We are now in the depths of the Great Cauldron of change and transformation. The Dark Goddess reigns this time of year, known in Her many forms as Cerridwen, An Cailleach, Hecate, The Morrigan, Lilith, Kali, Sekhmet, Nepthys, Baba Yaga, Persephone, Nyx, Hel, and more.
Samhain is rooted in Ireland and Scotland (also celebrated in Wales as Calan Gaeaf), which signifies the beginning of November, the last harvest, and the beginning of winter. It is also hunting season, and often called the third (and last) harvest festival. The first is Lammas, for the harvesting of grain, the second is Fall Equinox, for the harvesting of fruits, and the third is Samhain, for the sacrifice of animal life to sustain human life. This brings into focus the death-rebirth theme prominent of this season, and coming to terms with our physical mortality as well as the cyclical nature of life.
It is often said the veil between the worlds is thin at this time, and thus a tradition of dressing in costumes and carving Jack-o-lanterns was used to scare off malevolent spirits that may come through to visit our world. Traditions of feeding or honoring the dead with a special silent supper (‘dumb supper’) were also common. Many continue these traditions today throughout several cultures. It is historically and currently a time to honor our ancestors and beloved dead.
Samhain is a time where we can honor the deceased in many ways. Perhaps by cooking a meal they would have made or enjoyed, and setting them a plate at the table. Or, making an altar with photos and offerings, wearing an item that belonged to them, or doing something in their honor. Even just writing them a little letter or speaking to their spirit in a prayer can be a powerful way to connect.
It is also a time of recognizing transformation happening within ourselves and our lives. Often, this time shows us what is no longer serving us and must pass from our lives. It could be a habitual way of thinking or talking to ourselves, an old identity that no longer fits, inherited patterns and wounding from our family and lineage, and anything that we know deep down we just can’t carry forward with us into the future. It is a wonderful time for lineage healing and working through any generational wounds, such as the ‘Witch Wound’. (Join my upcoming Samhain Circle on this topic!).
The Samhain cauldron of transformation can be an emotional time of transition. We may experience intense grief, love, desire, sadness, anger, or joy to a greater intensity than usual. The increased darkness of the sky can increase our instinct to draw inward, slow down and bring in the comfort food and blankets. It can also increase anxiety around the unknown.
It can be helpful as we flow through the dark time of year to warm our spirits with light, candles, indoor plants, nourishing comfort food, warm drinks, music and people we enjoy being around. This is an important phase in the cycle of life- one that our culture does not allow much experience of. To sit with the reality of death, not just of our physical body, but of aspects of ourselves, and to allow ourselves to feel all the emotions, including the emptiness- is considered quite taboo in this culture. To unplug from our phones, the noise, and allow some silence in can feel overwhelming to some. If so, just keep it simple. Give yourself a small window of time before it gets dark to have some silence. Or, surround yourself with candles and comfort as you take a little quiet time to doodle or listen to music or have a warm bath.
Our spirit guides and ancestors are quite close to us at this time. They often have a message for us and much love to share. How can we receive these if we are constantly busy and plugged into media? Can we allow more space and slowness in order to feel into our depths and hear the whisperings of our guides? They are helping us to heal and renew during this phase, and there is so much fertility in our depths- new creative seeds waiting to be found and planted like bulbs to grow anew in the spring. This is also known as the Witches’ New Year, where we let go of this cycle and begin preparing our inner soil and planting new seeds that must incubate beneath the surface until spring.
So, honor yourself at this time with gentleness, love, comfort and allow for some slowness and quiet to reveal the stirrings of your heart that will take you into the new cycle. This doesn’t all have to be done right now- Samhain, like each of the seasons on the Wheel of the Year- lasts around 6 weeks. Savor it and take your time letting the darkness reveal the treasures within!
Samhain Oracle Reading:
What does this season have in store for you? Take 3 deep relaxing breaths to get centered. Then ask your guides- ‘what do I need to know now?’ and choose a card below. Then, scroll down to find that number and read the description.
I am using the Seasons of the Witch Samhain Oracle by Lorraine Anderson, Juliet Diaz and Giada Rose. Words are by the deck’s author.
Remember that number and scroll down for the description!
- Graveyard: Peace, Acknowledgement. There is a song that bellows in the peace of knowing no end, in acknowledging the crossroads of eternity.
Many see a graveyard as a symbol for mortality. It collects the tears of mourners whose loved ones have been laid to rest. Its stillness is an ominous song that creeps up the spine, leaving us to ponder who Death will come for next. But a graveyard is a place of serenity where souls can find peace and stillness beyond the harsh realities of living. There is no longer the need to struggle against what is. It is a place of surrender.
There are those who fear the graveyard for it has long been the home of wandering spirits who cannot find peace. Those who have not transitioned to eternity, forced to live a half life; neither dead nor alive. Souls who are faced with taking responsibility for a life not lived to the full, focused on things that didn’t matter and holding onto resentment.
The Graveyard card will help you find peace with where you are. There are times when we will be faced with difficult situations that are beyond your control. Those are the times that we must surrender to our current place. There’s no use in fighting a battle you’ve already lost. Take control over the one thing you can change- yourself. The situation you’re inquiring about is no longer in your hands. The powers that be have taken over. Often, we are faced with a challenging ending that is necessary to facilitate a bright new beginning.
2. Elders: Compassion, Wisdom. Birthed from seed within the belly of the moon, they are the wise felt touches over our hearts and felt deep within the marrow of our spirit.
Elders are wise. They are the ones who’ve lives and experienced more ups and downs, twists and turns than the rest of us. Elders were the storytellers and keepers of knowledge, they were the ones we sought when in turmoil and who would hold us as we wept for the unfairness life can bring. They had compassion for us but also gave sage advice drawn from their decades of experience.
Today many elders are seen as a burden instead of cherished loved ones who deserve the right to be supported and cared for in their old age. Many elders have not been given the space to share the wise words of their traditions because our modern world moves too fast for their slow wisdom. Yet, there are those among us, particularly witches, who still see the wisdom in their old ways.
If you hold the Elders card, it is to remind you to have compassion for others and to never disregard someone else’s wisdom or experience. A Zen saying tells us, ‘You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day unless you’re too busy. Then you should sit for an hour.’. This knowledge can be applied to wisdom as well. Often the thing you need most when life is moving too fast is to slow down to see what you’ve been missing or, in this case, who you’ve been missing.
This card is a call to meet with your elders to see if they have wisdom to share about your ancestors that can help you on your path.
3. Rooted: Grounded, connection. May you never tear the living ritual that is magic merged within the roots of your being, the soil of your soul.
We are often told to start building with intuition, which is undoubtedly true; never underestimate the power of working with spirit. You need to learn to ground the spiritual information into your physical life. To be flighty is to connect to spirit but to be rooted is to become a channel for spirit. You become a vessel that allows the divine intelligence to spread its wisdom here on Earth. A more familiar word is manifestation. Being grounded is about being present and aware of how things make you feel. You have to feel into your body.
You are being asked to dig in deeper. Maintaining deep roots is how to pull yourself from the darkness. It’s easy to get grounded or to do your spiritual practice when things are going well. It’s an entirely different ball game when you feel defeated and broken, but the darkest parts of your journey are when you need to be rooted most. The real gift of spiritual commitment is found when you feel like your back is against a wall.
Don’t give up when times are hard. Instead find nourishment below the surface. Find your connection to your true self, your ancestors, your guides, your trust and your instincts. Your situation is not hard so that you can give up; it is a call to surrender to your practice.
4. Broom: Clearing, purifying, home. What dreams may come from what you seek; make room, make way! A clearing need be.
A broom or besom can be found in any home for sweeping dust and dirt. However, a broom to a witch is more than a simple household tool. It holds a special significance and sweeps more than dust and dirt away.
Brooms are often used to sweep away to Native Americans burning white sage. It sweeps away the physical and invisible energies that have crept in from the outside world. This clearing of energy contributes to a witch’s wellbeing. Clearing out the old and dusty, a witch makes space for the new. Sweeping out negative energy, a witch raises her vibration and therefore her strength.
When the Broom sweeps into your life you are being called to do some cleaning. Some things surrounding your current situation have been neglected. You need to clear out this dust of the past. This card can also mean clearing your aura. As healers, we tend to hold on to the energy of others for much longer than we need. It’s important to do regular purification rituals to keep your aura nice and tidy. The more you clear out the old, the more you make room for new energies to come into your life. Removing things both physical or metaphorical from your life, such as momentos from past relationships or giving away things that remind you of old situations, helps with that process of clearing.
5. Crystals and Herbs: Earth’s Medicine, healing. Oh what medicine, what sacredness to behold. A dash of healing straight from Mother’s home.
This card is an allegory for the profound healing that comes from working with Earth’s medicine. Sometimes you have to come back to the basics- Earth energy. This means touching the Earth and her offerings, getting to know your crystals, herbs, essential oils and the ground you walk on, forest bathing, or sleeping under the stars, finding a quiet stream or meadow and speaking to your surroundings, talking to plants or growing new ones. Invite Earth healing into your life in whatever way feels right to you as the Earth is always here for you, but like your guides, Mother Nature needs an invitation.
Pulling Crystals and Herbs is an invitation to find a deeper connection with Earth energy. Mother Earth is calling you home, and that healing can be found within nature’s language. The Earth element represents grounding, connection, stability and strength. Nature nourishes and supports you and all things on this planet. Behold the sacredness that is Earth magic. You will feel more replenished as you develop your connection.
This message is amplified if you’ve been feeling burned out- if you are sleeping but not rested, full but not hungry or active but not energized. This card holds even deeper meaning for you as it signals you’ve lost touch with the anchoring of working with Earth energy. This message is even more significant if you have pulled the Rooted card or feel called to read it.
Did your card resonate? I hope it did! I hope you uncover gems of richness and renewal and we flow through this time of change, death and rebirth.
If you would like to celebrate Samhain with me, and are in or near Toronto, ON, please join me on Friday, November 7th for Samhain Circle: Healing the Witch Wound! We will discuss the Witch Wound, go on a guided meditation journey for healing and reclaiming our power, and create little cauldron pouches filled with crystals and herbs to help us on our journey.
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