Samhain 2024
Facilitators Alisa, Madee and Channing dressed as their chosen kin.
We cozied up for our Samhain gathering on a perfect Autumnal day last weekend.
Each year, we invite everyone who attends to come dressed as kin. This year we had animal kin, fungi kin, star kin, ancestor kin, plant kin, folk kin, mythological kin, rainbow kin as well as our inner kin. It is always a delight to share in excitement for the intention poured into every costume and expression of connection.
Cactus Kin
After spending months as a community discussing and learning about the North Western European witch hunts, this gathering provided a powerful opportunity for us to explore the question, “ “Who would we be if the witch hunts had never happened?”
The back of an Ancestral Land Shrine box, with reference to the Cultural Appropriation class available through Nourishing Kin
We infused ritual and intention into the entire gathering; through group song, guided meditation, community divination, carving root veg lanterns, honoring ancestral lands through creating land shrines and embracing this turning point into the dark half of the year.
Carving a turnip
One of the highlights of the evening was a visit from a mummer of the Western Irish tradition who challenged us with a riddle.
Our Samhain gathering ends each year with stories in the darkness. This year we had a retelling of an older oral version of Little Red Riding Hood. After this, everyone at the gathering participated in weaving a story together which contained both hilarity and sincerity as we created the tale of The Girl and the Great Heron.
Part of our Community Ancestor Shrine for the evening
We successfully welcomed the dark half of the year as a community by honoring land, ancestors and all the witches, in ways that bridge the path to our present and give us hope for our future.
Included below are the stories that were told at this gathering:
This retelling of Little Red Riding hood comes from a telling by storyteller Hannah B. Harvey. Retold at the gathering by Alisa McArthur.
This tale is a community story. Channing Parker created the foundation for the story and then it was passed from person to person in circle amongst those in attendance at the gathering.
