World Time, Pagan Time and Betwixt

[Labrys]

As I mentioned in a discussion over at my message boards, we celebrate our ritual New Year at Samhain.  This leaves us at sort of an odd end on Dec 31st.

But I have been thinking about it...a lot.  About the actual time between Samhain and calendar New Year.  It is the time of preparation ....not only for the winter holiday, which is my favorite thing in the world, but for all the stuff other folks associate with New Years on January 1st.

It is when I try on resolution-ish stuff.  If I plan to exercise more, I look into what I need to do it, equipment or clothing wise.  I try it---does this work for me?  Can I sustain this?

If it is food issues, as my continual allergies almost always make necessary---it is the time I try to find the new offender, or a way around it.

If it is financial stuff---it is when I try to resolve fast fix items and make plans for the bigger ones.  It is also, alas, the time most likely to see me make plastic drastic choices on indulgence items.  This year, I bought the Minotaur husband's wedding anniversary gift early and my credit card went "Ouchhhh!"

So, in a way, Samhain effectively closes the old year for me.....but it is the brightness of Yule that opens the new year.  The time between is a elongated catch-your-breath-and-gird-your-loins "betwixt."  It is also a rest period of sorts on my main task --the Labyrinth.  Samhain is the big holy day there, but I relax a bit afterwards.  And during the Yule month, I give myself permission to not even string the counting prayer beads for the monument.  A priestess vacation of sorts.

It is nice to come to a conclusion that a real purpose is served by this 'hanging betwixt' time.  It is the time that ties my pagan time to the world's time.  It gives me comfort to be between, and after all, we pagans are supposed to be at home there, right?

[Sorsha]

So True!!

I thought I was the only one with a timetable a bit "off"  from the rest of the world.

Good to hear that I'm NOT the only one! haha

 

[Lark]

That's really the way that I have looked at it as well.  Both Brock and I see the old year ending at Samhain, but the new not beginning until Yule.  The time between Samhain and Yule to us is sort of a "time outside of time", a time to do inner/shadow work, and a time to clear the deck for the coming year.  One could think of the fields lying fallow, but in the cot the farmer is cleaning and sharpening his tools, sorting the seeds for planting, and deciding which fields to begin preparing as soon as the ground begins to thaw.


-Lark-