The Assembly of Peace
In Celtic wisdom tradition, November marked the beginning of the new year, and the start of winter. The winter season was known as Samhain (SOW’en), translated to mean “the summer’s end”. This marked the beginning of the darker and colder half of the year, which was something to be reckoned with in the days before modern utilities. The Celts, like other ancient tribal cultures, lived fully in harmony with the elements, finding much symbolic meaning in their lives based on the rhythms and cycles of nature.
Every three years, at the arrival of Samhain, the Celts held the Festival Assembly of Tara. As part of the observance of this time, it was strictly forbidden to outwardly engage in hostilities with others, and instead promote peaceful, friendly alliances throughout the six days of the festival. Of course, enforcement of this custom was just a bit counterintuitive to the whole spirit of the season: infractions were punishable by death. But, indeed, this shows us how leaders of human institutions have long been far from perfect, and can only go so far in cultivating peace in the population.
Herein lies an opportunity for us to reflect on our own place within our life context. Despite the inherent shortcomings of how human institutions aim to shape our behavior, each of us still ultimately has a choice on how we intend to enter into this and any other day. Might we take a queue from the Festival Assembly of Tara and step into today with an intention of peace?
In each of us, peace can be seen through two lenses. One lens is outer peace, which can mean ceasing hostile behaviors with others much like the Celts were able to do for the Festival Assembly of Tara. With outer peace, we may extend ourselves with a calm, accepting embrace of our fellow human beings - regardless of personal histories, old stories, and differences. Of course, extending outer peace with any level of authenticity requires courageous introspective work within ourselves. This is the other lens: inner peace.
To build and to sustain outer peace, we need to see and sense ourselves more clearly and accurately, with a generous dose of truth. This starts by being willing to let go of our habitual ways of seeing, feeling, and acting, in order to connect to a deeper sense of knowing. As Otto Scharmer (2016) says in his Theory U: open the mind, the open the heart, and open the will to be present to your highest future potential.
On this start of Samhain and of the Celtic new year, I invite you to a practice of peace. Start with yourself first. Rest into a reflective place of quiet calm. Take a few deep breaths and just settle in for a few moments with yourself. Take a slow walk in nature, read an inspirational passage, or anything that will help you to tune into what you hearing inside - your thoughts, feelings, and body sensations that can tell you more about your inner truths. When you are in a place of stillness, reflect and meditate on the following questions in the context of your current life:
How much do I currently experience a connection to something larger than myself? Than all of us?
For the areas of my life that are drawing the most focus and energy, what are my primary motives?
What are my current commitments that I am a part of?
Which patterns and commitments in my life are out of alignment with my sense of peace?
What might I let go of (perspectives, beliefs, habits, etc.) that could facilitate more inner peace?
From this place of inner peace that you have cultivated, be intentional in how you step into the various roles that you play in your life. Let your sense of inner peace manifest in outer peace with others. When you get triggered into hostile emotional reactions (and you will, as you are human, and we all do ), work on just being with these emotions, accepting them first. Slowly, gently let them go by returning to your peaceful place or intention before responding or taking an action.
Above all, it is a heart of loving forgiveness of yourself and of others that is at the core of peace. Find ways to forgive yourself for any and all hostilities that arise within yourself. These are wired in you from old stories and beliefs that you can always let go of and change. When you are able to open your heart to forgiving yourself, you are building the ability to forgive others. As this Celtic wisdom tradition shows us, we can find it in ourselves to warm the cold, dark, and potentially isolating nature of winter by assembling in peace with ourselves and with others.
REFERENCES
Matthews, C. (1998). The Celtic Spirit: Daily Meditations for the Turning Year. Harper One Publishers.
Scharmer, C.O. (2016). Theory U: Leading from the Future as It Emerges. Berrett-Kohler Publishers, Inc.