Samhain

Samhain continues to sit in the back of my mind, reminding me that I don't yet know what I'm going to do to celebrate. At some point this weekend I'll sit down and talk with Ereshkigal and LM and ask them what they would like me to do -- but I'm also interested in my friends' plans.

So I'm asking. . .

What is it you celebrate at Samhain?
(What is the reason or purpose of your observances?)

Which deities, spirits, and/or allies do you work with?

What are you planning to do this year, and/or what has been the best/most satisfying Samhain you've ever observed?

Practice: Techniques for Consistency & A Conversation with Ereshkigal

Two weeks ago, I had a long talk with my teacher in which we discussed which of my practices were foundational and should form the backbone of my work (at least at this time). We came up with a list of daily, weekly and monthly activities, and I've created a single-page, seven-box checklist to help me keep track of how I'm doing. Each Sunday, I scan the page and email it to my teacher to review.

I've found that unless I have specific expectations and deadlines, I don't do so well with being consistent in my efforts -- a pattern that shows up everywhere in my life, not just my spiritual practices. Hopefully the growth work I've started doing these past few weeks (since the biopsy upheaval) will continue to bear fruit, and having a homework list to follow and turn in will slowly become less necessary. But for now, I need it to stay on track.

I also need to adjust when I do my practices. Late evening is just not working for me. I get too tired to do the complete sequence, especially the Middle Pillar, which I find takes a lot of effort. Hopefully it will become less challenging as I actually memorize the Divine Names, but for now, it's intimidating. And for some reason, everything I ever knew about proper breathing goes right out the window when I do it. I've been going to bed earlier and waking up earlier, which has been good. I'm slowly realizing that morning is probably when I should be doing this work. (Not typing on LJ. . . )

Last night I lit candles, did a Qabalistic Cross, then sat down to have a conversation with Ereshkigal. She reminded me that the energy practices are important, but that meditation and journeys are the heart of being a priestess (at least for me) because that's when I make contact with Her and others in a vital way. She wants my company, my engagement. She wants me to talk to Her and to listen to Her, to directly participate in Her energy and be in Her presence. And it felt good to just sit there and be with Her.

In the course of those comments, She also told me that ultimately it hadn't mattered which deity I had connected with in this lifetime. I am supposed to be a priestess, but there hadn't been any particular requirement or expectation about working with Her. That's just the way things turned out due to both my choices and things that happened outside of my control that shaped my path.