Samhain

Sunday, 31st October

The small digital camera we have, could not on its own, capture the wind-swept field in which the stones of Casterigg lie. As we stepped out of the car and walked under the nearly-full moon the wind was all we could hear. It sent clouds which were inky-black, billowing across the sky but when they passed, the light from the moon was clear enough to see by. We walked to the centre of the circle, the only people there; just us and the stones thrumming around us. You could feel the earth's heartbeat pumpimg through the soil. My teeth chattered, I shivered and held my breath but all that would come from my mouth was: Hail Hecate, Queen of Night, protect us through the coming darkness. On this, the most significant night of the year, we did not forget.