October 31—called Samhain in Ireland, the Day of the Dead in Mexico—is a day of transition. We harvest the year and choose what to take with us into the next. This is the day Celtic tribes traditionally chose which of their animals to slaughter and which animals to keep through the winter months. The veil between the worlds of spirit and matter is at its thinnest. You can communicate with your ancestors, banish what you will, and summon what is not here yet. The past and the future meet at the crossroads. Hecate, the goddess of crossroads, and witchcraft, and the dark moon of death and rebirth, presides over Halloween.

Hecate invites the sacrifice of your old limitations. Cast them into her darkness. Stand at her crossroads and choose your new path.

Some issue has been nagging you for a long time. Maybe you have a challenge in health, relationship, finances, or career. You’ve been struggling with a life lesson for too long.

Have something in mind?

Are you ready to let it go?

Now’s the time.

RENEWAL RITUAL

Part One

Set a party for those you loved who have passed away. Invite only the family members, friends, pets and heroes you wish to have present. (John Lennon is always on my party list.) Bring something each guest would like: What was your grandmother’s favorite food? What was your dog’s favorite toy? Alone or in community with your living friends, create a sacred circle on Halloween for meeting the dead.

Draw your circle. Establish the elemental guardians of the East, South, West, and North.

(I place the elements in the directions that make sense to me. You can modify their placement to your own preference.)

East, fire of the rising sun, ignite, illuminate, and enlighten my journey!

South, earthly mother, nourish me, support me and give fruit to my purpose!

West, waters of the Sacred Isles and womb of the world, wash away my hurts and bring in a new tide of love and rebirth!

North wind, the air that inspires and stir ups change, blow away resistance and clear my path!

Come to center and invoke Hekate.

Hekate, Goddess of the Dead, open the door to the loved ones I name, and none other. Guard and protect entrance to this circle!

Take a moment to say what you want to say to each of your spirit guests. Listen for their response. What perspective or guidance do they have for you tonight? How do they support you in releasing your old challenge? They may communicate in vision, words, or feelings. Sometimes they communicate so deeply and directly to your soul that you aren’t aware that an exchange has happened.

When each other-worldly guest has shared, close your circle, invite your spirit guests to stay or leave, and make a note of what you learned.

Part Two

Set a look at the life lesson you are ready to release. For instance, you may have learned the lesson of chronic illness or low self esteem or bad relationships or financial anxiety—you’re ready to move on! Write it down and offer this lesson as your sacrifice to Hekate. Burn your slip of paper with gratitude for the lesson learned.

Next, request the new lesson you want in its place. You may want to request the lesson of full vitality, self love, prosperity, or full employment in its place, so that you can take the lessons you’ve already learned and go out and fully realize your potential in the world.

Then, and this is the most important part of the ritual, drink some celebratory cider or yummy candy or juicy fruit or something truly delicious and affirm in your heart that you are accepting the new lesson with every sip and bite. Accept it into your body, your very cells, and have a party!

Don’t underestimate the power of this ritual. Years ago when I was a struggling actress (is there any other kind?), I did this ritual for the first time. I sacrificed the “lessons of obscurity” and requested the “lessons of fame.” Within 24 hours my actress website was hit with 10,000 visits, including hundreds of vile, scary emails by one abusive stranger. Talk about a quick lesson in fame! After a year of fame lessons I decided I didn’t want to be famous and I no longer wanted to be an actress.

Part Three

This last step locks in the change. Imagine yourself twelve months into the future, after living your new life lesson for a whole year. You are not the same person you were when you began this new path in 2006. How is your life different? How are you different?

You made some choices on your new path. You stood at the crossroads and said “yes” to some things, “no” to others. Perhaps you said no to fear, or to victimhood, or to relationships and behaviors that didn’t uplift you. Perhaps you said yes to trust, or to putting yourself first, or to cultivating relationships and behaviors that supported your health and joy. Look back on the choices that brought you success in 2007. Make a list of what you said yes to and no to.

Lay down a broom on the floor before you. Stand on one side of the broom and read what you commit to say no to. Step over the broom and leave your “no” list behind you. Read what you commit to say yes to. Lift the broom (there’s no going back), and sweep your “no” list away!

Congratulations on meeting yourself at the crossroads, making your choices, and moving forward. Every day is a game of trick or treat, and you get to choose what to keep or release.