As the veil between worlds grows thin, we arrive once more at the sacred threshold of Samhain - the turning point in the Celtic Wheel of the Year that reminds us: every ending carries the seed of a new beginning.
For the ancient Celts, Samhain (pronounced Sow-in) marked not an ending, but the beginning - the new year born from darkness. The final harvest had been gathered, the fields lay resting, and the hearth fires burned bright as the people turned inward to dream the next cycle into being.
They understood what our modern world often forgets:
that darkness is not something to fear - it is the womb of creation itself.
In stillness and shadow, life renews itself.
And in this sacred pause between what was and what will be, we are invited to listen.
The Origins of Samhain
You may recognize this time of year as Halloween, which grew from these ancient Celtic traditions.
During Samhain, it was believed that the veil between worlds became thin - a time when spirits and ancestors could easily cross and visit the living. The Celts would leave offerings of food and drink to honor and nourish their loved ones, keeping the doors open to welcome them home and hear their wisdom.
It was also a time of protection and reverence. Fires were lit on the hills, and disguises were worn not to frighten, but to blend in with the unseen - to walk safely between worlds.
Over centuries, as the old ways met the Christian calendar, Samhain evolved into All Hallows’ Eve, and later, Halloween.
But beneath the costumes and candy, the essence remains the same:
a time to remember, release, and renew.
A Sacred Invitation to Reflect
This season invites you to pause -
to rest in the stillness, to honor what is ending, and to listen for what wishes to be dreamed into being.
You might begin by lighting a candle, setting an intention, or simply breathing deeply into the quiet space within you.
Ask yourself:
What am I ready to release?
What part of me is ready to return to the light?
Let these questions open the door to reflection. Samhain reminds us that even as one cycle completes, another is quietly preparing to unfold.
A Journey Through the Womb of the Earth
Close your eyes and imagine yourself standing at the edge of a twilight forest.
The air is cool, filled with the scent of earth and woodsmoke.
A soft path appears before you - leading into the heart of the Earth, into the fertile dark.
As you walk, you notice a gentle light ahead: a fire burning within a great stone circle.
Step closer, and allow yourself to sense a presence - an ancestor, a guide, or a luminous being of love.
They come to walk beside you, to help you see what is ready to be released.
Feel yourself holding a small bundle - the stories, emotions, or patterns you’re ready to let go of.
Offer them into the fire. Watch as the flames rise and transform them into smoke and light.
As the smoke lifts, your guide places something in your hands -
a seed of light, radiant and alive.
You may choose to place it into your heart or plant it into the rich soil before you or hold it close to nourish what already grows within.
This is the seed of renewal - the beginning born from the end.
Returning with the Light
As you return from this inner journey, notice how the warmth of that seed expands within you.
It glows softly in your chest - a reminder that even in darkness, the light is quietly forming.
Offer gratitude to the Earth that holds you,
to your ancestors who walk beside you,
and to the unseen allies who help you remember your wholeness.
The darkness has done its work.
The wheel turns again.
And from the soil of release, new life begins to bloom.
A Blessing for This Season
May the darkness hold you gently.
May the light within you rise anew.
May the wisdom of your ancestors guide your steps
as the wheel turns once more.
Blessed Samhain -
the new year begins in the dark
Continuing the Journey
If this reflection speaks to you - if you feel the pull to release, to see your path more clearly, or to reconnect with your light - I offer spaces for deeper guidance and transformation.
Through sessions and gatherings, we explore what lives beneath the surface and bring it into clarity, healing, and renewal.
You can learn more or begin your journey www.susanhharris.com
With love,
Susan