Samhain Unveiled

It's that time of year again - Samhain. The veil between this world and the next is thin. We honor those who have crossed over and we honor what the passing year has bestowed upon us. Mother Nature winds down to lay dormant through the Winter so She can begin anew in the Spring. Samhain is from the Gaelic (Pagan) Irish tradition. This sacred holiday eventually becomes what is more commonly known today as Halloween. As with many Catholic holiday traditions, it is rooted in Paganism. Halloween is probably the most notable. I posted a YouTube video HERE where I do a little breath work and talk about life updates and Samhain.

Did you bring your broomstick with you? How can we celebrate this ancient holiday? While the traditional broom cannot (sadly) be flown across the night sky, at least, not until I can figure out how to make that work with my savvy tech witch brain. After all, magic is science that has yet to be explained. This is something I have said for years. So, until I can get my broom to hover off the ground, be propelled by magnets, or another energy propulsion technique, witches use our brooms for the same thing as everyone else - cleaning. Sweep away the dust from the year to cleanse your sacred space for the year to come. Light a candle and do a short meditation reflecting on how much you have grown in this single year. Take a piece of paper and write these pointes down. Then, you can either go outside and burry the paper in your garden next to anything you have planted for the next year (bulbs, perennials). Or, you can burn the paper in a safe area (garden, sink, toilet). As you bury or burn your paper, think about what the year has brought you, and hold that happiness in your heart as you think about what this new year will bring. For example, if you have made new, lasting friendships this year, hold that love space in your heart and project that into the new year - your friendships will deepen and grow. You may meet more new people that hold these special values that you consider important in your life.  If another pointe from this year is a new job or a raise in your salary, hold that feeling of abundance in your heartspace and project that into the new year. You will continue to cultivate financial abundance and continue to be prosperous. It can also be something that only you notice. Perhaps you have been working hard on self-acceptance and self-love this past year and want to continue this practice in the year to come. Hold that feeling in your heartspace and envision giving your future self a hug. Your growth in self-love from this year extending into the next. 

Two years and two months ago I lost my partner to cancer. I have been thinking about her a lot these past few weeks. I may also light a candle for her. If you have lost someone dear to you, and you would like to say good-bye, this is the time of year to do so. Thank them for all they have brought to your life. Let them know that you appreciate the time you had together on this plane, and that some day in the distance, your souls will meet again. When they do, you both will know. We have multiple soul mates. Our souls connect over lifetimes and we cycle with our soul mates in each incarnation. While thanking them, you may also hold space for another soul mate to come into or back into your life. Letting go of one and allowing the space for another to enter in the physical plane. I believe we have many soul connections, or soul mates. Some are lovers, some are really good friends (I call these the 'cousin soul mates') and some are 'should be' lovers, but for one circumstance or another, you do not cross that threshold in this life. I could go on and on... 

I'd like to hear what you think of soul mates. Is this something you have put thought into? Send me a comment below and let me know. 

How do you celebrate Samhain/Halloween? If you try one of my suggested spells (above), how did you feel about it? 

Thank you so much for reading my words and watching my video. I wish you so much abundance and light in this New Year. 

Blessed be.

Mindfully, 

~Amanda

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Amanda Vander Kelen, MA is a geographer/GIS Specialist and now blogger. She creates a work/life balance by using her creativity in both making maps and writing blogs. Taking a mindful approach to life, she hopes you can utilize her writing to help create a peaceful space of your own.
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