The end of the Celtic year was believed to be a time when the world of the living came in closest proximity to the world of the spirits, demons and apparitions that go bump in the night. For the ancients, this end of the cycle was a time to be mindful of things unseen and humbly respectful of powers and principalities not at all fully comprehended. The end of the year was time to bring in the harvest, count one's blessings, lay up provisions for the coming winter and prepare for the future; where the unseeable tragedies and fading of good fortune were known to be lurking. As a means to ward off ill fortune and bad spirits the Celts carved gruesome faces on pumpkins and lit them on the inside on this night when they believed such entities drew perilously close. This end of the harvest festival and wariness of the spirit worlds was of course incorporated by the Church and baptised as All Saints Day, a time to be mindful of the all souls and saints who have passed into heaven. Over the centuries, the eve of All Hallows Day became Halloween (Hallows' Eve).
We moderns are ready to dismiss any real and contemplative thoughts of what the ancients professed as knowledge of the other worlds. "No such thing" we bravely say. Just whistle a happy tune as you pass through the graveyard at night. "It's all about free candy for the asking", becoming a princess or a pirate in a good night's fun, nothing more. Right?
While there is good fun and great memories to be had at school Halloween Carnivals, award winning costumes and sweet treats, candied corn and chocolate. I think we should not be to hasty to toss the other worldly intuition of the Celt's onto the compost pile of baseless superstition. I think we do our souls good and stay soundly humble when we too consider our mortality, enjoying this world of affections and confections while we can. Halloween is a time to be mindful of transitions, purposeful in the harvest of good friends, kind words and shared friendships from all that we planted earlier in our lives. It is a time to be circumspect and slow down a bit to let one's soul catch up to the busy mind that has been racing all season long. Light a fire in the short, dark and cold days to keep the chills away, and share the light and warmth with as many as you can. Let this season of reflections begin on All Saints Day, let those distraction settle out as you rest after Halloween.
The Jack-o-Lanterns that burned so bright and made good scary decoration fun on my Halloween doorstep just last week - I have now placed them atop the compost pile at the end of my driveway. They serve as a reminder of this season, and give me a moment to reflect as I accelerate pass them into the work-a-day world. I reflect on how quickly the eyes have sagged, the toothy smiles have begun to cave and how they sit there as testimony to mortality; sinking into the compost, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
Be mindful and respectful of life as it passes, plant well and enjoy the harvest you have sown and reach into that Halloween candy bowl and grab a fistful of treats. Curse not the coming darkness, but kindle light and warmth. Enjoy the journey.
The End
...and then the Beginning
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