Saturday 31 October 2009

Samhain, Ancestors & a Parting Ceremony


Samhain is a time of witnessing the death of summer in preparation for rebirth and spring.

Samhain is a time to honour the ancestors, those that passed before us. This year, for me, that will also include descendants. To mark the passing of Samhain I have chosen to honour ancestors and descendants through the medium of felt using the language of flowers. The Iris symbolises honour and respect.

Samhain is also Celtic New Year. A time for letting go of the old year and things that came to pass and embracing the new. I wish you health, hope and happiness for the oncoming year.


Blessed Be

30 comments:

Shadow said...

happy sanheim!

Renee said...

I chose a Scotish blessing I have heard all my life. My mother is from Aberdeen, Scotland.

I was sorry when I saw 'descendant'. I didn't know. Have you lost someone very dear?

Love Renee xoxo

LINDA BYLSMA said...

What a wonderful celebration, and your felt picture is gorgeous. Our descendants had some very nice ceremonies and understanding of the circle of life.

Caio Fern said...

enjoy your Samhain dear Jasmine !!!
nice work too .

ArtSparker said...

Hope your holiday is peaceful.

Martine said...

Jasmine you may be far away but tonight i hold hands with you.
Blessed Be
XXXm

lynne h said...

thank you for this beautiful, beautiful post, jasmine... xo

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Good Day Jasmine, What a very unique and special way to celebrate your ancestors. Your wool felted project is so very beautiful. Your post are always lovely. Hugs Judy

Harnett-Hargrove said...

A calm ending of the year. A hopeful beginning. -Jayne

patricia said...

It´s a beautiful message that gives sense to time passing in its circular seasonal movement and also its elipse-like path, ancestors, deescendants, us & the earth. I liked that "language of flowers" on felt, both the realisation and the symbol.

Joei Rhode Island said...

Thank you for your kind comment on my blog. Your felt pictures are lovely and the words inspirational.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Blessed be, Jasmine!

I did not know this was the Celtic New Year - I have always felt a sense of new beginnings at this time of year - how inspiring!

yoon see said...

Very inspiring post. Thank you:)

Tammie Lee said...

Blessed Be indeed. I see you do honor this time. Your art is lovely, such a sweet way to honor.
Odd thought as I lit candles and incense last night, almost every thing we eat, even herbs and incense, the life it was born of has past. There is always a vitality of some sort, but life has past, death is a huge part of our lives and it feels right to be aware of this. Life dies, so that life lives. Cycles and circles and passing of one season into the next.

Yarrow said...

This is a lovely post, you worded it so much better than I did, that will teach me to blog while sipping mulled wine!

I came here via Ruthie's blog and think I'll be visiting a lot more :)

Crafty Green Poet said...

what a gorgeous piece of felting.

Happy Samhain

Delphyne said...

Very lovely and poignant, Jasmine. Much peace to you during this season. xoxo

Yvette said...

Samhain followed by the day of the allsoulsday (allerzielen)the day we remember all who past away last year and before and before...away but in another form, away and close by.
I think of you and your losses and am so happy you can give some of your tears to the felt.
be blessed

hug
yvette

patstudio said...

I was moved by your post today. thank you so much for the letting go reminders....and also for your lovely comments on my blog.

The Scrybe said...

I hope you enjoyed your Samhain :)

Anonymous said...

Its very beautiful and a nice way of honouring our past. And by bringing the past fully into the present, we can spring forth with inspiration, since nothing is holding us back. Everything is allowing us to go forward step by step and breath by breath.

lulu moonwood murakami said...

As a descendant of Irish stock and a latinophile, I love the connection I see between Samhain and Dias de los Muertos. I hope you had a lovely holiday, and your felt piece to commemorate your loved ones is beautiful.
: ) lulu

Ruthie Redden said...

Dear Jasmine, this is such a beautiful post, it really spoke to me. I love the first quote, if only everyone could be aware of this inner linking it would make the world a better place. I love too your idea for using the language of flowers, something i am fascinated by. Your felting is so delicate, i love it!! Wishing you love, peace & happiness for this the beginning of a new year x x x

Anonymous said...

beautiful quote and artwork!
:) and warm wishes to you for a healthy, hopefull and happy year to come x

parisa mahmoudi said...

Wowwwww,this piece is really fantastic!!!So elegant and everything are in the right way.
Have a nice time
Parisa

Anonymous said...

You are very gifted Jasmine.Beautiful, you.

salty pebble said...

Beautiful felt creations- such a wonderful blog x ;0) x

Betty said...

That iris is very very beautiful! Thank you for visiting my blog.

lettuce said...

this is really beautiful, I love Iris - I didn't know thats what they meant.

sea-blue-sky & abstracts said...

A lovely post Jasmine, the feltwork is so pretty and the Iris a beautiful flower. Best wishes. Lesley