Samhain

Samhain 2025

~ Ashley ~ 34 Comments

In the Celtic Year, Samhain marks the end of summer and the beginning of winter.  A threshold; a period of rest and regeneration before rebirth.

 Darkness grows;
An ending, a beginning,
And renewal.

Elder tree with berries
elder tree with berries

I am fascinated by trees, and the elder tree (Sambucus nigra) is considered to be deeply connected to this midpoint between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice.  There are many superstitions surrounding the tree.  One that intrigued me was the idea of not bringing elder wood into the house and burning it in the fire, thus releasing malevolent spirits.  I have recently learned that burning elder wood releases cyanogenic compounds.  These are found in the bark, stems, roots, leaves and immature fruits. [1]  Nevertheless, when used correctly, so much of the tree is benevolent to humans.

elder leaves and berries

I have been trying to do some serious drawing, finding it both therapeutic and frustrating; is that a contradiction? When I look at some of the amazing work of botanical artists like Lizzie Harper [2], I often feel overwhelmed, but that tension pushes me on. Her work is inspirational.

In the Celtic Tree Ogham, elder is the 15th tree (RUIS.R) and below is my representation of it in elder wood.

A few lines of a poem that I have been working on:

Elder

Growing in hedgerows,
Surounding grazed fields,
Fast growing Elder thrives.
In spring,
Its scented umbels
Herald the happy season of warmer days.
In autumn,
The scents are transformed,
And berries, like alien antennae
Hang; shiny, black and full of vigour,
They shiver on the air.
Green, lilac, black and purple,
The colours of this blessed tree.

Ashley


[1] https://botanical-online.com

[2] https://lizzieharper.co.uk

			

	


				
					


	

			
Samhain 2024
		

				

						 ~ Ashley			 ~ 38 Comments					

				

		
samhain 24 original




Winter

Darkness grows;
An ending, a beginning,
And renewal.




Today, we are midway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice and in the Celtic tradition this time is seen as the start of winter.  Known as Samhain (pronounced sow-ein) it is the end and the beginning of the Celtic new year.  As the darkness grows it is believed we are reborn.


If you are a regular visitor to my blog you already know that in my writing I follow the cycle of seasons, echoing the ancient spiritual pathways.  Now that I’ve begun drawing again I hope to follow the same seasonal cycle.


From reading and study, the colours of this seasonal festival are black representing death, ending and the spiritual world, orange suggesting life within death, and purple for wisdom and insight.  Here in the northern hemisphere we feel the effects of the earth’s tilt away from the sun and I hope that my interpretation of this in my sketch echoes the phenomenon.


It is a time to remember ancestors, family and friends who have passed away but also a time to prepare for the winter to come.


Ashley





			

	


				
					


	

			
Samhain 2023
		

				

						 ~ Ashley			 ~ 32 Comments					

				

		
samhain 23


Here on these islands we have just turned the clocks back by one hour, leaving summer time behind and moving into the months of shorter days and longer nights.


Who reading this, hasn’t heard of Halloween?  It is also Samhain, the end and the beginning of the Celtic New Year.  In Japanese culture, it is the season of Frost Falls (October 23-November 6).  An important time, no matter where humans are in the northern hemisphere.  A magical time!




Darkness grows -
An ending, a beginning,
And renewal.





5 elder samain


I have added another piece to my set of Ogham sticks: elder, Sambucus nigra.  It is the 15th tree in the Celtic Tree Ogham and is known as a tree of regeneration and wisdom.  It is also known as a tree of endings and beginnings.  I’ve almost completed my set of Ogham sticks and am looking into different ways to continue my tree journey.


November to March is an ideal time to plant trees.  I collected and planted some beech seeds last November and already they are several inches high.  This year I’ve planted some conkers from a horse chestnut tree.  These trees will be too big when fully grown to plant into my own garden but I’m sure others would be glad to have them, once they are a few years old.  A few years ago I grew some oaks from acorns: two of them I planted with permission on a small island in Lough Neagh so I must return there and see how they are doing.  If you would like to plant trees from seed, here is a link you might like to follow (Plantober):


https://www.internationaltreefoundation.org/


Again, I need to thank Glennie Kindred for her book Sacred Earth Celebrations.  It now has a permanent place on my desk.  Here is a link to her website:


https://www.glenniekindred.co.uk/


Ashley


 
			

	


				
					


	

			
Samhain
		

				

						 ~ Ashley			 ~ 36 Comments					

				

		
It’s the ending and the beginning of the Celtic year also known as the Autumn Cross-Quarter or Halloween.  A magical time when the veil between the seen and the unseen world becomes thin; when the line between matter and spirit is blurred.






It's almost dawn,
As the grey sky
Reaches down to the earth.

In the garden,
The rain washes every leaf
And dimples the dull puddles.

Sacred moments,
As Mother Earth reveals herself,
Communing with the world, and me.




I will be taking a break from posting here but plan to return for the Winter Solstice on the 21st of December.  However, I shall continue to read and comment on those regular blogs that I follow.  Until then, keep well and safe.


Ashley