As I sit here in my home in the French countryside, watching autumn leaves dance past my window, I feel the pull of my Irish roots growing stronger. There’s something about Samhain that awakens the Celtic blood, and even here in France, I feel that ancient calling as October gives way to November.

The stories of Samhain have been passed down through generations of Irish families like mine, whispered around fires and shared across kitchen tables. Now, as a Reiki practitioner, I find those ancestral teachings weaving beautifully into my energy work, bridging the ancient wisdom of Ireland with modern healing practices.

The Living Legacy of Samhain

What fascinates me most about Samhain is how its ancient practices continue to echo through our modern lives, often in ways we don’t even realise. Those cheerful children going door-to-door for sweets are unconsciously re-enacting the medieval practice of ‘souling’, where people would receive soul cakes in exchange for prayers for the dead. Even today, some traditional bakers in Ireland and Britain still mark their Halloween treats with crosses, a quiet continuation of those ancient soul cakes.

Few people today realise that the carved pumpkin tradition began with humble turnips in Ireland and Scotland, created not for decoration but as protective talismans during this spiritually charged time. Some communities still swear by their turnip lanterns, claiming they hold more authentic protective power.

The Wisdom of Samhain

Samhain (pronounced “sow-in” in the old Irish way) marks the Celtic new year, a time when the harvest is complete and the dark half of the year begins. In Ireland, they still speak of the Aos Sí – the fairy folk – on Samhain night, and any unexplained mischief is often playfully attributed to these ‘good neighbours’, a tradition that transforms everyday autumn mishaps into moments of magic and mystery.

1. The Power of Letting Go

Just as trees release their leaves without resistance, Samhain teaches us the art of graceful release. There’s practical wisdom in this timing – consider how our ancestors knew not to gather blackberries after Samhain, attributing this to the Pooka (a shapeshifting fairy) spitting on them. While we might smile at this superstition, it actually aligns perfectly with natural food safety, as late berries are indeed more likely to carry mould and frost damage.

2. Honouring Our Ancestors

In Irish tradition, our ancestors are never truly gone. One of the most powerful traditions that survives to this day is the ‘dumb supper’ – a meal served in reverse order and eaten in complete silence, with an empty place setting for deceased loved ones. While not everyone observes this practice now, its essence lives on in how many families take time during autumn gatherings to share stories of those who came before.

3. Embracing the Dark

As a Reiki practitioner with one foot in two cultures, I’ve observed how people across different societies resist the darker, quieter aspects of life. Yet some of our most beloved autumn traditions embrace this darkness joyfully. Consider the practice of throwing nuts into the bonfire to predict the future, which has evolved into the modern tradition of roasting chestnuts. Even our autumn festival apple-bobbing games carry ancient wisdom – they began as Samhain divination practices, with the first to bite an apple said to be the next to marry.

Simple Ways to Honour the Season

You needn’t have any special tools or beliefs to work with this powerful time. Here are some practices that bridge ancient wisdom with modern life:

– Take an evening walk and observe the changes in nature
– Light a candle in your window, a tradition that still lives on in Ireland
– Leave a small dish of food out for wandering cats, as our ancestors did, believing they might be returned loved ones
– Bake soul cakes or barn brack, adding your own meaningful symbols
– Keep a journal about what you’d like to cultivate in the dark months ahead

A Personal Practice

In my own practice, I’ve found that this time of year amplifies the healing energies I work with. The universal life force – what we call ‘Ki’ in Reiki – seems to flow with particular intensity now. Perhaps our ancestors understood this when they chose this time for divination and spiritual work.

Looking Forward

As we move deeper into this season of mystery and transformation, remember that you’re part of something larger than yourself – a great wheel of time and nature that has turned for countless generations. Whether you’re in a bustling city or, like me, in a quiet corner of France with an Irish heart, the wisdom of Samhain is available to you.

Let this ancient tide of transformation carry you toward what needs to be released, what needs to be remembered, and what needs to be reborn in your own life. After all, that’s what this season is truly about – not just endings, but the profound possibilities that arise when we honour the natural cycles of change.