Dark Night of the Soul
October 15, 2016, e.v • Samhaintide
“There are places I remember all my life though some have changed.
Some forever not for better some have gone and some remain.
All these places have their moments with lovers and friends I still can recall.
Some are dead and some are living. In my life I’ve loved them all…
Though I know I’ll never lose affection for people and things that went before.
I know I’ll often stop and think about them. In my life I love you more.”
– “In my life” Lennon/McCartney ©1965
“They say there is no death just passing through a door.
And we will meet again the ones who’ve gone before.
They say there is a way to let our souls take flight.
And we’ll be guided through to the Light…”
– “Rainbow Bridge” Gypsy ©2009 e.v.
I am not a person who shares a lot of private information publicly. I keep my own counsel and try not to wear my heart on my sleeve. However, since we are introducing The Cosmic Connection Star Temple in this public forum, I believe some back story is appropriate.
Some things are harder than others, and opening the Temple of Stars in fullness for viewing and experiencing by visitors to Salem has been an emotionally difficult process for me. Seven and a half years ago, my husband Richard aka Magister Azaradel and I began making plans to transform our middle room behind the wall of our store into a mystical chamber of art, light and magick. It was to be a great experiment.
Richard had not yet been diagnosed with what would turn out to be, years later, in spite of monumental efforts on all our parts to keep him, his “exit strategy”. He was almost through that often perilous gate of his second Saturn return, but they bumped him up to do other work where needed in the Spirit realms and he left before we had fully opened The Cosmic Connection, as Salem’s new cool mystical attraction.
It probably shouldn’t have been so difficult to get the chamber fully functioning and open to public viewing and visitations after Richard died, but for me, it was. Actually, it took me five months of mind numbing, gut wrenching grief before I could return to work at all. During that time, at Samhain 2012 e.v., we offered our 21st Annual Samhain ritual at Gallows Hill Park. I did what I called a “Widows’ Walk”* around the circle that night in a long black veil topped with my Egyptian Ankh Crowns. My sisters in sorrow walked with me, and I asperged the consecrated ground beneath our feet with collected rain water from a golden chalice, as I had seen envisioned in my dreams.
Blessed Be With Love From Salem,
* I borrowed this term for this Samhain rite, as a Widow’s Walk, here in Salem, once a bustling prosperous seaport on the Silk Road, is the perch, high atop a vintage house where many a woman stood watching, walking and waiting for her man to return from Sea. Many did not return.
