October: The spooky season letter ☾🕸️🦇
Connecting with the dark, moody, magical, mysterious energy of the month
Hello there, you.
Welcome to golden, magical October! Nature is often absolutely goooorgeous this month. Peak leaf season usually happens in many places. Everything is golden and red and orange. And, even though there is a twinge of sadness as the leaves drop from their trees, there is also something so beautiful in their glorious, vibrant endings. I find that every October it is super important to me to make time to observe the earth and let myself drop into nature’s rhythms of autumn all month long. To just soak it all up - because, even if it seems slow, it is also gone in an instant.
And, as if the gorgeousness of October is not enough, spooky season is also here. I love, love, love spooky season. The nights grow longer, darkness creeps in, and suddenly it feels as if its ok to embrace the shadows. I remember back to my childhood, walking at night, leaves crunching below my feet, a breeze blowing fallen leaves down the dimly lit street, sounds of owls hooting in trees, and bats flitting about above my head. It’s time for magic and mystery and moody, witchy things.
I must admit, while I’ve anxiously been waiting for October to begin, this morning I woke and I felt way off. So disconnected and untethered. After a month of feeling cozy and grounded and settled all September long, I suddenly felt a combination of chaos and nothingness this morning. Out of nowhere. And suddenly, too. Literally, it shifted overnight. I found myself thinking, “ So what it’s spooky season? I don’t feel anything”. There was no October feeling in me at all. I sat and analyzed and tried to feel something, but nothing came. I just felt off. And far from my usual spooky season excitement.
Which, is also a season, I guess. I mean, I can’t feel connected and inspired and grounded at all times. Sometimes I just feel empty and off. And, apparently Sunday morning for me was time for that.
But, the more I just sat in these chaotic thoughts and journaled these empty feelings, I began to wonder… could this perhaps be what spooky season is to me this year? Perhaps the spookiness of the season is the uncomfortableness of truly feeling the moody, mysterious side of life right now. Perhaps this is my season to really connect with the dark side of myself, the parts of me that I keep deep and hidden - from even myself. Perhaps October is the month that I figure out how to rest in the unanswered questions, the emptiness, and the shadows that I too often ignore.
Yes, I am beginning to think that this is my chance to connect deeply with the dark, moody, magical, mysterious energy of the season. So as to not just celebrate a commercial, light-hearted, superficial spooky season with pumpkins and ghosts - ‘cause I will definitely do all of that; but to also literally live this spooky season from within. To sink down into the dark places, to sit quietly in the night, to ponder death - and life. To welcome the the questions, to be open to possibilities, to settle in with the unexplainable. Maybe this is my chance to learn new ways, deeper ways. Wild, wise, and witchy ways.
Something bubbled within me as I wrote the above sentence in my journal this morning. Like a black cauldron bubbling with potions and healing concoctions. There was a flutter inside me. I’d woken something, touched something deep within.
And then it came. All of the October energy - golden and spooky. It came rushing up from within me.
This month, I am meant to go deep within my own soul and find inspiration. I need to spend the nights, surrounded by candles, wrapped up in blankets, sipping warm drinks, while I read and listen. I need to take some nighttime walks and moon gaze. To help me redefine, uncover, and tap into my own magic and wisdom and power. That’s what this spooky season may be for me: a chance to connect with and release my own inner witch, that is, my own inner, feminine, wise, powerful self.
September was the month that led me home. I settled in, got cozy, and created a mellow sanctuary space at home all month long. Now, that I’m here, October invites me to use this time and space to be quiet. This is the month for listening, reading, feeling, writing, and just being here. In all of the cozy darkness, but also in all of the uncomfortable darkness as well.
This is the season of discovering the secrets of the soul. In September, I settled into my physical home. Now, I turn inward and settle into the home that is within me. And all of this soul work - well, this is the moody, mysterious, magic of October. It is becoming one with the darkness around me, the shadows within in me, and the quiet, silent, mystery that flows through all of life.
I cannot explain so much. I feel so much anguish and sadness right now. But, I am also absolutely ok with not knowing everything. And I also feel deep love and peace and contentment. How is this all possible? What does it mean? How can I use my own life to make a difference while I am alive? What do my ancestors have to say to me? How can I say goodbye to my father?
So many questions this spooky season. And so much to learn in these dark nights of October. Perhaps it’s a bit frightening. But, it is also awe-inspiring.
As I look ahead and set some intentions for this month, I envision my month filled with golden, crisp October days and dark, magical October nights. This is the season of coming home to the soul. Of harvesting all of the lessons to be found in the dark. Of leaning into the spooky, mysterious, magical power that we all have within us.
Happy spooky season, love! What’s your favorite thing about October?
xoxo. liz.
Spooky Inspo
Before I go, I’d like to share with you a few tips I have for getting in the October mood, learning a little bit, and just all around spooky season vibes.
This month, I’ve decided to listen to a bunch of witchy-themed podcasts. It all started a few weeks ago when I found a podcast simply called, “Witch”. It’s a BBC podcast that investigates the modern day idea of witches. Filled with history and current personal stories, the narrator talks with all kinds of people who research witches and/or identify as witches. I’ve decided to listen to 1 podcast per week and so far it is so good. Super entertaining, quirky, and informative. I highly recommend it if you are into hearing about current witchy issues and witchy history.
Then, it all spiraled and I looked up more podcasts, so I thought I’d share them with you here - just in case you are are in the spooky season spirit. I haven’t listened to them all, but have started them. So, I can’t promise that they are amazing, but I am interested. I can highly recommend the Witch podcast, though. I’ve listened to a lot of the episodes.
Witchstory podcast - tales and stories of witches through the centuries
Missing Witches - research-based, feminist stories of missing witches
The History of Witchcraft - exactly what the title says. very heady and dry, but super informative.
Witches of Scotland - follow the Witches of Scotland’s campaign to bring justice to those accused, convicted, and executed as witches in the Witchcraft Act of 1563.
And, finally, here’s my October playlist. Where I’ve curated cozy, haunting, moody music perfect for the dark nights and cozy days of spooky season.
I like the idea of October being quiet! Even though darkness comes to mind when I think of spooky season, it doesn’t make me feel sadness. I like the mysterious of it.
I will need to check out the podcast recommendations!
I think my favorite part of October is that everything goes a little slower and more intentional, for some reason. The temperatures drop and all I want to do is cozy up with a tea and a book.