52 Comments

Thank you so much Terri for putting it so beautifully. I couldn't have said it better. As a child growing up Christian we didn't celebrate "Halloween". I kind of avoided it until my pagan friend told me about Samhain. Now as a Buddhist-Pagan I celebrate Samhain. This year was extra special because through FamilySearch, and Find a Grave, a free online ancestry website I discovered where my grandparents are buried and visited them for the first time over the festival period. On the 31st I visited my grandmothers grave with offerings of flowers, water, apples, and her favorite food and burned a few incense sticks: cedar, copal, and a scent called guardian angel. On November 1st i visited my grandfather's grave with incense and an offering of apples. Sadly, I never met him in life, he died in 1975, I wasn't born till 1977. This year I felt his presence strongly for the first time. I keep a sketchbook, so I did a silent meditation at his graveside before drawing a two-page spread drawing of his grave plate. The best Samhain ever!

Expand full comment

That sounds beautiful Peter. Outside and connecting with the grandparents, deeply calming and relaxing I would imagine. You made a beautiful offering too xx

Expand full comment

I also have noticed how much Halloween has become a big spending time on sugar and plastic. I see more folk are now decorating their gardens with stuff. When I was a child in the West of Scotland we used to dress up but it was never the case of buying costumes we used what we had in either our or our grandparents or aunties house and relied on our imagination. We always had to have our party piece ready whether this was a poem song or joke only then did you get your Halloween which was always monkey nuts apples and if you were lucky a candy apple or the odd sweetie. Since I have learned about Samhain I appreciate this time of the year and all the wonderful stories thank you…The wee kittens are beautiful 😍 blessings to you and your family x

Expand full comment

Sounds like when I was a kid. Home made costumes, hand carved turnips and a night of apple bobbling and snap apple - nuts too . Great memories! Blessings to you and yours xx

Expand full comment

Sadly I didn't know about anything but Halloween until I was an adult. Having grown up in the culture of Halloween, I have fond feelings for the ritual, which it has become all on its own. I don't think it is all negative, and to me seems to combine a bit Samhain and Day of the Dead. Maybe that's where the skelton and more ghoulish figures come in. And perhaps facing the dark side in harmless ways is a way of also learning of it's existence, so we know how to deal with it. However, I totally embrace Samhain and it's more pagan roots. The biggest issue with Halloween for me is the junk quality of treats bought and eaten. Yuk. Thank you for further teaching me about this beautiful old custom. I love playing dress-up, and the creative process of coming up with a costume. It's all good to this Sag.!

Expand full comment

The treats are really awful, we have to filter my grandson's haul and take out all the rubbish. Thankfully he hasn't noticed as we distract him with good stuff . It is great fun dressing up - that is one of the things I love and being creative with what I have. xx

Expand full comment

Terri I heartily agree with you about Halloween. It's Shalloween for me. That plastic cobwebby stuff - Yuk! A quote from Jill Segger comes to mind. She wrote of the need to "...exercise vigilance against uncritical susceptibility to cultural norms." It was not a cultural norm here in NZ but of course it snuck in with a great wave of plastic and consumerism.

Expand full comment

I have heard it only got to you quite recently! Imagine the trouble to get pumpkins all the way down to you! Crazy! xx

Expand full comment

We in NZ suffer the commercialism for the 31st Oct also even though it is our Spring. The shops are full of "stuff." Straight after Halloween we jump into Guy Fawkes! People are becoming more and more disconnected with the seasons as we tend to follow the Northern hemisphere dates. Im so grateful to have found people who celebrate with the seasons and not the Northern dates and this is becoming more and more popular. As for those kittens! Absolutely gorgeous. We lost our old cat just recently, so for the 1st time ever have no pets living here, and boy do we notice the void. Bet your hands are full in a happy way.

Expand full comment

That makes much more sense - to follow the seasons there rather than the northern ones. You could have all the same festivals but have them at the appropriate times. It does leave a void when there are no pets. These kittens are full on energy, always on the go. Very delightful to watch. xx Seasons Blessings to you xx

Expand full comment

Thank you so much for this heart-warming visit! Your shawl is gorgeous! Did you knit that yourself ? Love the kittens! We have a house full of cats that all were either born in our yard or just showed up one day! They knew this was the place to come I guess! I love the candle light and enchanting atmosphere of your home. The warmth and magic you bring is such a Blessing! When I was a kid, we were taught the 31st of October was, "All Hallows Eve" and November 1st was "All Souls Day" . The older people usually spent November 1st and 2nd in church. They never really answered my questions about what "Hallows" meant! Thank you again for sharing with us!

Expand full comment

I only realised it was pumpkin colour when I watched the video😂 - no i didn't knit it, I bought it from a local shop. In Irish tradition it is lucky to have cats coming to live with you, so hope that its true for your xx

Expand full comment

Thank you Terri, what an inspiring video. i love both your autumn garden and the atmospheric ambience in your house. And the kittens: so cute!!!

Fortunately, I didn't grow up in a culture where Halloween was popular or celebrated.

I first heard about the 8 Celtic festivals in my early twenties and have celebrated them ever since. I love feeling the seasons in them more deeply and feeling grateful and in communion & alignment with nature and Mother Gaia.

Expand full comment

Me too, I love the way each festival makes us more appreciative of Nature and all that she offers xx

Expand full comment

OMG I thought I was the Halloween grinch as I can’t stand all the plastic garbage that people buy and throw out every year. The excuses I hear “it’s one time a year” and /or “ the kids love it” are just not intelligent and show that the environment is not on their agenda😩

I love Samhain and am grateful I have a wonderful women circle in which we share the old traditions. 💜🎃💜

Expand full comment

The excuses are ridiculous but it is hard to be the parent who says no. I feel for them. You are so lucky to have a woman's circle to celebrate together xx

Expand full comment

This is a lovely holiday to celebrate the sacred. I have so many good memories of shared times with family.

Now we have no family left. Word of wisdom....enjoy family as much as possible because life has a limit so fill up at all times. This is a time of memories and thanks and honor for those that have past. Very important.

Expand full comment

Well said Tacy. There is never enough time so we must make the most of it xx

Expand full comment

I didn't begin learning about Samhain, until I was an adult & even after my kids were grown. My kids & I definitely feel much more comfort & joy with the Samhain traditions. This holiday speaks more to me than even the commercialized Christmas. I truly love this whole time of year.

I also wanted to compliment LOL on his beautiful filming. Often, I will watch your video on my lunch break. Not just the info & insight I find so wonderful & comforting. But, also Lol's photos & filming, I enjoy so much. He is very talented! It gives me a few minutes escape while at work 😊. You both make such a good team!

Blessings to you both.

Expand full comment

Blessings to you too Mia. Samhain speaks to me more too, I find it a time for reflection and gratitude. Glad you like it too xx

Expand full comment

Oh and the kittens ….. adorable ❤️

Expand full comment

Those kittens!! They are SO full of energy and never stop! It is wonderful to watch them xx

Expand full comment

Like our two smooth fox terriers ….. super energetic, they can walk and play all day. But there is something about kittens 😉

Expand full comment

Little animals - all delightful xx

Expand full comment

Terri, where can I find your wall candle sconces? I adore them! Thank you!

Janie

Expand full comment

I have no idea! We got these somewhere local, I think it was a restaurant that was closing down xx

Expand full comment

thx 🙃🙃🙃🤗🤗🤗😘😘😘😍😍😍🥰🥰🥰

Expand full comment

💚

Expand full comment

You probably got a big dose of the commercialism of it when you lived in England too. I have lived in the "boonies" for so many years, and brought my kids up here too, that I can't even remember what that is like. We would have to drive them to a bigger town area for trick or treating, as there are no houses next door to us here! And my grandkids -- only two of them -- are teens and live in a different state...But I got dressed up and went to a small local party and had great fun!

Expand full comment

The commercialism is very prominent here even though I am in a rural area. Great to hear you had fun at your party and hope you shook a leg!

Expand full comment

Yes, I do try to do that. But I am always listening too, to the wise council of others such as yourself. Life is ever a learning experience, there is always something new (or old!) to discover.

Expand full comment

I think the same - I love learning and finding out new ideas xx

Expand full comment

All comprehensible and agreeable statements apart for the carbon 🦶 print which is another gov's scam to lawfully deplete your bank account.

Nevertheless it's true: too much plastic polluting ourselves and the planet and fake entertainment for kids with an unreasonable amount of the N.1️⃣ white killer: sugar.

Expand full comment

You nailed it. I totally agree xx

Expand full comment