Samhain - A Celtic Halloween 2023

Ghostly greetings my ghoulish guests!

This is year 13 for “Samhain!” In the tarot, the 13th card is the the card of Death. It doesn't usually mean physical death, but that major changes are around the corner. 

Death is not a destroyer, but a collector. While western ideas about death can be pessimistic, tarot sees death as a celebration of what we have cultivated with our time.  Which gave me an idea for this year's show as you will read below.

The whiteness of the horse can symbolize the blank page and the new beginnings that can come with the death of old things; it is an illustration of optimism in the face of death. Which gave me another idea, as you will, yes, read below.

As I said in my previous email, many events this year prevented me from plotting and planning the Samhain 2023 show. With the short time left to put together this year's “Samhain,” I had hoped for a smaller show in a house concert venue, but a live show this year just isn't in the cards. But fear not! All is not lost and the show will go on, as it did virtially in 2020 when covid shut everything down.

As Death celebrates what we have cultivated, it became clear that this, year 13, is the year for reflection. In that reflection, I decided, rather than go completely dark, to put together a video with highlights showing what we have done and how we have grown in the past 12 years. There may even be some behind the scenes blooper or two.

The video will be ready to view on All Hallows Eve. Wear your pj's, or a costume, invite your friends and family, bring your candied apples, maple syrup flavored popcorn, and help myself and the cast of “Samhain” celebrate our past 12 years together. The video link of “Samhain, Remembering the Past,” will be posted in the next email and on the Celtic Rhythms website..

This is not the end of Samhain. The twilight of year 13 will allow for new growth, creativity and the spirit of “Samhain” an opportunity to germinate in the darkness and spring forth with new music, and new stories in 2024. 

In addition, as the white horse of the Death card symbolizes a blank slate and new opportunities - in my search for a house concert venue, the concept of “parlor concerts” came about from one of our ghoulishly lovely patrons. This then led me to a new idea of smaller parlor concerts throughout the year. So in addition to a brand new Samhain show in 2024, the possibility of smaller parlor concerts may arise from the ashes of this year's darkness.

Stay posted for the link to the Samhain 2023 video, and hopefully upcoming parlor concerts.

Slainte!
Aedan