Happy Imbolc everyone!
For some ideas on how to celebrate the holiday, and for some of its history, check out my previous post Imbolc: Luring Back the Sun.
In honor of Imbolc, I’ve collected some artwork from around the web that celebrates the holiday. None of it belongs to me; all credit goes to the artists, and links to the original are included where possible. Enjoy!
Happy Samhain!
For some ideas on how to celebrate the holiday, and for some of its history, have a look at my previous post, “Samhain: Holiday of the Dead.”
Some other ideas I want to add to my previous list are to light candles to guide the spirits of the dead or create an ancestor altar. The full and fertile energy from Midsummer and Mabon is now settled down into the final harvest, and the beginning of the slumber of the earth. At this time, the energy of the world is focused on preparing for winter and conserving energy for the following spring. The energy takes on a much more introspective flavor, and this is generally a time to turn inward and take stock of how your year has played out. Samhain is both a somber and joyous holiday, and many celebrations reflect this dichotomy.
In honor of Samhain, I’ve collected some artwork from around the web that celebrates the holiday. None of it belongs to me; all credit goes to the artists, and links to the original are included where possible. Enjoy!
Posted by field-mouse.tumblr.com
Posted in an article by Jessica Kolifrath
Image by elwenka
Tagged ancestor altar, ancestors, art, Beltane, candle, dead, dumb supper, fertility, harvest, holiday, Imbolc, introspection, Mabon, Midsummer, Samhain, spirits, third harvest, winter
Happy Mabon everyone!
What did you do to celebrate?
I spent my doing doing some fall cleaning in the apartment. Spring is usually the best time for such activity, but it can really be done at any time of year if you have the right frame of mind. I cleaned up my new place and put things in order and gave thanks for all I have. At the Witch’s Thanksgiving that is Mabon, it’s appropriate to give thanks for the material and spiritual accomplishments of the year thus far. And today, I was reminded of all that I have, but also of all that I no longer need–which is also something to be thankful for as it clears away the flotsam and jetsam weighing me down.
Image of Autumn from blackmorgan.tumblr
Image taken from solacewishes.tumblr
So how was your Mabon?
Lammas starts tomorrow, August 1. For some ideas on how to celebrate the holiday, and for some of its history, have a look at my previous post, “Lammas: The First Harvest.”
Some other ideas I want to add to my previous list are to greet the sun at dawn, actively focus on harvesting the rewards from the goals you put into place earlier in the year, and light candles. The energy of the world begins to slow down now, though it’s still very vibrant and fresh and mature. The days have begun to shorten just a bit, heralding the slow slide into autumn. Now is usually when you can begin to harvest and enjoy the rewards from the goals you put in place earlier in the year–but don’t rest on your laurels just yet! Just as the farmers keep working in the fields to harvest more food, so you should keep working at making your goals bear fruit. The year is only half over; we still have 5 more months until a new calendar year! Lammas is a fun holiday, so make sure to have some fun and enjoy the sunshine while it lasts!
In honor of Lammas/Lughnasadh, I’ve collected some artwork from around the web that celebrates the holiday. None of it belongs to me; all credit goes to the artists, and links to the original are included where possible. Enjoy!
Image from spiritblogger.wordpress.com
Image taken from autumnearthsong.com
Image taken from lunarapollo.wordpress.com
Today in the US is Memorial Day. While the holiday has become overly commercialized with sales, sales, SALES, it is still a day to remember those who have fallen in service to the country, no matter what their position. It is a day to thank those who currently serve for the sacrifices they have made and the duties they have taken on so that we do not have to.
How many of us have held a gun? How many of us have shot at another human being? How many of us have been in or near a war zone and heard the terrifying sounds of battle? We are privileged in this country in that we no longer have a draft and there is no mandatory service for all citizens. It is a choice to join the armed forces. For many of us, we choose not to join. But there are those who do choose to fight and serve, to protect, to try and make the world safer for those they leave behind at home, and some make the sacrifice of their lives.
I, for one, and grateful that there is no mandatory service and no draft. I could not live the life of a soldier, physically or emotionally. And I can’t imagine what it would be like to have to watch my younger brothers go off to war if there were a draft or, again, mandatory service. These thoughts make me appreciate all the more the sacrifices that soldiers and their families make every day.
In the past decade, Pagans serving in the military has gained more prominence as the questions of Pagan military chaplains and Pagan symbols on headstones have arisen. We did win the right to display Pagan symbols for fallen Pagan soldiers on their headstones if they so wished, and Pagans are gaining more permissions within the military to further their spiritual practices.
For more reading about Paganism in the military, here are some links to good articles and websites:
Posted in Holidays, More Complicated Stuff
Tagged army, Beliefnet, Memorial Day, Military, Military service, pagan, paganism, Pentacle, Pentagon, service, soldiers, United States
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