Samhain \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Samhain Moon<\/p>\n
Frank said as he left, “Casual gatherings. \u00a0Low key. \u00a0That’s what I like best.” \u00a0It was low key, but in its own surprising way, profound.<\/p>\n
The bonfire stayed interesting for 3 hours plus, the last hour or so the result of the five four foot lengths of ironwood cut in the morning. \u00a0There will be a number more of those logs cut over the next few weeks as we prepare for the Winter Solstice bonfire on December 21st.<\/p>\n
The calling of the ancestors to the circle worked. \u00a0When we finished, they stayed with us, entering our conversations, adding layers to the people gathered around the fire. \u00a0Our group of 7 grew by generations of Fairbanks and Charles’s and Wolfe’s and Perlich’s and Zike’s and Spitler’s. \u00a0Some of us called in our tribal ancestors from those days long ago before settlement of Europe and all of us gave a nod and a toast to the Tanzanian man whose y chromosome all the men share. \u00a0Mitochondrial Eve, too. \u00a0(Though I understand that picture has gotten more complicated. \u00a0But the idea is sound. \u00a0That woman and that man, far enough back to have entered all our DNA.)<\/p>\n
Warren and Sheryl threw their names into the fire wrapped around logs from long ago cached wood for a barbecue. \u00a0When they did, sparks from the fire flew up toward the night sky. \u00a0Reminded me of Beowulf’s bier, where “heaven swallowed the smoke.”<\/p>\n
More memories gather around this place. \u00a0It becomes richer with each event, especially with the crowd of ancients who filled it last night. \u00a0Some of their spirit will linger on, remembering us and being remembered.<\/p>\n
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Samhain \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Samhain Moon Frank said as he left, “Casual gatherings. \u00a0Low key. \u00a0That’s what I like best.” \u00a0It was low key, but in its own … Continue reading The Samhain Bonfire, a bit more.<\/span>