The dark night at the end of the year
How Halloween/Samhain inspires me to shift from old to new
Hello, my friend. It’s a magical day.
Today is ancient, mystical Samhain (pronounced Sow-an). The mark of the end of one cycle, the beginning of the dark winter time, and the symbolic shift from old to new.
The ancient Celts celebrated today as the third harvest, the turn from the last golden light of summer + autumn to the cold, dark of winter. Now is when the earth turns to a time of rest + renewal, and calls us to do likewise. Today, following Mother Nature’s lead, as the times changes here in Europe and the days become even darker, we shift into the time of the year that is perfect to reflect, return to our roots, settle into silence, and draw on the energies of the darkness.
What becomes real to me on this day is that things are always changing. We are always cycling, spiraling, ending + beginning again. So, it is with life. With nature.
And while December 31 celebrates the constant flow of life at the beginning of a new calendar year with noise + parties, Samhain celebrates the turning of the seasons and the continuation of the spiral of life with darkness, reverence, and mystery. It is a much more reflective, internal, deeply rooted celebration of a new year. A new cycle of growth and life.
Don’t get me wrong, I love traditional New Year’s Eve shenanigans; however, I find the ancient Samhain celebration of the Celtic new year the most natural + soul-filling way to ring in a new year.
We tend to think that once everything begins to wake from winter and bud + bloom that new life has begun. Or with the turning of the calendar year. But, I believe… no, I feel that life begins in the dark womb of nothingness. It is here that a seed is planted + takes root. It is here that cells become a fetus. It is from black dust + nothingness that solar system was born.
The dark is the beginning.
As we celebrate our Halloween traditions in whatever way we do, we also enter into the deep mystery of late autumn + winter. The last leaves have fallen, all of nature looks dead, we feel drained + blah. Darkness feels heavy, all-encompassing, and never-ending.
But, it is here that the magic happens. Here is where it all begins. In the quiet, restful nothingness of pure potential. The question is, can we return to our natural rhythm even in the midst of everyday life? The call, I believe, is to find a way to slow our pace, embrace the dark, and listen to the whispers of our soul. And I believe that it is totally possible to find a balance of rest + presence during the winter months. If we do, then we will simply be aligned with the rhythms of the earth and discover more meaning + depth to our everyday lives.
So, my friend, I wish you blessed Samhain and a quiet shift into the dark mysteries of the months ahead. It is time, once again, for a new cycle + a new beginning. Take a few deep breaths today + release all that you do not need going forward. And, then, get ready to simply snuggle down into the darkness. It’s time for the secret, quiet, earthy, ancient wisdom to begin to slowly rise through our roots.
There is nothing to do right now. Just be…
xoxo. liz.
Do not forget that we begin November’s Photo Journey tomorrow - as a creative way to help us settle into the darkness.