This time for the Dark Moon, when I journeyed to see Na Morrigna, I was sent to do a little bit of personal work first, and then when I returned I poured a flagon of brandy into their cauldron, and they stirred it in with wands and used those to convey the themes for their message – which I was then instructed to turn into a free form poem. So with Their help and inspiration, I wrote the following:
Lughnasadh passed; Samhain approaches.
A new moon, a new-coming year,
and an end to waiting.
A few weeks to prepare;
Plans to revisit,
Goals to reassess.
Your choice of paths to take.
What role will you fill?
What path draws you toward it?
Flame burned around you;
Now you stand fire-hardened,
Ready for new work.
A time for you to renew
Both your convictions and your dedications
As the year turns from light to dark.
A turbulent seasons begins:
Wind tearing at trees,
Palisades mended with new earthen supports.
Paths diverge: deep or shallow?
Deep and deeper still,
Into the heart of the Work.
This is the calling:
An end to superficial engagement,
And into the bone-fire of transformation.
The old to be burnt away,
Clearing way for new growth,
Growth from your own shadowy depths.
As my personal Samhain observation and celebrations continue through the first week of November, the next Dark Moon (November 4th) will likely be a Samhain message. If you don’t have plans I recommend at least doing a small solitary ritual, perhaps just to learn more about what they wish you to do in this coming year (Samhain to Samhain) by doing a journey, or a bit of candlelight divination.
If you aren’t sure what to do, I always welcome emails, and if you’re on Facebook I highly recommend the group “The Morrigan’s Cave”, run by the Irish Pagan School. It’s a spectacular resource, and is full of very knowledgeable practitioners!