New beginnings

It does seem odd to be starting a new project when in the apparent world, the year is almost over, but as usual, in the Pagan world, everything is slightly different. We have just celebrated Samhain, the Celtic new year, and the moon is waxing, so hey ho, maybe not such an inappropriate time after all!

Today is Guy Fawkes Night, 5th November. We took a couple of hours out from setting up the site to take Piran to the village bonfire and fireworks display at Hurstbourne Priors, which was a lovely occasion as usual. Watching the Guy on the bonfire burn, it struck me that this historical event, a failed plot on the King's life, is rather a feeble excuse for what is really an alternative aspect of Samhain, the stonking great bonfire that we all need as the sun is ever lower in the sky and with us less and less each day; and the mirror to Beltaine, the other great fire festival of the year. 

I love the way that when you scratch the surface, so many of our secular traditions are just a pagan festival trying to get out!