Part of our Wheel of the Year and Seasonal Rituals Guide – Read the full guide.
You want to celebrate Halloween, but are tired of the usual excessive consumption. Find out more here about the deeper and darker spiritual meaning of Halloween.
Discovering the Celtic Origins: What is the spiritual meaning of Samhain?
The spiritual journey of Halloween begins with the ancient Celts and their festival of Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”).
Celebrated on October 31st, Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and arrival of winter. For the Celts, the boundary between the living and the dead grew thin, allowing spirits to cross over.
On this night, they lit bonfires to ward off malevolent entities and donned costumes to hide from wandering spirits.
‘as nights grow longer and says shorter, the emphasis of the cycle shifts to thoughtfulness and contemplation, a turning inwards that leads to the celebration of Samhain or Hallowe’en, the festival of death and the dead, heralding a time of darkness until the cycle begins again at Winter Solstice and the days lengthen more.’
Vivianne Crowley, Wild Once, 2022
As part of the celebration of the Wheel of the Year, let’s reconnect with the planet and the cosmos, and reignite the rituals that bring us deeper contentment. Let’s make Halloween great again.
Merging of religious created the modern Halloween
In the 7th century, the Christian Church established November 1st as All Hallows’ Day, to honor all saints and martyrs. To prepare for this holy day, the evening before (October 31st) came to be known as All Hallows’ Eve. Over time, many of the pagan customs of Samhain blended with the Christian traditions.
Halloween also absorbed various folk beliefs and superstitions over the centuries. People believed that during Halloween, one could communicate with the spirit world, and rituals were performed to gain future insight.
Halloween was taken to North America by Irish and Scottish immigrants in the 19th century. It evolved into a more secular and community-centered holiday, with elements of costumes, trick-or-treating, and pumpkin carving.
The death of the spiritual meaning of Halloween and the death of Earth
Today, Halloween is primarily a fun and festive holiday, and is no longer a religious time. The spiritual or supernatural aspects of the holiday are often considered playful or symbolic.
There is a growing unrest at the relentless march of consumption that characterizes our life in the Western world. We hear about plastic poison of our oceans but then happily adorn our houses with single use plastic to keep pace with expected celebration.
It’s the same for Christmas, Easter, and other times that used to provide soulful sanctuary from the daily grind.
The more we connect with the spiritual meaning of Halloween however, the more enriched our lives will be.
Is Halloween a portal?
The Celts believed on this night, the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred, and the spirits returned.
Halloween is often celebrated as a night when the veil between our world and the spirit world is at its thinnest. This belief implies that we can more easily access spiritual realms, receive insights, and communicate with entities from beyond.
Many view Halloween as a night for divination, when engaging in rituals such as tarot readings, scrying, or mirror-gazing can offer profound glimpses into the future, further enriching the spiritual meaning of Halloween.
What religion is Halloween part of?
As Christianity spread, it sought to incorporate pagan customs, leading to the declaration of November 1st as All Saints’ Day or All Hallows’ Day.
The evening before, October 31st, became known as All Hallows’ Eve. Halloween, a shortened form of All Hallows’ Eve, emerged as a time to honor saints and martyrs,
This resulted in a harmonious blend of Christian traditions with the Celtic Pagan Samhain rituals.
Connecting with Ancestors: The Spiritual Meaning of Halloween
One of the most profound spiritual aspects of Halloween is the opportunity it provides to connect with our ancestors and honor their memory.
“Strolling through a cemetery will help you reflect on the fleeting nature of life. A healthy reminder of death encourages you to look forward to the future, put things in perspective, and weigh out what’s really important in this limited time you have on Earth.”
Sophie Saint Thomas, Finding Your Higher Self: Your Guide to Cannabis for Self-Care
In many cultures, it is believed that during this time, the spirits of the deceased return to visit their living descendants.
Embracing Ghostly Traditions
The practice of dressing in costumes is deeply rooted in the belief that putting on a disguise could protect you against malevolent spirits. Today, it has evolved into a joyful and creative tradition, enabling people to express themselves spiritually.
By dressing as spirits or supernatural beings, we remember and honor the deceased while participating in a form of spiritual expression that brings depth to the “spiritual meaning of Halloween.
Honouring our ancestors: Simple rituals of remembrance
At Halloween, the veil between worlds feels thin.
It’s not in a way that invites fear, but in a way that reminds us how near the past truly is. The air itself seems to hum with memory.
This is the essence of Samhain, the ancient festival that gave birth to Halloween: a time for stillness, candlelight, and quiet gratitude for those who walked before us.
You don’t need elaborate rituals to honour your ancestors. Start by creating a small altar of remembrance on a windowsill or table. Place a photograph of someone you wish to remember, or simply write their name on paper.
As you light a candle, take a few deep breaths and whisper a simple blessing: “Thank you for your guidance and the life that flows through me.”
If you prefer a more meditative approach, spend a few minutes reflecting on the qualities you’ve inherited from your lineage. You might even write them down, turning this quiet moment into a gentle act of self-recognition.
These small gestures create a bridge between worlds and a way of saying, “I remember.” In remembering, we restore connection. We remind ourselves that life moves in circles, not straight lines; that the same fire we light tonight once burned in their hands, and will someday be passed to others.
How to practically celebrate Halloween
Embracing the spiritual side of Halloween may involve various rituals. Lighting candles, practicing meditation, or conducting séances are ways to connect with the spirit world. It’s also a time for personal reflection, providing an opportunity to contemplate one’s own life, mortality, and the interconnection of all living beings, enhancing the spiritual meaning of Halloween.
Setting up an ancestral altar adorned with photographs and mementos can create a sacred space for reflection, remembrance, and even communication with the other side, truly embodying the spiritual meaning of Halloween.
The spiritual meaning of Halloween invites us to acknowledge the thin veil between our world and the spirit realm, honoring our ancestors, and exploring the mystical side of life. This Halloween, as you don your costume and light your candles, remember the deep and sacred significance that underlies this enigmatic holiday. It serves as a bridge between the living and the dead, the known and the unknown, the seen and the unseen.
Stay spooky. Stay Zen.
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