Thank you, Jan, in particular for this reminder: "Ancestral memories are in you." Whether our species experienced a catastrophic event or phases of loss over millennia, I believe we carry both the joys and the traumas of those who came before. It seems quite plausible that we experienced some sort of cataclysm. Now, the details of the event lost to time, we respond to the angst that resurfaces this time of year with ceremonies, seasonal affective disorder, and greater numbers of physical departures. We blame the holidays and the darker days, but maybe it is a collective kind of mourning. Helpful to have a new lens to look through!
Wow, my perspective was just expanded 🤯 I do believe the Great Flood is not a myth but a real story and I am currently considering it as the catastrophic event that happen at the end of the previous “epoch”. And yet, never have I ever connected the last ‘end of civilisation’ with the time of Samhain, or this turn of the Wheel as such. That gives my rituals of remembrance a new depth!🌀 Thank you, Jan!
I really like that insight. Turnips, dug from the earth in the "old world" and pumpkins growing above ground in the "new world" has in some ways changed how we perceive the harvest. I like the idea of returning to the roots, though turnips are much harder to carve!
Hi Paula, I've always been comforted by the quote from Ram Dass "We are all just walking each other home." I'm so glad you found some important ideas to consider as you walk your end of life journey. It's a journey we will all take, but right now you are facing it and I honor that and offer sacred witness for where you find yourself right now.
Wow! Just Wow! There is definitely something to be said about ancestral memories. I found this fascinating. I was aware of alternative stories of the great flood but did not realize just how extensive these stories are in other regions of the world and how they tie together. The references in the Christian writings to these catastrophic events is really eye opening. So in celebrating Halloween are we indeed remembering these ancient events? It certainly seems so.
There is so much that has been lost, it's really incomprehensible. I think this is one of the reasons I love mythology and folklore so much, echoes of what we once knew are hidden inside old tales and customs.
Thank you for this information that is new to me. I will pay homage to my ancestors over these next weeks as I find some ways to view the star systems you mention. Fascinating.
This is fascinating Jan! I have never heard of the near annihilation of our species that happened around this time of year. And I’m in the dark (pun intended) about alternative histories. Can you say more about finding those. Thank you for sharing!
Here are a few people whose books and videos (search YouTube) I recommend - Graham Hancock famous for his idea that we are a species with amnesia. John Anthony West, now passed on, did incredible work with Egyptian history, Robert Schoch, American associate professor of Natural Sciences at the College of General Studies, Boston University. The two basic conflicts between alternative theories and mainstream theories revolve around 1.) whether changes on earth happened very, very gradually over millions and millions of years, meaning that geography, climate, topography are generally stable and have always been this way vs. Catastrophism, meaning changes happened globally and rapidly due to massive catastrophic events, and thus wiped out civilizations, buildings etc. so quickly and violently that little to nothing remains to be found 2.) That in the very distant past there were advanced civilizations, not necessarily with plastic and iPhones but ones that had mathematics, astronomy, art, writing, architecture, medicine, and possible power sources other than combustion engines. Catastrophism opens the door for these civilizations to have existed much further back in time and for them to have been lost, literally swept away by events like asteroid strikes and the resulting tsunamis, floods, melting polar ice etc. Super fascinating rabbit hole to dive into.
I so love that you include remembrances for the lost with no one to mourn for them. That is the work of a compassionate heart, and very encouraging to see in our troubled world. Pets also feature in my own Samhain memorials. They are such a big part of my life and I've loved many that have now gone over the rainbow bridge.
Thank you, Jan, in particular for this reminder: "Ancestral memories are in you." Whether our species experienced a catastrophic event or phases of loss over millennia, I believe we carry both the joys and the traumas of those who came before. It seems quite plausible that we experienced some sort of cataclysm. Now, the details of the event lost to time, we respond to the angst that resurfaces this time of year with ceremonies, seasonal affective disorder, and greater numbers of physical departures. We blame the holidays and the darker days, but maybe it is a collective kind of mourning. Helpful to have a new lens to look through!
Wow, my perspective was just expanded 🤯 I do believe the Great Flood is not a myth but a real story and I am currently considering it as the catastrophic event that happen at the end of the previous “epoch”. And yet, never have I ever connected the last ‘end of civilisation’ with the time of Samhain, or this turn of the Wheel as such. That gives my rituals of remembrance a new depth!🌀 Thank you, Jan!
It does kind of blow your mind, doesn't it? And it brings a whole other level of depth to the celebration of Samhain.
We tend to forget the harvest of the Roots, ever since pumpkins largely replaced turnips as the lamps of Samhain.
I really like that insight. Turnips, dug from the earth in the "old world" and pumpkins growing above ground in the "new world" has in some ways changed how we perceive the harvest. I like the idea of returning to the roots, though turnips are much harder to carve!
We used to pop them in the oven for a while then let them cool before gouging them out. 😋
Thanks for your insights. As someone facing the end of life, these comments are important to consider.
Hi Paula, I've always been comforted by the quote from Ram Dass "We are all just walking each other home." I'm so glad you found some important ideas to consider as you walk your end of life journey. It's a journey we will all take, but right now you are facing it and I honor that and offer sacred witness for where you find yourself right now.
Wow! Just Wow! There is definitely something to be said about ancestral memories. I found this fascinating. I was aware of alternative stories of the great flood but did not realize just how extensive these stories are in other regions of the world and how they tie together. The references in the Christian writings to these catastrophic events is really eye opening. So in celebrating Halloween are we indeed remembering these ancient events? It certainly seems so.
There is so much that has been lost, it's really incomprehensible. I think this is one of the reasons I love mythology and folklore so much, echoes of what we once knew are hidden inside old tales and customs.
Thank you for this information that is new to me. I will pay homage to my ancestors over these next weeks as I find some ways to view the star systems you mention. Fascinating.
It's always fascinating to discover something new , isn't it? I'll also be outside with binoculars searching the stars on Halloween.
This is fascinating Jan! I have never heard of the near annihilation of our species that happened around this time of year. And I’m in the dark (pun intended) about alternative histories. Can you say more about finding those. Thank you for sharing!
Here are a few people whose books and videos (search YouTube) I recommend - Graham Hancock famous for his idea that we are a species with amnesia. John Anthony West, now passed on, did incredible work with Egyptian history, Robert Schoch, American associate professor of Natural Sciences at the College of General Studies, Boston University. The two basic conflicts between alternative theories and mainstream theories revolve around 1.) whether changes on earth happened very, very gradually over millions and millions of years, meaning that geography, climate, topography are generally stable and have always been this way vs. Catastrophism, meaning changes happened globally and rapidly due to massive catastrophic events, and thus wiped out civilizations, buildings etc. so quickly and violently that little to nothing remains to be found 2.) That in the very distant past there were advanced civilizations, not necessarily with plastic and iPhones but ones that had mathematics, astronomy, art, writing, architecture, medicine, and possible power sources other than combustion engines. Catastrophism opens the door for these civilizations to have existed much further back in time and for them to have been lost, literally swept away by events like asteroid strikes and the resulting tsunamis, floods, melting polar ice etc. Super fascinating rabbit hole to dive into.
Thank you for this! These starting points will keep me busy until winter solstice!
I so love that you include remembrances for the lost with no one to mourn for them. That is the work of a compassionate heart, and very encouraging to see in our troubled world. Pets also feature in my own Samhain memorials. They are such a big part of my life and I've loved many that have now gone over the rainbow bridge.