Samhain: Feeding the Ancestors
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Image: Samhain sunbeam in the Mound of the Hostages on the Hill of Tara
Dear ones,
We invite you to join us for another glorious Samhain (Sa-when, in one sounding) here in Coast Miwok / Southern Pomo unceded terrritory, this time in the dark of the new moon on Sunday, November 8. We honor, feast, and reckon with ancestors this season, through ritual together, song, and the inevitable mythic storytelling; perhaps you know us by now, as we weave into our third year. If you are new, welcome, whatever your bloodline, as we focus on the ~Bonny Shoals of Herring~, Euro indigenous roots.
In Celtic tradition, Samhain is the new year, the dark tomb, the womb space that the old year enters to die and the new year gestates to be born in February – a vital celebration of mystery and descent. Animist cultures around the world recognize the steady presence and guidance of ancestors. In many cultures it is understood that at this time of year the veils become even thinner and it is a time to nourish and commune with the departed ones reaching back and back.
We recognize and resist the toxic enchantments of colonialism, the dark forgetting of imperialism, the divide-and-conquer of empire that created the seductive privileges and blind spots of whiteness. To reckon with ancestors in this season, to truly be rooted in healing, for us, means facing the oft-erased real histories of enslavement and genocide that led to the cultures we swim in, from the witch hunts to the gold rush, and touch into a collective healing and solidarity that can bridge across the veils.
We aim for healthier enchantment, practical magic, re-calling stories that wake us up, root us into our ecosystems and tether us to the vast, resilient lineages that stand behind all of us. We aim to join arms in solidarity with folk lines that continue to be targeted by extraction, technofuedalism, and the greedmongers of the global north. We visit places that bridge ruptures that run back through time and ancestry, to bring the flickering light of integrity to our ghost lands, and to invoke magic and mystery together where they have been forgotten and misused.
What it is:
Ancestor feasting and altar is an opportunity for all of us to bring dishes from wherever in our bloodline leaps with inspiration this year, as an offering to feed the lines that tether us to our roots. Perhaps it is a stew that your Great Aunt dished up annually, or Grandpa’s favorite breakfast. Could be a supper you are inspired to bring back from long forgotten Polish traditions, or what nourishing treat you want to offer ancestors who weathered lean times. Let the spirit move you! As you cook, let the channels of conversation across the veil simmer and sizzle as well. Don’t forget pictures or items for the ancestor altar!
For most of us, ancestry is a complex relationship. Perhaps you don’t feel much connection to your lineage because the knowledge of who you came from has been lost, or pain and disconnection show up quickly. This is an opportunity for navigating the complexity of our ancestral lines, for acknowledging what is so and inviting healing and peace into our families. It is time for metabolizing grief, for surprise visits from our beloved dead and for gorgeous remembrance. We recommend starting with warm ancestral connections, if you have them, or allowing yourself to connect in spirit to more ancient, intact lineages. Bring it all with you.
We hope to see you all in the golden autumn twilight.
where:
Location near Sebastopol, TBA: likely either Landwell on Ferguson Road, or Green Valley Farm and Mill. Weather and other factors dependant.
when:
Sunday November 8th~
3.30 - 5 pm: community crafting and connection time; perhaps carving turnips, a la Jack o’lanterns!
5 - 6.30 pm: ancestor feast potluck
6.30 - 9 pm: song, narrative, group ritual, storytelling
Please bring:
a potluck dish, with ingredient label (local / homemade gaily encouraged!)
bowl/plate/mug/utensils/water
chair or ground cloth as needed (seating will be hay bales or ground)
headlamp
layers
items, like pictures, for the ancestor altar!
acorns and other natural items for a ritual space
SUGGESTED DONATION:
$35-$20
~ No one turned away for lack of funds ~
PLEASE PRE-REGISTER, IT IS HELPFUL FOR US
ALSO, it takes many hands to make these gatherings come to fruition. We’d love to gather a few more folks in to take on support roles (and of course no ticket payment expected for those who lend a hand) — if you’re interested in weaving in, respond to this email (the sooner the better!) and we’ll loop you in to our supporter crew. Thank you!
Dear ones,
We invite you to join us for another glorious Samhain (Sa-when, in one sounding) here in Coast Miwok / Southern Pomo unceded terrritory, this time in the dark of the new moon on Sunday, November 8. We honor, feast, and reckon with ancestors this season, through ritual together, song, and the inevitable mythic storytelling; perhaps you know us by now, as we weave into our third year. If you are new, welcome, whatever your bloodline, as we focus on the ~Bonny Shoals of Herring~, Euro indigenous roots.
In Celtic tradition, Samhain is the new year, the dark tomb, the womb space that the old year enters to die and the new year gestates to be born in February – a vital celebration of mystery and descent. Animist cultures around the world recognize the steady presence and guidance of ancestors. In many cultures it is understood that at this time of year the veils become even thinner and it is a time to nourish and commune with the departed ones reaching back and back.
We recognize and resist the toxic enchantments of colonialism, the dark forgetting of imperialism, the divide-and-conquer of empire that created the seductive privileges and blind spots of whiteness. To reckon with ancestors in this season, to truly be rooted in healing, for us, means facing the oft-erased real histories of enslavement and genocide that led to the cultures we swim in, from the witch hunts to the gold rush, and touch into a collective healing and solidarity that can bridge across the veils.
We aim for healthier enchantment, practical magic, re-calling stories that wake us up, root us into our ecosystems and tether us to the vast, resilient lineages that stand behind all of us. We aim to join arms in solidarity with folk lines that continue to be targeted by extraction, technofuedalism, and the greedmongers of the global north. We visit places that bridge ruptures that run back through time and ancestry, to bring the flickering light of integrity to our ghost lands, and to invoke magic and mystery together where they have been forgotten and misused.
What it is:
Ancestor feasting and altar is an opportunity for all of us to bring dishes from wherever in our bloodline leaps with inspiration this year, as an offering to feed the lines that tether us to our roots. Perhaps it is a stew that your Great Aunt dished up annually, or Grandpa’s favorite breakfast. Could be a supper you are inspired to bring back from long forgotten Polish traditions, or what nourishing treat you want to offer ancestors who weathered lean times. Let the spirit move you! As you cook, let the channels of conversation across the veil simmer and sizzle as well. Don’t forget pictures or items for the ancestor altar!
For most of us, ancestry is a complex relationship. Perhaps you don’t feel much connection to your lineage because the knowledge of who you came from has been lost, or pain and disconnection show up quickly. This is an opportunity for navigating the complexity of our ancestral lines, for acknowledging what is so and inviting healing and peace into our families. It is time for metabolizing grief, for surprise visits from our beloved dead and for gorgeous remembrance. We recommend starting with warm ancestral connections, if you have them, or allowing yourself to connect in spirit to more ancient, intact lineages. Bring it all with you.
We hope to see you all in the golden autumn twilight.
where:
Location near Sebastopol, TBA: likely either Landwell on Ferguson Road, or Green Valley Farm and Mill. Weather and other factors dependant.
when:
Sunday November 8th~
3.30 - 5 pm: community crafting and connection time; perhaps carving turnips, a la Jack o’lanterns!
5 - 6.30 pm: ancestor feast potluck
6.30 - 9 pm: song, narrative, group ritual, storytelling
Please bring:
a potluck dish, with ingredient label (local / homemade gaily encouraged!)
bowl/plate/mug/utensils/water
chair or ground cloth as needed (seating will be hay bales or ground)
headlamp
layers
items, like pictures, for the ancestor altar!
acorns and other natural items for a ritual space
SUGGESTED DONATION:
$35-$20
~ No one turned away for lack of funds ~
PLEASE PRE-REGISTER, IT IS HELPFUL FOR US
ALSO, it takes many hands to make these gatherings come to fruition. We’d love to gather a few more folks in to take on support roles (and of course no ticket payment expected for those who lend a hand) — if you’re interested in weaving in, respond to this email (the sooner the better!) and we’ll loop you in to our supporter crew. Thank you!
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Where is it happening?
663 Ferguson Rd, Sebastopol, CA 95472, United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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