So, you may have heard of Samhain (pronounced Sow-en — rhymes with cow pen, but sounds much cooler) but may not be clear on wha, exactly, it is. Samhain marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of the dark season Now, maybe you’re picturing bonfires, druids, and people dancing in cloaks under the moon (okay fine, there was some of that), but what’s fascinating is why they did it.
They weren’t afraid of the dark.
They didn’t worry about seasonal affectivie disorder or the forced slow down.
They thanked it.
They thanked it.
To the Celts, darkness wasn’t the villain of the story. It was the soil — the rich, mysterious compost where next season’s life began. They believed that rest, decay, and stillness were sacred parts of the cycle. The end of one thing was never “the end.” It was just... time for underground germination. 🌱
They built bonfires not to banish the dark, but to honor it — to gather together and say, “Okay, world, it’s time to turn inward now.” They’d feast on the last of the harvest — barley, root vegetables, wild apples — and reflect on what they’d grown and what they’d lost. They’d tell stories, honor ancestors, and let the old year die well.
And honestly? Science now totally backs them up.
Modern circadian rhythm research says that, as the days shorten, our bodies need more rest, reflection, and melatonin-fueled coziness. We’re biologically wired to slow down when light fades. Yet here we are, still trying to sprint into November like it’s June, caffeinated and slightly panicked, wondering why our motivation feels... well, like it’s hibernating. 🐻
Spoiler: it’s supposed to.
The Celts got this long before blue light glasses and sleep trackers. Their rituals weren’t “productivity hacks.” They were alignment practices. They didn’t fight the season; they flowed with it.
So maybe this weekend, instead of pushing yourself to be brighter, busier, or better, you let yourself dim — intentionally.
Light a candle.
Thank the dark for what it’s holding.
Let something end — gracefully.
It could be a habit, a mindset, or a commitment that’s outlived its purpose.
Because endings are beginnings — just whispered in a quieter language.
And if you listen closely enough (preferably while wrapped in a blanket with tea), you might just hear your next season growing in the dark.
Sacred Takeaway:
The Celts didn’t fear the dark. They trusted it.
And maybe, in our own modern harvest of overstimulation, that’s the most radical act of well-being we can offer ourselves: to rest like it’s sacred.
With warmth (and a nod to the ancestors),
Frederique 💛
___________________
Begin Within
and align with the rhythm of nature and self.
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