Returning to the Original Spark
Samhain Beyond Consumerism
Something in me resists when traditions become hollow shells — when what was once sacred drowns in the frenzy of consumption. Halloween? For many, it’s an evening of candy, spooky costumes, and late-night parties.
But within me stirs something else: a longing for reflection, for depth, for what was truly honored long before supermarkets filled their aisles with plastic ghosts.
I feel this time as an energetic threshold. Yet I also feel blocked — overwhelmed, even though I don't participate, by a collective current that sweeps everything away: less sleep, unconscious consumption, the relentless cry of “more!” — more sugar, more stimulation, more distraction. Fun at any cost.
And still, my inner voice asks: At what cost?
Celebration at the expense of awareness, health, and reverence for life’s cycles?
REMEMBRANCE VERSUS CONSUMPTION
So I sit down. I breathe. And I search for the spark — the original spark — that once glowed in this season, long before it became a commercial machine. Perhaps this wisdom was even deliberately obscured. Because those who remember their ancestors, who honor silence and feel connected to the greater whole, are not so easily led. They do not consume blindly.
And so I turn to Jeanne Rouland — a woman of profound wisdom who devoted her life to preserving the knowledge of Celtic traditions and weaving it into her books. She left this world far too soon, yet her legacy feels more urgent than ever.
IN HER WORDS — FREELY TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH
According to Rouland, Samhain (pronounced “Sah-win” or “Sow-in” was one of the four great seasonal festivals of the Celts. It marked the transition from the light half to the dark half of the year — the beginning of the Celtic winter on the evening of October 31st. It was not merely a festival, but a sacred threshold, when the veil between worlds grew especially thin: between the living and the ancestors, between the seen and the unseen.
In her words — freely translated from French — she writes:
Samhain was not a time of fear, but of reverence. It was the moment when nature withdrew, the light faded, and the community paused to honor the dead, give thanks for the harvest, and prepare for the stillness of winter. The ancestors returned that night—not as threatening figures, but as wise companions whose presence could bring blessing and protection.
RITUALS OF SPIRITUAL RENEWAL
Fire played a central role—not as decoration, but as a sacred gateway. Community fires were often kindled by friction, the so-called “need-fire.” Each household would extinguish their hearth flame and relight it from this shared sacred fire—an act of purification, a symbol of continuity, a ritual of spiritual renewal.
Even masks held deeper meaning. They were not worn for entertainment, but for protection or ritual communion with the Otherworld. One did not hide out of fear — but to consciously cross the threshold.
Jeanne Rouland emphasized again and again: Samhain was not an “evil” festival. It was a sacred closure, marked by gratitude, respect, and a profound connection to nature, ancestors, and the invisible weaving of life.
Modern commercialization may flood the surface — but the energetic essence of this time remains palpable to all who are still enough to listen.
Below are a few reflections from her writings — freely translated from French, held in the spirit of her teachings:
On the Essence of Samhain
Samhain is not a night of fear, but of holy silence. It is the breath between two worlds—the one of light that is departing, and the one of shadows inviting us inward. That night, the veil does not open to frighten, but to remind: we are never alone as long as we honor our ancestors.
On the Return of the Ancestors
The Celts did not fear the dead—they welcomed them. On the eve of Samhain, a place was left by the hearth, bread and milk set on the table. Not out of superstition, but out of love. For those who honor their ancestors preserve the roots of their being.
On Fire as a Symbol of Renewal
The Samhain fire was not a bonfire of merriment, but a sacred gate. It purified what needed to be released and kindled within the heart of the community a spark for the coming darkness. Each person carried its ashes home—not as a memory of endings, but as a seed for new beginnings.
On a Spiritual Approach to Halloween Today
When we wear masks on October 31st today, we might ask ourselves: Are we hiding from the world—or from ourselves? The ancient Celts wore masks to cross the threshold, not to deny it. Samhain calls us to see the invisible—especially within ourselves.
IN THE SPIRIT OF UNIVERSAL ANCESTRAL CONNECTION
While the Celts lit fires on the evening of October 31st to welcome the ancestors, in Mexico countless candles are lit at the same time — and luminous orange Cempaxochitl (Tagetes) flowers are scattered from the cemetery all the way to the doorstep. This sacred marigold, known as "Flor de Muerto", is far more than decoration: its potent fragrance is said to guide the souls home, through the night, straight to the altar of love.
Where the Celts used fire to pierce the veil, in Mexico, flower petals open a fragrant passage.
Though these traditions may seem worlds apart, they share the same deep truth: Death does not separate us — as long as we remember.
And perhaps, especially in times when consumption drowns out silence, it is more healing than ever to ask: **What traces am I leaving — for the souls who come, and for those who remain? **
Maybe we don’t need to celebrate less today — but more consciously. In stillness. In the heart. In connection.
WHEN THE WORLD GROWS LOUD AND THE SOUL SEEKS STILLNESS
On such nights, when the world grows loud and the soul longs for quiet, even a small gesture can hold great power: an herbal eye mask made of organic cotton, filled with organic millet husks and a custom herbal blend attuned to your intention — perhaps lavender for peace, mugwort for protection, or sage for cleansing. It offers darkness, so your inner light may shine. And space, to return home to yourself.
