October in Ireland is the threshold of the ancient time of year called Samhain. For the ancient inhabitants of our land it was far more than the change of season, or even the festival of Hallowe’en, though that is an ancient Irish tradition too, where the division between our world and the otherworld was at its thinnest.
It also marked the start of the Celtic New Year. It was the changeover from the lighter summer days to the darker winter time and provided an opportunity for people to rest and avail of the opportunity to introspect.
In nature the world is slowing down and preparing for sleep, for a time when little energy is expended. It’s as if the whole world is breathing a sigh of relief, that it can come to a stop even for just a while.
In our modern world, no such time exists where we can take our foot off the pedal and rest both our physical and spiritual selves. We do the opposite! We gear ourselves up for the festive season in December instead of winding down. We put ourselves under pressure to have more, give more, and to enter into the spirit of the festivities, when we might be better served to remember that this time of year is for rest.
Is it any wonder we feel exhausted when we live at odds with nature? We aren’t immune to the message that all the rest of nature listens to, we simply choose to ignore it. And then we complain that the days are dark. We find it harder to get out of bed. It’s hard to get motivated and we feel like sleeping all the time.
The simple truth is that we’re supposed to feel this way. It’s perfectly natural not to be at the top of our game. It’s perfectly natural to want to eat more, to exercise less and even to put on a little weight! Every other animal around us does, but we think that we are somehow not governed by the same natural laws.
It’s the time in our year to practice some self-care. We need to cut ourselves some slack and to use the time to recharge our bodies, our minds, and our souls. It’s a perfect opportunity to gather family, to eat together and reinforce bonds. It’s a time to reflect on the year past and to see what we might want to repair emotionally and spiritually. Are there relationships that have suffered during the hectic pace of the rest of the year? This is the time to mull over how best to regain balance and strengthen them.
It may also be a time where we look at how well we are doing in ourselves and for ourselves. Not measuring ourselves against the expectations of others or even measuring ourselves against where we think we should be in life, but instead measuring our growth as a human being, a friend, a companion, a son or daughter, or as a father or mother. Are we contented with the kind of person we are? Is there a discomfort anywhere? If there is, that’s probably worth focusing on as it speaks of an opportunity to learn more about ourselves.
There is another point to make, though, and that’s not to be too hard on yourself. You’re doing fine. Nobody gets it all right and no one is doing so well that you’re failing in comparison, no matter what you think! Yes, you have made mistakes in the year but so has everyone else. The trick is to not make the same mistakes twice, or, if you’re like me, not to make them more than seven times! Take time to reflect on them, but don’t dwell there either, as that’s how to make mistakes seem enormous. Learn from them and seek forgiveness where you can. Once that’s done, let them go. Don’t carry them with you because this will make them too heavy to carry.
While taking the time to tell yourself all this, go back on the year and look at every adversity you overcame or which didn’t swallow you up. Look at the times you fell and got back up. Look back on your life and see all the times you were amazing for just showing up when all you wanted to do was run away. If someone else heard your story they would think you were amazing. If you heard someone else’s story you might think they were amazing. Yet you don’t give yourself the credit for any of the wonderful things about you.
Take time this Samhain to do more than trick or treat. Use this time of year to soothe your soul, to rest and to consolidate. Eat and drink well, rest often, and take time to watch the fading light as the world looks to lay down its weary head.
I often sigh and let out a deep breath. Sometimes it’s mistaken for frustration or exasperation but the truth is far simpler. I’m letting go of everything and the sigh is one of contentment. The word Nirvana literally means the outward breath and this time of year should be full of them. It’s another facet of Acceptance, learning to accept yourself here, today, and to accept that you are part of the natural world first and the world we have created second.
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