The Co-Walkers, Awakening is based on a combination of ancient Celtic myths and traditions as well as neo-pagan philosophies. These nature-based faiths are often misunderstood and maligned. The spirit world has long been associated with propaganda and folktales created to scare people away from non-Christian practices. Wicked witches, evil demons, horrifying ghosts, and other malevolent supernatural beings such as werewolves and vampires have populated stories meant to convince people to abandon ancient pagan religions and to conform to rules and beliefs that supported the power and dominance of the Christian church. Although they may have coerced an entire civilization to sever the deep-rooted connection to a belief system that integrated humans into an organic and holistic view of the universe, they could not break the psychological or unconscious connection to the natural world that continues to beckon us till this day.
Today a growing number of people are returning to nature based faiths, whether the Wiccan church, aboriginal traditions, or new age philosophies. Hundreds of thousands of people in North America have embraced worldviews that are more consistent with values that honor our connection to the natural world and the ideal of living in harmony with all forms of life.
In The Co-Walkers, Ashley, Brian and Matthew launch their quest to the Spirit World on Samhain Eve. This important Celtic holiday formally ushers in the New Year, welcoming the beginning of a new cycle. The dark season or winter begins the evening of October 31st. Traditionally it was a time when people celebrated the fruits of their labor after harvest, but it was also a time to honor the ancestors who passed on knowledge that allowed them to survive. During this time of transition, it is believed that the veil between the realms briefly lifted or thinned to allow past, present and future to merge. It is a magic moment in time when loved ones who have passed are able to return, ancestors can provide guidance, and glimpses into the future inspire and prepare individuals. Just as in our world, the spirit realm is inhabited by both good and evil beings who are able to freely travel to our realm on this night. There are many stories that also tell of Irish heroes who organized raids into the Faery Realm while the gates stood open. All beings return to their appointed places by “cock-crow” or sunrise.
So Samhain is a time to remember that death and regeneration are natural. Birth, growth, death and renewal are all part of the cycle of life. Death opens the door to the next stage of life, a new form of being, and should not be feared. Spiritual and material realms overlap, and various plains of existence are all connected. This complex web of life thrives when in balance or harmony.
Samhain rituals teach followers to cherish the connections and acknowledge that choices have impact, rippling out and ultimately reaching every corner of the universe. Learning from the past, living in harmony with each other and preserving this ecosystem that supports our existence requires a sense of personal responsibility and purpose. Therefore, everyone matters.
Halloween has become one of the most popular celebrations of the year. Commercialized and trivialized, the real magic of the holiday is often lost in a sugar-induced haze. This year, we might take a moment to explain to our children that this ancient tradition is widely practiced today by people around the world. These individuals feel empowered by their intimate connection to the natural world, a world that exists on spiritual, material and psychological levels. Humans are seen as part of an intricate web of life that connects us all- past, present and future. The potential of the human spirit is seen as limitless, as is our power to create. Our imaginations and dreams speak to us of the great wonders and possibilities that exist. Magic is all around us, and science is only beginning to discover what the ancients knew about various plains of existence, and our powers to heal and transform us. This word view is truly awe inspiring and empowering. Like our pagan friends, we may wish to declare “blessed be”.
Today a growing number of people are returning to nature based faiths, whether the Wiccan church, aboriginal traditions, or new age philosophies. Hundreds of thousands of people in North America have embraced worldviews that are more consistent with values that honor our connection to the natural world and the ideal of living in harmony with all forms of life.
In The Co-Walkers, Ashley, Brian and Matthew launch their quest to the Spirit World on Samhain Eve. This important Celtic holiday formally ushers in the New Year, welcoming the beginning of a new cycle. The dark season or winter begins the evening of October 31st. Traditionally it was a time when people celebrated the fruits of their labor after harvest, but it was also a time to honor the ancestors who passed on knowledge that allowed them to survive. During this time of transition, it is believed that the veil between the realms briefly lifted or thinned to allow past, present and future to merge. It is a magic moment in time when loved ones who have passed are able to return, ancestors can provide guidance, and glimpses into the future inspire and prepare individuals. Just as in our world, the spirit realm is inhabited by both good and evil beings who are able to freely travel to our realm on this night. There are many stories that also tell of Irish heroes who organized raids into the Faery Realm while the gates stood open. All beings return to their appointed places by “cock-crow” or sunrise.
So Samhain is a time to remember that death and regeneration are natural. Birth, growth, death and renewal are all part of the cycle of life. Death opens the door to the next stage of life, a new form of being, and should not be feared. Spiritual and material realms overlap, and various plains of existence are all connected. This complex web of life thrives when in balance or harmony.
Samhain rituals teach followers to cherish the connections and acknowledge that choices have impact, rippling out and ultimately reaching every corner of the universe. Learning from the past, living in harmony with each other and preserving this ecosystem that supports our existence requires a sense of personal responsibility and purpose. Therefore, everyone matters.
Halloween has become one of the most popular celebrations of the year. Commercialized and trivialized, the real magic of the holiday is often lost in a sugar-induced haze. This year, we might take a moment to explain to our children that this ancient tradition is widely practiced today by people around the world. These individuals feel empowered by their intimate connection to the natural world, a world that exists on spiritual, material and psychological levels. Humans are seen as part of an intricate web of life that connects us all- past, present and future. The potential of the human spirit is seen as limitless, as is our power to create. Our imaginations and dreams speak to us of the great wonders and possibilities that exist. Magic is all around us, and science is only beginning to discover what the ancients knew about various plains of existence, and our powers to heal and transform us. This word view is truly awe inspiring and empowering. Like our pagan friends, we may wish to declare “blessed be”.
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