What Do We Celebrate in October?
By Marissa Subia, Copyeditor and Narrative Writer
As Psychic Medium Witch hosts the October Psychic Festival, why not take a deeper look at what we celebrate in October?
Halloween
There are the autumn leaves, the cool breezes, and the soft reminders of death and rebirth.
And there are the costumes, the parties, and the trick-or-treating version of Halloween that many of us enjoy. It’s the fun, light side of the month.
The Change in Season
At one point, back in the late nineteenth century, community leaders thought the holiday was too scary.
And it wasn’t called Halloween; it was called All Saint’s Eve, and it had been adapted from the ancient druidic festival called Samhain (pronounced “SOW-in” or “SAH-win”), which had been celebrated for 2,500 years.
The leaders wanted to adapt the holiday into a happy family occasion free from the dark themes of the original festival.
So, instead of magical rituals, bonfires, and animal sacrifices intended to ward against dark forces, there were parties and fun costumes to celebrate the halfway point between the Fall Equinox and the Winter Solstice.
The Veil Between Two Worlds
It is said that during October, especially Halloween, the veil between our world and the spirit world is thinnest.
This heightened connection is what the Celts celebrated during Samhain, and it resulted from the transition from the light half of the year to the dark half of the year. After the Fall Equinox, the days got longer (at least in the Northern Hemisphere; the seasons are opposite in the Southern Hemisphere), vegetation got scarcer, and times got harsher.
For this reason, celebrants looked to rituals, witches, and, therefore, magic to ease the change.
Magic
Magic is what we celebrate in October, even if we aren’t aware of it.
Magic is the art of working with the unseen, the hard-to-see, or the dark.
This month is about leaning into what’s spooky to find laughter and merriment.
I remember a vision I had in one of Leigh Ann’s classes. She helped us students see our guides and ask them questions. I was tense and nervous, as we all tend to be when we’re just learning.
She asked us to imagine a recording booth where our guides would sit and talk through a headset. We were to ask them questions.
So, I asked my guides, “How do I have fun?”
One of my guides was a giant violet dragon. Behind him, the booth wall was ripped away and there was all the universe—black with white stars.
The dragon was so big I couldn’t even see his face. All I saw was his great big belly that could fit a whole village in there and still have room for dessert.
In answer to my question, one great scaled arm lowered. With two massive claws, he picked up the tiny headset and brought it up out of sight.
Then I heard, “Um . . . hello?”
I managed somehow not to laugh.
I don’t remember the rest of what he said, but I’ll always remember how much lighter I felt.
That’s the magic we celebrate in October.
We don’t celebrate the surface level—we celebrate lightness.
We celebrate the magic of the autumn leaves—when they fall, we know the green ones will come back.
And we celebrate the magic of laughing with a light heart—it helps to watch stupid movies (or spooky stupid movies for October).
So come on. Let’s celebrate!
There’s still a lot of October left! Come celebrate with us for the October Psychic Festival.
All month long, talented psychic professionals are hosting fun magical events.
Check out the festival lineup and choose your event.
And if you hurry, you can buy a festival pass to get discounted access to events of your choosing.
See you there!
Marissa
Sources:
History.com Editors. “Halloween: Origins, Meaning & Traditions.” History.com, November 18, 2009. https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween#all-saints-day.
Smith, Hillary. “Samhain: The Celtic Inspiration for Modern Halloween—Brewminate: A Bold Blend of News and Ideas.” Brewminate, October 29, 2023. https://brewminate.com/samhain-the-celtic-inspiration-for-modern-halloween/.
