Happy Samhain wise women!

Samhain (pronounced Sow-in) – the ancient Gaelic festival that marks the end of harvest and the beginning of winter’s descent, is on Saturday, 11/1 – and is also known as The Witch’s New Year and where the Halloween holiday emerged from. 

Did you know that the word “witch” originates from Old English meaning ” WISE WOMAN”?

Yet, between the 15th and 18th centuries, hundreds of thousands of women were executed for witchcraft.

But the truth is, most of these women weren’t evil or creating harm in the world…

They were healers. Midwives. Herbalists. Spiritual leaders. 

• Women who worked in harmony with the earth’s cycles, and practiced reciprocity with it.
• Independent women—widows, single ladies, women landowners…
• Women who practiced old ways of tending to the body and mind’s needs or who carried sacred feminine wisdom that went against the grain.  
• Women who refused to bow and kowtow to others.

And while hundreds of years have gone by since then, that trauma hasn’t ended…

It’s been carried through our bloodlines, and the “Witch Wound” is still steadily playing out to this day.

That inner voice inside of us, that says:

• Don’t be too visible.
• Don’t be too independent.
• Don’t be too loud, or weird, or bold.
• Don’t be too magical or spiritual.
• Don’t claim your power, it’s too risky.

But every time we dare to speak our truth, support other women, come together in community, stand for our autonomy – over our bodies, our leadership, and our creative self-expression, and choose supportive environments that STRETCH us out of our comfort zones instead of playing it safe…

We reclaim our power, and we heal, little by little.

I invite you to ask yourself:

• Where am I still holding back my voice?
• Where am I censoring myself, and my radical authenticity?
• Where am I trading my power for others’ comfort?
• And what might happen if I chose to reclaim it?

Samhain also invites us to pause, reflect, and let go of what doesn’t serve. 

It’s an opportunity to slow down, practice presence, reflect on what’s ready to be released, and tune into what’s quietly moving beneath the surface. 

If you’d like to join me in this reflection, here are a few journal prompts from my book, Your Spacious & Seasonal Year…

Samhain Reflection Questions:

1. What am I ready to complete and/or release before the new year begins?
2. How can I create stronger boundaries or systems to support more rest and reflection?
3. What actions or rituals will help me honor this quieter season with intention?

If you’d like to go deeper, check out more Samhain and other seasonally inspired rituals, altar ideas, and my favorite cozy pumpkin bread recipe in the book by purchasing it HERE.

Alright dear one! Sending you sweet and soothing vibes for slowing down, starting the inward turn, creating space for renewal, and trusting the quiet power of this liminal and magical time.