© Anne Vincent 2001

Samhain

It’s a glorious autumn day. The sun shines brightly in an azure blue sky. There is a chill in the air but you feel snug and warm in your coat, hat, gloves and scarf.

Walking along you hear the chattering of birds. Turning towards the sound you see a flock of long-tailed tits flitting among the nearly bare branches of an apple tree. A solitary apple clings to the branch. The cool breeze brings with it the smell of a bonfire evoking thoughts of past bonfire nights and toffee apples.

While some trees have already lost their leaves others retain theirs and are clothed in vibrant reds, and yellows, and golds, and coppery colours. The breeze rustling through the leaves sets the shadows dancing on the ground below. The autumn colours and falling leaves are signs that the trees are preparing to rest. They are casting off the leaves that are no longer required and that would be a drain upon them over the winter. As you watch the leaves falling from the branches you realise that it is time for you too to let go of the past and all that is negative in your life. You run to catch a leaf before it reaches the ground. It promises good luck and health for the winter!

The wind has blown the fallen leaves into long drifts. You scuff through them taking pleasure in the sensations in your feet and legs and the sound of the crisp leaves tumbling over one another. Your nose detects the timeless fragrance of the decaying leaves and you remember how as a child you loved to run through piles of leaves to send them scattering. And to gather them up in armfuls and toss them up in to the air so that they cascaded down around you.

Although many of the trees are loosing their leaves and plants are dying back you can see evergreen yew and ivy. They remind you that life continues and that after a time of rest and rejuvenation in the darkness of winter, buds will form and the trees will leaf again.

Darkness is beginning to fall as you reach your destination. You are welcomed at the door by the glowing face of a carved pumpkin. Inside you are warmed by the heat from a log fire. Sit and rest a while by the fire gazing into the flames.

[Pause]

Become aware of your body now lying in savasana, the corpse posture. Appearing lifeless but, like the trees in winter, rejuvenated by your time of rest. Feel yourself refreshed and renewed ready to reawaken and look to the future.