The Wheel of the Year Begins

And so does my Blog. I should have started one of these long ago, as many people liked my babblings on life's realizations. However, I haven't actually written anything in a while. I've been concentrating recently on 3 main things in my life. My photography, my music, and my religion, which is why I have decided to start my blog on this day/night/morning. 

I am pagan. Currently following the Wiccan path. However, the beauty of paganism is that you can change you path and even make one up as you please. As paganism goes, those who follow it feel very in tune with nature. I feel very connected with animals and so i think i may start to follow a more shamanistic path. More on that when I come to it though.

How about a little bit about me first? I'm a student at the University of Kent studying Wildlife Conservation. I am very artistic, dabbling in photography, a bit of theatre (mainly musical theatre), music (i'm a vocalist) and I used to write poetry. Cannot draw to save my life however, but alas, we can't be good at everything can we? I was born in Hull but grew up in the Tropical island of Barbados since I was 2 1/2. The main reason for my return to the UK to study was because I felt very limited and my full potential could not be reached.

I am involved in many societies on campus, and I am on the committee of 3 of them. Vice President of the Photographer and Modeling Society, Publicity Officer of the Musical Theatre Troop and the New Members Rep of the Pagan Society. I am compelled to teach, as I believe that ignorance and miscommunication are the main reasons why there are so many conflicts in the world. Also, though teaching I also learn. This is another reason why I have started my blog.

What is my blog really about though? My blog is for me to document events that go on in my life, as seen through my eyes through my photography. Some of them may have deep meaning attached, others may have messages or lessons you can learn, and some will just be fun randomness.

This blog will be telling you about Samhain (pronounced Sow-ane), or what i understand of it, the Pagan new year. It marks the first day of winter. It is the very end of the harvest. The Holiday (or Sabbat) of Sawhain begins at dust on October 31 and ends at dawn on November 1st (or 2nd depending on the belief). It is a time where the veil between the physical plain and the spiritual plain is at it's thinnest and therefore why the dead are celebrated at this time. It is a time for remembrance and remorse, yet celebration of new beginnings. As the world becomes it's darkest, the God dies and enters the realm of the dead, becoming the Lord of Death, awaited to be born again from the Goddess who, at this time, manifests as the wise old Crone.

My first Samhain ritual was last year with the pagan society and it was very interesting. This year I also partook with the pagan society, however this time I was one of the members to help set up, therefore I was able to take photos of all the lovely stuffs that we used, which you can see at the end of the blog. This ritual was not help on the actually Samhain, but the day before, as the normal meeting times are on thursdays.

The reason I am up so late is that I am heading to London for a Photography get together early in the morning, and as I arrived home late, I see no point in sleeping, as i also had to wash off my Halloween costume (I am referring to the day as Halloween as I went partying and not necessarily celebrating).