534. The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest. ~William Blake

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17

A year of beauty. A year of plenty.
A year of planting. A year of harvest.
A year of forests. A year of healing.
A year of vision. A year of passion.
A year of rebirth.
~Starhwak

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Irish immigrants fleeing from the Great Famine of the 1840’s brought versions of Halloween to North America. For them the celebration had its roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian “All Saints Day” on November 1st. The festivities of the centuries-old holiday began at sunset and ended at midnight on October 31st. Samhain meant roughly “summer’s end,” and it was a celebration of the end of the “lighter half” of the year in which the daylight hours steadily increased and the beginning of the “darker half” of the year in which the daylight hours steadily decreased.

As this year draws to its end,
We give thanks for the gifts it brought
And how they became inlaid within
Where neither time nor tide can touch them.
The days when the veil lifted
And the soul could see delight;
When a quiver caressed the heart
In the sheer exuberance of being here.
Surprises that came awake
In forgotten corners of old fields
Where expectation seemed to have quenched.
~Excerpts from a blessing by
John O’Donohue

The land yields its harvest; God, our God blesses us. ~Psalm 67:6  ✝

**Images via Pinterest

17 thoughts on “534. The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest. ~William Blake”

  3. Amen–and thanksgiving—thanks for bountiful harvests, for the joyous spring and summer and for now, a slower, heavier and even darker time of year—the natural rhythm and cadence of life–a time to rest, slumber, shift gears and rejuvenate in anticipation of the lighter and brighter days which lie ahead—Thank you for an eloquent reminder of life’s slowing down as we merely learn to shift gears 🙂
    Hugs and love on a blustery eve of All Saints day to be followed by Al Souls day—-hugs and love—cookie

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  4. I absolutely love Blake’s quote and your explanations about Samhain ! Thank you so much for sharing Natalie. Here in France it’s going to be “all Saints Day” (fête de la Toussaint) indeed. Happy Halloween dearest Natalie, and much love to you :-)♥
    PS Do you have Irish roots???

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    • Funny you should ask about Irish roots, Cher. I’m having some DNA testing done and they just sent me an email saying that 57.9% percent of my DNA is English and Irish.
      I knew about the English part as my great grandparents on both sides of my family came from England, but I had no idea about the Irish connection. I might have guessed Scottish but not Irish. Some of my husband’s ancestors are from Ireland. We did know that. I pray yours was a better day and that health is being restored and your fears assuaged. You are a bright and cherished light in my world. Hugs and love, N ❤ ❤ ❤

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      • So,
        LONG LIVE IRELAND 🙂 ♥♥♥ I’m not surprised Natalie, the Irish are said to be kind and welcoming, as you are! 🙂

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  7. We don’t appreciate the harvest like we used to. I read all the Little House on the Prairie books again and Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family had to really work hard to full their larders for the long winter ahead. They were really thankful for a full larder. We have lost all that when for us a trip to the supermarket means we don’t have to worry if we have enough food to last for the winter.
    Love this post. 😀

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