As the air grows colder and the nights grow longer, we stand at the threshold of a powerful transition. Samhain, the ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, offers a unique opportunity to honour the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
Celebrated traditionally from October 31 to November 1, and typically bundled up with Halloween, All Saints’ Day and the Day of the Dead, actual astrological Samhain usually falls about a week later. This year, I’m told, Samhain is actually on 7 November. That said, I think it is more a season than a day and I want to invite you into a journey inward at this time.
During Samhain, the “veil” between our world and the spirit world is said to be at its thinnest, allowing for heightened intuition and connection to past wisdom. This season’s energy calls us to slow down, honour what has passed, and make space for what is yet to come.
Samhain as a Season of Reflection
Samhain is a season of soul-searching and a time to ask ourselves profound questions. What have I harvested this year? What do I need to release to make way for new growth? Just as the trees shed their leaves, we too are invited to let go of what no longer serves us.
In the spirit of Samhain, let us embrace this time of transition with reverence.
As we enter the “dark half” of the year, we can draw on the darkness not as a place of fear but as a space of mystery and inner wisdom.
Journaling Prompts for Samhain
To help you tap into the depth of this season, here are a few reflective journaling prompts:
1. What lessons have I harvested this past year?
Reflect on experiences that have shaped you in recent months. What insights or learnings have surfaced during 2024? Consider how these will guide you into your next chapter.
2. What am I ready to release?
As we move deeper into autumn, think about what you might want to let go of to create space for new energy. Is there an outdated belief or habit that it’s time to release? Are there roles or jobs that you are ready to let go of in order to step into your next phase of growth? Is there a relationship that you want to release or to change the nature of your engagement within it?
3. What can I do to honour my ancestors?
Whether through a ritual, a simple offering, or reflecting on family stories, take a moment to acknowledge those who have gone before you. What wisdom or guidance do you sense from them in this season?
4. What would I like to plant for the coming year?
Though winter may seem a time of dormancy, it is also when seeds are planted in the earth, preparing to grow in the spring. Reflect on what you hope to nurture in the coming year and the small actions you can take to bring it into being, starting now.
5. Where do I feel called to deepen my intuition?
Samhain’s thin veil provides an invitation to tune in to your inner knowing. Explore areas of life where you sense a need for deeper guidance and consider how you might create space to listen more to your intuition.
6. What outstanding debts are due?
The Celts considered Samhain a time to repay old debts and settle one’s affairs. Create some time to consider any outstanding debts you may have, financial or otherwise and plan to resolve them quickly.
Creating Your Own Samhain Ritual
Engaging with a ritual can deepen your connection to Samhain’s energy. You might light a candle, sit in quiet reflection, or write a letter to someone from your past, offering thanks or releasing unspoken words. The letter may not be for sharing or the person you are writing to may not still be alive – in such circumstances, you are writing for release and you can complete that process by respectfully and responsibly burning the letter or burying it in your garden where it can contribute to new growth.
Perhaps you’ll spend an evening in gratitude for the year’s gifts or go for a walk to witness nature’s transition around you. Whatever resonates most, let this be a gentle yet intentional honouring of the season’s wisdom.
Samhain reminds us that endings are part of life’s rhythm and that they make way for new beginnings. By leaning into this time of reflection, you can gather your wisdom, honour your past, and look toward your future with grounded hope.
May this Samhain be a time of deep peace, healing, and insight for you.