BS: Watchfires Tonight 9 P.M. Your Time (Nov 1)

Subject: BS: WATCHFIRES TONIGHT 9 P.M. YOUR TIME
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 01:29 PM

Tonight is Watchfires night...November 1, 9 p.m. your time. To guide lost souls home from wars, disasters, etc. Just go outside if you can and light a fire at 9 p.m..anything from bonfire to candle..mg

Subject: RE: BS: WATCHFIRES TONIGHT 9 P.M. YOUR TIME
From: Barry Finn
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 01:32 PM

Hi mg
Where's this come from? Intresting.

BArry

Subject: RE: BS: WATCHFIRES TONIGHT 9 P.M. YOUR TIME
From: MMario
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 01:37 PM

An old 'All Souls Day" tradition, I believe, probably with roots further back.

Subject: RE: BS: WATCHFIRES TONIGHT 9 P.M. YOUR TIME
From: Barry Finn
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 01:40 PM

Never mind mg. I just caught up after reading the Big Bonfire & the Guys threads. Guy Fawkes.
Thanks
Barry

Subject: RE: BS: Watchfires Tonight 9 P.M. Your Time
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 01:45 PM

Will the lost souls know that the fires will be there to guide them at 9 o'clock? If not, why is this time better than any other? And won't they be confused by lots of fires - how will they know which one is their home? (And do they know we've just put the clocks back?)

Subject: RE: BS: Watchfires Tonight 9 P.M. Your Time
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 01:46 PM

Well, it is an old old tradition..not necessarily this day but often around this time of year....we have done it in the context of Vietnam veterans but it is for everyone....many ancient traditions, including Aztecs, Druids, did stuff like this at this time of year...tomorrow is Day of the Dead in Mexico..All Saints Day today for Catholic, all souls tomorrow...(when the souls get released from purgatory if you pray hard enough..some of them..it is like an early release program I believe). I chose the particular day because we lost track of the Watchfires program that seemed to have rotating days...too hard to remember what day it is. Today was also the birthday of a childhood friend killed in Vietnam. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Watchfires Tonight 9 P.M. Your Time
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 01:47 PM

Well, the fires will light their way home is the theory..that is why it is best to do it along waterways. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Watchfires Tonight 9 P.M. Your Time
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 01:50 PM

So lighting a candle down by my creek is more efficacious?

Subject: RE: BS: Watchfires Tonight 9 P.M. Your Time
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 02:22 PM

I think it is. I will go to the Pacific Ocean tonight and do something...mg

Subject: RE: BS: Watchfires Tonight 9 P.M. Your Time
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 02:31 PM

Thank you, mg, for the reminder. I will dig a small pit and go out at 9p. I might even burn some old prayer flags which are almost tattered to pieces. Of course, those we are close to will know which ones are for them...there is no distance, time, etc. for them, imo.

Subject: RE: BS: Watchfires Tonight 9 P.M. Your Time
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 03:53 PM

Thanks...and this is more a spiritual thing now but they were used to guide ships home etc...mg

Subject: RE: BS: Watchfires Tonight 9 P.M. Your Time
From: Hollowfox
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 07:42 PM

Thanks for the reminder. I get off work at nine, and my pyrophile daughter is at home now, so I'll ask her to set things up.

Subject: RE: BS: Watchfires Tonight 9 P.M. Your Time
From: JennyO
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 07:56 PM

By the time I read this it was the next day here in Oz. I like the idea though. Anyway, I think there's a total fire ban here at the moment - we're just coming into summer here. If we do anything to celebrate this time for us it should be Beltaine.

Actually last night there was a bit of excitement outside - sounded like half a doxen gunshots. We don't live in that kind of neighbourhood, so it was a bit startling. Didn't quite sound like firecrackers or a car backfiring either. We were on the verge of calling the police, but we couldn't hear anything else after they stopped, and knowing our local police and how slow they are, it probably would have been a waste of time.

Subject: RE: BS: Watchfires Tonight 9 P.M. Your Time
From: Paul Burke
Date: 02 Nov 06 - 03:29 AM

Nov 1st is an odd day to do it- All Souls Day is Oct 31st, and only the blessed saints make it to the next day.

And as for 9pm, let's hope the souls remembered to put the clocks back last weekend, or they'll turn up at 8pm and no fire lit.

Subject: RE: BS: Watchfires Tonight 9 P.M. Your Time
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Nov 06 - 10:05 AM

Well, my grandson and I didn't quite make it to 9 o'clock. He went home with his mom at 8p when she got off work. So, we went out back a little earlier. He helped me to gather kindling from the big old weeping willow. We got a very decent small fire going. Sang a made up song/prayer for his missing puppy and asked for help from the ancestors in *lighting* her way home, and gave thanks. It felt good and right.

Thanks, again, mg.

Subject: RE: BS: Watchfires Tonight 9 P.M. Your Time
From: GUEST,m
Date: 02 Nov 06 - 01:09 PM

All souls day at least for Catholics here is Nov. 2...mg