Samhain ~ The Celtic New Year
November's Cosmic Energies Honouring Ancestors
Thank for subscribing to my Substack. I had a big birthday on the full moon that blessed us on 17 October and have been busy preparing for a new beginning for the next decade. I’m just now coming up for air so am posting some of my retrospective cosmic updates for 2024 before year end. Please enjoy this reflection on Samhain and the new moon in Libra that ushered in November 2024. It is fascinating to observe how the liminal energies of autumn and the transition to winter are celebrated by honouring ancestors in different cultures around the world. This year the Samhain coincided with Diwali
In 2024, Samhain (SOW-in) was observed from the evening of Thursday, 31st October 2024 to the end of the day on Friday, November 1st, 2024. This festival traditionally marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, or the “darker half” of the year. While these dates are standard most years, the celebration of Samhain can extend beyond these times, depending on local customs and personal practices. Many participants choose to engage in festivities that span several days, incorporating both modern Halloween activities and traditional Samhain rituals, which allows for a full and enriched experience during this deeply spiritual time.
According to Irish mythology, Samhain is a time when the 'doorways' to the Otherworld open, allowing supernatural beings and the souls of the dead to come into our world; while Bealtaine on 1st May marks the beginning of summer and is a festival for the living, Samhain marks the beginning of winter and is essentially a festival for the dead. The first day of November is known as All Souls Day or All Hallows Day, which is where the word Halloween comes from, a combination of Samhain (pronounced sow-in) and All Hallow’s Eve. In Mexico they celebrate the Day of the Dead on 2 November, El Día de los Muertos. Which is a beautiful celebration of the ancestors, those whose shoulders we stand on.
This year Samhain coincided with a new moon in sidereal Libra in Swati Nakshatra in the Vedic astrology system. Libra is ruled by the planet Venus and Swati is ruled by the north node of the moon which is called Rahu in the Vedic system.
Rahu represents our soul purpose, what brought our soul to Earth to live at this time, which made this year’s Samhain a particularly auspicious time for setting intentions and connect with our heart vows and harness the waxing energies of the Moon to boost our commitment to staying on course during such a transitional time here on Earth.
The New Moon in Libra is always celebrated in India with Diwali, the Festival of Lights. This annual holiday lasts for 5 days and begins two days before the New Moon. This year the darkest night in October actually fell on Samhain, marking the night when devotees across India lit lanterns to represent the inner light needed to overcome the darkness of winter. Diwali always comes on the dark moon when the Sun is in its state of debilitation in the sign of Libra. Right after, the Moon goes into her place of debility, Scorpio. With both of our luminaries challenged we need help to access our light, and so we light diyas and pray. For wealth and prosperity, to the ancestors, to Lakshmi, to Krishna, to the bond between brothers and sisters and also to the god of death, Yama. The celebration of Diwali is one that is celebrating the victory of the light over darkness and several stories are related such as Rama’s victory over Ravana and return home to Ayodhya, and Krishna vanquishing the demon Narakasura.
As you may have noticed by now, I am always looking for ways to connect the dots between annual rituals around the world. During this liminal time of the year when the cosmic energies make it easier to connect with our ancestors, we also have Remembrance Day in the United Kingdom, which is usually the Sunday closest to the 11/11, harking back to the Armistice. The agreement to end the fighting of the First World War as a prelude to peace negotiations, began at 11am on 11 November 1918. Armistice is Latin for to stand (still) arms. To this day we mark Armistice Day around the UK with a 2 minute silence at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month.
For the numerologists amongst us, the number 1111 is considered powerful and creative, representing new beginnings, leadership, and spirituality. If you find yourself noticing it on digital clocks frequently, it is a message from angels to stay on the right path and embrace opportunities.
I would love to hear your thoughts on all of my observations. Do you remember how your celebrated Halloween, Samhain, Diwali and the new moon this year? Share in the comments below.
Thanks for reading, subscribing and sharing. Until the next time, stay soulful and supernatural.
Love
Lou
xoxo
I loved this, its comparative scope. You bring together rituals that cannot be found in one connected place anywhere else -- Halloween, Samhain, Diwali and Memorial Day. Your writing style has a personal touch that helps readers to feel that they are in a conversation with the writer and can take what is meaningful to them from it. Perhaps even add a comment. You have prepared for this medium through writing your ghost story these last two years.