sweeter taste and will be easier to work with.

My harvest / Mijn oogst

Medlar

A few minutes later, I discovered another peculiar tree on the side of the path. I noticed long, felty leaves on a large shrub. As I touched the leaves; they were soft as baby skin. My curiosity grew and I scanned the tree with my eyes, looking for flowers -or even better- fruit.

After a couple of moments, I saw a small, globular formed... thing. Astonished and enthusiastic as I was, I gently plucked the 'thing' from the tree... It was medlar fruit! I never expected to find medlar in the park so near to my home, but I did!

Common medlar / Mispel
(Mespilus germanica)

Medlar is a very special kind of fruit; you can't eat it fresh from the tree. They become edible after being 'bletted' by frost or given enough time to soften. Bletted medlar is ready when de skin is browned and wrinkled. (read more) 

So let's be patient (or shall I put them in the fridge for a few days? I'm dying to try these little 'soft apples'!)

Medlar at short range / Mispel van dichtbij

(Nederlands)


Hallo allemaal!

Afgelopen middag had ik een heerlijke wandeling in het park. Ik beschouw het park als mijn 'thuis', omdat het het enige stuk groen is in mijn buurt. Als ik even niet zo lekker in mijn vel zit, of gewoon als ik zin heb in frisse lucht, ga ik naar 'mijn park' en dan is alles weer goed!

Vandaag ging ik op pad met een missie: ik nam me voor om iets mee naar huis te nemen wat ik nog nooit eerder had meegenomen. Moeder Natuur zou me wel vertellen wat het zou zijn. En dat deed ze!

Eerst kwam ik langs een eenstijlige meidoorn. Meidoornbessen zijn eetbaar en bekend om hun hartversterkende eigenschappen. Ik herkende de boom meteen: de donkergroene, diep ingesneden blaadjes en -in deze tijd van het jaar- de kleine, rode besjes (wat botanisch gezien een pitvrucht is, net zoals appels dat zijn!) (lees meer)

De boom zat vol met rijpe besjes, dus ik besloot wat mee te nemen om thuis het eerste mee te maken wat in me op zou komen. Uiteindelijk plukte ik ongeveer 80 gram; genoeg voor een fles geïnfuseerde meidoornwijn.

Eenmaal thuis waste ik de meidoornbessen en stopte ik ze in de vriezer. Daar blijven ze een paar dagen. De vrieskou zorgt ervoor dat ze zoeter van smaak worden en makkelijker te verwerken.

Mispel

Een paar minuten later ontdekte ik aan de zijkant van het pad een andere bijzondere boom. De lange, viltige bladeren die aan de hoge struik zaten, vielen me meteen op. Toen ik de bladeren aanraakte, voelde ze als babybillen zo zacht! Mijn nieuwsgierigheid nam toe en ik speurde de boom af op zoek naar bloemen -of nog beter- vruchten.

Een moment later zag ik een klein, kogelrond... dingetje. Verwonderd en enthousiast als ik was, plukte ik voorzichtig het 'ding' uit de boom. Het was een mispel! Ik had nooit verwacht dat ik mispel zo dicht bij huis zou tegenkomen... En dat in 'mijn eigen' park!

Mispel is een bijzonder soort fruit; je kunt ze niet vers van de boom eten. Ze worden eetbaar na het 'bletten' door vorst of door ze een tijd te laten liggen. Geblette (gefermenteerde) mispel is eetbaar wanneer de buitenkant bruin en rimpelig is. (lees meer)

Nog even geduld hebben, dus! (Of zal ik ze gewoon een paar dagen in de vriezer stoppen? Ik ben zo benieuwd naar deze 'zachte appeltjes'!)

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Sunday 6 October 2013

Autumn fruits

Autumn is a fruitful season. Last weeks, I collected nuts, berries, apples and pears from the park and our garden.

Homemade applesauce and stewed pears with cinnamon.


A plate full of autumn! Plums, an apple from our own tree, grapes, pinecones, a pear, hazelnuts and leaves from our apple tree and ivy.


Stewed pears with cinnamon, sponge cake and grapes. Yummy!


 Preserves nascent! Elderberries with applepieces (for the pectin).


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Thursday 26 September 2013

The end of summer

It's obvious: the end of summer is certainly here. Now. The wind is blowing in our faces, clouds cover the sky and make it look like sheep to be shorn.

Though, today was a wonderful day. The sky was mostly clear, and the sun was shining the whole day. I thought it was time for a walk, and my dog was very with me. During the walk, I noted that autumn is very, very near. Take a look yourself.

A pond with fountain in our neighborhood. Some leaves of the Small-leaved Linden are already yellow.


The sun was shining on these beautiful trees. The berries are so bright red and orange, it looks like they're painted.


A stunning blue sky.


The Rowan and its fruit.


Elderberries. If you want to make syrup or jam with elderberries, this is the time to pick them.


A young pollard willow against a bright blue sky.


Flowering clover! The last meadow flowers of the year.


The park in the polder is a lovely place to walk. My dog loves this place, because she can run free and there are always other dogs to play with.



Outside walking gives me so much energy and inspiration. Every time when I go outside, I am astonished by the beauty and the power of nature. I hope you can feel with me.

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