September has been an extraordinary month of sun and still air, little has moved and time has appeared to stand still. 
Sunrises and sunsets have been spectacular.
Indeed, September 2013 will be remembered here in Ireland for the “Indian Summer,” often promised and rarely received!
Tomorrow is the last day of September.
We are now past equal day and night and on the descent to Samhain and the night of the “thin veil”…
I have spent as much time outdoors as possible, walking and watching the light play with the changing seasons.
The Celts believed in the sacredness of times and places “in between”.
The places, “in-between,” the shore and land, thresholds, night and day, life and death.
The place between life and death was honoured in the form of a wake, for the soul took time to depart and journey onwards.
Bealtaine and Samhain are in-between times, when time stands still, as transition occurs.
Bealtaine is the transition to summer and Samhain the passing into winter.
‘Tis a pity that Samhain has been so commercialized, into the freak show of Halloween…it is not to be tolerated! Samhain is a lovely time of remembering and honouring the ancestors and all those who have passed from our lives during the year.
I hope you take the time to celebrate with a gathering of family, friends, feast and fire…reclaiming our precious traditions from the corporate nonsense of plastic pollution and Hollywood freak show!
(All photos today were taken by me, in the local area around Bealtaine Cottage.)
Blessings
Colette
[…] The Night of the Thin Veil […]
[…] The Night of the Thin Veil […]
I think more and more of us are remembering and becoming more aware xx
You are a natural born story teller Colette. I love all the folk lore you bring into your blog, the mystical with the practical, the great photos that make it so alive and for me the reminders to take the time to observe the passing of the seasons and through that our connection to the earth and beautiful world of nature.
Thank you for the compliment…it’s a pleasure for me to write and photograph and great to know it’s so appreciated!
Blessings X
Fascinating read and lots of new learning for me ,beautifully written with Fantastic photos ,Thank you.
Wonderful to hear that and blessings to you X
The Celts understood and respected nature and the seasons,for them and some of us still these transitions are important 🙂
Very important that we don’t forget…
Blessings X
Reblogged this on Bealtaine Cottage and commented:
‘Tis a pity that Samhain has been so commercialized, into the freak show of Halloween…it is not to be tolerated! Samhain is a lovely time of remembering and honouring the ancestors and all those who have passed from our lives during the year.
Absolutely breathtaking pictures and beautiful thoughts! My favourite is: “watching the light play with the changing seasons.” It is also nice to be reminded about the time in between – I did my BA years ago in Celtic Studies.
This time of year is evocative and delightful for me…my favourite season! The light is wonderful. Celtic Studies sounds immensely interesting!
It is my favourite as well! Yes, I remember my Celtic Studies years with great fondness. The mythology, the history, the music, the literature. I could have studied that forever.
LOVE those photos of the still waters , plants and misty scenes…just beautiful,magical and a lovely place to be I am sure….thank you for sharing….:-)
Thanks so much for your lovely words, Robbie…much appreciated X
Colette
Your photographs are full of atmosphere and magic – Just love them.
Thanks! 🙂
Colette X
Beautiful, and totally agree with you about the disgustingness of what Hallowe’en has become. Similing at the notion you’re supposed to have Indian Summer – it’s reserved for the New World where we have ‘Indians’.
It’s a term I have grown up with and used by the Weather Forecasters here in the British Isles…An Indian summer is a period of unseasonably warm, dry weather, occurring after the end of summer proper…and lovely when we’re lucky enough to experience one 🙂
Blessings
Colette