Samhain ~ Halloween... my rant for the day...

[RoadRaven]

Lyrics here for those interested - it is more fun to listen to the song if you can though...

Amber called her uncle, said We're up here for the holiday,
Jane and I were having Solstice, now we need a place to stay.
And her Christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang Mary on a tree,
He watched his song hang candy canes all made with red dye number three.

He told his niece, Its Christmas Eve, I know our life is not your style,
She said, Christmas is like Solstice, and we miss you and its been awhile,
So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were said,
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses.

The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch,
Till Timmy turned to Amber and said, Is it try that youre a wtich?
His mom jumped up and said, The pies are burning, and she hit the kitchen,
And it was Jane who spoke, she said, Its true, your cousins not a Christian,
But we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share,
And you find magic from your God, and we find magic everywhere,
So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
And where does magic come from? I think magics in the learning,
Cause now when Christians sit with Pagans only pumpkin pies are burning.

When Amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, Really, no, dont bother.
Ambers uncle saw how Amber looked like Tim and like her father.
He thought about his brother, how they hadnt spoken in a year,
He thought hed call him up and say, Its Christmas and your daughters here.

He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, so his own son tug his sleeve, saying,
Can I be a Pagan? Dad said, Well discuss it when they leave.
So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old, and
Making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold.

[RoadRaven]

LateLate... I compiled a CD from our collection which I called "Pagan Pride" for friends last year as a gift for Summer Solstice... not all with reference to pagans, some just about how wonderful this world is - its a folk-rock mix...

It began with Dar's song "The Christians and the Pagans" (no-one else in NZ seems to have heard of her... thanks to Joan Baez who has "introduced" to us many artists we may never have heard because she sings their songs or includes them at her concerts because she recognises their talent and wants others to know... people like Dar, and Richard Shindell and Lucy Kaplansky)

Some other songs my compilation CD also includes;
'Gypsy Fair' by Hothouse Flowers ...you'll find some freedom there...

'The Whole of the Moon' by Jennifer Warnes ... I pictured a rainbow, you held it in your hands...

'Calling the Moon' by Dar Williams (Richard Shindell also sings a good version of this) ... I promised the fields I'd return from now on...

'Golden Feather' by Robbie Robertson & the Red Road Ensemble ...howling like coyotes at the naked moon...

'Fleur de Lis' by Richard Shindell ...I adore thee Mother Mary but would change me back to a witch...

'Cup of Wonder' by Jethro Tull ...we accept your invitation and would bring you Beltane's flower...

'Solstice Bells' by Jethro Tull ...joyful as the silver planets run...

'Jack o the Green' by Jethro Tull ...he drinks from the empty acorn cup...

'Fire at Midnight' by Jethro Tull ...build a little fire this midnight, its good to be back home with you...

'Acres Wild' by Jethro Tull ...come with me to the Winged Isle, Northern father's Western child...

'Lights of Louisianne' by Jennifer Warnes ...set her dancing on the mantle like a piece of star...

‘This is me’ by …when dreams were movies god made for me…

‘Ghost Dance’ by Robbie Robertson & the Red Road Ensemble ...we shall live again…...

[latelatebloomer]

and on top of all that, you thow in Ghost Dance. I think I have a crush on you.

[mary9761]

I have always liked Enchantress by Gypsy, which I see is FINALLY available on CD. I may have to try to get it as I'd worn my tape out. "Bring Back the Light" was alway one of my favorites as well as the title track "Enchantress". "Bring Back the Light" has been used in Winter Solstice ritual several times.

[Quillfred]

Have you ever heard of Loreena McKennitt? "All Souls Night" is the first song I ever heard by her. It actually got some airplay here on the FM radio.

http://www.quinlanroad.com/exploreth...isit.asp?id=80

Several of her songs seem to fit on your CD. You can listen to songs by navigating on the link above. She is a Canadian women who rarely tours. I was able to see her once.

Hope you enjoy.

[Lise]

I briefly watched a piece on the History channel about witches. They failed to say that women were the doctors and had the healing powers which led (in part) to their demonization by the male Christian leadership.

They also failed to note that after the infamous witch burning, Europe was beset by the plague - caused by burning the cats that caught the rats that spread the plague.

It's the rule of three in action.

How wonderful to stumble upon this thread! I wish I'd found it last week. I am a midwife, and one of the things I remember and celebrate at this time of year is the memory of my predecessors who were murdered for standing up for women and children, for healing when healing was politically inexpedient.

I am of Northern European ancestry. I don't doubt that Samhein was a holy day to my ancestors, as it is to me. I work primarily with Mexican families, and have absorbed some of their traditions. I honor the divine in the Virgen of Guadalupe/Tonantzin, I celebrate Dia de Muertos. If you're ever in Chicago at this time of year, please go to the Mexican Fine Arts Museum. They have a wonderful Dia de Muertos exhibit up from late September to early December.

It makes sense to me that this is when the new year begins. We cycle through, touch spirits with those who went before, and move on to the new year. I'm grateful for the richness that learning about Samhein and Dia de Muertos has brought to my life. My sister calls me a "Polyreligion Monotheist". I took one of those internet tests, and came out essentially as I was raised--Presbyterian in my values! As Juju commented, I love it that this thread has comments from many points of belief, and all of it respectful. I bow to you. Blessed be. L.

[LBTC]

I'm glad this thread keeps rising to the top. I'm still trying to "find my voice" on this subject.

In the meantime, though, I wanted to honour each of you for your respective beliefs and for being so accepting of each other.

I knew that I hung out with a great group of gals!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Geonz]

I have Jethro Tull's Solstice Bells on a tape I made of WHFS back when it used to be the best radio station in the universe. Gotta find it... gotta figure out a way to digitize that stuff. I **loved** that on a holiday they would play half-hour sets of really, really diverse mixes and of course on Thanksgiving Day they'd play Alice's Restaurant. Now I rely on Mary Cliff at WETA on Saturday nights.