For thousands of years, cultures from all around the world with nature at their core have celebrated the seasons and the cyclic pattern of the year.
In the Northern hemisphere at this time (from sunset on 31 October to 1 November) we celebrate Halloween, or Samhain, (pronounced ‘sow-en’), an ancient Celtic fire festival to honour and remember our ancestors.
Today, you may well feel triggered by the consumerism of 21st century Halloween, or irritated by the endless stream of plastic ‘stuff’ on display in every shop in every town, while at the same time feeling drawn more and more to Mother Earth, with a desire to retreat inwards, physically and emotionally.
If so, you’re not alone.
Samhain is a firm nod from Mother Nature that winter is on its way; a time for all beings, plants and animals, to draw their energy inwards to prepare for winter. As night-time frosts start to kill off vegetation, the leaves fall from the trees and the days get shorter, Samhain represents the end of a season.
Endings are the perfect moment to pause and reflect.
Spending time to reflect on the past year helps us to move forward with love and gratitude and to let go of the fears and blocks that may still be holding us back from shining our brightest light.
- What have you achieved this year and how did each milestone make you feel?
- What challenges have you faced and how did you overcome them?
- What adventures have you had and how did they inspire you?
- What connections or friendships have you made (or lost) and how has your ‘crowd’ made you stronger?
As you spend some time today thinking about the past year, allow your thoughts to tumble out into personal writing, artwork or a mood board. Paint, draw, sculpt, sing, write, create… whatever feels best to you.
If you’re a small business owner, this is a great time to focus on what you’ve achieved in your business this year and the problems you’ve encountered and overcome.
- What are you most proud of in your business and why?
- How have you helped others – either through your services or through networking and support?
- What has your business allowed you to do for you, your family or your community?
- What strengths have appeared this year that perhaps you didn’t realise you had?
- Where have you struggled and where might you ask for support in the coming year?
- What have you let go of that no longer serves you? And how good does it feel?
Could you turn these thoughts, wins, struggles and losses into a Manifesto for the year ahead?
Sending you Samhain blessings and autumn love,
Lorraine xx