Re: When Should we be Celebrating Samhain? Michael the Watcher michael.kriesch@studentmail.newcastle.edu.au Mon Oct 25 09:45:37 1999 Greetings from the Watcher in Australia, withregard to Searles piece on when we should be celebrating Samhain. Being in the southern hemisphere I find Pagans of all paths adopting all manner of variations of when festivals, feasts and celebrations take place.*br*Some follow the seasons as they occur down here, others honour their northern hemisphere ancestral cycles, whilst people like myself follow the seasons as they occur here but in our rituals we take the time to pay homage to our ancestral traditions and to the corresponding northern festival. Some may argue that this is a bit like placing a bet on both sides of a football game, but at it's core is a respect for both our anceint roots and the seasons by which we live here in Australia. As to the matter of which interpretation of when to celebrate any given festival, surely first and foremost is the intent *br*of the individual. I feel that time has made the interpretation of when to celebrate open to the individuals own beliefs and what feels right for them, and if the intent is pure and honourable, who is to say which time is preferable. Whilst I enjoy greatly researching such issues I find that the best guide is to look within for the answer to such questions, with a little guidance from "The Gods my people swear by" of course.*p*Under the Oaks and from the Stone, the Watcher and clan, Australia. *br*A Fabulous place is Summerlands, I shall talk some more soon.*br*Fare thee well!*p**br* When Should we be Celebrating Samhain? Searles O'Dubhain 529 Sun Oct 24 14:53:01 1999