BS: Watchfires Nov 1 9 p.m. your time

Subject: BS: Watchfires Nov 1 9 p.m. your time
From: mg
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 03:32 PM

from grunt.space

Just a note to remind you of the "Watchfires" Event on November 1 -- lighting a bonfire, candle, turn your porch light on, hold a flashlight or whatever at 9 p.m. in one's own time zone -- groups and individuals.
The purpose of "Watchfires" is severalfold -- not only to salute our dead of the War but also to acknowledge the living power they still have to touch us in so many ways. Their examples of courage, honor, and sacrifice set a standard for those who survived them; and our memories of them add strength and depth to our lives.

Watchfires also serves to acknowledge the powerful spiritual event that the Vietnam War was. Whatever one's personal spiritual beliefs may be, Vietnam touched that in some way and touched this Nation where it lived, as well.

Watchfires go way back in history. Watchfires have been lit to establish a perimeter in military times, as a beacon for stragglers and the lost, and to guide ships to the homeward shore. The connection of this idea to the above Vietnam commemoration was to establish one night a year on which to light a fire -- a bonfire, if one can do that where one is or a fire in an outdoor grill or in a fireplace or even just a candle, if that is all that is workable.

The night selected for this purpose is November 1st (annually). November 1, in both ancient and some modern calendars (for example: the Catholic Church calendar), is the evening following All Saints Day. In ancient times, it was believed that the souls of the departed on that night were enabled to come close to us, the living, that the "veil between" was the thinnest then.

In ancient practice, people lit bonfires to "light the way" so that the spirits of their passed-on family and friends would know they were being welcomed. And the burning of the fire signalled a time of communion, an acknowledgement of gifts given and received between the dead and the living.

Barbara Piatt


Join us if you care to. Worldwide is best...for all souls who are wandering. Refugees, immigrants, war veterans etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Watchfires Nov 1 9 p.m. your time
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 03:36 PM

I thought it was All Hallow's Eve, i.e. Halloween night, the 31st, when the veil was thinnest, etc.?

Regardless, thanks for reminding us; this will be a nice ritual to do.

Subject: RE: BS: Watchfires Nov 1 9 p.m. your time
From: mg
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 03:46 PM

I think you are right but it is overall the time of year...

I had someone tell me our ancestors from the potato famine are very active right now and are crying and trying to reach us. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Watchfires Nov 1 9 p.m. your time
From: open mike
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 04:05 PM

Mary's previous threads on this..
2001---http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=40537
2006---http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=96070

participate, but please, be careful with fire!
(here is it quite windy, and not conducive to outdoors fires now)