Halloween has origins in the ancient festival known as Samhain (pronounced sow-in or sau-an), which is derived from Old Irish and means roughly "summer's end". This was a Gaelic festival celebrated mainly in Ireland and Scotland. However, similar festivals were held by other Celts – for example the festival of Calan Gaeaf (pronounced kalan-geyf) which was held by the ancient Britons.
The festival of Samhain celebrates the end of the "lighter half" of the year and beginning of the "darker half", and is sometimes regarded as the "Celtic New Year". The celebration has some elements of a festival of the dead. The ancient Celts believed that the border between this world and the Otherworld became thin on Samhain, allowing spirits (both harmless and harmful) to pass through. The family's ancestors were honoured and invited home whilst harmful spirits were warded off. It is believed that the need to ward off harmful spirits led to the wearing of costumes and masks. Their purpose was to disguise oneself as a harmful spirit and thus avoid harm.
There's magick afoot. A dog or a wolf? A child's laugh or a witch's cackle? A mote of dust or a faery? A cat or a familiar? Let your imagination and spirit free. Follow them and wander amongst the otherworlders.
Magick flourishes where there is Earth. Don't be surprised if all you find here is concrete. Unyielding and inflexible. Mother Nature gave birth to magick and its wielders, not Man. Time must be taken to find those who cherish magick, those who use its fair form for wondrous tasks, those who still believe.
Samhain isn't a holiday celebrating evil. It's a holiday acknowledging the presence of those who belong elsewhere but whose mark is indelible upon the world.
These are only my thoughts. There are others who feel differently of course. Like this dude.
The title of this post is pronounced "ee-hah shona how-na". No prizes for guessing what it means.
