Samhain Spirits Spread
[Samhain is pronounced sah-win]
To set the stage for this seasonal spread, I am quoting from The New Encyclopedia of the Occult by John Michael Greer (Llewellyn Worldwide):
“Samhain. The beginning and end of the year in the old Celtic calendar, falling around the beginning of November in modern terms. Samhain is the oldest documented festival of Celtic Paganism. . . Samhain was traditionally associated with the spirits of the dead, who were believed to walk the world at that time. After the arrival of Christianity, the feast of Samhain became All Hallow’s Day. The evening before it, the modern Halloween, retained much of the same symbolism.”The positional definitions for this spread are inspired by the hauntingly beautiful song “All Soul’s Night” with words and music by Loreena McKennitt. You can listen to the song _HERE_. You can read the lyrics of the song at _this link_.
Fittingly, I think, I am using the Ghosts and Spirits Tarot by Lisa Hunt (U.S. Games Systems, Inc.) for this reading. The layout is in the shape of a pentacle.
I stand in darkness at the entrance to the graveyard on All Hallow’s Eve, on Samhain, when spirits walk the world…
FIVE OF CUPS
A handsome knight named Guntram dances around and around with his bride, the corpse of a castle owner’s daughter who seduced him when he took shelter in the castle [_The Legend of Falkenburg_]. The daughter slipped a ring on Guntram’s finger before revealing herself as a corpse. Even though Guntram hastened back home to marry his true love, the beautiful Liba, that marriage could not be. The ghost-bride materialized at the wedding, and Guntram embraced Liba as he lay dying. Their dance is a sad one for Guntram, as he can only seem to focus on what he has lost. I must confess, I might do the same if I were in his shoes. Fortunately, I am not in his shoes, and I choose not to focus on what I have lost.
EIGHT OF SWORDS
_The Flying Dutchman_ sails into my mind, bringing a memory of a time when I felt a loss of control in a difficult situation, primarily due to my own stubbornness and refusal to see a way out. He invites me to hop aboard his ship, to live in that memory forever. I must decline.
SIX OF SWORDS
The Babylonian demi-god hero Gilgamesh holds a light in the distance, as if beckoning me to follow him along the path he travels. He reaches out to his friend Enkidu after summoning his ghost from the grave to ask him about death. I need to think and reflect on my journey thus far, and consider where I want to go before moving forward.
TEN OF CUPS
Perfect. The ghosts of people from around the world gather on the bridge to receive honor from their descendants. The living and the dead join together through merriment, feasts, dances, rituals and parties. It is indeed the Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos), and those who have passed over wait on the bridge for me to celebrate with them, to remember them, and to experience their presence while the veil is thin between worlds.
PAGE OF WANDS
The ghost of a girl known as Acheri descends from the mountains, passing by the bridge and me on her way into the valley. I watch her pass, knowing that she brings disease and devastation. In Native American folklore, it is said that she flies through the valleys at night spreading a shadow of illness over sleeping children. She respects all who wear the color red, and children are given necklets of this color to protect them. My challenge is to try to understand the message this Spirit has for me this Samhain season. What is the story she wants me to hear? How can her message benefit me or help me assist others?
passar pela ponte me faz pensar que este espirito surge como uma energia jovial, curiosa, angelical, que te impulsiona a desbravar o que tem alem do horizonte, o que tem alem do tempo/espaço.
ReplyDeleteGoogle Translate gives me this interpretation of your comment: "move across the bridge makes me think that this spirit appears as a youthful energy, curious, angelic, what drives you to brave what's beyond the horizon, which is beyond time / space." I like that idea very much. Apreciativo.
DeleteWhat an interesting spread, I loved it. But I couldn't resist asking my tarot about your last card "What is the story she wants me to hear? How can her message benefit me or help me assist others?" I note that the ghost in your card passes by you on her journey, she is not here to bring you grief, her very passing is something to be appreciated and Tarot seemed to grasp that idea as it gave me the 9 of cups and I think her message in your reading to you is one of acknowledging what you have and taking pleasure in the ordinary, when you find joy in the today that also spreads to those around you, a benefit to both yourself and others. When your emotional cups are full they spill out onto those nearest to you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Helen! That is so interesting. Your comments reminded me of the story of the Jewish Passover, when the Lord "passed over" the houses of the Israelites (Exodus 12:13) when the first born of all the Egyptians were destroyed. The idea of Acheri "passing by" me is something to be thankful for.
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