Captive on the carousel of time.
A love letter to Samhain.
And the seasons they go round and round / And the painted ponies go up and down / We're captive on the carousel of time / We can't return, we can only look behind / From where we came / And go round and round and round / In the circle game
— Joni Mitchell, The Circle Game
Yesterday, my husband shared a story with me, and I want to share it with you all in celebration of Samhain. I thought it so accurately captured the mysterious, subtle beauty of the holiday—how the realms between the worlds are said to grow thin, making it easier for those who have left us to visit us once again.
Ed inherited his grandfather’s watch last year—the very same one his grandfather wore at the time of his passing. That watch now has a home on the credenza in our bedroom, where it sits alongside our various curios—perfume bottles, crystals, trinkets, jewelry. I have always been a bit of a magpie, squirreling small, beautiful things away in corners of our home, creating altars wherever I go.
Ed had never worn this watch prior to our wedding day, but he decided to wear it then. It felt like the right occasion—old, new, and sort of borrowed. On the morning of our wedding, he tried to wind it, hoping he could trick it into working again. He wasn’t able to, but thankfully, he wore it anyway. I would have done the same.
Later that evening, at our reception, Ed’s mother and aunts were admiring the watch and reminiscing about their late father when they realized it had stopped ticking at the very same time he passed away. When Ed told me this story, I couldn’t help but smile. A sweet nod from beyond. It was almost as if his grandfather were with us at the ceremony and reception, celebrating alongside us all—and he wanted to make sure we knew it.
This is the spirit of Samhain—a time when those no longer earthside cross the threshold from the spirit realm, taking advantage of the thinning veil to visit us in the waking world. Rooted in ancient Celtic traditions, Samhain marks the transition from the light half of the year to the dark half, echoing the Greek myth of Persephone, whose journey to the underworld signals the earth’s descent into winter’s shadow. Similarly, Día de los Muertos, a beautiful celebration and a significant part of Mexican culture, honors and remembers loved ones who have passed on. These cultural parallels illustrate the Jungian concept of the collective unconscious, a shared layer of the human psyche that contains archetypes—primordial symbols and universal themes that surface across cultures and time, inextricably linking us all.
Themes of death, darkness, decay, and rebirth echo through time, weaving through our external world as the seasons shift from one to the next. We’re captive on the carousel of time. While it may be challenging, we try our best to embrace this change with reverence and appreciation rather than fear and regret. Our brief years on this planet have shown us that the natural world's circular rhythm will, inevitably, bring us back around again and again.
Rituals & Celebrations for Samhain
Light a Candle. Rituals don’t have to be extravagant. The simple act of lighting a candle in honor of someone who has since passed on can be just as powerful.
Create an Altar. To take it a step further, create an altar around your candle with all their favorite things—objects they left behind, flowers, foods they loved, or representations of the four elements, such as salt for earth and a feather (or a butterfly wing) for air.
Host a Dumb Supper. This is the Celtic tradition of dining with the dead, during which you set a place at your table for each person who has since passed on, leaving the chair empty and offering food to invite them back into your home. Some bring photos and objects associated with this person and place them on the chair. The meal is served in reverse, starting with dessert, and during the meal, each person sits silently (hence “dumb”) to open their hearts and minds to the spirits they’re welcoming.
Pull some tarot cards. Ask for guidance from your ancestors and loved ones who have passed on, or perhaps reflect on what you are hiding in your shadow, afraid to bring into the light. Consider where you need to embrace the darkness and immerse yourself in the quiet contemplation of the dormant season of winter.
Watch your favorite Halloween movies. Practical Magic, The Craft, The Witch, Suspiria, and Kiki’s Delivery Service are just a few of my favorites. Don’t forget the midnight margaritas—if you start Practical Magic right at 11:12pm, the margarita scene will happen right at midnight. You’re welcome.
Blessed Samhain! <3