Rooted

Earth Hart · #1 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 04:07 PM

I wrote this piece last October, for Samhain, which most of you call Halloween

ROOTED

I took root in this land some 1100 years ago, at the time of All Hallows but in me there is a memory of a much older festival, Samhain, an Ancestral Festival. Interesting to note that, a festival for the ancestors, the same as the Christian festival, they couldn't beat us so they joined us, as they did with many of our ancient festivals.

Today my ancestors wouldn't recognize the land where I dwell, in their time it was wild & free, not like now, slowly being covered with tarmac & concrete. Even I have memories of wild wolves, bears & wild boar, where are they now, apart from those boars that escaped from captivity? They have become extinct here by the hand of Man.

There are many of my kind far older than I, some far, far older than the Christians' godling son. They tell of a time when Man lived with the land, it's seasons & by the Sun & Moon. The seasons meant so much to the folks who lived then, in fact their lives revolved around the seasons just as the seasons' wheel turns through the year. First there was hunting & gathering, then, as folks began to settle down in larger groups farming began. More so the cycles of Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter became very important to the farmers, be they farmers of crops or livestock. Life in general goes through cycles, and having awareness of these helps the farmer plan his year. Where are the farmers now, who live with the land, and where are the seasons? My branches haven't felt snow on them for many a turning now.

Once I, a humble Yew, was honoured, now I have been given a dark image, just like Halloween, which is all horror, witches, ghosts, demons & devils. Where is All Hallows in this? I don't see it. Back then in the past, I was revered, the Tree of Life & Death, a tree to journey with, into the realms of the other world. For that we have been darkened by the Christ people, they cut my kind down to make their pews & other church furniture, & kept the odd one or two in their graveyards. Death being the operative word, Life forgotten. Very few people these days respect their ancestors, their past. Most look to the future but are afraid of what it might hold. And so they should be, seeing what they have done to get to where they are today.

You humans seem to have lost that most important sense of Being, the Joy of Life. Where is your Spirit, your essence, that which pervades all Life? You have lost your smile, you walk on the Land without being aware of what is beneath your feet, looking glum your faces downcast. Your governments hold you in thrall through fear, they separate you from your own kind no longer working together for the betterment of Life. They have created an us & them society. Are you with us or against us. Where is your honour for Life if you stand against each other, cannot you work with your fellow humans, to bring about well-being for all? I think not. You are too set in your ways, afraid to step outside of your comfort zones & experience the vast cornucopia that Life has to offer. Yes, you face many dangers that you have brought on yourselves, if only you had worked with the Land rather than against her. Still... that's your path.

Do you want to change the course you're on? If you do, then Samhain is a good point to start, the going down, to repose, to gather inward through to Winter Solstice with the Sun's rebirth. You too can be reborn on a new path, that will help your Mother, my Mother but most of all, yourselves. I have seen much history & I would like to see more, to double my age but I & all Life can only do it with your help. To coin a phrase, “With the going down of the Sun, we will Remember them.” Is that what your descendants, your Grandchildren will say when they see what you, their ancestors have left them? I think not, they will be asking themselves “Why the hell didn't they act quickly when they first knew what was happening to the Earth? Couldn't they see that if they did nothing we would be left with a world vastly depleted of Life, both animals, including humans, & plants?

My Kingdom of the plants wouldn't be able to feed you all in the future, if you don't do something about all your pollution & CO2 that you are putting into the atmosphere, warming up the planet. All you grain producers, beware of rising temperatures if you don't then you'll see the species of grain move northwards, the wheat belt of the US, over the next few years, will gradually move up country, states who have had the cream of the crop, will find it slipping away. Even in Eurasia you are not safe. Already countries in the Southern Hemisphere are finding it hard to feed their people, & worse is yet to come.. All because of your inaction when you had the chance to make a difference.

Samhain is all about new beginnings, learning from your past, your mistakes, moving into the the New Year with positive direction for you & the Earth. If you do not take this chance then not only will I not have a history, nor will you. For your species will suffer as well. Do you want this on your conscience. I'll leave you with yourselves as I give of myself to my ancestors on this night. I honour them with my heartfelt thanks. I hope you can honour yours & that your descendants will be able to honour you.

nightshade · #2 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 05:15 PM

Wise words, well pleasing, Will

Earth Hart · #3 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 05:39 PM

Thank you Sir Rodders, I'm glad you liked my little yarn

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightshade

Wise words, well pleasing, Will

Jez · #4 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 06:06 PM

I am blessed on farm land, today we had a fire. Cows came past by it to drink from the brook, for it reminded me of ole Beltaine. I began to feel the Earth my planet my mothers presence beneath my feet, as I sank my roots & my thoughts unravelled to how many people think the world is made of concrete!!!

You've seemed to have come back to WAB like Gandalf the white Will!

Earth Hart · #5 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 06:22 PM

Blessings to you Jez. May Mother forever guide you forward in peace & harmony with all Her Children.

Sometimes, as a Weaver, I wish I didn't see so much, it's painful but Life will carry on, whether Homo sapiens act or not.

As to me being Gandalf-like, I'm just a lowly Weaver working for Mother

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jez

I am blessed on farm land, today we had a fire. Cows came past by it to drink from the brook, it reminded me of ole Beltaine. I began to feel the Earth my planet my mothers presence beneath my feet, as I sank my roots & my thoughts unravelled to how many people think the world is made of concrete!!!

You've seemed to have come back to WAB like Gandalf the white Will!