A few months back, as part of my monthly ritual to Na Morrigna to seek a message for the coming moon cycle, I was guided to use tarot to connect, and since then we’ve been following the Suit of Wands, from the Seven to the Herald, the card that showed up in the original reading reversed. At this latest Dark Moon, we’ve now arrived at the Herald of Wands, finally upright, and thus bringing us some much-needed relief! Upright, the Herald speaks of good news, optimism, and satisfaction. It’s time for the last harvest, and we’ve done well for ourselves. I could personally use a little rest and relaxation! And it’s always nice to hear that our efforts have been successful. Being as this month is election month here in the US, and Election Day falls on the next full moon, I’m tentatively optimistic about that, as well. (But you can bet I did another round of politically-focused magic this dark moon!) Time will tell. (But please – vote!)
This month when I went to journey to Na Morrigna, I found myself led not to the place I usually go to see the three sisters, but to Ráth Cruachan, a place I have only seen photographs of, and ruins at that. But it was unmistakably clear to me, in the way things sometimes are in journeys. The fort itself was standing, not a ruin, but I did not go inside the walls. Instead, I was drawn to a small cauldron hanging over a firepit in front of the walls, somewhat to the left of the gate. There, I found just one sister, whom I addressed as Morrigu, and with her was An Dagda, which was also somewhat unexpected. No poetry they asked of me this month, and no great news, just a request for my household Samhain celebration: when we feast, let it be meat that we cook outside over flame, and let one piece fall onto the coals and stay there, as an offering to Them.
So instead, I leave you with this piece of Old Irish poetry, translated by Morgan Daimler (and found in their book “Tales of the Tuatha De Dannan”). The full poem is about foods fit for each festival, and here is the stanza for Samhain:
Meat, beer, nuts, tripe,
They are suitable food for Samhain,
Bonfire on a hill with a company,
Buttermilk, a roll of new butter.