Fáilte go dtí Tara Celebrations - gathering to celebrate our lives and all life on earth

Autumn (Fall) Equinox

2018 -  Heart & Soul : We are One - Labyrinth, An Tobar

2017 - Back to our Roots - Bective

2016 - The Underlying Balance of Harvest Thanksgiving - Tara

2015 - Sun, Moon and Me - Seomra Tara

2014 - Deireah Fhomhair - Fourknocks

2013 - Review & 'way forward' - Tara

2012 - Colin's Journey, Chrysalis Phase - Dowth

2011 – Winding Down, End of the Journey - Mornington Beach

2010 – Endings & Rememberings - Dowth

2009 – Thanks to Mother - Tara

2008 – Harvest Thanksgiving - Tara

2007 – Dream Bag into winter – Tara

 

21 September 2018 - Heart and Soul : We are One 

Venue: Labyrinth, An Tobar, Ardbraccan, Co. Meath

The labyrinth walk is one path leading you inwards, from the outer world to the centre.  You return, facing the outer world again.

Unlike a maze which is designed to get you lost, a labyrinth helps you find yourself.

 

 

 

 

Intention

 

At the labyrinth we go to the centre, to heart and soul. We seek balance, explained by our inner strength (heart aspect) and inner guidance (soul aspect) whilst being aware of our outer life and how we influence, and are influenced by, our surroundings.

 

Heart calling on core energies of unconditional love and generosity Triquetra reminding us of an eternal triple nature and many aspects of balance within ourselves

 

Inspiration for your walk

 

 We do not want to put too much guidance for people as we think each one will have their individual need to walk the labyrinth. The following may just give an insight...

 

The wisdom quest is realized by pursuing a white doe to a wild apple tree - there will be apples at the centre of the labyrinth.

 

Eating an apple you connect to what created it and what it provides. Appreciating all that went into an apple you relish the fruit as a whole, the beautiful end result. Liken yourself to that apple, realise that you are the outcome of what you take in. You appreciate yourself and all that has created you physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

 

For every beauty, somewhere there is an eye to see it.

For every truth, somewhere there is an ear to hear it.

For every love, somewhere there is a heart to receive it. Ivan Panin.

 

Speak to us our hearts, our love, for we are in all creation, in the timelessness of eternity, as much as we are within ourselves and within all beings, within earth, on earth and in the universal forever.

 

Tree - Roots Plunge Downwards

• deep within the earth, in the creative core, we find harmony and balance, as crystal rivers roar.

 

Tree - Trunk Soars Upwards

• deep within the universe, in the creative soul, we find harmony and balance, as timeless rivers roll.

 

Tree Resolves Core and Soul

• Growing certain, full with wisdom, tree withstands the winds of strife. Tree desires eternal life.

 

 

Comments from the Host, Bernadette

 

 

Autumn Equinox was so much fun and a beautiful sunset. Old and new friends were there at the Labyrinth. We went into the center, to the heart and soul, to seek balance.

 

Each year, as the earth completes its annual journey around the sun, the balance between night and day shifts. It is the time of the Autumn Equinox, when the harvest is winding down. A time for taking a few moments to honour the changing seasons and celebrate the second harvest. We were blessed with the setting sun and the blue skies and mother earth made a very big entrance, to make sure we were well and truly grounded.

 

What a funny thing happened at the Ceremony! I asked them all to bring the rays of the evening sun as a grounding - to see the rays come over their body, down the top of the head, all around and down to the souls/soles of their feet - feel mother earth grounding you. You will not believe what happened! Tara Mines let off dynamite just as I said 'feel the earth beneath your feet'. Well, talk about laughing. So you could say the Autumn Equinox went off with a bang.

 

Thank you all for coming. Many blessings to all on this changing season, warm fires, lit candles and, of course, coal fires as mother earth reminded us of last evening.

 

Pictures from the event

 

 

 

The Seven Kingdoms

 

We are on a life-long journey through the folklore, mythology, history, traditions, people and poetry of our lands. We learn, breathe, eat, drink and experience throughout our lives, consciously and sub-consciously, the influences of our ancestors, our fellow humans and all beings who inhabit these realms with us.

 

Standing at the Labyrinth centre, enjoying our internal journey, we are also standing at the centre of an external landscape. In unison we connect our energies with local and world energies in an eternal flow.

 

Similarly, standing at the summit of any hill or mountain, we have a 360 degree view of the landscape, to the horizon and beyond. Mentioned below, Snaefell is one of those places, the highest peak on the Isle of Man.

 

The following invokes the ancient and on-going energies of the Western Isles and is based on the verse The Seven Kingdoms © Bernadette Weyde

 

“Have you ever seen seven kingdoms all in one day?” “Seven kingdoms?” says you, “Aw - get away!” “It’s true as I’m breathing, not a lie do I tell, now let’s take ourselves up to the top of Snaefell.”   It must be clear like, and no clouds and no rain, when the sun’s gaily dancing o’er mountain and plain; And Manannan’s away riding Enbarr his horse, and the hillsides are clothed in the galloping gorse. (Now see here, pay attention, and let me show otherwise you’ll never know…)   The Kingdom of Erin lies there to the west, where the ancient and Shining Ones, ever are blessed. ‘Tis a land of sweet music, of bards and of song, air is their gift and in sound all are one.   And there, to the south and then to the east, are the Red Dragon people – oh that glorious beast! Long are their valleys and deep are their veins, fire is their gift that sets all hearts ablaze. The Kingdom of Alba lies high north of here, lochs are its guardians, its bens are held dear. Blue were the faces their men craft in wars, water’s their gift and all honour its course.

Now out to the east where the Angles reside, where cliffs are as clean as a white hart’s hide; Where Arthur did reign and yet will reign again, earth is their gift to the family of men.   Look up! Look up! to the wonders on high. Where stars grace the darkness and souls learn to fly. The bringer of seasons, of sun, ice and storm, these are the gifts of the Heavenly Kingdom.   And far down below where the waves kiss the shore, lays the bringer of memory, psyche and lore; Of fishes, adventures and journeys in dreams, these are the gifts of the Kingdom of Seas.   And where are we standing? Why on top of the world! so close to the heavens where the clouds dance and twirl! Spirit is our gift and in this all are kin, so bow low to the honour that is Ellan Vannin's.   Before you the Seven! The Primal! The Old! Land, sky and sea; forever betrothed. Mystical, magical, bound as a clan, and at the heart of them all is the Kingdom of Man.”

 

Remember

 

Remember you are air – Observe. Breath. Focus. Decide.

Remember you are fire – Flare. Tame. Adapt. Ignite.

Remember you are water – Cry. Cleanse. Flow. Let go.

Remember you are earth – Ground. Give. Build. Heal.

Remember you are spirit – Connect. Listen. Know.

 

21 September 2017 - Back to our Roots

Bective Mill, Co. Meath -  A ceremony followed by a Churn - the seasonal food celebration after the toil of harvest

Mulberry Roots (do not bud until all danger of frost is past, symbolises patience. When they do produce buds, it happens quickly symbolising the wisdom to know when to react and respond to circumstances.	Symbolic centre. Black candle surrounded with salt to send negativity back to its source and a white candle surrounded with sugar to encourage the flow of peace and harmony. Other items representing the Autumnal Equinox - associated colours yellow, orange, brown, and spicey scents.
Item representing Medb Lethderg (`red-side`) goddess of sovereignty at Tara. Red colour often used in supernatural forces that suggest Medb was a divine being. Name also means 'she who intoxicates', linked to 'mead'; sacred marriage king and goddess would involve a shared drink.

 

Centering – stand - rock back and forth from heel to toe – feel yourself centering as if a cord or pole connected you to the ground and into the endless blue above.

 

Feel that sacred marriage within you, initiated by the ancestral traditions and legends of the Goddess and the King, marriage of opposites, left and right, earth and sky, male and female.

 

Calling the Directions, east, south, west, north, above and below, centre.

 

Recall events of the year (since Samhain 2016)

 

Roots meditation – you will find the text for this on this link

 

Open heart contributions of prose, poetry and anything that inspires our lives.

 

Close directions – Feast and share a meal (please bring anything that you would enjoy and think others may as well -  cake, fruit, cheese, chocolate, quiche, flask of soup, etc)

 

During the evening we will also take the opportunity to have a chat about the 2017/18 cycle. 

 

25 September 2016 - The Underlying Balance of Harvest Thanksgiving

Our Autumn Equinox Celebration will be held on Sunday 25th September 2016 at the Hill of Tara, Co. Meath

 

meet at the entrance gate at 6.15pm

 

In keeping with the theme of "Equinox" (which literally means "equal night"),

 

half of the celebration will be before sunset while the other half will be in the darkness after sunset.

 

 

 

As we meet near the entrance to the Hill of Tara, our celebration will begin with a short discussion about Autumn Equinox approximately one hour before sunset. We will acknowledge how other cultures celebrated this time in the past as well as those around the world who will be united with us in spirit at this time.

 

This will be an active hour and in keeping with this, we will walk to a remote part of Tara - with an East/West alignment - where we will continue our activities in a (hopefully) quiet space. Once there, we will call in the directions/elements and open our circle. There will be sharing of harvest fruits/berries/food, open-heart contributions and drumming as the sun goes down.

 

Once the darkness arrives, it will be time for introspection, quiet time. What did we personally harvest from plans made earlier in the year? Were plans made? Why? Why not? As the darkness prevails from here on, nature winds down and so we too wind down. Outdoor activities are replaced by nights in by the fire, many people start their daily duties in the dark and finish them in the dark.

 

There will be a meditation on the theme of abundance - an abundant harvest makes for an easier winter! As there is a close connection between Equinox and the newer tradition of Michaelmas (Sept 29th), there will also be a piece after the meditation around the energy/guide/angel commonly referred to as Archangel Michael.

 

All are welcome to our non-denominational celebration and you are advised to dress appropriately for being outdoors, after sunset, at the end of September in Ireland! (Probably no harm to bring an umbrella as well...on the off-chance that it might rain). Please bring some food to share - especially food from the last harvest! Also, weather permitting we may be sitting for meditation so bring along a blanket or portable stool. A drum would be a great idea but only if you can get your hands on one. "Open-heart contributions" consist of anything that any individual would like to share with the group on the day - a poem, meditation, picture, article etc. Of course the underlying theme of the celebration is about balance - light and dark, Yin and Yang etc.

 

We're looking forward to seeing you there.

 

Click here for more of the words and quotes used in the event

 

Below is a view from our Celebration spot on Tara. The cloud is a cumulo nimbus with ancil top. A heavy downpour can be seen to the clouds base

 

 

Comments from the Host:

 

All day the wind and rain assaulted Ireland, hurtling in from the West, dropping copious amounts of water on our little country. Wave after wave it came, between periods of blue sky and sunshine. I started receiving messages about our Equinox celebrations planned for later that same evening: "not looking good for tonight", "I won't make it in that weather", "maybe head for the cover of the trees later". My answer was pure traditional Irish - based on years of study, the experience of our Ancestors and blind faith in the Divine... "It'll be grand".

 

It WAS grand as we met at the entrance to the Hill of Tara, County Meath, Ireland, where there were a few words spoken about September Equinox customs throughout the world past and present. Nine sets of pages of information about the celebration were handed out... Ten were printed but you can't win 'em all.

 

We then walked across the Hill to a series of mounds with a West-East alignment which meant, as Martin explained, as the sun set our shadows would point eastwards behind us. Lovely idea, except for the fact that the sun was behind an enormous cloud which was quite clearly dumping its contents on the unfortunate inhabitants of the Midlands. We carried on regardless.

 

Having called in the circle, we spoke about the underlying themes of this celebration - Balance and Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving for another bountiful harvest from Mother nature and also from any plans we made earlier in the year. There was a distinct balance in how we celebrated this occasion between what it meant in the outer world and what it meant to us personally, deep inside each individual.

 

As we ceremoniously shared the harvest and shared Open Heart contributions from each person present, the first hour had passed, the hour before sunset and the last light of the day. For his contribution, John got us to scan the skies for 360°. Everywhere on the horizon there were clouds visible but above us, above Tara, there was a beautiful clear blue sky. For the last part of this active hour we started drumming... Drumming the sun down. Many thanks to those present who drummed - it really added to the occasion. The rest of us stood silently, watching and reflecting. The fact that we were watching a massive cloud in the distance behind which was the sun was neither here nor there.

 

As we became lost in our thoughts and entranced by the drumming, John turned to me and whispered "it's going to make an appearance you know, right on cue". I looked at my watch, 5 minutes to sundown and then it happened... The sun dropped beneath the cloud and Tara was awash with sunlight. A magical moment. As I marvelled at this, I was aware of another person joining us. I reached into my pocket and handed her a copy of the days proceedings, the tenth and last copy available. Of course. Then the sun disappeared and we knew that from this day on the darkness would rule our days until the wheel turned to Spring Equinox.

Now was time for quiet, calm reflection and meditation. As darkness fell a reading was read out that was done for our group recently which focused on Balance - inner balance and contemplation. "Once the natural state of balance is achieved, the plateau that will give you access to the higher self will be open before you." We also remembered those "tuning in" from all over the world as well as our ancestors. I felt that that we were spiritually connected to both groups.

 

After a short meditation on the energy of what some call Archangel Michael (Michaelmas = 29th Sept.), the group performed some much - needed grounding and the second, introspective hour was complete. After some more food and drink we dispersed to hopefully contemplate in the coming days/weeks/months on a rewarding experience.

 

And from one of the participants:

 

It was Autumn Equinox sunset and I stood with the group on Tara where the ground breaks away to the central plain. Equinox the final celebration of the year. The last harvest. The last of the brighter days.

Darkness was falling and the sun set behind a towering cumulo nimbus cloud..... winking out from the gap at the base before it set.

Night had begun. Winter was coming.

The losses of the year came to mind. That of Eileen and Sonia weighed most..... I bless you and I let you go into the twilight. Thanks I give for your friendship and influence you had on my course.

Honoured to have met - your creative  company,  a blessing I  wish on the world.

Looking west the setting sun to me is a brightening dawn to others.

“Why pine for us? “ they say. “We are reborn every moment and wait here much longer and we will rise behind you, reborn in this equinox dawn.”

 

 

  Sunrise was followed by wind and rain - but on the Hill gaps in the clouds filled with blue

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following evening, Monday Meditation and Healing Circle, continued the focus on Equinox

 

 

 

Below; The full moon near the equinox brightens the harbour of Kinvara. This is the watery west energy called in opening the directions

 

 

 Thanks to Kate and Mike for these photos of their trp to Wolfville, Nova Scotia - 'Took some photos of the pumpkin people. I think we figured out the overall theme was something like a zombie apocalypse perhaps, with the emergency vehicles and people seemingly running around.'

 

 

 

 

 September 2015 - Sun, Moon and Me

At Equinox we move away from the summer's freewheeling dominant emotional and physical energies, towards the mental and spiritual realms supported by the study and introspection of winter. Our intention in this gathering will be to acknowledge the seasonal energies, reviewing the past year, then coming to the centre of our being and acknowledging the blessed life we have on earth.

 

 Centre:

God's Eye (to bring a blessing to the place and group) - felts (reminding us of animals preparing for winter), crystals (beauty of earth) - golden and silver boxes, sticks and wools

The Festival Proclaimed

I proclaim the festival of Autumn Equinox. We stand at a pivotal centre in the turning of the seasons. We stand at the threshold looking towards the extreme of Winter Solstice. Tonight each one of us shall pass over this threshold as we enter the dark half of the year.

I proclaim the equilibrium of day and night. Just as the wheel of the year is the annual timekeeper, so the cycle of the day marks the sun and moon's journey across the sky. This time of Equinox corresponds to the evening of the year. This is the time of sunset; the time of gathering, of drawing in, of celebrating the riches of the second harvest, and of preparing for the night and for the winter yet to come. 

I proclaim the counterbalance of summer and winter. The outer world gives forth its bounty, the grain is cut and threshed. And as the growing season ends and the seeds fall and sink into the dark earth to be nourished until the spring, so we give thanks for the riches of earth and the riches of our own lives.

I proclaim the centre betwixt abundance of light and want of it. Balance lasts but a moment, for from this time on, darkness overcomes light. Night's shadow gains in strength and exceeds the length of daylight for a full half year until we reach the time of equinox again.


Review of Tara Celebrations year.

Sun and Moon meditation sharing Red Jasper as symbolic of the sun, Blue Aventurine for the moon.

 

Creating a God's Eye symbol to bring blessings into our lives.

Open heart sharing.
Thank elements - Close directions - Food and drink including a spirit plate.

You might like to prepare by considering:
What has supported and sustained you physically during the year. eg. Home, food item.
What has brought joy to your heart, to your emotions, during the year. eg, a loved one, human or otherwise.
What has inspired your thoughts and ideas this year. eg. Piece of writing, course of study.
What has energised you spiritually, fired you up, this year. eg. Meditation, peaceful landscapes.
 

Marta and friends in Switzerland celebrated Equinox (Mabon) over a whole weekend.  Thanks to her for these words and pictures.

We spent this weekend celebrating the Goddess Ceres along with Mabon. Sunday we made conjure cards, money themed, because that was a specifically good day for this. Meeting Ceres was joyous in an almost bubbly way. We hadn't worked with Her before, so this was very good and also interesting. Each of us had a different experience, yet the basic was the same. Interesting! Joy, strength, love...

  

On Sunday we made cards. The cards can be very complex or then a bit more simple, such as a card for protection for a whole year (they're always meant for one year, then you have to make new ones). We made money themed ones and had fun doing that, though the energies were intense. The room heated up like a sauna, no kidding. We've had this happening before, but it's always an interesting experience. Work like this can basically soak you, it can make you run for the loo like silly lol, it can exhaust you, it can make you super hungry (we've had this in Fourknocks before, yep)... and so on. You never know what will happen and it's always an interesting experience.  The heat today may well be in connection of Sun energy, because Sunday, because the Sun works with money-abundance-energy, too.

 

 

11 October 2014 - Deireah Fhomhair

Thanks to Susan and Anne for these photos

 

Saturday 11 October 2014 - 2pm at Fourknocks -  The theme for the get together is Deireah Fhomhair - last harvest.

 

Please bring something from the list below, or just bring yourself:  Wear layers and clothes suited to the day and being outside.  Something for the centre that for you is a symbol of the autumn season (leaves, berries, home made jams). You will take this away with you.  Something symbolic to giveaway for the lucky dip. Ideas are a stone, shell, sweet, a feather, a bead, a flower.

the low autumnal sunbeams light up the doorway, while the inner light is in the dark 'cave'.	your eyes adjust to the darkness quickly, but for photography a flash helps.
a great idea, put LED lights in a jam jar, an effective symbol of our inner light and also excellent for lighting a dark space	the drum that welcomed us with a heartbeat, red bowl that contained the chaff we released, 2  stones we played together in the Stone symphony orchestra (Rock Band)... our symbolic centre
The chain of this cycle's celebrations
Seasonal food to share at the end Feast - it was lovely to sit ouside, looking northwards eating apple pie and other goodies, and to have a hot drink.

 o o o O O O o o o

On arrival open sacred space.    Meditative review of the year walking around outside of Fourknocks.

Into the cave - create the central altar. Acknowledge the four cardinal directions plus centre and place four quarter markers.

We consider what represents the chaff and grain in our own lives. What are you disgarding? What are you keeping to nourish you through the winter? There will be gentle meditative drumming to the heart beat of Mother Earth and anything else that arises for the main Designer spontaneously.

Giveaway lucky dip, symbolic of sharing our harvest.

Open heart is a chance for everyone to share their own creativity, in song, short story, dance - whatever inspires you in this season.

  o o o O O O o o o

Misty autumnal morning - looking across the Gabhra valley from Tara to Skryne

 

Marta has kindly shared these photos and words about their autumn celebration in Switzerland

We felt like combining the harvest along with the happiness of a colourful autumn - hence the *fun* items on the table (fluffies...), and also there's an altar for the Goddess and the God hidden in there. One spots it when looking closly at the items that symbolize them. Our celebrations consisted of a gathering, a coming together and celebrating what we have, also a thinking back on what we've achieved and what yet has to be worked on. And also the creating of a prosperity / abundance pouch for each of us.

 

thanks to Bernadette for these evocative photos of Autumn in Ireland

 

7 September 2013 - Review and Way Forward - Tara

Autumn Equinox 2013 eight people gathered to review the organisation and operation of Tara Celebrations.  During that meeting the eight agreed that one individual would be Designer for one of the 8 festival gatherings, starting Samhain 2013.  Each is responsible for calling where and when it is held and the content of the event.  Information is shared about this via email and this website.

22 September 2012 - Colin's Journey the Chrysalis Phase

Many thanks to Bernadette and Anne for the following photographs.

 Colin's Journey - Chrysalis Phase

At our meal, prior to the planning meditation, we were delighted to have a delicious chocolate cake, made in the shape of Colin the Caterpillar. And this inspired us to think about how, just as the caterpillar has eaten through the abundance and lush plants of summer and now creates a cocoon to live in, until it is time to transform into a butterfly, so in our lives this is the season when we close the door to the outer world and prepare to go inwards. As we move from autumn towards Samhain and winter, we are going into the chrysalis phase of our lives. 

But we cannot take everything into the chrysalis with us. Autumn is a time for stock taking, reviewing and checking the store cupboards. What is left over? What have we not used during the year? What is 'past its sell by date' that we can get rid of to make space for the fresh harvest goodies that will see us through the coming winter scarcity? It is time to release the old and return it to earth, adding to the compost heap if we have one. The store cupboards must be cleansed in preparation for re-stocking. Just as we tidy the store cupboards so we clear our own lives.

 

When we compared our meditations for the gathering we found that moving over the land in procession, symbolically from the dark to the light, to our festive joyous inner light, was a dominant theme.  We are aware that we are now moving from a time of equal light and dark into the winter season of shorter day light hours. But when we are in this dark space, we actually go within ourselves, and there we find our own light.

 

Shining elderberries remind us of the autumn harvest.	Walking between a male and female we  were brushed with rosemary, mint, montbretia for cleansing and remembering.
Welcoming all energies with the interweaving voices of male and female we acknowledge the centre, then the directions, starting at the east and ending in the north, prepared to go into the night and dark. Is that Colin in the clouds?	We make a 'dark' journey by walking in silent procession across a field of nettles to two standing stones led by a charismatic figure with beautiful carved staff.
We bless the stones with water from the Tara Holy Well, which has many names including St. Patrick's Well, Well of the Dark Eye, Well of the White Cow, Well of the Numbering of the Clans.  The land is also blessed with water, spilt out in the outline of an eternity symbol.   We pass between the stones, signaling the move from outer darkness to our own bright light.

 

We then process, connecting to our colourful inner light, down the field to St. Bernards Well.  In the trees is an elephant - reminding us that this is Elephant Appreciation Day.	In a procession of light, towards the south, we walk through a field of thistles.
A bowl of secret messages wrapped in autumn leaves paper to help identify what to  release & what to retain  for our time in the winter chrysalis.  The word chrysalis has its origin in the Greek chrysos  meaning gold.  Thus we continue the gold theme of this whole year.	Our personal chrysalis - symbolised by standing in a hula hoop delineating our own space, and wrapping up in colourful scarves.
We sang to acknowledge the elements of earth, air, fire and water and circle danced. Cerys enjoyed jumping through the hoop.

 

Sharing our inspirations with Open Heart contributions, one participant read St. Patrick's Breastplate.

 

We finished with tea, biscuits and flapjack.  There was a relaxed contentment in the air, with buzzards circling overhead.

 

The name Dowth derives from the Irish Dubhadh, which means 'darkness'. Once all our plans were agreed we thought to find out what the name Colin means and were surprised to discover this also has a meaning of 'dark', from the Old Norse name Koli.  We now understood why Colin had joined us for the meal and to inspire the gathering.

 

If you cannot make it to Dowth in person, you might like to light a candle on the 22nd and join with us 'in spirit'.

 

Clearing the Email list - Every year Tara Celebrations has its own clearing of the stock cupboard by closing and deleting the e-mail list. If you like what we do and how we do it, and would like to keep in touch, all you have to do is reply to this email – no need to add a message. This is your commitment to the group that you have an active interest in a living energetic process.  You can also click here.

 

All blessings from the Equinox team of Anne, Tom, Bernie, Bernadette, John and Nora.

   

24 September 2011 - Winding Down, The End of the Journey

Gurbh maith agat for each and every one of you who have signed up for our e-mail notifications over the course of the year, those who tune in at a distance- literally from all over the world, those that travel to the celebrations and those that find it inspirational and fun. We have received much warm feedback and have had people plan their foreign holidays around the celebrations, so that we know we must be doing something right.

Autumnal Equinox Blessings to all - Its Lughnasadh Equinox and a time for natural endings and as such it is our last Celebration of the year before our re-emergence at Samhain at the start of the next Celtic cycle.

 

 Mornington Beach, Co. Louth

 

What’s Happening in Nature

Autumnal Equinox, Sun in Libra, Moon in Leo with Chiron rising, Day and Night of equal length, but from this point onward Night shall have the upper hand. The nights will get longer than the days. The temperature will get colder and the plants will start to die back, but give a grand finale of the autumnal colours. Harvest predominates the agricultural year and we can settle into the leaner, harsher times of winter living off the harvest of the Autumn. Of course those in the Southern Hemisphere have summer to look forward to.

 

Deletion of E-mail list

By the time you read this we will have closed and deleted the e-mail list. If you like what we did and how we did it you can always put in the effort to sign up again, this is your commitment to the group that you have an active interest in a living energetic process. All you have to do is send an e-mail to: martin.dier@gmail.com be included on the 2011-2012 list. (Simple!)

 

Underlying energies

Autumn Equinox is a time for recall, reflection, remembering . A time when we pause to consider in the light of mature recollection how we have invested our time and energy in; family, projects, relationships, social activities, education and improvements. It is a time to harvest that which has been productive for us and a time to remove the chaff from the kernel truth of our experiences. It gives us time to reconsider where we are investing energy and where we are going, especially since we are heading into lean and challenging times. Everything that is false will be challenged to pass away . It is a time for testing what we are made from, gathering the great delights of our soul and being grateful for all that we have experienced over the last 12 months. So our celebration this year will focus on Release and Gratefulness.

 

Overview of the Celebration

We will meet on Mornington beach, where the River Boyne ends her great journey, at 6pm, close to the turning of the tide. (But why not join us for a picnic at 5pm prior to the celebration).

 

Gratefulness and Remembering:

There we will bring the fruits of the harvest to the centre of our circle acknowledging the time of season of the year within as well as without. We will remember our Journey through the Year as a group, marking on the sand each Tara Celebration as a picture or symbol that we are acknowledging and release to the universe.

 

 

Release:

Then conscious that we are individuals as well as a group we will each draw our own individual human sized spirals and within them we shall mark each unresolved situation within us. We do this by drawing a tightening spiral to signify that we are turning off energy to this unproductive issue. We will then gather water from the River Boyne and symbolically wash away some of the mini spirals leaving the rising tide and the Grace of the God(ess) to totally transform and erase all our unresolved energies.

 

Open Heart – Everyone then gets a chance to share something of themselves perhaps in word, song, or artistic expression - ideas that have inspired them during the year.

Celebration: We will then come together as a group to celebrate with food and fun our endings to better enable us to celebrate the cycles of our lives.

 

Le Grá agus Solas - With Love and Light

The Tara Celebrations Team - www.TaraCelebrations.org

 

 

 

 

Buíochas - Thank you - to everyone who came, participated and helped out-  Anne in the taking of pictures, John and Eileen in the food preperation and All who sat through a night of brainstorming to hammer out what was a beautiful spirit filled celebration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diary Dates

• 24^th Sept, Mornington Beach, Co. Louth.   5pm Picnic on the beach,

 6pm Tara Celebrations: “ Winding Down – The End of the Journey”,

• 28th Sept, “Saltwater Scribblers Talk” Illustrated lecture on Journey through the Celtic year, Drogheda
• 29^th Sept, “Quantum Leaps”  Life Changing programme, Headfort Arms Hotel Kells 7.30pm
• 1stOct “Be the Change” Dalgan Park 9.30am Tel 087 6760157 / meathbethechange@yahoo.ie, www.bethechange.org.uk
• 6^th  November -  Tara Celebrations -  Samhain ....details to be announced
• 11 Nov - 11:11 on Tara .....details to be announced
• 3-4 December – Holistic Pulsing Pulsing Weekend , An Tobar, €200 Learn how to gently rocked at rhythms close to the foetal heartbeat (120-160 beats per minute). The technique involves using both large and small movements as well as stretching and kneading.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owwD9j7pF0k
• On going - Monday meditations
• As of now - email list closed .Click here or send an e-mail to go onto the 2011-2012 list

Directions

Driving from the south pass through Bettystown and into Mornington with golf course and sea on right. At the first sharp left bend take the right hand road towards the beach.  Pass under the height bar into the car parking area.  If you get to the Texaco / Centra on the right you have gone too far.

Driving from the north, as you enter the housing area at Mornington you will see the Tower on your left.  Continue past the Texaco / Centra and where the road takes a sharp right you continue straight on, under the height bar and into the parking area.

Car parking area [circled] - this has large and deep potholes so drive with caution.  After the height bar, there is a large black domed construction surrounded by railings and with metal ladder, and one storey buildings, on the right side of the road.  You can park amongst the sand dunes in this area. But hide any valuables out of sight. (map attached)

 

21 September 2010 - Endings & Rememberings - Dowth

Many thanks to Anne, Bernadette and Sean for the photos.....

Walking past Dowth monument we arrived in the natural amphitheatre of St. Bernard's Well

 

Grasshopper was kind enough to share his corner of the field with us.

End of the year

In the modern world we usually assume that the day begins with dawn and ends with dusk.  However for the Celts we know that they believed that night preveded the dayand they started the timing of their days at night.  Similarly they believe that the year was born out of the darkness of winter so Samhain was their New Year.  That makes Autumn (Lughnasadh) Equinox the end of the celebratory year.  A carry over from that tradition is still with us everytime we celebrate things like Christmas Eve, Halloween or Hallowed Eve, Mid Summer Eve or St. John's Eve.

• We have come full circle through the wheel of the year and this time last year we were on the Hill of Tara and constructed a wheel of the year mandala, remembering the previous year's activities.  Brigid met with the Cailleach on equal terms and John gave us a colourful leaf blessing

• Samhain was celebrated at Dowth with some prickly gorse bushes!  We remembered the web of life of which we are all part, our ancestors, our inner dead selves represented by grotesque masks, and new beginnings, by burning the masks, releasing that which no longer serves

• Winter (Samhain) Solstice was so intensely cold we had to postpone the intended celebration on Tara and do it two weeks later on a smaller scale.  But we did celebrated and had a bon fire with magical blue flames thanks to some modern Druid alchemy

• Imbolc saw us return to Fourknocks, one of the most magical places on the planet, where we considered liminal space and participants were challend with riddles before entering into the cairn.  We drummed, danced and listened intently.  The Cailleach stripped off and transformed into the virgin Brigit, bringing with her the promise of fertility and growth.

• Imbolc Equinox celebration took place at Ardmulchan where we expereienced th polarity of malign and beneficent energies and chosse to rebalance ourselves in the positive.  Under the trees we listened to the River Boyne, built a mandala of branches, did a dance of balance, listened to a story of Lent in the 1930s, meditated on balance and blew bubbles thanking our past and welcoming the future.

• Bealtaine was an amazing journey over the Hill of Tara through the four quarters led by candle bearers with the golden apple of the sun and the silver apple of the moon.  We knocked on the fairy mounds to encourage the spring energies to awaken, gifted water to our mother earth and stood surrounded by the riotous gorse and had a powerful “clash of the ash” to let us know summer was on the way.

• Bealtaine Summer Solstice was a peach of a day. We entered the sacred space of St. John’s well  through summer herbs and a gong.  Celebrating summer we created a flower and herb mandala set into the petals of a St. John’s Cross, meditated in the peace of our surroundings, danced a circle dance based on the opening of a sun flower, and finished with ice cream!

• For Lughnasadh we celebrated pattern, pilgrimage and pleasure by drawing a giant triscle on the beach at Port and used it like a labyrinth. Keeping in the spirit of the three we picked out  some of the wisdom of the Irish triads.

Some of the folded up banners that were untied for the end of the ritual, Brigit puts on her dark winter cloak and begins her transition to the Cailleach. The scales (Sun now in Libra) reminds us of the balance of night and day, Anne had a bottle of Florida water in there and Conquers were threaded for a match in which the ultimate prize was the golden conquer. There's also a flowery head band, some crystals, nuts, seasonal fruits and water collected from St. Kierans  well near Carnaross.

 

The broad theme of this celebration is endings and re-memberings. When we choose one course of action over another we end the possibilities of the other.

When we harvest the food from our gardens we end the growth and ripening and end the time we spent caring for the crops wellbeing. We also take time to re-member or to re-collect scattered memories from our past so that we may “live and journey here”.  This is why in this celebration we will be calling in the direction or energy of “Time” .

 

After calling in or re-membering the directions we will construct a radial pattern  with coloured cloth to represent each of the eight  celebrations, gathering in the energy of that celebration.  A meditation and poem should assist in this. Berni will prepare a dark winter cloak for the Bridóg who will end being the fertile woman persona and will start to embody more of the Cailleach persona.  Then we will do a simple anti-clockwise circle dance and push the energy deep under ground in complete reversal to what we did for the summer solstice.  This time of the year also presents us with obstacles so we will represent that by playing a conquer tournament and then invite people to harvest their own minds to share memories of the past.  If you cannot be there in person we can of course read out, on your behalf, anything you wish to send via e-mail saying why it is important to you.

  

  

Let the games begin.......                and the prize is......               a golden conker          

 

 

The Symbol:  

This year the symbol that arose spontaneously and essentially instantly

was based on the idea of the number 8 ,with the upper worlds being mirrored

on earth, and on the 8 spokes of the (pre) Celtic year. Combining these

concepts (on the 8^th Sept) brought out this symbol based on simple shapes

which include;

 

The sun, the closing of the sun flower, the rotary blades of a combine harvester, the balance at this time of year between the day and night, sun rising and setting directly opposite each other on the horizon line, Brigit with plats in her hair opposite the Cailleach also in plats, yin and yang, 8 celebrations of the year, cycle of the moon, At least 12 sickles,  The eyes open , The eyes closed, amongst other things.

 

 

Doing the circle dance of the year to Pachelbel's Canon in D

touching the earth with love and the ritual center

 Unfurling the spokes of the 8 fold year to become flags

 

 Many thanks to  Davide and Stefania for sharing this verse at the celebration: 

Oh Grano Maturo  Oh, Ripe Grain

Nella terra di primavera sei stato protetto, oh grano,  In the land of Spring you have been protected, oh grain,

nel sole d'estate sei diventato maturo, of grano,  in the summer sun you became mature, oh grain,

tra cielo e terra sospeso per una vita, grano maturo,  between heaven and earth for a life, ripe grain,

oggi noi ti raccognliamo per l'ultima volta.  today we will gather you for the last time.

 

Brighit, madre della primavera tuo figlio trovera il suo cammino,  Brighit, mother of spring your son will find his way,

Lugh, padre dell'estate il tuo seme trovera il suo cammino,  Lugh, father of the summer, your seed will find its way,

tra cielo e terra sospeso per una vita, grano maturo,  between heaven and earth for a life, ripe grain,

oggi noi ti raccogliamo per l'ultima volta.  today we will gather you for the last time.

 

Accompagnaci nell'inverno, tramutati in cibo,   Guide us in the winter, turned into food,

letto e tetto per le nostre case,    bed and roof for our houses,

portaci le gioie che porta un bambino in casa,  bring the joys of carrying a baby in the house,

cresci con noi diventa uomo, oh grano.  grow with us, becomes a man, oh grain.

 

 The entrance gates onto Dowth.  In our ceremony we remembered to 'knock at the door', as you would when visiting friends or neighbours,

before entering the space where we were to hold the gathering.   In spiritual terms you might say that we were connecting to the guardians and spirits of the place asking for permis

 

sion to enter. 

	A short ode to endings…   The summer ends; the fall begins Not all my chores are done. I’ve tried and tried My best besides to start the season done. But alas, alack, summer’s now past The autumn begins a new.
The leaves will fall The rake will come out And jumping the piles will begin by Edaine one of our distance celebrators

20 September 2009 - Thanks to Mother

A Chairde,

 

 

 

As I write this last TaraCelebrations bulletin for the end of the (pre-Celtic) year the autumnal sun is beating down (at long last). We are planning a ceremony on Tara based around "Thanks to the mother", a ceremony designed to honour the bounty that we have been provided with by our mother earth.  Its autumn equinox, a time when the days and nights move into balance and marks the end of the harvest season. From now on we will be depending on the reserves we have been nurturing and dropping that which no longer serves. This is enacted in nature by the apple who must say farewell to the security of the tree, the apple then falls and decays in order to release the vital seed. If we similarly do not die to that which no longer serves we too may become stagnated. Deleting E-Mail list - On an energy level to release the past year I will be deleting the contact list to make room for a healthy new beginning. We did this last year and it seems to have been a great success. So if you wish to be kept informed of our activity on the hill and surrounds you must send me an e-mail to be put onto the new list.

I suppose we were inspired to create this symbol of the equinox during our planning meeting.

It can be read at many different levels and represents:

1. The Sickle of Autumnal harvest cutting the corn

2. Waxing, waning new and full moons ( We are holding the ceremony on a new moon)

3. Healing hands and the creative/healing space inside

4. Look deeply and you will also see 2 hands holding a heart

5. It's also 2 hands beating a drum

6. 2 hands holding the sun, moon, earth, the atom, a flower blossom

7. 2 intersecting Vesica Pices door way to the sacred

8. The open eye

9. Balance

 

Below: We had a "Churn" after the ceremony eating what nature and Tom and Anne provided us. This Lady Bird was joining in too.

 

Below the magnificant setting of our Autumn Equinox ceremony 2009

Here we go again At a time of balance it made us think about it 'cause we had to balance ourselves on the slope!

8th Ceremony 8  sideways is like a scale  and balance. - equinox

Loved the setting -  8 trees from the Ogham list stood around us. Elder, Pine, Oak,  Hawthorn, Gorse, Blackberry, Wildrose, Ash. ---- *  and the horsechestnut makes the Celtic sacred number 9

The Mandala looked great.  8 sections - and the sickles for balance -  looked almost like a see-saw.   (or sickle and ploughshare)

The Swallows swooping over head like sickles. (isn't it late for them?)

A butterfly kept flying in and out of the circle over the afternoon- tranformation and change

We all turned over a new(old) leaf!! :-)

The smudge reminded me of the autumn fires. the smoke rising in the air.

I love the way the chestnut tree has the conkers, the new buds and the old leaves

Autumnal Poem

Equal day and equal night, the wheel turns 'round. The dark half of the year calls, The harvest's safe and sound. Long nights by the fire, Inside warm cosy walls. Outside in the cold dark air The dark Cailleach calls. Time for resting. Time for dreaming. Time for just being. Anne

Below: one of the magical pine trees clearing the ley lines near our ceremony

Celebrating the finale of the celtic year before its rebirth at Samhain

Sacred native corn rich in colour grown from seeds used in out Tara Ceremonies. 100% organic and as native to Ireland as the humble spud!

Equinox is the end of the Celtic year when day and night are experienced in equal measure, a time to take a deep breath before diving into the darkness of winter. It is a time for considering the polarities in life such as; light and dark, poverty and abundance, living and dying, lofty ideals and grounding reality. Even the trees, who all summer moved sap up into the leaves, change, and start to pump it down into their roots. This date is a cardinal marker for the year and was considered sacred as far back as 5000 years ago when our Neolithic ancestors constructed solar aligned monuments (Cairn T Loughcrew) to mark the precise moment in time when the earth was in balance. The Greeks also had an understanding of the yearly cycles. They left us the legacy of Libra (the scales/balance), the constellation the sun moves into at this time of the year.

It is also a time of year when we are conscious of the travails of harvest and the work that people do to bring foods, goods and services to fruition. They are developing the resources we need to survive during the lean of winter.

 

September 2009 and a few days sun in which the late flowers and fruits glow and the insects share nectar

- then a misty Michaelmas day  & spiders webs appear

 

Below: Gráinneog or Hedgehog in Nobber

 and yet we know....

the weather is noticeably getting colder and although not severe it is a firm reminder to prepare, that winter is on its way.

2008 - Harvest Thanksgiving- Tara

Our ritualised meditation/ceremony on the Hill in 2008 honoured these principals through, meditation, reflection, and symbolic gestures.

The underlying energy is one of balance; retreating within and building resources,planning ahead and thanks for what has been, actively harvesting in the outer world whilst slowing down to dream a new world on the inner.  We enjoyed a beautiful sunny day which will bring bright memories in the dark of winter

 

   

and sunset at the well brought a surprise when the photo was scanned

 

 We gifted two gorse bushes to the hedge around the well

   

Spring Equinox 2010 - the southerly plant has died but the northerly one thrives & 18 Jan 2011 & 24 April 2011

 

Spring Equinox 2013 - the plant has reached the top of the fencing

In spring 2017 the hedge around the well was cut back, including the gorse bush, but by Samhain it was back up to the top of the fence, as strong as ever.

And just before Summer Solstice 2018 the coconut smell of the flowers flows over the well and across Tara.  And a friendly cow looks through the gap to say 'Helloo'. Planted 10 years ago, the bush survives.

  

2007 - Dream Bag into winter

We met at the gate entrance onto the Hill, and centred, grounded and protected symbolically and intentionally before acknowledging the season and its attributes. 

We then walked across the hill and created a centre, shared smudge and light, and called in the cardinal direction;s energies. 

We created dream bags actively harvesting from the outer world in order that we could dream on the inner world. 

The energetic vibration of the day was 5, the throat chakra.  We spoke our truth, demonstrating the power of intention and sending healing intentions to self, others and the planet.   

We faced the cold reality of winter.

Page last updated: 4th Oct 2018