The Thinning of the Veil

Sleepy Hollow cemetery on a sunny day with fall foliage surrounding graves

We are approaching the end of October, which in the United States and many other places is associated with Halloween. This has deep roots in other cultural holidays (i.e. Samhain, el Día de los Muertos) that I encourage you to do a bit of research to learn about the rich history surrounding this time of year.

Halloween is also the celebration of the midpoint between Fall and Winter. The waning light is now quite obvious as the sun sets noticeably earlier. The world around us is dying as leaves fall to the ground. The greens and pinks of Spring and Summer are giving way to brown and orange. It is said that the "veil" between the living and the dead thins at this time which feels apt given the visual representation of this in our natural world.

As the world darkens and dies, we can pay attention to where death and darkness touches our own lives. This could look like deeper shadow work, ancestor veneration, or getting in touch with grief. It is a good time to honor and connect with people, places, and things we have lost or have come before us.

Here are some journal prompts to engage with the Thinning of the Veil:

• Have I let parts of myself shrivel or die within the shadows cast by my ego?

• What is my relationship to ancestors that I have met and ancestors that I have never met nor know anything about?

• Where do I hold grief in my body? How does that grief find ways to show itself?

Ritual Ideas for Mid-Fall

1. Rose is a powerful symbol for the heart and, therefore, for opening ourselves up to addressing and healing wounds caused by grief. Grief is not a problem to be solved, but if your heart is closed to it, it can cause damage. Find ways to work with rose to open your heart. You can make a rose tea, draw or paint the image, or try an herbal rose cigarette. As you work with rose, notice what grief arises. **Important Note** Please be sure to not ingest or inhale rose purchased from a grocery store or flower shop or any other source that does not expressly state the rose can be consumed. Many roses are sprayed with chemicals that are harmful if consumed.

2. Connect with an ancestor by cooking something that is connected to them. Fall is a time of culinary preparation and this can be a powerful tool to use at this time of year. If this is an ancestor you have met, perhaps this is a favorite dish of theirs or a recipe they passed down to you. If this is an ancestor you know little to nothing about, consider what kinds of food items could represent them. Where did they live? Is there a traditional dish from that area? Is there a flavor that elicit feelings of connection? Take time to make the preparation of this dish a sensory experience. Perhaps play music that you associate with them or slow down to observe what each ingredient feels and smells like before you prepare it. After you have prepared the dish, set a table with an extra place for your ancestor. If you have any objections connected to them, feel free to place them there. Try to eat without distraction and connect with this presence. If you're called to ask questions, ask but stop to listen. Be sure to put an offering of your food on your ancestor's plate. At the end of the meal, compost or otherwise dispose of the offering.