Samhain Reflections: Contracting outwardly to expand inwardly.
We’ve all seen the classic, cartoonish images of witches at Halloween: cackling, wild-haired, pointy hats and warty noses, stirring mysterious brews. But these images overlook richer truths and cast a long shadow that echoes of the horrendous history of witch hunts - when those seen as wise women, healers, or simply different, suffered terribly for it. In reality, the original “Crone” or wise woman was revered in many ancient traditions. She was known as the Earth Mother or “the old one,” and she symbolised the wisdom that can come with age and a deep honouring of the cycles of nature and women’s lives.
At this time of year, as darkness increases and the chill settles in (here in the Northern Hemisphere), it’s almost impossible not to feel the shift within ourselves. In my recent workshop, I reflected on this very experience. The encroaching dark, the lengthening nights - these aren’t just markers of the calendar, but invitations to consider how darkness, too, nurtures us. If we think of light and activity as the “yang” principle - the expansive, outward expression of energy - then darkness embodies the regenerative “yin” principle. Both are vital, woven through nature, through the cycles of the year, and through each of us. There is a time for rising, for growth and action, and a time for falling away, for release and rest.
Maybe you feel called to the dark, a welcome return to quiet; or perhaps you resist, finding discomfort in the slower, more contemplative pace. It can help simply to notice how this change in the season makes you feel, to bring a gentle curiosity and self-compassion to what arises. As light withdraws, what do you notice stirring within?
This moment mirrors “root energy”- that deep tapping of nourishment below the surface. In practice, we might bring this quality into our asana, anchoring ourselves in the steadiness and support that comes from within. The lesson of root energy is reflected all around us: just as plants send energy downwards to prepare for winter, we too might benefit from redirecting our attention and care inward.
And of course, we’re all held within cultures that can be relentlessly active - pushing us to keep up the pace, even as the natural rhythm slows. Particularly in the winter months, when the busyness of the holidays is swirling around us, it can feel as though you’re pulled in two directions. The energy of the season, invites release, letting go, and a softening into rest and restoration. Sometimes it’s confusing, maybe even a bit unsettling, to feel the clash between this inward pull from nature and the outward demands of our schedules. Simply being aware of this tension is a good place to start and help you to recognise that if you feel this contradiction it is ok. Can you find some small ways to invite pause and quiet into your days so that you can honour both the needs of your culture and the quiet wisdom of the season?
This time of year is so rich with tradition. From Samhain to Diwali to All Saints Day and Día de Los Muertos. This is often considered a liminal time—the veil between worlds, between the living and the spirit, said to be at its thinnest. Samhain (pronounced 'sah-win'), marking the end and beginning of the Celtic New Year, holds a powerful teaching: rebirth comes from resting in the dark. The Celts knew this deeply—darkness wasn’t feared but honored for its ability to bring rest, regeneration, and wisdom. This was a time for connecting with ancestors, exploring inner mysteries, drifting in dreamtime, and listening to the subtle voices within.
Some ideas for reflection at this time of year:
Review and release: What have you learned during the brighter, more active months? Are there patterns, thoughts, or behaviors ready to be shed - like leaves released from the tree? Letting go makes space for what’s next.
Nurture new visions: In the quiet of winter, collect your hopes, dreams, and new directions. Allow them to rest and mature in the darkness, ready for the light’s return.
Turn toward your fears: Let fear become a teacher, guiding you inward to discover new insights beneath its surface.