“Humans are a part of creation and shamanism is our way of connecting with the whole.”
Will Adcock, Shamanism: rituals for spiritual journeying and creating sacred space
An important facet of shamanic healing is recognising that there are various natural rhythms and patterns throughout the year, all with links to different aspects of the natural world. Before human habitation, Earth had been developing for over 4.5 billion years. Homo sapiens appeared ‘only’ @ 190,000 years ago and so it’s not surprising that particularly in the early days of the hunter-gatherers, this environment not only determined the success of their existence, but also became the source of their developing understanding and questioning of the world around them. As recognised in my last blog, cave paintings as far back as 40,000 years ago suggest the stirrings of some spiritual connection with the natural world even then. While to some this might seem like superstition, it was deeply rooted in their survival in the world around them and vestiges of those early understsandings can still be found today - even in the modern world.
Today, we’ve lost many of our connections with the natural environment as our lives have become more ‘sophisticated’, more removed from knowing about the subtle patterns of nature. However, one way to reconnect with these potentially powerful natural energies is to be more consciously aware of these rhythms and patterns. If nothing else, they can provide a framework for the year, providing a flow of renewal and re-energising to enable one to handle day-to-day pressures and challenges as well as celebrating the good things in life. Each stage of the year, together with its different qualities and energies can raise one’s consciousness and use it for one’s personal healing and/or the greater good:
The seasons: We’re blessed in our latitiude to experience four distinct seasons, even though these might be slowly modifying as a result of climate change. Each has its own qualities, reflected in nature: Spring - renewal, hope and rejuvenation; Summer - growth and flourishing development; Autumn - reaping the benefits of work/change and reflecting on successes and failures; and Winter - resting, going within and preparing for development and change to come. Most people have a favourite season and maybe a least favourite. Aiming to embrace each season in turn to draw on its positive energies, one can learn to stay in a more natural flow throughout the year…
Cycles of the moon: We know that the moon directly impacts our own planet in two specific ways: influencing the tilt of the earth on its axis leading to a more stable climate, and of course causing the tides in our rivers, seas and oceans. More symbolically, in the Christan calendar, dating back to the 7th century, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon immediately on or following the Spring Equinox, resulting in an interesting mixture of pagan and Christian festivals. More controversial is whether the full moon affects human behaviour, although there is little evidence for this. However, by recognising the cycles of new and full moons, monthly meditations can help to provide focus for certain practices that support self-renewal, growth and development.
Solar cycles: Perhaps even more than the lunar cycles, awareness of solar cycles is recognised as part of day-to-day life. The sun ‘rises’ every morning and ‘sets’ every evening as the earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours. It takes 365.25 days for earth to orbit the sun each year and this, together with the earth’s tilting axis of 23.5° caused by the moon, is what causes the seasons in our latitudes (see above). Additionally, anyone who’s experienced a full solar eclipse will know the powerul impact of the alignment of the earth, moon and sun at the moment of the eclipse: unnatural darkness, birds and animals falling silent, and an eerie atmosphere drawing people together in a combined experience of wonder and heightened awareness of our place in the universe.
Celtic festivals:
The Celts travelled throughout Europe and, arriving in the UK @ 1000 BCE, are most commonly associated with Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Cornwall, bringing with them eight specific festivals, four sun-related and four earth-related. In many traditions, all things are considered to be cyclical, a perpetual cycle of life and death tied to the sun’s cycles. For the Celts, this has later been consolidated into a model called “The Celtic Wheel” which, as I’m 3% Celt, has some relevance and interest for me! Dates shown relate to the Northern Hemisphere, and each shows whether it’s an earth or sun festival, the date it’s celebrated, its feature, it’s meaning in the Celtic tradition, and personal focus for growth:
Yule (solar) 21st December (Winter Solstice) - shortest day: “The dark night of the soul”. Trust the darkness and reflect on coming re-vitalisation.
Imbolc (earth) 1st February - midway between Winter solstice and Spring Equinox & the Celtic first day of Spring: “New beginnings”. Intentional awakening.
Spring Equinox (sun) 22nd March - equal days & nights: “The dance of opposites”. Life force is rising.
Beltane (earth) 1st May - Celtic first day of Summer: “Expanding into full potential”. Taking risks to expand outside our comfort zone.
Summer Solstice (sun) 21st June - longest day: “Full blossoming”. The vulnerability of fully blossoming and shining.
Lughnasadh (earth) 1st August - Celtic first day of the Autumn/harvest: “Reaping what has been sown”. Celebrate the abundance and bounty of the harvest.
Autumn Equinox (sun) 22nd September - equal days & nights: “Intentional completion”. Integrating opposites and pausing to complete.
Samhain (earth) 31st October/1st November - the end of the Celtic year: “Recognising death and soul initiation”. Shedding and surrendering.
Writing this blog has given me a deeper understanding of the eight Celtic festivals of the Celtic Wheel and prompted me to aim to go out on each of these in the coming year to capture sun or moon rises/sets aiming to connect with their deeper meaning in different locations, the first example being “Sunless sunrise, Beltane 2023…” above. Yet another way of integrating shamanic beliefs with photography…
“In the current age, when many rightly care about the voice of indigenous peoples and realise that modern life routinely, mindlessly erases traditions of tending the land and caring for other creatures that leave us greatly at risk, the fabulous performance of a ritual that links to lost worlds and forgotten wisdom might be doubly valued.”
Mark Vernon, Idler, 6 May 2023