Once again, I find myself on the island of Ireland, this time returning to celebrate Samhain, the ancient Celtic festival that marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter - it’s when the veil between the human world and the spirit world becomes thin.  The beauty of Samhain (or Halloween) is the ritual of connecting with Ireland itself - with the land, with its people, with its traditions, with the language, with its spirits. I’ve learned of an Cailleach Chiarraí, the wise and wild goddess of winter in Kerry; the Púca, the mischievous, shapeshifting creature of Halloween; and traditions that go beyond just folklore, including the resilience of the Irish people in their music, their sport, in their language, and in this beautiful Samhain ritual. I’m grateful to call Ireland almost a second home at this point, and even though I don’t claim any Irish ancestry, the dúchas that is all around me when I’m there (the heritage and sense of belonging to that place) is undeniable. ...