Thin Time-Samhain

We’re looking at Thin Places and Times-places where heaven and earth are very near. This is a spirituality found in Celtic Christianity and in the Hebrew scriptures, and other religions, too. This week there will be “Trick-or-Treaters” in costume celebrating Halloween. Did you know that this tradition comes from the Celtic belief that November 1, the Celtic new year, was an extraordinary time. The veil between the Otherworld and Earth was open and the dead could visit earth (and vice versa, in some Celtic myth).

The Celtic year was broken into seasons that roughly followed the sun’s equinoxes and solstices. Samhain (November 1) marked the start of the cycle because, like the Jewish day, all creation begins in darkness. The Winter solstice (Dec. 21) and then Imbolc (Feb. 1) which was dedicated to Brigid and fertility, esp. of flocks and fields. Then came the Spring Equinox (March 21) and Beltaine on May 1 (a time of engagements). The Summer Solstice (June 21) led to Lughsdaugh on August 1 when the first harvest/first fruits were gathered. The Autumn Equinox (September 21) completed the cycle with the shortening of days.

All fires were extinguished at Samhain and new fire was kindled for the new year. Offerings symbolizing the wishes and thanksgivings of the people were thrown into the fire so everyone could start afresh. The year past was thus purged of the bad and made ‘hallow’ (holy) while the new year was blessed.

Samhain was a time fraught with magic and fairies, elves, and other supernatural beings were abroad. The new fire was a way to keep these, not always friendly, spirits at bay. Bonfires were lit on Halloween even as late at the first World War in parts of Ireland and Scotland. More and more, though, the big fires became the Jack ‘o Lanterns carved with faces and other images.

Samhain, the thin place and start of the new cycle, became ‘Christianized’ into Hallow Mass or All Saints’ Day. The evening before All Hallow’s Day is All Hallows Eve and eventually that contracted into Halloween.

Hallow is a word not used much any more, but it means to make holy or sacred and to venerate. Abraham Lincoln used hallowed in the Gettysburg address when talking about the lives lost in that battle: “But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate -- we cannot consecrate -- we cannot hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.” We may blithely recite “Hallowed be Thy name” in the Lord’s Prayer, but do we stop and consider that we are saying “Holy is your Name” to God?

On All Saints Day and All Souls Day (November 2) we remember all the faithful departed. On All Hallows Eve (Halloween) this year, let us say a prayer that our lives may be Hallowed to the Lord, just as those who have gone before us have been hallowed and made holy in the presence of our Lord. Perhaps this prayer said at the kindling of the daily fire (when people had to kindle their fire for heat and cooling) will give you an idea:

I will kindle my fire this morning
In the presence of the holy angels of heaven,
In the presence of Ariel of the loveliest form
In the presence of Uriel of the myriad charms,

Without malice, without jealousy, without envy,
Without fear, without terror of any one under the sun,
But the Holy Son of God to shield me.

God, kindle Thou in my heart within
A flame of love to my neighbor,
To my foe, to my friend, to my kindred all,
To the brave, to the knave, to the thrall,

O Son of the loveliest Mary,
From the lowliest thing that liveth,
To the Name that is highest of all.

 

See you next time as we look at Hallowed Ground or Holy Ground. Perhaps it's just under your feet.