Bright blessings to all my readers at Samhain!
Samhain is the end of the old year in the pagan calendar and the
beginning of the new. For many, it’s a time of reflection too - of taking
stock of all that’s happened during the year, and looking forward to the
new year ahead. And it’s the beginning of winter. Last year I see that
I was writing about toasted crumpets and conker campaigns to banish
monster house spiders.
This year I’m sitting in my new home surrounded by cardboard boxes
and packing paper, gazing out of the windows at our very own conker
tree, listening to the red kites calling. We moved house this week at
the Dark Moon, a time for new beginnings if ever there was one!
I see too that it was at Samhain 2006 that I wrote the very first
Stonewylde newsletter, which went out to a handful of readers. Today
our mailing list is in the thousands - such a difference in five years.
And it was at Samhain in 2003 - only eight years ago - that I was on
that Reconnecting with Nature course at the Schumacher College in
Totnes when I had my epiphany in the labyrinth amongst the autumn
leaves, and knew that it was time to start writing after so many years
of procrastination. Eight years ago - and now I have four books
published, I’m married to the most wonderful man and we’ve just
bought our first home together! Samhain is definitely a time of
reflection for me - and also one of thanks-giving for all my blessings.
Since the last newsletter at the Autumn Equinox, I’ve done book
signing events at Waterstones branches in Eastbourne, Camberley
and Newbury - many thanks to loyal readers who came to see me,
and hello to all those new readers I met there. Mr B and I were also
very honoured to be invited to the Pagan Federation’s 40th
Anniversary Conference in London earlier this month. I did a book
signing there with the marvellous Atlantis Bookshop, and thoroughly
enjoyed all the talks and workshops I attended. I was especially
delighted to meet Prof. Ronald Hutton after all this time - he was kind
enough to endorse the original Stonewylde editions and is such a
lovely man, so it was great to finally meet him in the flesh.
I have four more events coming up this year at Waterstone’s stores in
Portsmouth, Staines, Reading and Cheltenham (see Dates for your
Diary below) but nothing for the new year as I need to concentrate on
writing book 5! I’ve been incredibly busy since Magus was published
in May this year promoting the books almost every weekend it seems,
and with the house move as well I’m very far behind in my writing. But
I now have my own study with a proper desk and bookcase and a
beautiful view over our garden and the woods - so the fifth and final
Stonewylde book will be flowing in no time.
Have fun at this ancient festival and take time to remember departed
loved ones - this has long been a time to honour the dead and the
ancestors. My children bought me a fire pit for my birthday and I shall
be burning my first fire this Samhain amongst the trees in the garden
in my own special house-warming ceremony!
Bright blessings to everyone!
Breaking Stonewylde news
In the last newsletter I announced the launch of the first Stonewylde jewellery, and the response has been
wonderful. Wild Roses runs her own web-based business making the most exquisite jewellery from re-claimed
silver. We’ve licensed her to produce Stonewylde charms, pendants and ear-rings, and the results are amazing.
There are eight different designs, based on the festivals’ symbols, as well
as the Stonewylde “S” and the Stonewylde talisman. Do take a look at her website (and all her other fabulous,
unique creations). The symbol for Samhain is the crow and hers is fantastic, with outstretched wings and great
corvid attitude! Why not build up your collection by buying one at each festival? Click here to visit her website.
A keen Stonewylde reader, Julie, whom I met at the Avebury Gathering this year, has
produced some really beautiful charity greetings cards for Yule. I promised to
mention them in this newsletter as all profits will go to the Wildlife Trust, and Julie has
kept the costs of production very low. The cards are beautiful and a welcome change
from the more “tacky” offerings around. They will be sold in packs of eight (two of
each of the four designs) at £5.95 per pack, plus p&p. They’re approx A5 in size
printed on glossy card, with the message “Bright blessings at Yule for the Winter
Solstice”. Anyone wanting to order should e-mail Julie at lee180274@yahoo.co.uk
for full details.
Stonewylde Newsletter 39
October 31st 2011
Bright blessings at
to all Stonewylders
What’s been going on ...
Samhain (pronounced
Sowain) is one of the
Celtic Cross Quarter
festivals and is the last day
of the year in the pagan
calendar. Traditionally it was
the time for remembering and
honouring the dead - a custom
found in many other ancient
cultures.
When
Christianity
superceded
the old
religion, it
became All
Hallows' Eve,
the day before
All Hallows
when the
saints were
honoured. But the idea of a festival for the dead
remained, although this has become completely
transformed by Hallowe'en with its skeletons and
ghouls, and the spiritual side forgotten by many.
Samhain is the time when the veil between the
realms of the living and the dead is at its thinnest.
Departed souls may find a way to contact the
living.
It’s a time for remembrance of our ancestors, and
those we've loved who have passed on to the
Otherworld (or whatever name you give to the
afterlife). It’s a time of letting go of the old and
getting ready to embrace the new, with the start of
the pagan new year the next day.
At Stonewylde all fires are extinguished at dawn
and people fast until sunset. A great labyrinth is
built on the Village Green, with white pebbles from
the beach depicting the cursal path. In the centre
is a wicker dome where the only fire at
Dates for your diary ...
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 12th - Portsmouth Waterstone’s , Portsmouth, Hants
I’m really looking forward to this big book signing in Portsmouth, arranged so
efficiently by Janine. The local press are running a story about our very own
Creature, the beautiful lady who runs her own hair and beauty salon, Neveah Hair,
in Portsmouth. She and her husband Brian have been huge Stonewylde
supporters from the very early days, and this summer Creature had the green
Stonewylde logo tattooed on her forearm! I’m very excited about seeing her and
Brian at this event and meeting many of the people they’ve introduced to
Stonewylde over the years. Please tell anyone you know in the Portsmouth area to
come along and buy signed copies of the new editions (great presents for Yule!).
I’ll be in store from 11am until about 3pm.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20th - Staines Waterstone’s, Middx.
This branch has hosted me many times over the years, and I’m delighted to be returning on SUNDAY to sign
copies of all four books, from 11am.
SATURDAY DECEMBER 3rd - Reading Waterstone’s, The Oracle, Reading, Berks.
This first Saturday in December can be the busiest one of the whole year, according to the manager of this
branch in Reading’s bustling mall! So I’m glad to be invited back here for a busy Stonewylde day - from 11am
until stocks run out.
SATURDAY DECEMBER 10th - Cheltenham Waterstone’s, Cheltenham Spa, Glos.
I’m excited about returning to this branch for another hectic book-signing session and look forward to seeing lots
of people at this final event of the year.
Please note: I have no further engagements booked at all as during the next year as I shall be
concentrating on finishing the final Stonewylde book! Many thanks to all who’ve supported me in 2011
at the many events I’ve attended - it’s been wonderful to meet so many of you.
Stonewylde burns, and crows'
feathers and bones hang inside
from the roof. Every member of
the community, Hallfolk and
Villager, walk this Green Labyrinth
dressed in a black cloak. Once
inside the dome they drink a
heady brew of elderberry wine and
meditate – some may say
hallucinate.
The elder and the yew are the trees sacred to this
festival, the elder as it's the tree of the crone, and the
yew because of its association with death and rebirth.
The crow is the symbol of Samhain, and is painted as the
main symbol in the Stone Circle. Carved Jack o'
Lanterns and papier mache skulls decorate the Great
Barn. At sunset an enormous bonfire is lit in the Playing
Fields adjoining the barn, its flame sparked by the one
fire burning in the Labyrinth.
Everyone dances in great circles around the fire,
symbolising the never-ending turning of the wheel of the
year. Then the feasting and dancing begin! In the Stone
Circle the Stone Labyrinth is built, along with a huge
funeral pyre. The third book, Solstice at Stonewylde,
explains all about the strange rituals that take place here,
when the Dark Angel is summoned. This is the stuff of
nightmares - and is explored further in Shadows at
Stonewylde, the fourth book.
Take time at Samhain
to remember those
who've died. This is the
day of remembrance.
Also take time to reflect
on the year that’s
passed, and learn from
it. Look ahead to the
coming winter and new
opportunities, and think
of what you hope to
achieve.
©Steve Perry
