Our mainstream notions of Halloween take their cues from ancient traditions marking autumn’s third and final harvest celebration, and setting intentions for surviving a long, cold winter (in the Northern hemisphere). 

Modern pagan and Wiccan holy days amplify the mystical implications of these ancient traditions, teaching us to observe ourselves as extensions of natural and cosmic cycles. And no single day of the year is more important to this year-long magical arc than Samhain, which falls on October 31 / November 1. 

Viewed as the day when the “veils” between our physical world and the spirit world dissolve to their thinnest, Samhain (“SAH-WEN”) offers an auspicious moment for honoring our unique role as spiritual beings inhabiting physical bodies. Additionally, Samhain’s emphasis on ancestral reverence challenges us to reframe our greatest struggles as opportunities for individual and collective growth.

Join me and Berit Ahlgren of Sunna for an evening of movement, meditation, sound and ceremony with the goal of inspiring us to draw power from life’s thresholds; those experiences of loss, upheaval and change that nudge us out of our comfort zones and invite us to evolve.

We’ll begin with a yoga flow centered on the root and crown chakras to represent our lineage and roots, supported by sonic adjustments from tuning forks and Himalayan bowls. Our journey will continue with a reflection on the transformative potential of uncertainty and ambiguity, followed by an activity for bringing the magic of Samhain into everyday life.

We’ll conclude with an immersive soundbath, hands-on adjustments and a community blessing.