It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
Samhain
Festival of the Year's End and New Beginnings
End of October/ beginning of November Northern Hemisphere
End of April/ beginning of May Southern Hemisphere
(Samhain is Chapter 7, Autumn to Winter, in the Yoga Through the Year book)
The challenge of the season initiated by this night is to simply enter a place of stillness and simply be where you are: not moving forward or backward but simply being utterly present, suspended in the space between past and future. It is here that we listen to the voices in the crackling fire, rain, and wind. We enter the dark season of the year to dream and remember before we begin to make our return after winter solstice."
From "Women's Rites, Women's Mysteries" Ruth Barrett
Our challenge during the autumn-winter period is on the one hand to embrace the darkness and on the other to bring light into the darkness. We recognise how darkness offers us rest, regeneration, and renewal during the autumn-winter months. At the same time, it’s important to lighten up dark days by conjuring up healing images of light.
In Classical Yoga the divine spark within is called the Atman, and is said to be like a flame, or a continuously burning pilot-light that has been ignited in the heart-space. As Nature (prakriti) enters her decaying, composting phase, we can counterbalance the dark, heavy (tamas) quality of the season by visualising sattvic images of light and luminescence. We light a candle in the darkness, drawing our awareness inwards to contemplate that which is eternal and unchanging.
We can also draw inspiration from Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, which takes place in either late October to early November. Diwali means “a row of lights” and marks new beginnings. The Hindu goddess Lakshmi only visits houses that are clean and well lit;
so, at Diwali Hindu houses are lit with dozens of flickering, hand-painted terracotta lamps.
In Classical Yoga the divine spark within is called the Atman, and is said to be like a flame, or a continuously burning pilot-light that has been ignited in the heart-space. As Nature (prakriti) enters her decaying, composting phase, we can counterbalance the dark, heavy (tamas) quality of the season by visualising sattvic images of light and luminescence. We light a candle in the darkness, drawing our awareness inwards to contemplate that which is eternal and unchanging.
We can also draw inspiration from Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, which takes place in either late October to early November. Diwali means “a row of lights” and marks new beginnings. The Hindu goddess Lakshmi only visits houses that are clean and well lit;
so, at Diwali Hindu houses are lit with dozens of flickering, hand-painted terracotta lamps.
Every Ending is a New Beginning
Autumn is turning to winter now and the leaves are falling from the trees; the days are getting shorter and cold frosty mornings whisper that winter is on the way. In many traditions this point where we enter the darkest phase of the year, is seen as a new beginning rather than an ending. We pass through the darkness only to be reborn into the light at the Winter Solstice. You and I, before being born into the light of the world, began our lives in the darkness of our mother’s womb. An oak tree started out as an acorn buried in the darkness of the soil. Each new day begins and ends in darkness at sunrise and sunset. Every month, before the new moon is reborn into the night sky, there is a period of darkness, when the moon is not yet visible. Similarly, as autumn turns to winter we are entering the darkest phase of the year, until the Sun is reborn at the Winter Solstice in December. Every
ending is a new beginning.
In the same way that the darkness of the night gives us rest and dream time, so too the dark half of the year gives us an opportunity to pause, rest, and rejuvenate. Just as the oak tree stays alive over winter by stripping itself of leaves and using almost no energy; we too
can look for opportunities during this autumn-winter period to enter a place of stillness, and simply be utterly present in the moment.
Although this period is not a good time for action, it is the perfect time to plan and incubate ideas; then, like a bulb resting in the soil over winter, you will be ready next spring to send up new, green shoots. Spend some time now picturing what you want to get out into the world next growing season and you will be ready to surf the crest of the wave of the growing tide when spring comes round again.
ending is a new beginning.
In the same way that the darkness of the night gives us rest and dream time, so too the dark half of the year gives us an opportunity to pause, rest, and rejuvenate. Just as the oak tree stays alive over winter by stripping itself of leaves and using almost no energy; we too
can look for opportunities during this autumn-winter period to enter a place of stillness, and simply be utterly present in the moment.
Although this period is not a good time for action, it is the perfect time to plan and incubate ideas; then, like a bulb resting in the soil over winter, you will be ready next spring to send up new, green shoots. Spend some time now picturing what you want to get out into the world next growing season and you will be ready to surf the crest of the wave of the growing tide when spring comes round again.
Samhain Affirmations
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“Deep Peace”
“Love and Light” “Love Dispels Fear” “Stopping, Calming, Resting, Healing” “Just this moment” “Each in breath, a new beginning. "Each out breath a complete letting go” |
Ask for a healing symbol to work with over the winter months and see what images come to mind.
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“It is not by accident that the pristine wilderness of our planets disappears as the understanding of our own inner wild nature fades. It is not so difficult to comprehend why old forests and old women are viewed as not very important resources.” Honour the Crones and Hags in your life and in the Seasonal Cycle of the Goddess Year
("Hag" from the Greek word for holy) |
"In Dianic tradition, Hallowmas is the night where we especially remember the women and children who were tortured to death as witches, healers, herbalists, midwives, and heretics during the Inquisition. Learn about the life and death of a woman murdered during this period. In your Hallows ritual, share about her life, read a story, or perform a mystery play to memorialize her."
Women's Rites, Women's Mysteries, Ruth Barrett
At this time, we have Halloween, with its candlelit pumpkin lanterns, and children dressed up in spooky outfits, trick or treating door to door. Traditionally it’s a time for honouring the dead. This can be done through a simple ritual such as lighting a candle for a
meaningful person in your life who has passed on. This might be an ancestor, such as a dearly loved grandparent, or it could be someone who has inspired you and whom you feel a spiritual connection to; such as a writer, poet, painter, singer, political agitator, or yogini. In yoga the root chakra (muladhara) is associated with ancestral connections and a sense of tribal belonging.
How we are remembered by our descendants will depend on how we act today. Our kindnesses and cruelties echo down the generations. We don’t want to hand on a poison chalice of meanness and petty grudges; rather let us hand down a torch of love. What do you consider your heirloom gifts to be? And what do you wish to pass on to the next generation?
meaningful person in your life who has passed on. This might be an ancestor, such as a dearly loved grandparent, or it could be someone who has inspired you and whom you feel a spiritual connection to; such as a writer, poet, painter, singer, political agitator, or yogini. In yoga the root chakra (muladhara) is associated with ancestral connections and a sense of tribal belonging.
How we are remembered by our descendants will depend on how we act today. Our kindnesses and cruelties echo down the generations. We don’t want to hand on a poison chalice of meanness and petty grudges; rather let us hand down a torch of love. What do you consider your heirloom gifts to be? And what do you wish to pass on to the next generation?
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The Wheel of the Year is a mandala and within this circle is to be found sunshine and shadow; light and dark; calm and storm; new life and decay. Our lives too are mandalas and within the circle of our life are to be found sunshine and shadow; highs and lows; happiness and sadness; gains and losses; birth and death. As we develop and hone our seasonal awareness we learn to be open and present to the wisdom that is contained within every aspect of each season. The buds unfurling on the tree in spring and the old brown leaves in autumn are all part of the same circle. Likewise, a mature spiritual practice enables us to welcome the totality of every aspect of our life as part of the circle.
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Samhain Resource Sheet
- “Earth Wisdom” by Glennie Kindred: P.139-153 “Samhain”
- “Women’s Rites, Women’s Mysteries” Ruth Barrett: P.182-186 “Hallowmas”
- “Women Who Run With the Wolves: contacting the power of the wild woman.” By Clarissa Pinkola Estes (one of my favourite books!).
- “Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls: Popular Goddess Worship in West Bengal.” By June Mc Daniel: if you like an academic book this makes a good Halloween read!
- Mary Shelley “Frankenstein” a beautifully written book, still very relevant today.
- “Woman as Healer: a comprehensive survey from prehistoric times to the present day” by Jeanne Achterberg
- “Embrace Reality” by Frank Jude Boccio: learn how to work with the Five Buddhist Remembrances: www.yogajournal.com/practice/1748
- “Woman and Nature: The Roaring Inside Her” Susan Griffin
Samhain is Chapter 7, Autumn Turns to Winter, in the Yoga Through the Year book