Halloween, Samhain and the Witch Wound: Origins, Symbols, and Spiritual Meaning

When we think of Halloween, we imagine children in costumes collecting candy, pumpkins glowing on porches, and friends gathering for costume parties. Yet this holiday is much more than its commercial side. Behind costumes and decorations, Halloween carries a spiritual, symbolic, and ancestral dimension that runs deep.

Halloween is a celebration of shadow and light, of life and death, of play and remembrance. It is a moment where we dare to look endings in the eye while honoring life with intensity.

But where does Halloween really come from, and why are its symbols—witches, black cats, ghosts, werewolves—so powerful?

Samhain: The Ancestor of Halloween

Before it became Halloween, this holiday was Samhain, celebrated by the Celts over 2,000 years ago. Samhain marked the end of the harvest and the entry into the dark season of winter. It was a threshold moment, where the light declined and people prepared to face the long night.

During Samhain, communities lit great bonfires, wore masks, and left food offerings to honor ancestors and protect themselves from wandering spirits. It was believed that the dead could return to visit the living during this time.

When Christianity spread, Samhain was transformed into All Saints’ Day and the Day of the Dead. But pagan practices continued to live on in popular culture, and Halloween became their modern heir.

Halloween has therefore kept this double identity: a joyful, playful, costumed holiday, but also a time of remembrance, respect, and connection to the ancestors.

Pumpkins: Lights in the Darkness

Carving pumpkins is now one of Halloween’s strongest symbols. But did you know that originally, people carved turnips? In Ireland and Scotland, grotesque faces were carved into turnips to scare off evil spirits.

When immigrants arrived in America, they discovered pumpkins: larger, brighter, and much easier to carve. Pumpkins quickly replaced turnips and became the iconic face of Halloween.

Each jack-o’-lantern is ambivalent. On one hand, it protects against unwanted spirits. On the other, it invites us to dive into the darkness and face what frightens us. Lighting a candle inside a pumpkin is a ritual act: bringing light into the heart of darkness.

Witches: Archetype, Wound, and Reclamation

The witch we know today—pointed hat, broomstick, cauldron—is mostly an invention of folklore and Hollywood. Historically, “witches” were wise women, healers, and midwives who knew the plants, the cycles of nature, and the secrets of healing.

But over time, respect turned into fear. Witches were accused of making pacts with the devil, persecuted, tried, and burned. They became the symbol of female independence and freedom deemed too dangerous for the established order.

This history left deep scars. Many of us still carry what is called the witch wound: a conscious or unconscious memory, sometimes linked to past lives, that makes us fear revealing our intuitive or psychic gifts. This fear of speaking out, of showing spiritual abilities, or of stepping outside the norm is the echo of past persecutions.

Today, the figure of the witch has been reclaimed. She has become a symbol of personal power, connection to nature, intuition, and freedom. Celebrating witches at Halloween is also about honoring resilience and collective healing.

Black Cats: Superstition and Mystery

Black cats have always been linked to Halloween. In the Middle Ages, they were seen as both protectors of homes and as companions—or incarnations—of witches. Their dark fur and ability to disappear into the night made them mysterious and unsettling.

Even today, they carry a reputation for bad luck. But in truth, the black cat is a powerful spiritual symbol. It represents mystery, the connection to the unseen, and silent protection. Its glowing eyes in the darkness remind us that not everything is visible to the naked eye, and that intuition can be more reliable than sight.

Meeting a black cat on Halloween could be seen as a sign of spiritual guidance. Far from being a bad omen, it is a reminder that the invisible always walks beside us.

Werewolves: The Wild Instinct Within

Legends of werewolves originated in Europe, in villages surrounded by wolf-filled forests. These tales claimed that under certain conditions, a human could transform into an uncontrollable beast.

Beyond fear, the werewolf is a powerful psychological symbol: it embodies the wild, instinctive side we all carry. That primal force we repress, but that never truly disappears.

On Halloween, the werewolf reminds us that the line between the civilized human and raw instinct is thin. Sometimes, taming our inner shadow is the only way not to be devoured by it.

Ghosts: Stories, Memory, and Chills

Telling ghost stories is an ancient tradition. As far back as Samhain, people believed spirits roamed after the last harvest, and stories by the fire helped honor and explain their presence.

Later, in the Victorian era, families gathered by candlelight to read tales of hauntings. Today, horror movies, haunted houses, and paranormal podcasts continue this tradition.

But ghost stories aren’t just about fear. They are a way of engaging with death without directly experiencing it, reminding us that the memory of the dead still vibrates through stories and collective imagination.

Costumes: Masking or Unmasking?

Dressing up is one of Halloween’s most universal traditions. At first, costumes were used to fool spirits: if you looked like them, they couldn’t bother you. Over time, it became a game and a festive tradition.

But the mask carries deeper meaning. Dressing up is permission to transform. For one night, you can become a hero, a monster, or an amplified version of yourself. It isn’t just play—it’s initiation.

Behind the costume, we dare to reveal a side of ourselves we usually keep hidden. Halloween becomes a stage of freedom, where we play with identity.

Halloween and Death: A Realistic, Not Morbid, Celebration

Halloween happens in the heart of autumn, when nature reminds us that everything is cyclical. Trees lose their leaves, fields empty, light fades.

Skeletons, tombs, and skulls are not there to glorify fear, but to remind us of a fundamental truth: life is precious because it is finite.

Halloween invites us to look death in the face—not to sink into fear, but to savor life more fully. It is a holiday that tells us: Yes, everything ends. But that’s exactly why we must love, laugh, and create while we can.

What Is the True Meaning of Halloween?

At its core, Halloween is not a morbid holiday. It is a celebration of awareness and transformation. A moment to recognize endings, welcome new beginnings, and remember that every moment is a gift.

When you light a candle inside a pumpkin or put on a costume, you are not just playing: you are replaying an ancient ritual, connecting the living and the dead, light and shadow, fear and joy.

Halloween is not the holiday of fear—it is the reminder that life is worth living fully, because it is fragile and fleeting.

Halloween is more than candy and costumes. It is a spiritual celebration inherited from Samhain that connects us to our ancestors, our shadows, and our inner light. It reminds us that death is part of life, and that every moment is sacred.

So next time you carve a pumpkin, meet a black cat, or put on a costume, remember: you are part of a millennia-old tradition, a ritual that celebrates both shadow and light.

Happy Halloween—may this season bring you awareness, magic, and tenderness.

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Halloween FAQ

Why do we celebrate Halloween? Halloween comes from Samhain, a Celtic festival marking the end of harvest and the start of winter. It evolved into a popular holiday blending ancestor remembrance and festive celebrations.

Why carve pumpkins at Halloween? It’s a tradition from Ireland and Scotland, where people carved turnips. In America, pumpkins replaced them and became a symbol of light and protection.

What is the witch wound? It is a collective and karmic memory inherited from witch persecutions, creating an unconscious fear of revealing intuitive and spiritual gifts.

Why are black cats considered bad luck? This superstition dates back to the Middle Ages, when they were linked to witches. In reality, black cats are symbols of protection and connection to the unseen.

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Meli Guidance is a certified advanced Akashic records practitioner, a past-life psychic and a channelling coach. She is also trained in oracle cards and tarot readings. Her specialty is helping people grow by reconnecting them with their soul’s purpose and life missions. She believes that by remembering our past lives and seeing what our life plan is for our current incarnation, we can achieve our future self’s highest potential. In addition to channelling spirit guides for people from all over the world in English and French, she offers online courses and coaching sessions to anyone who wishes to develop their ability to communicate with the invisible world.

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