2022 Samhain
Here’s the timing for the midpoint between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice. Around this astronomically based, Earth-based, zodiacally-based time, humanity has offered recognition in celebrations, holy days, and holidays such as the Celtic Samhain, the roots of Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve, and Dia Muertos, the Day of the Dead.
London (United Kingdom – England)
Monday, November 7, 2022, at 11:45:19 am GMT equals UTC now
Boston (USA – Massachusetts)
Monday, November 7, 2022, at 6:45:19 am EST UTC-5 hours
Chicago (USA – Illinois)
Monday, November 7, 2022, at 5:45:19 am CST UTC-6 hours
Albuquerque (USA – New Mexico)
Monday, November 7, 2022, at 4:45:19 am MST UTC-7 hours
Sacramento (USA – California)
Monday, November 7, 2022, at 3:45:19 am PST UTC-8 hours
Honolulu (USA – Hawaii)
Monday, November 7, 2022, at 1:45:19 am HST UTC-10 hours
Tokyo (Japan)
Monday, November 7, 2022, at 8:45:19 pm JST UTC+9 hours
Samhain (pronounced “sah-wen,” Halloween, All Hallows Eve) is the tipping point. The precise moment of Samhain (useful for ritual purposes) is the exact middle of the time between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice.
Darkness, the hours of the night, are increasing. Different peoples, tribes, and clans have many names for male and female principals. At Samhain, the older crone or Wise Woman takes charge, while the Youthful Queen returns to the Underworld to join the Dark God. He rules over that time between the Autumn and Spring Equinoxes. The moment of transition is when the Sun ticks from 14° 59’ Scorpio to 15° 00’ Scorpio, the Zodiac Sign of death and rebirth. Samhain marks the ending, the beginning, and the Wheel of the Year turns. When the Young Queen returns in the spring, she’s pregnant with that newly conceived in the Underworld.
In some Celtic and European traditions, participants fortify themselves with cakes and drinks before setting out for the ritual gathering at sunset. They take lanterns, candles, or torches to light their way as it grows dark to the highest hill, which the druid and assistants have set up for the celebration. Key is the lighted bonfire at the time measured and announced by the druid or priest. Some years the bonfire may already be burning, depending on that year’s timing.
The ritual may involve remembering loved ones passed on to the other side of the veil. A period of meditation begins and continues until the priest lights the fire. As the fire leaps up, so do the participants who bring song, joy, and dance to the ceremony that continues until dawn light and a return to home and hearth. Tradition has it that the veil that divides the worlds is thin this night. The passages from life and death are both wide open. The Mystery recognizes that every ending is but a beginning.
The energy of the old year is most potent right up to the mid-season peak and turning toward the New Year. There are many variants among the tribes and peoples that recognize Samhain (Irish name) as the “turning of the year.” Compared to Día de Muertos, celebrated primarily in Mexico and the US Southwest.
1st - Imbolc, 2nd - Beltane, 3rd - Lugnasad, 4th - Samhain (image via EarthSky)
Earth’s track around the Sun and the Earth’s off-kilter axial orientation (23.5°) to the plane of that orbit is how we mark the Equinoxes and Solstices. That is also how we define the Zodiac on the plane of that orbit. When the angle of Earth’s rotational pole points toward or away from the Sun, we mark the solstices. We reference those points to the lines of latitude North, Cancer, and South, Capricorn. To map The Equator, the pole of Earth’s axis does not point toward or away but is perpendicular to the Sun. Those points in Earth’s orbit mark Earth’s Equator and the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes. Look at the illustration, and this will make perfect sense. The Earth-to-Sun relationship provides the names. Spring Equinox equals Aries, the first Sign of the Zodiac. Then the Summer Solstice brings the Cancer Ingress and marks the northern tropic of Cancer. Back to the Equator comes the Libra, Autumn, and Equinox, and at the tropic of Capricorn is the Winter Solstice. The orientation of the Earth to the Sun marks the Seasons. Those points give us the lines of latitude on the planet. Extend that plane into space and where the Sun is on those solstice or equinox days marks the Zodiac. Eclipses occur on occasions of Sun and Moon alignment with the ecliptic plane. And that’s how it got its name!
