The Manes (souls of the departed) were believed by the Romans to hover around the monuments and graves of the dead, thus the presents served as a token of respect and propitiation for these spirits. The Manes held much power in the underworld and because of this the Romans realised that only a fool would fail to give them the reverence they so rightly deserved. Contemporary man can learn a lot about his/her subconscious fears of death and dying by relating intimately to this ancient festival. The number three was considered sacred to the Manes and because of this they were always invoked three times by adherents. Could the old maxim of three being "unlucky/lucky for some" have a connection here? Gravestones were frequently inscribed with the prefix D.M. meaning Di Manes (or Di-Manibus) which is Latin for the "Good Gods." The celebration of the Feralia was also called the Februa. The great powerful Goddess Juno was however frequently invoked under this title. Her patronage like that of the Gallic Dis also extended over riches. The purification aspect of this festival still remains with us today. We still feel the urge with the dawning of the lighter nights to get stuck in and have an energetic bout of spring-cleaning.

 The difference is that the Romans also did their spring cleaning on the spiritual level. Modern man would probably feel a lot more at one with himself and his environment too if he took a page from the wisdom of the Feralia! Moving to the 23rd of this month we discover a feast called the Terminalia that, as its name suggests, was sacred to Terminus, God of limits and boundaries. Numa, the legendary second King of Rome introduced the feast of the Terminalia to the people. A simple marker stone originally depicted Terminus. Later he was portrayed as a human head without arms and legs to show that like limit marks, he never moved his position. Incidentally, it is interesting to note here that Jupiter (the all-powerful King of the Gods) was often called Terminalus and he also presided over boundaries long before Terminus did.

It is quite possible then that this surname of Jupiter later evolved into the current God-form that is now Terminus. Offerings of wine, oil, flowers and milk were given to the deity at this feast. So holy was the head of Terminus that should another man foolishly attempt to steal or even move it he rendered himself open to possible public execution. This instance proves how extremely important property was to the pragmatic Roman mind. To get a "head" start by robbing a neighbour's land could lead to actually losing one's "head" in the most devastating fashion possible as Terminus had no time for infringements of his law. His wrath was swift and very effective. Today's Pagans view early pre-spring equinox feasts such as the Terminalia as a time to synchronise with the growing natural cosmic energies of which we are all an intrinsic part. It is a time to plan carefully for the future with increasing optimism.

 The spiritual level of existence is just as important as the material and vice versa, so to neglect one aspect jeopardizes the rest. The first gentle stirrings of light, the rich colour of the Crocus and the bursting buds of the Horse chestnut give hope for the warm, lengthening, summer days to come. The old Terminalia is (like all ancient pre-Christian feasts) a vestige of our wondrous Pagan heritage, waiting so patiently as does the first snowdrop to be reborn again anew. Soon the glorious solar orb will bring forth life and new growth. Every plant, tree and animal will be ready to greet this time-honoured event. Contemporary man must shake off his self-inflicted, materialistic slumber and synchronise himself to the seasonal psychic forces of nature, just as his ancient forefathers did long ago. Failure to do so will result in a loss of essential atonement (at-one-ment) and vitality with this marvellous home, which we affectionately know as "Mother Earth." Like the swelling buds on the trees, we too must now wake up to the annual universal energies impinging upon our being!

Our Pagan ancestors didn't worship nature as is so often claimed by monotheistic troublemakers. No, our wise forebears actually venerated the pivotal life-creating or destroying forces behind nature's numerous moods and eventually personified them for greater understanding. Today's Pagans strive to continue this evolutionary process for the future benefit of our incredible species.

For more information of Pagan Festivals read

 "THE TORCH AND THE SPEAR" by P. REGAN. Capall Bann Publishers.

Email pagansuk@yahoo.co.uk

HOME