Samhain/Halloween and Dia de los Muertos

Day of the Dead Marigolds blooming at MuRefuge, October, 2012

For Witches, aka Pagans, Samhain or Halloween marks a new year. The New Year symbolizes new beginnings as the "Wheel turns" and cycles continue. It is said that at this time the "veil is the thinnest that divides the worlds" thus access to the spirits of those who have gone before, including our ancestors, is the easiest. 

In the Mexican culture the first two days of November is a time to honor the dead. Dia de los Muertos, rather than days of mourning, is a joyful celebration. It is a time to reconnect with the spirits of ancestors who are presently more available to offer guidance.  

Altars are created in both cultures and laden with pictures of those who have passed into the spiritual realm. For the spirits to partake, luscious foods are placed on the altars as well as flowers (often Day of the Dead Marigolds) for their enjoyment. 

No Day of the Dead Marigolds at MuRefuge 6790'
but Paperflower (Psilostrophe tagetina) is magnificent.

At this time of the cycle I am particularly sensitive to spiritual energy of my Gramp and Grandma.

Gramp ( my paternal grandfather )
in his deliberative state
who told me stories so profound.
These stories as I remember them
are reminiscent of Jean Auel's 
Earth's Children series of novels.

Grandma ( my maternal grandmother )
whose spirit was with me when I began my
process of awakening, aka
vibrating at a higher frequency, rather than my habitual state.
Her admonition was, "do your Work now
so you do not have to do your Work
on your 'death bed'."

Fall color abounds in Santa Fe, heralding the cyclical turning and the availability of our ancestral knowledge, support and connections. All of the below pictures were taken walking about our neighborhood in which we are so grateful to now live. Halloween now has a particular impactful significance since we arrived in Santa Fe the evening before. Halloween marks our first full day here one year ago. Dwight, Shasta and I have begun rerooting. We all are feeling vibrance from Mother Earth here at 6790' as the transplant shock has passed.

Burning Bush in full splendor across the street
at the home of two devoted Catholics
who have welcomed us with open arms to Casa Alegre and Santa Fe.

 All around the neighborhood Apricot tree leaves turning a spectacular golden yellow.

The ubiquitous cottonwood in Casa Alegre sporting Fall color

And the Aspen tree, beloved by all  for its stunning Fall color.

At this time of power those who have gone before "clamor for us to make a viable world." Perhaps it is no coincidence that midterm elections are almost upon us? Are you planning to vote?

So as we open ourselves, honor our ancestors and exercise our right to vote, may each of us joyfully

Emergence

In the beginning, tucked in the dark womb of our mother, the urge struck us that we might venture out. At this same moment, our Mother tilted her bowl of life and poured us forward into our lives.

The journey begins . . . 

Flowers on Tsikumu

Are calling us.

We step forward,

The birds' wings

Fan our faces.

We step forward,

Tracks in soft dirt

Of antelope, bear and lion

We step forward, 

Our breath joins all

That is.

We joyfully step forward.

Mother of all things, 

Bless our journey

As we step forward.

Roxanne Swentzell, Santa Clara Pueblo, 2005

Since uprooting from MuRefuge in rural, residential West Sonoma County and rerooting in Santa Fe, New Mexico, I have been struck with the contrast between the native peoples and the transplants' religious beliefs and practices. 
"... all civilizations have their origin stories" says JA Jance. In Santa Fe the evidence of differing "origin stories" abound: Pueblo, Spanish and others from Mexico. The native Pueblo people's origin stories are of emergence from the Mother (Mother Earth); evolving from her center thus each sentient BEing possesses a part of the Earth Mother's evolutionary force. This sacred energy connects all that inhabit Mother Earth. Stark contrast is in the origin stories of those of European decent where the creation stories are centered around the Omnipotent, aka God, who is apart from humans with the ultimate power and influence; human BEings are subservient to this force outside of themselves.

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi on the Santa Fe Downtown Plaza and the small, tiny in comparison, churches in the countryside clearly demonstrate, to me, the differences between patriarchy and connection to Mother Earth. The Pueblo peoples have Christmas celebrations with their native dancing which are stunning and moving to take in in person. The Christmas singing in the cathedral, for me, was overshadowed by the stain glass windows depicting the horrific killing of Jesus and his resurrection. Questions came into my consciousness: How can one worship holding such atrocities? How can one honor a God that flaunts human "deadly sins" so that He can forgive the human? What patriarchy created such a brutal story on which to base a religion?

For me herein lies the difference between a religious practice (the latter) and a spiritual one (the former); and male domination (the latter) and matriarchy (the former).

The creation stories of emerging from Mother Earth seem to me to follow the evolutionary theory in which humans began as a microbe. The patriarchal religions want their followers to adhere to the belief of creation by a God in the heaven. BEing a "body" based person, the former resonates with me while to me the latter seems way out even for the most detached "head" types.

Body and head (+ heart) 

are the three "centers"

in many esoteric spiritual practices.

Prehistoric Santa Clara Pueblo cliff dwelling of Puye

Earth mother, star mother,

You who are called by 

     a thousand names,

May all remember

     we are cells in your body

     and dance together.

You are the grain

     and the loaf

That sustains us each day,

And as you are patient

     with our struggles to learn

So shall we be patient

     with ourselves and each other.

We are radiant light 

     and sacred dark

     --- the balance ---

Your are the embrace that heartens

And the freedom beyond fear.

Within you we are born

     we grow, live, and die ---

You bring us around the circle 

     to rebirth,

A Roxanne Swentzell sculpture

Within us you dance

Forever.

           Starhawk

As Murphy Brown, resurrected from the 1970's, provides laughter for the crazy making chaoticness that abounds not only in this country but all over the globe, may we all continue to

Debacle

The Congress giving the go ahead for Kavanaugh's appointment to the Supreme Court is nothing short of a debacle. I had so hoped at least the female Republicans in the Senate would see his negative effects on women and children thus voting against this man's appointment. I fear for all children, women and people of color going forward.

Since we moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, we have gotten in the habit of watching the PBS Newshour. I am no longer interested in hearing nightly about Trump and his followers in Washington, D.C. This habit has been broken for my own well BEing after flashbacks occurred over this horrendous debacle. 

To discharge all the emotions we have stored from living in a patriarchically dominated culture, may we