Night comes early and I step out into the dusky chill. Wispy clouds scud across the moon and an owl calls. The dark silhouette of the ash tree reaches down to touch my hair as I pass.
This Samhain I am greeting my beloved dead, the newly departed spirit of my mother. This has not been an easy grief. It was heartbreaking moving her into a nursing home where she died in February this year. It’s hard for me and her to find forgiveness for that.
So I come to the community orchard to make my peace and honour her. The formerly neglected fruit trees have recently taken on a new lease of life as the setting for a memorial garden. A dedicated group carried out bramble clearing, sowed wildflowers and created areas to put plaques and natural offerings such as painted stones and carved wood.
The gently weaving path takes me past the thoughtfully placed dedications that have appeared over the summer. I am carrying my offering – a piece of lovingly smoothed wood and I place it down with tears and gratitude, both to my mum for her life and to the community for this blessed space of connection.
The veils are thin on this All Hallows Eve. I hang candles in the trees and they bring a comforting light to the space. Apple trees are said to represent wisdom and immortality, standing amongst them helps me connect to the many layers of our world. I cut through an apple to reveal the star of pips and make my offering to the beloved spirits. ‘May you never hunger’ spirals out with my breath, reminding me of the possibility for renewal that comes from making peace with death.
I am an artist, musician and orchardist living on the Gower Peninsula. I am writing this blog to share with others the power and joy we can feel as we immerse ourselves in nature recovery. By returning to our mother earth, I believe this will lead us forward into a more sustainable way of living. Self care and community care are vital to develop our resilience and then from a more grounded base we can create the world we want to see, starting with small and possible actions.
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All photos and text are the copyright of Witchhazel Wildwood unless otherwise stated.
Wildwood Edge 