The Darker Half Awaits
Last weekend we adopted two ex-commercial hens and brought them home to live a free and peaceful life in our garden. We let Olive name them, so please welcome Bran Flakes and Eggs! We’d been on the waiting list for a few weeks but I didn’t realise until now how timely their arrival was, considering the season. Autumn is a time for shedding the things that no longer serve us and welcoming in new thoughts and fresh starts. What perfect timing to put an end to these hens’ former roles as industrial egg-poppers, and give them a new life of comfort and contentment.
Samhain is my favourite of the ancient festivals. I’ve always loved spooky season; when I was younger, we hosted a Halloween sleepover at my house every year, complete with midnight feasts, viewings of Hocus Pocus and a resolute determination that we would stay up all night. (We never did.) There I am below, second in from the left! Beyond the sweets and cherryade, I never lost my love of the season, but it was reimagined when I started learning about the Wheel of the Year and the rhythms of the natural world. We often see autumn as a darkening, gloom-laden time, but it is really one of renewal. A time to reflect on the last few months and set a new vision for what lies ahead, which can only come to pass if we embrace the quietude of the winter months - and give ourselves the space to rest and retreat.
