Samhain: A Celebration of Death in Life
The people of ancient Celtic faiths believed that Samhain was a time when the veil between the world of the living and the dead was at its most thin. On the night of Samhain, spirits of the dead were believed to walk among the living. This provided a unique opportunity once a year for people to celebrate the deceased and to make their own peace with mortality. In the modern world, death is a subject that is avoided and, more often than not, feared. Of course, this has not always been the case. Observation and celebrations of the duality of life are universal among humanity. If we did not have days to meditate on death and the cycle of life that we all must play our part in, we would cease to be humans entirely.
Samhain is one among many traditions worldwide that our ancestors left for us as a reminder that death need not be feared, but celebrated. By reconnecting to this festival, we walk hand and hand with our long since departed forefathers and take a look at our lives with the understanding that our ultimate destination is to walk alongside them - and to be at peace with that. With this, comes the reminder to take a look at the lives we are living and to ask ourselves how we can change for the better. Samhain does not only have to be about celebrating physical death but can also be a way to honor the death of the ever changing versions of ourselves in our many seasons of life.
As always, our hope is to inspire others to think about what it is to reconnect with ancient modalities. Not just through the fabrics we wear and the way we adorn ourselves but in our practices too. Some simple ways to bring this into practice this year are to:
Make an altar honoring death. You can personalize it by adding photos or memorabilia of departed loved ones.
Build a bonfire - this is one of the oldest observed Samhain practices. Feasting around the fire with friends is a great way to remember exactly what it is to be alive!
Light a candle and meditate on the ways you hope to live your life - think of any habits you wish to shed or goals you hope to accomplish. You can even make this into a spell by writing it down and burning it in your candle.
Go outside and look at the world around you - think about the ways death interacts with life constantly. Feel the soil and think about all the life that was lived before you in order to make it what it is today.
This is a time to surrender to darkness and stillness. Remind yourself that it is okay to rest - to be still and silent. Plan a period of time in your day where you will rest in quiet.
No matter how you choose to observe this special day we wish you all the very best! May we all find peace and warmth in the darkness ahead. The pagan calendar comes to a close with this final festival and we march headfirst into a new year. During this time we are reminded that everything must begin in darkness - may our time in the dark bring forth great inspiration for the light season!
