The Wheel Of The Year Turns To Samhain On October 31st
In October, The Wheel of The Year now turns to it's most spiritually charged time. The air seems to crackle with energy and the golden Autumn leaves blow across the sky. Here in the Northern Hemisphere, the nights draw in and it's lovely to see the warm glow of lights in windows and to snuggle up by cosy fires.
It is Samhain ( pronounced: Sow - en) also known as Halloween or Hallows Eve. On this night we traditionally honour those who have passed into the realm of spirit. This is the time of year when the veil which separates the realms of earth and spirit is at it's very thinnest. On this night, time is suspended...
Modern celebrations of Halloween are deeply rooted in the ancient and primal ritual of Samhain. From ancient times the Samhain fires would burn and in later eras candles would be placed in windows and doorways. They would be there to light a way back to the earth realm for all of our ancestral spirits and guide them home. These lights would have the dual purpose of deterring any dark or unwanted spirits from our hearths and homes.
Our ancestors would gather together to mark Samhain, despite the very real fears that would inevitably arrive with the onset of Winter. Fires would burn in hearths and on hillsides and great feasts were held. Special places would be set at table for the departed, who would cross the veil and walk the earth again
The Old Year draws to its close but the New Year does not begin again until the re birth of the Sun on the Winter Solstice/Yule. Samhain is a 'between time' for reflection about what's passed and what is yet to come. The incredibly powerful energies of this night are the most perfect for all forms of divination.
The collective delight and enthusiasm for this time seems to grow stronger every year. Those of us who follow the Wiccan or Pagan path will hold ceremonies and rituals to mark Samhain, whilst many others will have forgotten or be unaware of the real origins of the symbols we see at this time. The pumpkin lantern has come to be the 'visual shorthand' for Halloween. So many shops and supermarkets are piled high with them and they seem to glow from practically every porch and window. However, with every pumpkin carved or every party costume worn people actually connect to a deep and primal part of themselves and our collective spiritual history- whether they realise this or not..
Modern symbols of Samhain
The streets and neighbourhoods are filled with costumed children 'trick or treating' and there are also likely to be just as many party going adults dressed in their most imaginative -and topical -Halloween outfits. No doubt many of them will choose to put on pointed Witches Hats for their selfies, Tik Toks and Instagram posts.
What the 'Witches Hat' actually represents is the 'Cone Of Power'- the raised energy that forms as a cone by the coven, just like the point of the hat. To raise this, the coven will stand in a circle - which is represented by the circular base of the hat. The power raised then flows to a single point above and in the centre of the circle, symbolised by the 'point' of the hat.
The broomstick - or besom as it's properly called- is also a mainstay of seemingly every window display at this time of year. Besoms are used to prepare magical working space for ritual and to sweep away any old or unwanted energies.
They can be kept above the front door as protective objects to keep dark energy from crossing the threshold by 'sweeping' it away. The besom is also a big part of fertility rituals and are used in Handfasting ceremonies where the couple jump over one together in the ceremony. I have to say that I've yet to see any of my nearest and dearest aloft a broomstick and I would tend to say that witches tend to prefer a nice comfortable seat on a plane for flying preferences...
Despite my slightly sardonic tone, I really do enjoy seeing so many Samhain/Halloween symbols and objects in the streets, stores and the media. It's a wonderful reminder that - inadvertently or unconsciously- people will continue to be drawn by ancient and primal urges which urge them to mark and celebrate this intense, magical part of the Wheel of the Year, no matter what may be happening in the wider world. It seems that people will continue to gather so that they can feast, drink, celebrate and party- just like our ancestors did...
A very simple Samhain ritual
In whichever way you choose to celebrate this night, it's the perfect time to reflect on the last 12 months of your life. In a very simple, uncomplicated ritual, I light a black candle as I mentally and verbally discard the old year's energy and it's lessons. I then light a white candle and give thanks for the good things that have come to me. I put all of my focus on whatever I wish to manifest in the coming year as I do so. When I feel ready, I extinguish the candles and offer my thanks to The God and to The Goddess, my Spirit Guides and my ancestors.
As I mentioned earlier in this post, Samhain is the most powerful point of the year for divination. You can work with The Tarot, runes, a scrying mirror or whichever tools you prefer for gaining psychic focus.
It's an especially wonderful and incredibly charged time to book a reading about the coming year or on any specific issues on which you need guidance.