“Until you make the unconscious conscious,
it will direct your life and you will call it fate”
~~~ Carl Gustav Jung
Greetings to all my precious people!!
The sacred connection between the innate body-mind intelligence continues to beckon as we enter the transitional shifts of the Autumn season. With the end of October on the horizon, the celebration of Samhain (SOW-wen) will highlight the dates of October 31st and November 1st. Recognized as the most important holiday of the ancient Celtic calendar, Samhain marks the end of Summer and the midway point between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice.
The historian Peter Berresford Ellis noted that the festival of Samhain was also a Celtic New Year celebration, marking “the end of one pastoral year and the commencement of the next.” Ellis describes Samhain as “an intensely spiritual time… the period when the Otherworld became visible to mankind and when spiritual forces were let loose on the human world” (A Dictionary of Irish Mythology, 1987).
Samhain is also a liminal time—when darkness and light, warmth and cold, growth and blight—are in conflict and contrast. Liminal time refers to a transitional or in-between phase, often associated with uncertainty and transformation. The word “liminal” comes from the Latin word limen, meaning “threshold,” symbolizing a boundary or doorway between two different states or stages. Liminal time can occur in various contexts, both personally and culturally.
In individual experiences, liminal time can happen during significant life changes, such as the years of adolescence between childhood and adulthood. Perimenopause is yet another liminal phase for women that transitions between the reproductive years and the menopausal journey. Career transitions and major life decisions, like moving to a new city or starting a new relationship, can also bring people into liminal states where they are no longer where they were but not yet where they are going. As humans, the experience of liminal time is a recurring theme throughout our lives.
During liminal time, people often feel unsettled or unsure of what will come next, but it’s also a time of great possibility. Culturally, liminal time can occur during rituals, festivals, or periods of social change. The cultural anthropologist Victor Turner studied rites of passage, noting that during rituals, individuals were “betwixt and between”: they did not belong to the society that they previously were a part of and they were not yet reincorporated into that society.
Liminal physical spaces are often imbued with symbolic or spiritual significance, as they hold the potential for transformation and new beginnings. The shift on the beach from sand to water is a liminal space, the edge of the forest dense with trees is a liminal space, and certainly the times between dusk and dawn remind us that each day, we are on the edge of something new even as we navigate the “betwixt and between.”
In spiritual or psychological terms, liminal time can also be seen as a phase of inner growth and reflection, where old identities or ways of thinking dissolve, and new ones begin to take shape. It can be a period of deep introspection, healing, and reorientation. Whether on a personal, cultural, or spiritual level, liminal time represents a passage through uncertainty, often leading to profound change.
The magic of liminal times and the accompanying transitions lies in their transformative potential, the way they invite growth, renewal, and discovery. Transitions occur in the spaces where the old is shedding and the new is still forming, creating a fertile ground for change. These moments hold a special kind of power because they push us out of comfort zones and into new possibilities, often unexpectedly.
In transitions, the familiar often falls away, whether it is a job, a relationship, or a stage of life. This can be disorienting, but it also frees us from patterns that no longer serve us. Letting go creates space for something new. This break from the past is the magic of release. We often don’t realize how tightly we cling to the familiar until it’s gone, and in letting go, we open ourselves to unknown but exciting new paths.
The in-between phase of transitions, or the liminal space, is where the magic of introspection happens. It’s a time for recalibration and reimagining who we are and what we want. Because transitions remove us from the ordinary and routine, we become more attuned to our inner world, our desires, and our purpose.
During a career change, for example, people often reflect deeply on their skills, passions, and what they want from their work. Rituals and ceremonies often mark transitions, creating sacred space for introspection and the welcoming of new energies. The liminal space, even if uncomfortable, holds immense creative potential because it is undefined. You are no longer bound by old limitations but not yet confined by new ones. This freedom is fertile ground for transformation.
Transitions are magical because they involve uncertainty and discomfort, which force us to grow. Magic often arises from chaos—the unknown. These moments teach us resilience, adaptability, and faith in the process of life.
By facing these challenges, we learn to trust ourselves, trust the process, and open to life’s unpredictability. The magic of transformation often happens when we’re least in control, reminding us that uncertainty is not just something to endure, but something that can be embraced.
Transitions allow for the re-creation of identity. Whether it’s personal or professional, we often emerge from transitions with a new understanding of who we are. It’s as though we’ve been through a process of alchemy, shedding old layers and revealing something more authentic or aligned with our true selves. Transitions are magical because they are opportunities to be reborn or to reinvent ourselves.
Transitions also connect us to the larger cycles of life. Nature is full of transitions: seasons change, day turns to night, the moon waxes and wanes. These cycles remind us that life is constantly evolving and that transitions are a natural part of the process. When we align ourselves with these natural rhythms, we realize that change is not something to fear—but instead something to embrace.
The beauty of transitions is that they are reminders that nothing is permanent, that life is in a constant flow. They help us see the bigger picture, giving us perspective on our journey. When we navigate transitions, we often emerge with unexpected gifts—new skills, relationships, or perspectives we had not anticipated. These hidden treasures can only be discovered through the process of change. Sometimes the magic of a transition is found not in the destination but in what we learn along the way. The gifts of transition often come disguised as challenges or uncertainty, but they hold the power to enrich our lives in profound ways.
Rituals and ceremonies are often used to mark transitions because they acknowledge the sacredness of change. Whether it is a wedding, a graduation, or a personal ritual of reflection, ritual helps us pause and honor the significance of the transition. It grounds us, gives us space to process the emotional and spiritual aspects of change, and adds a sense of purpose to the journey.
In ancient and modern cultures alike, transitions are seen as magical thresholds where the old dissolves and the new is born. Whether we create our own rituals or participate in community ones, they give us a way to step intentionally into the next phase of life.
The English word “magic” comes from the French “magique”, which in turn comes from the Latin terms “magica” and “magicos”. These originate from the Greek “magos”, meaning “member of the learned or priestly class”. The existence of these terms in all languages, going back thousands of years, demonstrates that magic has always been an integral concept in human consciousness. It also reveals a close association with both learning and priesthood.
The concept of magic goes back as far as human civilization. It developed alongside religion and science as a mode of understanding and explaining the world around us. Magic has been used to explain everything from the spread of diseases, to medicine, to early alchemical experiments. Depending on the civilisation in question, magic plays a lesser or greater role in human consciousness. In fact, it is often impossible to define strict lines where magic ends and religion or science take over.
The Irish word for magic is “draiocht” (DREE-awkt), and it is especially now, in the time before Samhain, that a sense of “draiocht” begins to appear. This magical aura becomes palpable, with tree leaves transitioning to vibrant hues, fires glowing warmly in the hearth, and rooms lit by the flicker of candles. It is during this cycle of metamorphosis that the veil between our world and the Otherworld seems thinnest, enveloped in the mystical charm of Autumn. As we march toward the edges of Winter, where cold and darkness prevail, let us take some time to sink into the enchantment that accompanies the “draiocht” of the seasons and acknowledge the chaos of creation.
In a world saturated with polished images and meticulously curated social media feeds, the essence of our true selves often gets buried. We are taught to mask the messiness of life, to smooth out the edges of our stories until they fit neatly into the expectations of others. But to what end? Life is inherently messy, many times chaotic and brimming with unforeseen adventures. The unpredictable journey is filled with magic, yet we forget to pay attention. It is within these moments you can tap into your inner guidance, activate your intuition and create the life you were born to live.
Let us work together to help you source your seeds of transformation. Autumn is a perfect time to harvest what you need and release that which no longer serves you. It is very important to actively and intentionally clear your space, in your home as well as in your heart and mind, so that your incubation period of Winter can allow the manifestation of your deep resilience and dreams for the New Year 2025.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine are some of the tools I use to support the health and wellness of my patients, but the healing that occurs is always prompted from the inside. The answers to health and wellness reside in your heart. Treatment in my healing sanctuary goes beyond the needles—they simply serve to prompt the body to do its own mysterious and miraculous work.
I help people learn how to listen to their body’s wisdom and reconnect the unconscious mind to nurture the mind-body connection. This work allows people to realize their full capacity and choose to live a life aligned with their values, nourished by their dreams and desires. Together, we co-create opportunities for healing as the process unfolds.
I offer compassionate, attentive care. I see you. I hear you. I celebrate your journey. As an experienced clinician, I support patients as they come home to themselves, reconnecting the mind, body and spirit. This is my greatest passion: to serve as a facilitator, navigator and coach as you transcend old patterns and come into alignment with your best self. Are you ready to choose your Self and celebrate your gifts? Are you ready to manifest your Authentic Self that is abundant with health and vitality? Commit to being present and living your life with intention.
