Walking along country lanes in late September is a joy, when wrapped up warm.
The sun shines bright, but there is a chill in the air.
Colours are brightening before the leaves finally shed their food onto the earth, replenishing the soil and adding fertility for the next growing season.
Cows muster around hedges, watching the road for signs of movement, for they are curious and social animals.
Autumn walks are precious.
The colours of autumn lead towards Samhain, pronounced, “Sow-een,” the end of summer proper and the start of winter.
Many know this festival today as Halloween.
The festival of Samhain is an ancient Celtic one.
Traditionally, there were many festivals celebrated to mark the passing of the seasons and indeed this celebratory feasting and dancing was noted by other, more formal civilizations.
Such characteristics form part of the driving force which propels me here at Bealtaine Cottage.
An aspect of the present day sickness of consumer driven materialism is the alienation of many in society, from the natural world and certainly, many of the so-called celebrations of today are corporation rackets and little more!
Roman society was predominantly patriarchal and much of western civilization is based upon the Roman model of governance and living.
It is a way of living outside of the dictates of consumerism.