Transcript
Speaker: Why do we make autumn so scary? And what can we do to celebrate autumn when we don't like to be scared? Welcome to The Twilight Zone.
Speaker: welcome
Speaker: Welcome to Mythic Mirror, the podcast for lovers of myth and fantasy who want to live magical, fulfilling lives. I'm your host, Mary C. Kehoe. I'm your co-host, Carolina Carter. And we are recording on the very first day of October.
Speaker: So what we are talking about is slightly different than most ah spooky season topics at this time because neither one of us are huge fans of being scared.
Speaker: we don't We don't like it. Nope, I don't like Halloween episodes on TV. I remember when I was little, I would avoid the TV for the whole month of October.
Speaker: I didn't want to catch any spookiness. Even the commercials were a little too scary for me. no And even if it doesn't scare you, it's often very ugly. And I just don't like it.
Speaker: I don't need that in my psyche. here Now, we are not saying that you shouldn't like it. We are simply saying that we don't. Yes. And what can we do to celebrate the season and have our own little rituals when the mainstream rituals don't suit us?
Speaker: Quiet. Quiet. You be quiet.
Speaker: Do you want to start us off or do you want me to jump in? You jump in and I'll start us off. okay I don't know what that means. All right. I'm going to start us off and you're jumping.
Speaker: That's what that means. ah All right. Let us first start with the Celtic celebration of Samhain what it, what We know of it, what it used to be, its connections to the sacred.
Speaker: And well, we don't need to get into how it looks today because we all live in today and we know. And we want to get into how it could look for you. Yeah, there we go.
Speaker: So I'm sure many of you already know about Samhain. when Caroline and i thought up this podcast, ah this episode subject, we were thinking about why is autumn a thin place? Why?
Speaker: And we will get into that throughout this episode of what that means and how cultures have dealt with that idea. And I think it's an interesting thing to point out that many cultures feel that way about autumn.
Speaker: Samhain was the Celtic New Year. They believed that night became came before day rather than following the day. So in all of their sacred days, it started with the eve, the night before. So their new year also started with the night cycle. the So autumn was the you know, the death of one year and the entrance of the new year, and as well as the coming of the dark time of winter and what that meant and how the, so the fire festival of Samhain was, let's see here, the the thing I loved about it the most and that I wrote down here
Speaker: My camera is sitting on the W key, so it keeps just putting doubles into my notes. So we've got that going for us. Okay. saw a woman like yeah hi wo in Okay, so what I love the most and what we can start with here is the Fyre Festival. of the communal fire being lit, and from that, all of the home fires were lit from that the embers of the central fire, and that everyone had put out the fire from the old year and then are creating this new fire for the for the coming year.
Speaker: um Do you have anything you want to add to that while I try to get rid of these Ws? Yes, of course. um I think you said a thin place. I would agree with that and add to it. Autumn stands as this threshold between the full-fledged heat of summer and the dead of winter.
Speaker: And with the dead of winter comes sort of the dread of the dead of winter. i think a lot of friends that I know have this profound sadness that hits them. I...
Speaker: Maybe I like to be sad. I feel it, but I also love the autumnal. Everything slows down. um But I think everybody can feel it, this threshold that you cross.
Speaker: And I think fire is a great representation of that because fire is the element that to me exists in a world in between. it can be created and it can go away so to me that is out of all the elements the one that most represents the spirit realm um the most reminds me the most of a soul you know it's like you can't quite understand it and how it comes to be and where it goes but it definitely exists um so the fire makes a lot of sense and I have more to say about fire later but please continue
Speaker: So I think one of the things that um may have gotten lost in our modern interpretation is the, cause Halloween, we've kept the, you know, putting on masks and, and, and costumes and things. um Originally I did one of the, one of the articles I was reading was saying that this was to kind of throw off the, the bad spirits and protect yourself from these spirits.
Speaker: um But I think the the lighting of the fire in this time period was more about protection and setting the fire and the hearth for the new year rather than kind of reveling in the shadow.
Speaker: um Now I'm not placing any judgment on people who want to revel, I'm just saying. The ancient people had enough to deal with.
Speaker: ah in terms of danger in their day-to-day life. ah And the other world, I think, was far more real and tangible to them than it is now, so they were far more careful with it.
Speaker: Lighting of the communal fire was a public celebration of the victory of the of light, while the relighting of the household fire marked the domestic celebration of the feast, which Now the spirits of the ancestors could be welcomed back into the home with safety and posed no threat to the household. So this idea of you can welcome in your ancestors and and the and the beneficial spirits, but only after you you focus on the protection and, um you know, so kind of setting your setting your space.
Speaker: Yeah, and I feel that sort of a modern take on that is you know, as the seasons slow down, just storytelling, you know, talking, talking with your family members about family that has passed. It's just this way, this beautiful way of drawing them close.
Speaker: um And that, you know, reigniting that spark of love and that fire of love in your heart for them um and that love you feel for them, you know, I think it is a way for them to return home.
Speaker: Yeah, I think so too. And going back to what you said about friends so struggling with the the sorrow that comes in with autumn and winter and, you know, some of it's just a lack of sunlight, but I i think, uh,
Speaker: Honoring the change of seasons, honoring the equinoxes and the solstices and these moments of transition, I think help with that because it can help us if we were trying to live in the same mindset and activity level as we did in the summertime.
Speaker: we're kind of striving against the natural cycle of nature. You know, right now things are going internal, they're slowing down. um You know, plants are going dormant above ground, but underneath they're, you know, focused on strengthening and rejuvenating and getting ready for a burst of growth.
Speaker: So there's still movement, strength and growth, but it's, it's all gone internal and it's slower And I think taking the time to honor that and key into it is a way to do what these ancient traditions did of the idea of helping the sun, helping the light through the dark time. you as As a people, you are holding on to the light of your own hearth fire, of your own heart, and and and helping everyone through the dark time. So it's it's a different, you kind of can move with the season instead of fighting against it.
Speaker: Yeah. I also like to view things in the terms of just sort of primal. And I have this theory that a part of what makes life so hard is that it's not as hard as it used to be. I think that the struggle gives you a sense of ownership and a sense of accomplishment that I think is hard to come by.
Speaker: um After you and I had talked about this podcast, I was thinking about preparing for autumn and how much of that has been commercialized into buying things and decorating for autumn rather than this sort of preparation for winter and these rituals and these celebrations um that were actually about like winterizing your space for survival more than like getting new throw pillows.
Speaker: Not that there's anything wrong with that. Without a little bit of the struggle, you don't have the sense of the depth and the accomplishment that comes with it. Mm hmm.
Speaker: So I think that is one thing that people have found, like gardening is a lot of work. Why do people keep doing it? You know, when you can just go buy food, granted, you know, the whole thing of an empty harvest and you have more nutrition when you have a good soil and, and, you know, your own plants. But that aside, the emotional aspect of it, of striving with the earth and you know in the springtime you're putting down the seeds and it's all about that burst of life and then now it's about collecting that harvest finding ways to preserve what you have grown
Speaker: yes there he is he says what what doing speaking of spookiness Totally terrifying. Yeah. and ah And I love him.
Speaker: I love to use very sweet endearments with him. Oh, come on, sweet one. When he's looking at me like Anubis from the shadows. It me laugh. Yeah. So in terms of the harvest, I was thinking just how to, you know, you and I love to talk about ritual, how to integrate this into an autumnal ritual. Yeah.
Speaker: um And instead of, you know, feeling like we have to buy things to fill that void, asking yourself just a ah harvest question of what do I have enough of?
Speaker: o What am I? I am currently reaping what I sow. So what looking at it, what have I sown and what am I reaping? What do I have enough of? And not in like too much way, but in a, oh, isn't that lovely way?
Speaker: isn't it lovely that I can have dinner tonight and I don't have to worry about it? Yeah. And not only your physical harvest and you know, what, what you have enough of and, and celebrating that, but it can also be, what have you gained this year? Excuse me.
Speaker: Okay. What have you gained this year in other ways? You know, what have you learned? ah what have What emotional experiences have you accrued through the year?
Speaker: And taking the time to think about it, like you're saying, and and really internalize what you've gained. Mm-hmm. And it could be through, you know, journaling, lighting a candle, whatever kind of a a ritual you like to create for yourself.
Speaker: But I think that is is key to not only enjoying this season and the cycle of the year,
Speaker: but also kind of slowing down time a little bit. you know um As we get older, I know I feel like the year just goes by so fast. And it's those moments when I can be conscious of the season in and do something specifically for that time does seem to give just a little breathing space of stillness in the fleeting year.
Speaker: Yes, and in the wonderful, magical, mystical world of TikTok, I did find this quote that said, if you're feeling stuck and if you're feeling like you are not making progress in your life, ask yourself, would I trade places with myself a year ago?
Speaker: and if the answer is no, then you're obviously making progress. And i think autumn is an excellent time to ask yourself that question and look back. And yeah.
Speaker: Just ah see if if you would or if you wouldn't. Yeah, I think that's a very good idea. I'm changing spooky season to primal autumn. m I love it.
Speaker: Now, on that note, should we pause for Discworld Delight? Obviously, we should pause for Discworld. Play the sound.
Speaker: Discworld Delight. Okay, Mare Mare. we yeah We stumped a few people with this one. I feel quite proud. Moving pictures. Three jolly luck takeaway fish bar is built upon the temple. Yes, the color of magic starts in the city. Retro phrenologist, you are quite good. It is the color of magic.
Speaker: Good job. Although a little more stumped than last week. I just want to say Discworld Delight. Boom. Go. Discworld. Okay. I believe, he said, i believe that we will hold the ceremony next week at full moon.
Speaker: or It won't be full moon for three weeks, said Carding. Next week, Coyne repeated, if I say the moon will be full, there will be no argument.
Speaker: Now, before I get into a rabbit hole that I went down. I can't wait. First off,
Speaker: Oh, boy. Yeah, I have a little bit of a take that I don't think you'll like because it may make someone mad at us. What the hell, Mary? I know. But here's my take.
Speaker: We can take it out if we need to. Okay. All right. So.
Speaker: in researching and reading about Samhain, I knew many things, but I wanted to, you know, research a little bit more before this podcast. And you can't help but run into the pagan versus Christianity look at history.
Speaker: And i just feel like that the the neo-pagan version that is that you read now, I think it's as detrimental as the dogmatic Christian view of paganism was. And here's why. I know, hot take. But here's why Because both of them...
Speaker: become two-dimensional. So if you look at the the Christianity that thought that everything before it was not good or um you know of the devil,
Speaker: it paints all of paganism, druidism, of you know or any kind of belief all over the world as evil. And that's just single dimension, no room for anything else.
Speaker: And if you look at kind of the neo-paganism look, it does the same thing with Christianity, of this view that the Christians coming was all negative.
Speaker: And that anytime there was a melding of belief, it was Christianity co-opting native beliefs. And if you look at other aspects and other stories in history, you see that we're all human and everyone has been human throughout this planet's history.
Speaker: So when I read about Druidic rituals and, you know, we don't, we don't know much. A lot of it is guesswork, but You know, you you have to kind of sift through the opinion of, a you know, during Caesar's time, there's war propaganda in there that is trying to make the Celts look bad and the Romans good. So clearly, there's that that you're going to kind of sift through. And then with the modern work, you're sifting through this idea that all Christianity was the same.
Speaker: But when Christianity came to um the Celtic world, was much earlier than the Roman takeover.
Speaker: So it was in the first AD that that Christians, it was even before they called themselves Christians, and they didn't have a power structure behind them.
Speaker: So there was something in their belief system that people were drawn to, that people found echoes of in their own.
Speaker: and And I think so there was a melding that was happening long before Rome kind of um solidified what Christianity looked like.
Speaker: And so I just think this, the... the having the flip of the coin of like one side's evil and one side's good and never the twain shall meet is, is um kind of,
Speaker: we lose some of the richness of of that time period of these people melding and finding balance and similarity and echoes between these different traditions and coming up with something holy of itself.
Speaker: So, you know, Celtic Christianity had a lot of It was far more open um to mysticism. to it that It held the land as sacred and the community as sacred.
Speaker: So anyway, that was kind of that's my tirade. don't know if it's a tirade, but we pack it up. You're canceled. Yeah, pack it up. I'm done. ah didn't pick one side or the other.
Speaker: Bummer. You know, I think you're right because I believe, and this was not new, even when I was in high school, we talked about just how in the past people depended a lot more on getting along to survive.
Speaker: So there was a lot more melding, whereas now people, it's more of a badge of honor to die on a hill, metaphorically speaking, because you won't actually die.
Speaker: usually no that's a very good point now i'm canceled too i hope you're happy well i am because now i won't be lonely uh yeah i i was thinking about saint patrick a lot while researching someone because that was the flame that he lit before he was supposed to because you know all of ireland is waiting for the high king to light the flame so that they can all then light their home fires And, you know, there's there's one aspect of the sort story that tells it as, you know, he is completely disregarding the sacred lineage of Ireland and and the rituals that have been held for thousands of years.
Speaker: And then there's the the other side that takes into account humans and that power corrupts. So when you have, this is what, ah this is, and this is a question for you. What happens when sacred ritual is controlled by a secular power?
Speaker: I mean, that's when you get dogma, right? Yeah, that's what I was thinking. So even though this is considered, you know, the the Druidic tradition, it is now being controlled by, you know, this, the the high king, and there's fines and laws, and, you know, you can be dragged before the king if you light a fire beforehand. And I was just thinking about that. Like, does this symbolize, you know, this is a time in Ireland where you have serfs and slaves and,
Speaker: you they have symbolically lost the right to their own hearth fire and it's kind of it's become a more of a centralized power and with saint patrick lighting the the bonfire before the high kings could also be seen as taking back that right you know taking back prometheus of him Yeah. and And that you can have your own hearth fire. You can have your own spiritual heart fire. You can have your communal fire that's outside of the control of humans in power.
Speaker: Right. Which early Christianity, that's what they were about. That's why Rome hated them so much is they believed in you know the sacred outside of human power.
Speaker: Mm hmm. All right, now for, I do have another, that wasn't even my rabbit hole. Oh my God. So your turn and then I'll do my rabbit um What I really love about you and me is we're so similar in so many ways, but we went very fascinatingly different ways for this podcast. I had written down like tips and tricks to get through the season.
Speaker: um Putting the house to bed, clean one neglected area, create a cozy spot that's not your bed for you to read and be in. during the day or during even during the evening that's not your bed so that you don't feel like your house shrinks to just your bed get firewood prepare for rest and prepare for survival go on leaf walks
Speaker: No, I love this. And as I was writing my notes, I knew what direction you were going to go in. And it it it actually gave me a sense of peace. because was like, I want that to be in the podcast. And I don't have time to write notes on both of these things. And I'm following my interest.
Speaker: And I'm so happy Carolina will... we'll cover this other find your community reach out to friends another act of storytelling I think ah have a a powerpoint night you've heard of these where you whatever you're passionate about create a powerpoint present it to your friends I think it's what the world needs right now but Yes.
Speaker: And it's what we need in autumn. I think I feel like the modern urge is to not reach out when you need something. And I think you're talking about being human. i think we should reach out when we need something and be a community to each other.
Speaker: Totally. Yeah. All right. Rabbit, homie. Let's go. Okay. I was going to ask you one more question. ah For those of us who do not have a fireplace or for people who live in apartments and can't even have a candle.
Speaker: I'm so glad you asked. Go for a headlamp walk. it safely. I think getting out into the darkness and bringing your own light is the theme. um So in any way that you can do that, I think also even, you know, they do have, I know I was against buying things, but they do have like really good fake candles now.
Speaker: So if you can't have candles in your apartment, that is a great option. I put them on top of my mantle and I light them at night and I feel very cozy. And you can also do those electric warmers with essential oils with a scent that, you know.
Speaker: Or incense is a great. Just burn away the old year and set the intention for... I'm going to think of the perfect thing right now because I feel like survival is too stressful, but just sort of thriving.
Speaker: Set the intention to thrive. yeah Move your space around and create a space where you can thrive through the winter. And I think you will find that it's not so scary. Yeah.
Speaker: And now some people I know that is why they revel in the shadow kind of side of this, of the the horror films and the all of that.
Speaker: to kind of immerse themselves in it to get through it. To me, I am simply too superstitious for that.
Speaker: You know, I think when you do believe that the other world is as intertwined with us, it brings into focus what you are inviting into your world through what you know what you place your attention on.
Speaker: So I like what you're saying about taking the time to find your own way to thrive through the winter and and you know revel in the in this time you know, the shadow or the dark isn't all about kind of what we have placed in it. You know, the the the night is not evil.
Speaker: The night holds, you know, great beauty. Winter, fall, there's great beauty to be had. and And reveling in that and holding to that, like you said, with the leaf walk and, you know, with
Speaker: noting the different time, you know, when the sun is is rising and setting and and that, you know, that your days are shrinking, the nights are growing longer. What does your night mean? Can you change something in that direction?
Speaker: in in your day's timing and ritual. And I know that's hard with work, with you know, you have set hours so that, you know, you some people have to get to work before the sun rises and and come home after it's already set. And that is kind of what adds to this this ah
Speaker: separation from the season. Mm-hmm. I think too, we've also lost our traditions. I think the modern world, like you said, we just are moving so fast. and what I've noticed in myself is there's just certain traditions that we did growing up that I'll just be like, oh, I'm too tired and I don't feel like it. I don't feel the magic this year, so I'm not gonna do it. And for losing sight of the fact that the tradition is the magic and going through those motions is what creates the magic.
Speaker: And I think it can be really powerful to look into your family traditions, ask like what your grandma did, it you know, like if there's any way for you to like get back in touch with your familial traditions, I think that can be really powerful.
Speaker: Yeah. And even if you can't, you know, even if there isn't any one now that remembers those familial traditions, you, you know, it's, it's easy to find out your cultural traditions and kind of reconnect on that level too.
Speaker: And if you pick and choose from other cultures, i won't tattle on you. Nope. ah You can keep that in the house. Nobody has to know. The soul feels akin to the things the soul feels akin to. And that's just fine. Oh, you can put that in the bank.
Speaker: Yeah. were going to book. You can also put that in the book. I like that. Going back to what you said about when you're not feeling like doing it because you don't already feel the magic, that's also where community and family comes in, you know whether it's birth family or found family.
Speaker: I think it can be easier to do those things and to kind of rev yourself up for it when you're doing it, even with a small group of people. But inviting them in to kind of create that that circle can can bring more meaning to the rituals right and this counts for a found family and chosen family obviously we're big fans
Speaker: all right so now um going into my research rabbit hole I have long loved the idea and the theory, which ah to me, I feel like it's been proven at this point. But the the Indo-European, the Celtic and India, Celtic lands and India connection, ancient India, and that people moved, you know, from India into kind of the... The the Celtic tribes, the Celtic people are are in some way akin to ancient India.
Speaker: And you can see that in linguistically, culturally. the Tuatha Dé Danann are the people that came into Ireland. What that means is the people of the goddess Danu. And there is also a goddess Danu in Hinduism.
Speaker: And all across Europe, you can see different landscapes and different, like, especially rivers, like the Danube, named after this goddess. And so at these people, as they moved through, were naming everything after after their goddess. and um Classic.
Speaker: Yes. And so Hindu... the hindu celebration of Diwali is the celebration of light or lights and it comes roughly at the same time as Samhain um And originally Samhain was usually celebrated through, you know, multiple days starting with the night before.
Speaker: And so I think in Wales, in parts of Wales, it is still um celebrated that that full five days. And Diwali is celebrated for five days. And there is a, the theme of lighting the fire, light conquering dark and protecting against the dark in the and the family and ah just that thematically it is very um similar.
Speaker: Now Diwali has to do with Rama and Lakshmi and their story, which, you know, obviously is not a ah direct connection to Samhain now, as far as we know.
Speaker: You know, this is these Both of these belief systems are thousands of years old and Hinduism is, we can research Hinduism far more than Druidism at this point. um We've lost so much of the Celtic religion and philosophy and their way of life.
Speaker: But I think that is another way if you want to kind of find your angle into Samhain, that's another way. to get the feeling of this time of the festival of lights, the festival of fire, and how across, you know, two different continents, these people were lighting fires around the same time of year.
Speaker: Pretty close, usually, i think, to the the exact time for the same reasons, you know, thematically. And I just really loved that.
Speaker: Yeah, it's beautiful. It's very human. Yeah. Oh, speaking of very human, I wrote this down. So I read this whole article or essay from the essay Similarities Between Festivals Diwali in India and Samhain in European Civilizations by Surendra Mathur, retired major, Japur, India.
Speaker: So he talks about how in earlier times um at Diwali, people would send a new year wishes to everyone and that it was their new year, just like how it was for the Celts.
Speaker: And what you said, I'm trying to find the quote that went with what you just said. It was at the end. Diwali falls on the day when the sun is most deliberate deliberate debilitated. I'm learning that I cannot read very well with context on anymore. Okay. When the sun is most debilitated, that it is that it is in its weakest form. Additionally, the moon is in its weakest form as it is a no moon night. These alignments are interpreted interpreted as the rising strength of the dark forces.
Speaker: The lighting of lamps and prayers are for the strengthening of the sun and to fight off evil forces. And the part that I wanted to say was, oh yeah, so this is this is the quote that I love that I thought would go with what you just said about being human. It is a festival that can help reemerge the mythological cultures of the world.
Speaker: And he talks about it this idea can be a thread that unites people. I love that. Yeah, me too.
Speaker: Well, Mary, what spark are you bringing to this week to rage against the dying of the light? o Well, first off, I want to give an extra spark for last week because i think we both were It very much, I mean, the the week held a lot. So what what I said for last week was entirely heartfelt and true. But I was forgetting another spark, which is a friend of ours came for a surprise visit.
Speaker: And yes yeah, I got to stay for about three days and we just had a blast. And yeah so that was definitely a spark from last week. For this week, My ducks finally started laying eggs. Woohoo! That is a fabulous spark.
Speaker: Yeah, it's been fun. I've been eating them. They taste great. people Some people were saying duck eggs were very different from chicken eggs and they didn't like them, but I don't notice a difference. so That's great to know.
Speaker: Yeah. And how about you, Carolina? My spark of the week is ah sauna-ing. I've decided that is going to be the thing to get me through this year. It's winter.
Speaker: Yeah, I was a little jealous thinking about it today. was like, oh, I want to go sauna. Oh, you got to come. It's amazing. It's an amazing. It's an amazing.
Speaker: We're good. Why do you like it? You're not going to like my answer. Since I quit drugs and alcohol, I have been looking for something that could even touch how good they felt.
Speaker: And sauna-ing is the first thing that's come close. Why wouldn't I like that answer? To be clear, everyone, like, I'm fine. yeah i didn't I didn't go off the edge that badly.
Speaker: No, you did not.
Speaker: I would say you weren't even off the edge. I wasn't even close to the edge. You weren't even close. Wasn't even in sight. Wasn't even in sight. But we knew it existed. Yeah.
Speaker: And we knew that in our family's history, people have found that edge. That's true. And they have gone off. so with that awareness, yeah perhaps, we don't even...
Speaker: Try to find the edge. No. let it exist in the yonder forevermore. Also, if you are dealing with any sort of grief, it feels like you're sweating your grief out of your pores.
Speaker: That makes sense because when you're doing yoga or exercises, especially like stretching and that kind of thing, it releases stuff. Exactly. Exactly.
Speaker: Yes. All right. Very good. And on that note, like this podcast, or if you like this podcast, give it a like. Give us a comment. Yeah. If you're listening to us, give us a review. We would love to know what you think, what topics you guys would like in the future.
Speaker: Oh, and there's a kitty cat. And the more we get reviews, the more people can find this podcast and join our found family that we have here. And as always, we are so grateful to be spiraling through this universe with all of you.
Speaker: It's not always easy, but no good story ever is.
