Written by Alisa Rose

Samhain, The Moon, and the Long Dark Night of Winter

*"Where is sleep? Over the mountains of the moon, down the valley of the shadow, ‘neath the waves of the deep Gulf Stream" - L.M. Montgomery*

The Samhain Full Moon, on October 28th is dancing through Taurus pushing our focus on home, personal growth, and community. This is a perfect time to pull cards and receive wisdom from the ancestors of the Hunters Moon.

The Moon's Symbology

The Moon is a source of mystery and inspiration, lying at the center of many magical traditions throughout the world. Her dance through the sky in her many faces and phases remind us of the ebbs and flows of life - times of bright clarity and strange shadows, of growth and of loss, through dark valleys and glowing peaks.

In tarot, The Moon, among many things, represents intuition, dreams, the subconscious, and the journey of enlightenment. The moon provides a pale light on our path to self-discovery, mapping the territory of our inner kingdom along the way.

Some areas of our inner landscape may feel overgrown, scary, or too dark to journey. We may have been told it was too dangerous to traverse or filled with monsters. By the waxing and waning light of the moon, we may begin to create a map of the mysterious parts we were taught to avoid or ignore, or simply could not see. We can rediscover the wild and powerful parts of us that we hide away.

Tarot Spread for Exploring Lunar Phases

Pull a card for each placement in the spread. Allow your intuition to guide you in finding common threads and themes in your reading. You can take notes and journal your thoughts and impressions. Use a book to interpret the cards, but trust your inner wisdom and the Moon's energy for deeper and more personal insights.

1. NEW MOON

Areas in my life I can explore

The New Moon is both a time of rest and reflection, as well as deep consideration. It calls us into our shadow realms to ask the serious and hard questions. Where are we focusing our energy and what are we cultivating? Is it towards our higher purpose? Are we avoiding shadows and unexplored areas out of fear of the mystery?

2. WAXING MOON

Things in my life I can grow

The Waxing Moon is a time of growth, tending to your dreams and plans, and cultivating resources and skills. The Waxing Moon is a time when we can call on the Moon’s energy to pour strength and growth into our lives. What areas of our lives are ready to be cultivated and tended? What areas need attention in order to maintain a flow of growth? Are we avoiding areas of growth for fear of responsibility or failure? The Moon is telling you its time.

3. FULL MOON

Areas of my life to celebrate

The Full Moon is an ideal time to both manifest and celebrate victories and successes. The light of the Full Moon illuminates what is ripe and ready to be enjoyed, as well as aspects of our life we may take for granted. Are you taking time to notice what you have accomplished? Have you counted your blessings lately? Gratitude is a key practice on our inner journey… gratitude gives us hope, hope gives us faith, and faith gives us strength!

4. WANING MOON

Things in my life I need to release

The Waning Moon reminds us of the need to let go. A tree cannot bear new fruit each summer if it does not let go of last year’s harvest. A boat cannot find new shores if it never leaves the harbor. Do you have habits, things, people or situations you are holding onto too tightly? Are you willing to let go in faith that what is being released will make room for more blessings to come?

5. HALF MOON

Areas in my life that need balance

The Quarter Moon is when the Moon appears half light and half dark. Balance is truly the ultimate goal and reward of our spiritual work and journey. To be in touch both within and without. To be present but always dreaming and reaching. To release, as well as receive. Have some aspects of your life shifted out of balance? Are there habits you need to let go of? Are their practices you need to strengthen?

Images: Mo Mint Media | Eco- Studio Mat: Oshun Storm Studio Mat | Featuring: Alisa Rose

Samhain, or Halloween: A Celebration of Ancestors and Renewal

**As the year turns and winter comes to the Northern Hemisphere, we approach Samhain, or Halloween.**

***The “witch wound” is deep and bound with fear. But to come back to our wild and magical nature is to embrace the witch, the magic maker, the magus, the wise one, the spirit worker within.***

Samhain is an ancient celebration of ancestral return. Ancestors pass through the veil of the ethereal to visit loved ones, receive offerings of gratitude for harvest, and remember the richness of life. It is both a celebration and a mourning, joy and sorrow - just like the many faces and phases of The Moon.

Samhain also marks the new year on the natural calendar, as well as the beginning of Winter, the season of rest and reflection. This is a time to journey inward, as the Sun fades and we come face-to-face with our shadows.