We’ve arrived at the powerful season of Samhain (pronounced ‘sah-win’ or ‘sow-in’), which is the Irish/Scottish Gaelic word for November meaning ‘summer’s end’.
Samhain is traditionally celebrated around Oct 31st/Nov 1st or in the first week of November, and is a season that runs until Winter Solstice. It is a time where we honor our loved ones beyond the veil, the ancestors, and connect with the spirit world for guidance.
As trees drop their leaves and energy flows down into root systems, the earth reminds us that this is a season of endings, letting go and release of all that we no longer wish to carry into winter. Our physical energy is precious and best supported through nourishment and slowing down. Emotionally, grief and nostalgia can come up, as we connect with our lineage roots and how they have influenced the way we live our life now.
It is a potent time to deepen intimacy with ourselves and bring loving-kindness to our inner child. Spiritually, our sensitivity increases, as the darkness sets in and we must rely on more intuitive, non-linear ways to navigate the unknown.
We can use this potent season from now up until the Winter Solstice for healing, composting old stories we no longer wish to carry, and come into greater intimacy with ourselves through shadow work, healing & spiritual practice.
Samhain is the 3rd harvest holiday in the Wheel of the Year, traditionally celebrating the harvest of the hunt. Sacrifice and awareness of death from hunting season have historically kept us closer to our own mortality, and thus fueled our spiritual nature. The closer we are to the thin veil between life and death, the more we contemplate what lies beyond our mortal existence, and feel the preciousness of life. This refines our values, and how we want to live.
Samhain season is rich, deep and fertile territory for healing lineage wounds, confronting fears around death, aging, mortality and sharpens what is meaningful to us. It is a season for shedding tears, as well as harvesting inner treasures such as deeper happiness, healing and inner peace. What we want to nourish over the months to come becomes clearer. The theme of sacrifice comes into play when we realize we cannot go forward toward our goal without leaving something behind.
We must trust that what is sacrificed will yield rebirth. All is not about loss and letting go, however. Samhain is also considered the Witches’ New Year and we can begin to plant bulbs of rebirth for the spring now.
Envision yourself thriving next spring, and plant those seeds of intention into the fertile void of the universe!
Use this time to let go of what hinders your future visions. Don’t be afraid to shed that which doesn’t support your true self or who you want to be. Keep feeding the vision you have for your future, for the season of rebirth is already being supported by the universe’s natural flow now.
Some ways to honor the season of Samhain:
- Cook a dish or meal one of your deceased loved ones would have made, or something cultural from your lineage. When you eat it, think of them. You may also wish to leave out an offering plate of food for them. (They cannot literally eat it, but can receive the energy of the offering. You can dispose of the remains later, outside or in a compost bin).
- Honor your heritage by engaging in the cultural arts or learning to speak the language, if you don’t already. If you do speak a language of your lineage(s) but haven’t recently, it’s a great time to pick it up again or connect with others who speak it!
- Bring out old photos of your family, learn about their history or research your family tree.
- Create an altar for your ancestors or a tribute to other loved ones that have passed. You can place photos and meaningful objects on the altar, and light a candle each day as a ritual of remembering. You can take time at the altar to speak with them, tell them about your day or ask them for guidance or support.
*When calling on your ancestors for connection, guidance, or support, I recommend specifying that you wish to only connect with your ‘well and wise’ ancestors who have your best and highest good in their hearts. I have personally found boundaries and specifics very important when speaking to ancestors, as we can attract those who don’t have our best interest at heart and things can get messy and difficult. I believe many of our loved ones heal and grow and evolve on the other side, just like we can on earth, but some do not, so to protect myself, I am specific about this.
- Write a letter to an ancestor you have never met, and ask that they bring you insights in your dreams. *with above suggestion
- Write a letter to a deceased loved one or pet saying all you wished you could have said when they were still on earth, or whatever comes to mind in the moment. Read it aloud if you wish. Feel them in your heart and know they have heard you.
- Spiritual cleansing, protection and grounding practices are vital this time of year: Ensure you are clearing and protecting from unwanted energy with either smoke cleansing & protective herbs, water/showers/baths, visualization, meditation, sound energy, connection to allies in nature, breathing or movement practice, crystals, essential oils, calling in your spirit helpers, deity prayer and practice, etc.
- Contemplate your own mortality and/or work with your fears. You can do this in light ways or deep ways. Lighter ways could be- watch scary movies, black comedies, visit a cemetery and contemplate life & death, write down your fears and pick one to slowly face in baby steps, draw your fears as funny characters, or indulge in some macabre art or costuming. Deeper ways could be working with your fears in therapy, visiting a shamanic practitioner, past-life regression worker, medium or other healing practitioner to really work through your past and heal your relationship with it it into the present.
- Tarot and oracle readings for guidance through the darkness and exploration of your gifts, strengths and resources! A Tarot reading can bring clarity, inspiration, tools and understanding of your situation in profound ways. Come and get a Tarot reading with me, or try out this oracle deck below!
Samhain Oracle Reading:
I have always loved the Vintage Wisdom Oracle deck by Victoria Moseley.
Take a moment to breathe in and out a few times, in through the nose, out through the mouth. Ground and center yourself and ask: What do I need to connect with this Samhain season? Alternatively, you can ask a more specific question. Choose a card below and scroll down for the description! Words in italics are my own, the rest is of the deck’s author.
Remember that number! Scroll down for description…
- Gratitude:
The Gratitude card invites you to un-earth the bounty of your daily life by remembering the many reasons to be grateful. It may be a favorable time to express thanks to a deserving soul who has helped you in some way, or simply a signal to count your blessings!
What do you feel grateful for? Who are you grateful for? During this very spiritual time of the year, it is a great time to thank our spirit guides, ancestors and other allies from beyond the veil for their protection, love and gifts as they help us on our earth walk. Give an offering of thanks in whatever way feels right. Write a gratitude list of all you are grateful for, especially if you’ve been feeling down, lost or hopeless. Gratitude has a way of reminding us how much the universe loves and takes care of us, even if we aren’t noticing or receiving it.
2. Gentleness
Life can be harsh at times, but the way we respond to challenges determines our receptiveness to its spiritual gifts, and our connection with the world. Life beckons you to draw on gentleness when it may be more tempting to react in the opposite way. If this is the case, the presence of this card is an opportunity for growth. By handling a predicament with the wisdom of gentleness you bend with the ebb and patient flow of its quiet and humble countenance.
Gentleness is not a sign of weakness or fragility but of strength and power. Especially when we are dealing with wounded parts of ourselves, being gentle can have far-reaching healing effects. When we are gentle, we feel safe enough to access and feel our truth, which then helps us move forward in new, stronger ways of being. Take some time to hold a gentle space for yourself. Speak gentle words to yourself, be cozy, play soft music, journal your feelings, let yourself shed tears or simply ‘be’ without doing. What would a kind, gentle friend say to you about your situation?
3. Divine Timing
The appearance of the Divine Timing card invites you to align with your intuitive nature, while being patient and flexible. Things may happen at a different pace than anticipated or opportunities may spontaneously arise, so be ready for synchronous happenings, unexpected blessings, and sudden endings or beginnings. Divine providence always delivers what we need, when we need it, and for our highest good. The responsibility lies within each individual to adapt accordingly. Ask for the necessary understanding of why things are as they are, and for any gifts or benefits within the seeming disruption.
Mercury is still retrograde until mid-November, and many other planets are retrograde too, asking us to be flexible and open to learning from the past before we move forward into the future. There is integration of the past needed now, and the timing to move forward will be ripe once we’ve gone through this necessary period of reflection. It is usually in hindsight that we can see the wisdom in delays, obstacles and long roads with twists and turns, so patience is your friend now in getting you where you need to be at the right time. Trust the process.
4. Dreams
Surviving the challenges of physical life can be overwhelming at times. Our feelings of being almost robotically governed by the constraints of practicality, logic and duty allow little time for what appears to be the seemingly indulgent and magical act of dreaming. However, a dream is merely a goal without feet, and it is often through the creative power of dreams that people find the courage to begin their realization. Many people will tell you that the greatness of their success began with a dream.
What visions, goals, desires and dreams have been bubbling in your cauldron lately? You are called to give these visions more attention and nurturing. Let go of the ‘how’ for now, and allow yourself to indulge in fantasy. What if this amazing thing happened? What if it was possible? Let your dreaming mind expand and believe… because anything we can imagine is possible. Over time, we can take baby steps in the direction of our dreams, and maybe they change or shift a bit as we go, but eventually, we will be in a new reality, one aligned with our desires. We just need to start dreaming first!
5. Freedom
By drawing the Freedom card, you are prompted to review any areas of limitation in your life that may be holding you back. Perhaps you are feeling victimized by unavoidable circumstances, or overwhelmed by endless choices. Regardless of what the cards have in store for you, you alone have the freedom to choose how you will play them. It is this spiritual freedom that cannot be taken away, and that gives life meaning and purpose.
Where do you feel limited in your life? Take a moment to envision and feel what it might be like to have more freedom there. What tiny step could bring you closer to that freedom? Also, some limitations can actually give us more freedom, for example, a structured routine can help us be more creative with certain tasks because our energy is focused on the task instead of creating a structure for it. Where can limitation be a productive ally towards your freedom? Is there a way to restructure things for a better flow?
6. Nature
The presence of this card invites you to realign your energies through deepening your affinity with nature. Perhaps you have been overwhelmed by the pressures of daily life or are recovering from a big ordeal. You may feel lost in the details or trapped in a relentless cycle of habitual thoughts or patterns that no longer serve you well. Evaluate your integration with nature and allow your intuition to reveal how you would most benefit from her healing elixir.
You are not separate from nature, you are a part of it. Modern life can make us forget this. Take some time this season to stand against a tree, or sit near the water to reflect, ground, release all that no longer serves you and remember your kinship with the earth. She earth is our most healing ally, always present and awaiting our return to her. What element is calling you now? The breezy renewal of air, the warmth of the fiery sun on your face, the soothing, cleansing waves of water, or the support, stability and wisdom of earth? Let your body, heart and mind open to receiving these gifts in gratitude and rememberance.
7. Listening
In this modern age, more and more emphasis is placed on the role of speaking out, but few people take time to truly give of themselves by practicing the art of listening to one another. The deeper implication means we have forgotten how to listen to ourselves, the wisdom which comes from our heart and our connection to nature. By drawing this card, you are urged to be open, responsive and present in your approach to life. By listening carefully, you will not only gain new insight and perspective, but also bequeath others with one of the most precious gifts of all.
Listening requires an open, receptive heart and mind. Remember that hearing and listening are two different things. Listening requires our full attention, and taking in a perspective, weighing it with our own wisdom and then digesting and integrating it with our truth. It’s a whole process! Where have you been hearing but not listening lately? Or talking but not listening? Perhaps with a loved one, or your own intuition? Have you been listening to outside opinions and experts against the truth of your own inner knowing? Have you been listening to your body or overriding its messages? Be curious and practice listening in one area of your life and see how much things improve.
8. Shadow Self
Jung characterized the shadow as ‘that which we think we are not’. We deem the shadow self a weakness and strive to keep it hidden from the outside world. This act of repression, however, succeeds in wasting precious energy and empowering negativity. Over a lifetime these patterns can become rigid, blinding us to the fact that we carry and project them to the world. We only know our lives or relationships are not working, and we feel separate, divided, and imprisoned by our reactions, instead of empowered by our wise actions. The appearance of this card present you with a powerful opportunity to see how your shadow self could be preventing you from finding peace. It could well be the missing link. By exposing your fears to the light, you will dissolve the power they once had and transmute them into powerful allies.
What do you dislike in others? What disturbs or frightens you? These could be clues about your shadow. Shadow work is helpful to do with a therapist or healing practitioner. Journaling is a great activity for moving the process along. You could start by writing down some of your fears. Notice what lies beneath these specific things. Chaos? Helplessness? Laziness? Power? Sometimes we are afraid of being too successful or happy for various reasons. These patterns lie in our childhood, and even past lives. Dig deeper and find inherited beliefs, collective beliefs and more. Know you are not alone in how you feel! You are a spiritual being living a human life where light and dark are always together, part of the package. Know that the darkness is what we’re here to know, as it helps us see and embody the light more fully. This journey will yield healing and empowerment.
Did your card resonate? I hope it did!
Wishing you a deeply healing, nourishing and powerful Samhain season of rooted power, blessings and healing,
xo
Serena
*If you are looking for spiritual guidance this season, please check out my magickal 1 on 1 services, offered online and in-person!
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