Lighting a Candle for the Beloved Dead - Samhain 2018

The Women of my Line: Left (of Image) to right….

Mary Amici/Latham (in crinoline) my Great-Grandmother. 1843 - 1929. Engagement photograph, 1867.

Kate Hosking/McCallum - my great Aunt. 1899 - 1929. Went to Australia to marry her beau - died in North Wales of Tuberculosis.

Lilian Mary Louvain Silcox/Latham (In candle shrine) - my Mother. 1915-1998

Lilian Mary Nankivell/Silcox - my grandmother. 1888-1955

Margaret Norris Humby/Nankivell - my great grandmother. 1866-1950

Esther Silcox - 1927-1929 - scroll/death certificate. No chance to grow to womanhood.

All on a bed of fallen leaves, to remind us that we all return to Mother Earth, to replenish Her and rise anew through root and branch

Today is Samhain - 'Summer's End' …the last of harvest time, the turning point of the Old Celtic year and the doorway to Winter. The time when I welcome in the memories of the Beloved Dead, as other traditions commemorate the Company of Saints (Nov 1st) and their deceased loved ones (All Souls, Nov 2nd). Collectively, these days are known in some parts of the world (Most notably Mexico and South America) as the 'Days of the Dead' - the Dias de Los Muertos. Much imagery abounds across the internet of the celebratory nature of such festivals - take a look - it's interesting and informative.

I follow the custom of creating an Ofrenda/Altar, upon which memories and reminders abound. Samhain is a Fire-Festival, so it is natural that we who celebrate are drawn to lighting candles…they remind me of the light that the women I celebrate brought into my life, particularly my mother and grandmother…and through them, I also feel the thread of compassion passing down to me from my great-grandmother, who lived and was loved in my Mother's memories.

Through them I have my existence - and to them, wrapped in the arms of the Great Mother Earth, I shall return.

  Kwan-Yin, Bodhisattva of Compassion, amongst human practitioners of boundless love.

 I wish you all a Blessed Samhain/All Hallows Eve - may you celebrate those of your line who have gone before you, but who still live within you and are a part of who you are. As we turn towards the dark days of Winter, 'Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness'...

Let's all be that light to lighten our sad and wounded world.

(You may also enjoy this old blog post from 2011 )

 

Comments

[Claire]

Just beautiful, Roz <3

[avis]

Yes,just beautiful, Roz! My candles are lit.

[Ardi Butler]

What a lovely tribute to the women who have helped form the wonderful person that you are. Sharing them with us is so perfect.

[Mad Englishwoman]

Lovely pictures, particularly the one of your mother.