A Witch's New Year: Burn, Brew, Begin
Samhain closes one cycle and quietly opens the next. Time to light the fire, stir the cauldron and plant a few seeds.
Halloween, also known as Samhain, is the witch’s New Year, and it comes with a lot of symbolism. For the Celts, it marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of the darker half of the year, the night when the veil between worlds gets thin. Bonfires were lit, lanterns were carved to keep wandering spirits away, and fun fact: the very first jack-o’-lanterns were turnips, not pumpkins. And as with every cycle that comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of my own harvest: what goes into the fire, what stays in the cauldron, and what’s ready to be planted.
Burn. Into the fire goes the waiting room. Waiting for a reply, a green light, someone else’s “maybe next quarter.” Why knock politely on a door when you already know the unlocking spell? Turns out I’ve had matches in my pocket the whole time.
Brew. Some recipes are worth keeping. A bucket of code, a dash of testing, a generous spoonful of product. Crystal ball for the big picture, magnifying glass for the tiniest bug, and bonus points if it’s something I’d actually use myself. Too many ingredients for one cauldron? Not for this witch. That’s exactly what makes it fun.
Begin. And then there’s the part that happens in the dark. Seeds don’t sprout in spring because spring is magic. They sprout because they spent all winter underground, doing the quiet work. Mine are already in the ground: new projects, new apps, and this little corner of the internet you’re reading right now. Now we wait for spring. Kidding. I burned the waiting room, remember?
Halloween, Día de los Muertos: this time of the year dances around the theme of death, a peculiar danse macabre, if you will. Pope, king or peasant, no matter the wealth, the title or the experience, no one gets to skip their final waltz. And therein lies the sweet paradox: a season so terribly fond of skulls is, by its very nature, a celebration of life. Candles for those we remember, skulls that grin right back at you, and music loud enough to wake the dead. Which, I suspect, is precisely the point.
So: burn what’s done, brew what brings you joy, begin what’s yours. Happy New Year, witches. 🕯️
Carrie on Prime Video is the perfect Samhain watch: beautifully made and impossible to stop. And a reminder that the easiest target in the room might be the last person you should push. Kindness isn't weakness. Sometimes it's the last warning you get. Also this week: plum buns and a pumpkin hoodie I refuse to take off. Halloween vibes, fully activated. 🎃