I view Samhain as the last day of the 'year' even though I don't focus solely on Celtic tradition. I also view Yule as the beginning of the 'year' and again, I do this even though I don't focus solely on Norse tradition. I suppose I am a mixture of both in a way.
I quoted this in a recent post and I just want to reiterate:
'While almost all Celtic based traditions recognize this Holiday as the end of the "old" year, some groups do not celebrate the coming of the "new year" until Yule. Some consider the time between Samhain and Yule as a time which does not even exist on the Earthly plane. The "time which is no time" was considered in the "old days" to be both very magickal and very dangerous. So even today, we celebrate this Holiday with a mixture of joyous celebration and 'spine tingling" reverence.'
This makes so much sense to me. To me, it feels like the end of something on Samhain and it feels like the beginning of something new around Yule. Generally, Samhain is the time that I put to 'death' those things I no longer need - old patterns, old unhealthy feelings, etc.
This year I want to get rid of the old me, in the physical sense. It's so cliche, I know, but I have been struggling with weight loss all damn year now. I need to lose about 40 pounds and I am just not getting anywhere. I was and then I hit a plateau, got fed up and basically gave up.
I am giving myself until Samhain to get in the right frame of mind to be ready to do what needs to be done regarding weight loss. Anyone else make 'resolutions' at Samhain?