Halloween is often associated with carved pumpkins and children in spooky costumes asking for treats. However, its roots are ancient and bring us deep into the unconscious connection with our ancestors.
We can trace the origin of Halloween back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (read “sow-in”). This is celebrated at the end of October and marks the transition between the old and the new year, a time to honour the end of the harvest and prepare for the darker half of the year.
Samhain is considered to be a liminal time when the veil between the living and the dead is thinner and it is easier to communicate with spirits. To propitiate them and guarantee for people and livestock to survive the winter, feasts and offerings were and still are organised. In many cultures around the world, families gather at this time to remember and celebrate the spirits of the dead, of the ancestors, welcoming them with food and drinks.
When its true meaning is understood and embraced, Halloween teaches us that death is a natural part of the cycle of life. The connection with our loved ones is never lost but is transformed and deepened through the process of dying.
Using more modern terms, psychogenealogy explores the effects of the history of the ancestors in our life. Using the example of the tree, the ancestors are seen as the roots that give nourishment and stability for our branches to grow strong.
If the connection with the roots is weak or has been undermined because of unprocessed grief or trauma, this might manifest as repeated failures, difficult relationships, financial hardship, ill health and many more signs that something is not flowing as it should.
Halloween comes to remind us of the importance of recognising and honouring the relationship with our ancestors. It is a time of deep connection with our roots, a time to celebrate and a time to heal.
This will bring new life into our branches, getting them ready to bear healthy and abundant fruits in the seasons to come.
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