The Harvest Season Has Come to a Close
We are now preparing for the colder months of the year. Take a moment today to honor your ancestors. This is the time of year where the veil between worlds is at its thinnest — a powerful moment to connect with your ancestors and loved ones who have crossed over to the other side.
Have you ever had a visit from a loved one, maybe in the form of an animal or some other aspect of the natural world? If so, let me know. I would love to hear your experience.
I’ve had all sorts of connections with animals that have reminded me of loved ones. The owl represents my grandfather, and the goldfinch represents my grandmother, because I had a visit from both of these birds after they died.
Sometimes we can just have a feeling or an energy that reminds us of our loved ones. They can make themselves known in so many ways — through a song on the radio, or maybe the numbers 2:22 on the clock. Pay attention to the signs and see what shows up!
The Ancient Roots of Halloween
Halloween was formerly known as an ancient Celtic tradition celebrating the final harvest. It was also a way to welcome the darker time of the year. Samhain (pronounced SAH-win) represents the midway point between the equinox and the winter solstice.
This is the third and last harvest season on the sabbat calendar: Lammas in August, Mabon on the fall equinox, and finally Samhain on Halloween.
Gathering Seeds & Storing the Harvest
This is a time to gather all the seeds from the plants we grew and store our harvest for the winter. I have been saving lots of seeds this year and labeling them in packets. It’s a really fun process and a way to preserve food being grown for years to come.
I had a lot of beans this year — they’re super easy to let grow big and then collect the seeds. You can do the same with peas as well. I also saved seeds from peppers, tomatoes, and delicata squash. I had 17 delicatas grow this year, all from plants that sprouted out of my compost!
I also save seeds from flowers like marigolds, nasturtium, and zinnias, and from herbs like fennel, dill, and garlic chives. There are so many seeds we can save, and it’s a wonderful way to connect with the plants.
Preparing for the Dark Season Ahead
I’ve been drying herbs from the garden and putting away herbs and mushrooms I foraged into jars in the apothecary. I’m also getting ready to plant garlic, since it needs to overwinter and has a long growing cycle.
My garlic harvest this year wasn’t the best — it probably won’t last through the winter — but it still supplied me for a few months. I’m planting in a different spot next year, and I think it will do better. It’s good to rotate your plantings anyway!
It’s amazing to be able to plant one clove of garlic and, with very little care, harvest scapes and a full bulb the following summer. Garlic is a beautiful plant to set your intentions with for the end of the year — and to watch them bloom into fruition the next.
A Time of Connection and Gratitude
These are the things I like to focus on during Halloween — not so much the scary movies and candy, but the connection to the plants, trees, and the natural world.
Connecting with the cycles of life and the old ways of being is a way to truly feed your soul. I invite you to do this in whatever way feels best for you.
Make a warm cup of tea, sit outside, tune into nature, and give thanks for your ancestors on this magical day. 🌙✨