Samhain (Halloween)
I’ve been thinking recently of how Halloween night was when I was young. There were five of us back then—my sister and I, and three cousins, all close to the same age. My sister was the oldest. She was in charge of keeping the rest of us safe and together as we visited house after house in the neighborhood.
We would ring the doorbells, open our bags, and smile when little candy bars were dropped into those colorful bags. And, the older kids would trick or treat for donations to UNICEF. We five were given a number. After each house, we had to count down so my sister would be sure we were all safe and together.
No one worried about what harm may come to anyone. No one had to worry about what might be hidden in the candy. Little wax pumpkins were sold with the intention that they would be used on windows. The neighbors all expected a little bit of harmless mischief on that night. It was fun. It was innocent. When I was too old to trick or treat myself, I had even more fun by taking my little brother out on this special, fun-filled night of ghosts and goblins.
Now that I am older, I have a different understanding of what Halloween is all about. It is based on the Pagan holiday of Samhain. Samhain, (“Summer’s end”), is known as November. Eve, All Hallows Eve, Hallowmas, Night of Spirits, Halloween & Feast of the Dead. It is one of the most popular Pagan festivals, also known as the “Celtic New Year”. It is a night of fun, jack o’lanterns, trick or treating, dressing up in costumes, and a night of power, when the veil between the worlds is thin, and the spirits are free to roam.
Although I often use it throughout the year, my favorite tarot deck to use at this time is the Halloween Tarot deck. This Rider/Waite based deck gives serious answers, but it can be as much fun to use as the holiday itself.
So, on Monday, October 31, I wish you all a Happy New Year, a night of fun with friends, and a night to communicate through your tarot cards and meditation to those loved ones on the other side of the veil.