All Hallow’s Eve…O Holy Night! O Night Divine!
Halloween —> Hallow E’en —> Hallow Evening —> Holy Night
This venerable sacred night, called Samhain in the tongue of my Celtic ancestors, has a rich and controversial history. As with most ancient cultures, there was a powerful belief in the continuation of life after death. With that belief was an equal certainty that the dead still had ties of relationship and communication with us. The dead, the deities, and other spiritual beings could provide us - the “living” - with support, counsel, and blessings or troubles.
Among the Celts Samhain was the night when the veil that separated our world from the other worlds, including the worlds of the spirits and the dead, was the thinnest. On that Holy Night, our communication with the ancestor spirits was indeed powerfully present and vibrant. It was a time to remember, commune, laugh, cry, forgive, bless, and celebrate our loved ones who have journeyed to the “Summerlands.” Anyone who had died between the last Samhain and this one was believed to be still wandering the earth, awaiting the veil to thin enough to cross over. So remembering them and supporting them, we helped them to find their way into the next world.
Somewhere between the pages of history this awesome night became transformed into the Christian feasts of “All Souls Day” (10/31) and “All Saints Day” (11/1.) Yet the ancient memories and deeper realities still cling to these “baptized” pagan feasts. The soul’s memory is older and stronger than the passing tides of men and women’s religious affiliations and fancies.
True, modern culture has done much to erase the great spiritual meaning and longing in this holy night. Beasties, ghoulies, and various incarnations of nightmare and fairy-tale characters dance at parties, feast on sweets, and “trick or treat.” They are but pale remnants, true ghosts of a much richer, deeper, more powerful celebration.
Yet I want to call us back to our soul’s feast. A time of remembering that life in this world is but one glimmering of a far greater and mysterious reality we call LIFE. It is a time to remember that our dead are not truly gone from us. They live and move and dance and have their being with eternal bonds of affection with us. We are all still connected, a living communion of souls stretching from the dimmest sparks of the far-distant past into the ever arcing glow of our future lives.
Take a moment this All Hallow’s Eve to re-connect in a conscious way with all those you love who have passed through the veil into the other place. Clear a spot on a table or desk and place upon it pictures of them, and/or perhaps some mementoes that remind you of them - a treasured locket, an old fishing knife, a small toy, etc. Light some candles around these pictures and “sacred memory” objects. Dim the lights. Sit quietly gazing upon them, recalling fond and treasured memories. Slowly, when the spirit moves you, speak to them, sing to them, cry with them, laugh with them… and most especially forgive them and bless them, so that they can cross the veil knowing that peace and healing and love are the only ties that bind you now.
Then go out to dinner with friends, or prepare a special meal at the house for family and friends. Make a point of each person sharing silly, laughable, poignant and treasured memories around the table about their passed loved one(s). Let each person raise a toast to “dear departed______” with a delicious wine, mead, or favorite non-alcoholic beverage (just be sure to make it a beverage that you truly enjoy and relish.) Maybe if you are feeling really adventuresome - and you are blessed with understanding friends and family - set an empty chair at the table with its own place setting of food and drink. Then as each person round the table recalls stories of their loved ones - you can address your toasts and cheers to the “empty” chair - which we know is not truly empty at all! The point of it all is to feast and celebrate these loved ones with much laughter, tears, and soul-full memories.
Then maybe, just maybe, in a night of “trick or treats”, you will find All Hallows Eve to be one of the most special treats of the year. A moment when the veil parts and your treasured loved one touches your heart and reminds you that you are never truly alone.
Happy feasting blessed souls!