The enchanting festival of Samhain ๐๐ธ๏ธ
And an invitation to enter the dark season - if you dare.
Happy Halloween to you, my friend.
The word โenchantingโ has been popping up around me for about a week or two now. And I canโt deny that there must be a reason for it. I donโt know if it was just so I could use it in the title of this letter for you, or for something deeper. I like to think the latter. In any case, enchanting is a perfect word for today - for the celebration of Samhain (an ancient festival at the end of October that marks the end of the growing, harvesting, and light half of the year and welcomes the cold, dark, winter half of the year) and Halloween (born from old, ancient traditions associated with the celebrations of endings, dying, and saints at this time of year).
Anyway, enchanting. It comes from the Latin word โincantareโ, which means โto cast a spell onโ. Ahhh, yes. Samhain and Halloween are a most enchanting, spellbinding, captivating time of the year.
The enchantment of this day to me is that it is an invitation into the deep, dark season of winter. Itโs like a dare for me to enter through a squeaky, black, wrought iron gate. To cross over the threshold and enter a cemetery or secret garden. To go deep into the misty, dark, cold, quiet.ย A space that is unknown and somewhat frightening. But, also a space filled with great spiritual possibility.
It is almost as if I feel spellbound. Called to a deeper, ancient way of being during the upcoming winter.
And, so, to celebrate this festival, I set aside time to think and write and just breathe. I ponder all of the things that I am now leaving behind. And I dare to pass through that squeaky, black, wrought iron gate, crossing over into winter and the dark months of the year.
If I dare to go in, then I enter the liminal, mystical, otherworldly, anything is possible season much more deeply than before. There will be, of course, a foreboding sense of uncertainty, a slight twinge of fear, and yet a sense of deep wisdom and connection as well.ย Somehow, though, even in the dark, I know I will feel safe.
So, just as the earth sighs and exhales at the end of the harvest season, I, too, begin to draw in one long, last deep breath before I exhale and settle into the dark season of mystery, wisdom, and rest.
In ancient communities, this time of year was when the harvest was done. The time of life and growth had ended. And the time of death and hibernation began. One growing year ends. And the next year has not yet begun.
Today weโre leaving behind the light, the growing, the harvesting. And being welcomed into a dark, quiet unknown space. The season of possibility.ย
We are entering the liminal space between Samhain and the winter solstice. The in-between time. It is a holy, mystical time. In the darkness, the veil is thin and spirit draws near. Mystery, melancholy, mist, and fog fill our days and nights, and even our heads, as we wonderโฆ what now? We no longer know where we are - it feels like we are lost in the dark. Life and time even seem suspended.
But, if we dare to cross through the gate of Samhain and into a deeper winter season, then there is so much wisdom and knowledge and insight to gather. There are endless possibilities in the dark. A chance to listen and feel and rest.
For me, the only thing to do on this Halloween night is to cross through the gate. To dare to enter. And then to wait. And listen. And breathe.ย Perhaps we want to gather and wait together. โTis the season for gathering and waiting, you know.ย
So, over the next few days, letโs just let our eyes adjust to the dark. Letโs just be here. In this liminal, mystical, magical, somewhat unsettling space where we enter the dark months of the year.ย
Who knows what we will find and what mysteries will unfold?
Blessed Samhain, my friend.
xoxo. liz.
Beautifully said! Blessings to you!
So beautiful. Samhain blessings to you xx