Wild Ancestors: the Ancient Roots of Samhain
As the days grow shorter and the leaves fall from the trees, we approach the time of Samhain, a time when the veil between worlds grows thin and we honour our ancestors. This is a time when we celebrate our roots going back through the ages and connect with the Wild Wisdom of our ancestral lineage. As we prepare our altars, hold our rituals, and say our prayers to our ancestors, we are connected to all the generations throughout the thousands of years of history on these isles who also held this time of year sacred. It's a time to reflect on the wisdom and guidance of those who came before us and honour their legacies.
Samhain is often referred to as a Celtic festival, but there are signs within the ancient landscape that this time of year was important way before the arrival of peoples we would refer to as Celts. Many of our neolithic monuments, passage tombs, and stone circles around these isles are aligned with the sunrise or sunset of important times of the year in the ancient calendar. For example, Stonehenge is aligned with the midwinter sunrise. But there are also ancient entrance passage tombs in these isles that are aligned with early November, with Samhain, showing this time of year has been important to the peoples of these isles for far longer.
The Mound of the Hostages on the Hill of Tara is aligned with the rising sun around Samhain. The Mound of the Hostages is 4,500 to 5000 years old, suggesting that Samhain was celebrated long before the first Celts arrived in Ireland about 2,500 years ago. Many other sacred sites are also aligned with Samhain, including Boscawen-Un in Cornwall, the Beltany Tops in Co. Donegal, and the Grange Circle Henge in Co. Limerick, all of which are many thousands of years old. It's incredible to consider how we are connected to all the generations throughout the thousands of years of history on these isles who also held this time of year sacred.
Honouring our ancestors is an important part of Spiritual Rewilding, a journey that encourages individuals to reattune themselves to the rhythms and cycles of nature. This process involves reconnecting with the natural world, deepening our connection with the land, and accessing a greater sense of peace, purpose, and fulfillment in our lives. By deepening our connection with the natural world, we can access the Wild Wisdom of our ancestors and understand the guidance they have to offer us.
Working with the ancestors, and our part in ancestral healing, is a vital aspect of the Spiritual Rewilding journey. Our course, "Wild Ancestors," focuses on ancestral healing and the role we can play in the process. By learning more about our ancestral roots and connecting with our lineage, we can access a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. We can honour our ancestors, their traditions, and their guidance as we move forward on our journey.
As we celebrate Samhain and honour our ancestors, we are reminded of the importance of connecting with the Wild Wisdom of those who came before us. We can reflect on their wisdom and guidance, and the legacies they have left for us. By doing so, we can deepen our connection with the natural world and access a greater sense of peace, purpose, and fulfillment in our lives. May our ancestors be remembered and their guidance continue to inspire us on our journey towards spiritual rewilding.