Last week, I wrote about St. Hildegard's call for us to co-create with her. This fits well timing-wise with the ancient holiday of Samhuinn (a.k.a. Sauin, Samhain), Halloween, Day of the Dead, All Hallows Eve, and All Saints Day. These festivals mark the end of the cycle of the year and seasons, often marked by celebrating the harvest, and remembering those who have died. The ancient festivals also celebrated the birth of the new year after the death of the old. Alongside death, there is also life.

Light the Candles, Circle them

I created my own ritual of remembrance and wrote a poem. Art as Ritual.

Prepare the herbs
Tie them in bundles

Gnarled limbs 
Of grandmother lavender 
Sweet branches 
Of sister Rosemary
Strong stems 
Of mother mint
Grasp catches 
Of Grandfather thyme
Of brother sage
Of father chive

Light the candles 
Circle them
One for each of the lost
And one for the forgotten
Say their names

Light the gourd
Pour the cup
Offer the pulp
To the earth 

Light the flame
Make the burnt offerings
Even the fire will die in the end
As will the sun

And our earth
Prepare them for dying
And welcome the dead
"Rosemary, that's for remembrance"
Ophelia says.

One by one the candle flames
Extinguish
As the stars in the sky
And the peace of darkness
Arrives

You are never alone
She is always with you
You are in her 
And you are of her
And she is in you
And she is of you.

Make the Burnt Offerings