It is said that there is a veil that lies between the World of Form and the World of Spirit. At Samhain, the veil between these Worlds thins. But what do we really mean by that?
Although the World of Form and the World of Spirit overlap and mirror each other in many ways, they are distinct realms that operate in very different ways. The rules of one don’t necessarily apply to the other. The World of Form is the tangible world we are most familiar with. The World of Spirit is what lies beyond the veil.
The World of Form is the physical reality we find all around us. It’s the air, sun, food, earth... things we can see, feel, and touch. It isn’t made up of just the physical objects alone, however. This realm also contains all of the physical sensations associated with these things. It’s the clean sensation of air that fills our lungs as we breathe. It’s the feeling of the sun that warms our faces. It’s the rich taste of chocolate. It’s the feel of alover’s embrace. The World of Form is a densely layered realm of matter acting and reacting on the physical plane.
The World of Spirit is the reality that lies beyond our physical reality. It is the realm of our unincorporated spiritual selves. It lies beyond the “Summerlands”, the resting place for recently released spirits. It’s where our true essence dwells when not attached to a physical form, in this lifetime and all lifetimes. Essentially timeless and formless, this realm responds to the vibrations of our thoughts. Since it lays beyond the physical plane, it’s the natural realm of free-thought and imagination.
An essential part of our spiritual selves lies anchored in this realm at all times. We truly are inseparable from our spiritual reality. However, although it’s our true “home”, it’s difficult for many people to have free access to the world of Spirit while wearing a body. The bonds of the body are tight, and the barriers to the Spirit Worlds can seem impenetrable.
But at Samhain, the veil “thins”. Access to the World of Spirit becomes a bit easier. For those who truly desire it, the veil can be crossed, expanding the possibilities of physical and spiritual experiences. This is the time of year to explore the Spirit Worlds, to seek wisdom from our ancestors, and to visit with those who have gone beyond.
According to the Wiccan wheel of the year, Samhain marks the death of the old year, and the birth of the new. The season of growth has ended, and the time for the final harvest is at hand. According to the agricultural cycles of the earth, this is when the final crops are reaped. It is also the time when the animals that have been fattened all summer are sacrificed to provide nourishment for those of us who remain. It is an intense period of transitions and endings.
At such a time of profound transition, it is natural that the usually sharp line that divides the two realms should waver. The tide of life is withdrawing from one realm to another. This results in a surging tide of energy passing the border into the Spirit World at Samhain. It’s natural that the veil should thin to ease these passages.
The veil between the Worlds is normally reinforced by our strong connection to our physical bodies. In a sense, we are the barrier we must pass to get to the Spirit Worlds. We’re tied to this realm by our senses. But when the veil thins at Samhain, the insubstantial world of ghosts and spirits is the common theme, and the physical realm often seems less substantial. It is easier for us to loosen our normally tight hold on physical reality, withdraw our senses, and let our Spirits connect freely with other realms. As the tide of life withdraws, so our awareness also withdraws to a place deep within ourselves... that deep core of ourselves that is always connected to the World of Spirit. That’s the place where Spirits cross the veil.
Contact and communication between the realms becomes far easier at Samhain. Spirits can reach out and try to pass along messages to us, and we can reach across the veil to experience a deeper connection with nonphysical realities. The Samhain season is an ideal time to work on divination, astral travel, uncovering memories of past lives, searching out information on the Akashic record, where the memory of all events are stored, and naturally, communicating with Spiritual entities.
This is a good time of year to begin a practice of meditation, since our attention and concentration is reinforced by the withdrawing tide of the season. Trance work of all kinds is easier at this time of year, as well as astral traveling, and Shamanic journeying. There is a rich array of experiences awaiting those who wish to explore the Spirit trails, and Samhain is an excellent time to explore.
When we talk about the veil that thins at Samhain, we mean the intangible barrier that divides the World of Form from the World of Spirit. As the season wanes and the tide of life withdraws, this veil thins, allowing easier access between the Worlds for those who seek it. Deep spiritual work of all types is supported by the energy of Samhain. It’s little wonder that it’s considered one of the most magickal times of the year.
~Flame RavenHawk
August 30, 2003