The ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain (more commonly known as Halloween in modern times) was recognised by the ancients as a time when the veil between the Spirit and Physical realms was at its thinnest and they used this period to honour and commune with their deceased ancestors. Many of these beliefs remain today, more overtly celebrated among certain cultures and traditions than others but even in the west, where many people are more drawn to the scientific than the spiritual, undercurrents of these beliefs are still evident in the fascination and superstitions that are expressed, explored and enjoyed around the idea of ghosts, ghouls, fairies and other creatures from the Otherworld. We need only think of dressing up, Halloween parties, trick or treating and watching scary movies to see these beliefs in action. But what if Halloween could be more profound than perchance for cheap thrills would have us believe? What if we embrace the transformational energy that hangs in the crisp Samhain air and use this as a time to embark upon inner-reflection and particularly "Shadow-work": the act of facing parts of us of which we are either unaware or don't want to acknowledge within ourselves?
Samhain falls in the autumn- a time when the natural world starts to settle into quietude and hibernation. There is a slowing down, a halt of outward growth and activity, as plants, trees and animals withdraw inwards in order to conserve energy. While humans have strived for millennia to separate ourselves from the shackles of our base animal instincts, we must acknowledge that we too are part of nature and her cycles. What would it mean to us to slow our lives down enough to match the rhythm of these natural cycles?
Our ancestors understood the balance of these cycles of light and dark; cold and warmth; life and death. They used mythology, symbolism and archetypes to make sense of these natural processes (one needs only to think of the story of Persephone and her cyclical journey between the underworld and the land of the living). The ancient peoples' lives were totally interwoven with the natural world and winter was a time when survival wasn't guaranteed: dying of disease, cold and starvation presented real concerns and risks. For those of us who are lucky enough not to have to worry too much about our basic survival, Winter provides us with a different possibility: the chance to apply to ourselves, this symbolic passing into the underworld, by exploring our inner depths.
I don't think its coincidence that Samhain falls during Scorpio season. Scorpio is a water sign in the Zodiac that is connected with the inner psyche and represented by the Scorpion and the Eagle. Co-ruled by Pluto and Mars, Scorpio is called to dig deep into the depths of the inner self (akin to descending into the underworld-Pluto's domain) in order to gain clarity on what we need to protect (the Scorpion aspect of this sign); what we need to release (the death aspect of Pluto) and what we need in order to rise (like the Eagle aspect of Scorpio). When we apply this symbolically, we have a clear framework of life, death and rebirth (let us not forget that in Tarot, Scorpio is represented by the Death card). During the Samhain period, we are not just being called to honour the dead but also to go through this process of a kind of inner death i.e. shedding and releasing parts of ourselves or our lives that don't serve us in order to be symbolically reborn with a different sense of self which puts us in better stead for moving through life in a way that feels more aligned with who we really are and what we really want. Scorpio is associated with introspection and strong investigative powers, making it an energetically potent time to embark on this kind of inner work.
Some activities that can aid you in exploring your shadow include: Spending some time alone (I particularly recommended solitary time in nature if this is accessible to you); Meditation; Journalling ; Practicing Tarot or other forms of Divination; channelling your feelings into creative pursuits such as art, music, or poetry; reading stories or myths that explore themes around Death/Rebirth and engagement with any type of psychology work that feels useful and safe to you.
Some journal/meditation prompts for shadow work might sound like:
What parts of myself am I scared to face? Why do I think I'm scared to face them?
What behaviours or thoughts bring up difficult feelings for me?
What behaviours in others do I not like? Is there a chance that I engage in these behaviours too? (Often what we don't like in others is what we don't want to acknowledge in ourselves.)
What things in my life aren't serving me- how am I being called to make changes?
Am I being called to release something in myself and/or in my life?
A final note, when doing Shadow-work, recognise that this is challenging work so remember to be gentle and kind with yourself and aim for progress over perfection. Healing and self-awareness can't be rushed; it unfolds with frequent small actions loaded with intention and routines that you turn up to on a regular basis. This work isn't about shaming yourself (although shame may come up for you and if it does that's ok), rather its about understanding yourself better. If you feel yourself getting overwhelmed then its best to press pause, breathe/self-regulate and revisit the work another day. If you're concerned about starting, then it might be best to do this work alongside a trained professional such as a counsellor or trusted mentor. Emotional safety is paramount.
Samhain and Scorpio season can bring sacred feeling and energy to this type of transformational inner work but by setting aside this period specifically, it also provides you with a time limit to avoid going too far and hard into the depths for too long.
Have a blessed Samhain and may your inner journey bring you the clarity and healing you need.
Written by Gem
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