The wisdom of Samhain and ancient insights for modern wellbeing
As the days grow shorter and the nights stretch longer, we reach a powerful point in the natural cycle of the year - Samhain (pronounced Sow-in).
Long before Halloween became a night of costumes and candy, Samhain was one of the most sacred festivals in the ancient Celtic calendar. It marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter - a time to honour ancestors, reflect on what has passed, and prepare for the quiet, restorative darkness ahead.
While the modern world moves quickly, often pushing us to stay “on” all the time, Samhain gently reminds us of something our ancestors knew well:
Wellbeing depends on balance, reflection, and renewal.
Let’s explore what this ancient festival can teach us about caring for our mental and emotional health today.
1. Embracing the cycles of change
Samhain represents the turning of the wheel - the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. The earth is resting after her harvest; it’s time to let go, not push harder.
In our own lives, this is a reminder that it’s okay to slow down, release what’s complete, and trust that new beginnings will come in their season.
Modern neuroscience supports this cyclical wisdom. Periods of rest and recovery allow the brain’s default mode network to activate - the part involved in creativity, self-reflection, and emotional integration. Chronic busyness, on the other hand, keeps us in a state of low-level stress, depleting both focus and emotional resilience.
Learning to move with life’s cycles, not against them, helps us regulate stress hormones and build long-term wellbeing. When we accept that it’s natural to have seasons of growth and seasons of rest, we permit ourselves to be human.
2. Listening to the quiet within
Samhain was known as the time when the “veil between worlds” grows thin, when the unseen becomes easier to feel.
On a personal level, this can mean tuning into our inner world: our dreams, our emotions, our intuition.
In the stillness of darker evenings, we have a chance to listen to what our deeper self is trying to say; the needs we’ve ignored, the feelings we’ve buried, the hopes we haven’t voiced.
Psychology now recognises that this kind of reflective self-awareness enhances emotional intelligence and mental clarity. Mindfulness and journaling have been shown to reduce anxiety, improve emotional regulation, and increase activation in areas of the brain linked to compassion and insight.
Practices such as journaling, meditation, or mindful walks in nature can help us hear our inner voice. Listening without judgment allows healing and self-understanding to unfold naturally.
3. Honouring our roots
Traditionally, Samhain was a time to remember and honour the ancestors; setting a place at the table, lighting a candle, or sharing stories of those who came before.
Even if we don’t follow ancient customs, connecting with where we come from can bring a sense of belonging and continuity. Whether through family, culture, or the broader human story, we’re part of something bigger, and that connection nourishes us.
Research in positive psychology highlights that a sense of belonging and connection is one of the strongest predictors of wellbeing and longevity. Studies on “ancestral narratives” show that people who know and reflect on their family stories tend to have higher self-esteem and greater emotional resilience.
Feeling rooted supports mental and emotional stability. Gratitude practices, such as writing down who or what has helped you get to where you are, deepen your sense of connection and inner strength.
4. Finding meaning in the dark
The darker half of the year invites us inward, much like seeds buried underground before spring.
In modern terms, this can mean giving ourselves space to rest, grieve, and restore, rather than fearing the quiet or the shadowy parts of ourselves.
Darkness isn’t negative; it’s a space of transformation. Just as rest helps the body heal, introspection and stillness help the mind and heart recover.
Modern psychology recognises that processing emotions in safe, reflective ways supports integration and prevents burnout. Practices that encourage slowing down - such as gentle yoga, breathwork, or evening rituals - help shift the nervous system from the stress-based sympathetic state to the restorative parasympathetic state.
Let yourself slow down. Light a candle. Sit with your feelings. The light will return in its own time.
5. Living in wholeness
At its heart, Samhain teaches wholeness; that life and death, light and dark, joy and sorrow all belong. When we stop resisting one half of the experience, we find a deeper peace.
Wholeness isn’t about perfection; it’s about acceptance.
The more we embrace all parts of ourselves - the playful, the tired, the hopeful, and the hurting - the more balanced and alive we become.
Modern wellbeing science echoes this ancient truth. Self-acceptance is a key element of psychological wellbeing identified by researchers such as Carol Ryff. When we welcome every part of our inner experience, we foster authenticity, compassion, and inner peace.
Samhain is more than an old festival; it’s an invitation to pause.
To honour what has ended, to rest before beginning again, and to reconnect with the deeper rhythms of nature and self.
As we step into the darker months, may we remember:
Stillness is sacred.
Letting go makes room for growth.
And every ending is also a beginning.