Today, as the sun moves across the sky and the stars align in their yearly dance, we sit at this threshold that is halfway between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice, in the Northern Hemisphere. This marks the midway point in the descent of Fall and is celebrated as the holiday of Samhain or Halloween.
Autumn leads us in the downward, YIN, shift of the natural world. We have moved through the upward and outward energy of the birth and growth of Spring (wood element), the maturation of Summer (fire element), and the harvest season of Second Summer/Late Summer (earth element). Now we are in the downward cycle of Fall (metal element), which relies on shedding and releasing in order to preserve energy as we transition into Winter (water element), the time of deep rest and gestation so that life can renew again.
That descent downward into the metal element (think all things precious, valuable, resilient, meaningful, and soulful) reminds us to connect with our breath and spirit. There are traditions throughout the world that take time to honor this liminal dimension when the veil between spirit and matter is said to be "thin." It marks a meaningful time to honor our ancestors and the souls who came before us, who brought meaning to our lives in known and unknown ways.
Today, October 31st is Samhain a day to celebrate the seasonal rhythms, harvest, and the liminal with bonfires and community. It is Halloween, the hallow eve, when the realms are permeable and we wear costumes to play with identity and to ward off negative energy and protect us through the darker months. Tomorrow, November 1st is All Saints Day and Dia de los Inocentes - a day to honor the saints, martyrs, and the infants and children that passed too soon. Tuesday, November 2nd is All Souls Day and Dia de los Muertos where all those who have passed on are remembered and rejoiced. On these days, we can join these ancient traditions to celebrate the natural world and honor the dearly departed.
If there are special people in your life-history who have passed on from this earthly plane, it could be meaningful to say their names out loud, to light candles, place flowers, make special food, share stories with loved ones, or simply breathe with gratitude for how they influenced your life. It is a truly energetic time for both feeling the grief of loss and the joy of life's preciousness.
It is through these pauses and rituals that we infuse meaning and connection into our life. I am so grateful to move through these seasons and life-affirming experiences with all of you, on and off the mat!
~ Machelle
Samhain Song by Silvano Franco
And the campfires burn
And the moon bleeds red
And the trees are hushed
And the ground is spread
With the feast for the dead
It is Samhain night
The elder’s eyes shine bright
As she calls to the quarters
And the Lord and the Goddess
And moon so pale
To pull aside the veil
Inviting forth our dearly departed
Arms wide and open-hearted
To feel in our soul
The wisdom our loved ones
Wish to disclose
It is Samhain night
It is the day of the dead
A cause for celebration
The fire and drums
Are a potent combination
For ancestral invocation
And the campfires roar
And the moonlight pours
Making trees cast shadows
On the feast below
And they join hand-in-hand
With unearthly spirits
Empty eyes aglow
It is on Samhain
That the dead and the living roam
The same earthly plane
And the Wheel of the Year
Groans and turns again