When the Veil Grows Thin

There is an old belief that at certain times of the year, the veil between the living and the spirit world grows thin. That the distance between what we can see and what we can only sense becomes somehow smaller.

Late October has long been associated with this mysterious threshold.

The days are shortening, the trees are shedding their leaves, and nature is preparing for winter. We are entering a season of endings, remembrance, and transformation.

Across different cultures and spiritual traditions, this time of year carries particular significance. The ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain marks the transition into the darker half of the year, traditionally associated with a loosening of boundaries between the living and the dead. Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, precedes the Christian observances of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. In Mexico, Día de los Muertos honors departed loved ones through offerings, remembrance, and celebration.

These traditions have different histories and meanings, yet each, in its own way, draws our attention toward mortality, memory, and the unseen.

And this year, the astrological calendar adds another interesting layer.

On October 24, Mercury begins its retrograde journey through Scorpio, the zodiac sign associated with mysteries, hidden truths, death, and transformation. Venus has already been retrograde since October 3, inviting reflection on relationships, love, and what we value. Both planets will return to direct motion on November 13.

Mercury, named for the Roman messenger god who could travel between worlds, seems particularly at home in this symbolism. In Greek mythology, his counterpart Hermes served not only as messenger to the gods but also as a guide to souls entering the underworld.

It is a fascinating convergence of stories, traditions, and celestial movements.

But I have often wondered whether the veil itself really becomes thinner.

What if it is simply that we become more attentive?

When our homes fill with candles, photographs of ancestors, stories of spirits, and reminders of those who came before us, perhaps we begin noticing things that ordinarily escape our attention.

A familiar scent. A vivid dream. A memory arriving unexpectedly. A moment of stillness that feels like something more.

Perhaps these experiences have always been there, but our awareness of them changes when an entire season invites us to look beyond the ordinary.

We don’t have to decide whether the veil is literally thinner to appreciate the invitation.

Whether we understand this season through spirituality, astrology, cultural tradition, or the natural rhythms of autumn, it offers us a moment to remember, reflect, and listen.

Perhaps the mystery isn’t that the worlds have moved closer together, but that, for a little while, we are listening more carefully.

— Lantern & Sky