'Tradition' Articles
Supposedly we in this enlightened era have gotten away from the old superstitions. This seems blatantly false. We just leached any meaning or wisdom out of them reducing them to psychosis. Jung delved into mystical practices, ancient symbolism and systems of thought because in his practice of psycho-analysis (despite it being a supposed age of reason) he saw these forces and practices still reproducing themselves, even without guidance or tradition to preserve them.
Well tradition is alive, and the more we understand their meaning and significance the more we know ourselves.
“A love for tradition has never weakened a nation, indeed it has strengthened nations in their hour of peril.” Winston Churchill (British Orator, Author and Prime Minister during World War II. 1874-1965)
Halloween History and Tradition
Halloween is very much ingrained in our collective unconscious, and has a very long history. It was basically the Celtic New Year (Samhain). Like the Norse legend of the world being born of ice, they see winter as the first season, not the last (or rather they did). Halloween is more like the traditional Thanksgiving. This is why they had an act of remembrance, and would set places at the dinner table for their recent dead who in that day and age very likely helped with last years crop, anyway. There is a lot of symbolism connected to Halloween, and… Seek More
Rhythms of the Season
Strangely, as the places around the world seem to have very different climate and we associate this season with winter, the actual universally symbolic element is the winter solstice. Many of even the modern traditions are focused on and symbolize the observation of the lengthening hours of sunlight, the observed resurgence of the “son/sun”. The universal elements of the winter solstice holidays usually are meant to be a renewing of hope, and a reassurance of the fertility of the new year. The new year only starts in January in the Roman calendar, but it starts in December using a lunar… Seek More
Spirit of Giving
We complain about the modern Christmas being commercialized, but our ancestors did a lot of fortune seeking at that time of year even before the age of super malls and trendy stores. There was also a running debate regarding praying to angels, and this is part of why angels are a related image in Christmas. They were seen as household guardian aspects of divinity. Gifts were not only given to living loved ones, but were also offered at gravesites and in natural springs. Any place considered to have a link to the underworld. The Yule log was a gift to the… Seek More
