Spirituality/Paganism & Magick: The Meaning of Samhain

The time period, between Oct. 31st and Nov. 2nd is one of the most widely celebrated ancient traditions. Samhain means "summer's end" in the Celtic tradition. The harvest is complete and the land will lie fallow for the winter months with the seeds of new life deep underground. Cultures worldwide have recognized this as a time to honor ancestors and loved ones who have passed on to the other side. The ancient cultures understood death as a natural part of the cycle of birth, death and rebirth and embraced the lessons of death as a part of life. It was not feared in the same way that it is now, but respected as all great mysteries must be. They knew that after the grain is harvested, the seeds will rise again in the early spring to bring new life.

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The ancient cultures often buried their loved ones in caves or barrows and they believed these caves represented a return to the womb of the Mother. During this period of time the people gathered at the burial sites to feel closer to these beloved and respected elders. The gatherings at the great barrows or at grave sites and cemeteries was and still is a time of honoring and connecting to important sources of wisdom and love. In South America, November 2nd is celebrated as the Day of the Dead.

Another tradition is the belief that the veil between the seen and unseen worlds is the thinnest at this time. The idea of foretelling the future for the living must have arisen from these great night vigils, when people looked to loved and trusted ancestors for advice in the coming year, wisdom they also sought from the grandmothers and grandfathers of their societies. Those who had passed to the other side were believed to have an even greater knowledge than those who were living and therefore the best source of advice.

Psychologically, we might say that these ancestor guides know us well and they understand our hopes and dreams. They are the wise ones who see our chosen path and who we are in our souls. The ancestor guides show us that, ultimately, our fate is written by ourselves. At Saimhain we see the truth: what the future will bring is based on the thoughts and actions we pursue now. The wise ones function very much like the archetype of the good psychotherapist who holds up a mirror for us to look into deeply.

Today, the questions we might look at are:

• How can I honor the death passages in my own life?
• Are we who we claim to be or are we violating some aspect of our soul's deepest truths?
• How can we align with our soul purpose through our actions?
• What must we face within ourselves to bring about this alignment?
• What intentions can we set this year towards fulfilling our highest destiny?

©Copyright 2003 by AlternativeApproaches.com

About the Author: Linda E. Savage, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and sex therapist who has been exploring the mysteries of sexual healing for over 25 years. Dr. Savage is the author of Reclaiming Goddess Sexuality: The Power of the Feminine Way, which presents a view of women's sexuality that blends the ancient wisdom of the Goddess cultures with current clinical knowledge.

To order Dr. Savage’s book, Reclaiming Goddess Sexuality: The Power of the Feminine Way from Amazon.com, click here. Visit her web site at http://www.goddesstherapy.com.

Article ©Linda E. Savage, Ph.D. No part of this article may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission from the author.