Happy Halloween

Don't you wonder sometimes what Halloween is suppose to be about, I mean, other than the fiasco created by the commercial aspect of every holiday celebrated in western culture?  

Halloween or Samhain is a

Did not have a Halloween pic. This was taken two days ago
 and it has a black cat in it.

Cross Quarter holiday. There are eight holidays still celebrated by world pagans: the fall and spring solstices, the summer and winter equinoxes, and four cross quarter days, Feb. 2 (ground hog day) May 1 (May Day)  Aug. 2 (dog days of summer)  Oct. 31.(Samhain) --  Summer’s end, a harvest festival marking the end of the year and the beginning of the dark days of winter. It is amazing to me how the pagan holidays still exist within the Christian culture. Only a few are aware of it.

 Neighbor, friend, photographer Phil and I went out on a
photo safari, Was great to walk along the river. 

This year I am recalling past Halloweens when we celebrated in a friend’s home. We didn't dress in costumes or wear masks. Instead we celebrated this cross quarter day by creating an alter on which we placed fruits of the season: gourds, pumpkins, squash, apples, pomegranates. Also candles and objects that represented the four elements, fire (candles) earth (live, growing plants) air (feathers) and water (usually in a bowl and sometimes used for blessings). Also these objects may represent the four directions.

We stopped at the Arboretum and took a few pix where we could find color.

When all was ready, we called in the four directions asking them to bless our space, then the space was declared closed (it became sacred space). We drummed and chanted and danced in a spiral. This began with a line of people and gradually the line became a circle that was tightened into as small a space as possible. Here we let go of the past (symbolically died) and any grudges or grievances we may have brought with us. Then slowly the spiral was unwound (we are reborn). The space was opened  the four directions thanked and released. After that we sat and visited as sisters while we shared a meal of pumpkin soup, homemade bread and fresh apple cider.   

Home again, spotted this ruffled Jay in the tree by my building.

It is always fun just to walk around Tree House and find birds, flowers of all makes and models, bugs, bees, butterflies to capture in the digital camera. If I miss the shot, the chances are there will not be another opportunity to capture that picture.

And here is the great Mantis attached to the outside wall. 

He/She hangs on to the wall with fine fingers that grab the bumps in the plaster

Head shot of praying Mantis. A bit leery of me and the camera.

 Roses are still blooming and the rain has brought new buds and also new life to  other flowers around Tree House. Hybrid Tea Roses, Floribunda, Rose trees and small bush type roses grow on the grounds.  

Beautiful red rose after refreshing rain. 

So that's my Halloween story and pix. When I took the picture with the black cat did not even see the cat.