Crossing Boundaries: The Liminal Nature of Samhain and Jewelry

Samhain is upon us. At the peak of October 31st, a particular resonance is felt. For several years now, I have been fascinated by the concept of liminality, where states and possibilities intersect. Over time, I have woven subtle connections between liminality, ancient rituals, and the ancestral art of wearing and creating jewelry.

Since the awakening of human consciousness, liminal spaces—transition zones between two worlds (physical and spiritual, life and death, human and divine, day and night)—share a duality of mystery and sometimes even unease. Ancient societies, viewing them as unstable passages, developed practices and ritual objects to protect individuals from the uncertainties of the Other World.

Amulets, talismans, and other ritual objects were used to ward off spirits in these liminal spaces. In Egypt, the Eye of Horus, worn as an amulet, offered protection against malevolent forces. Among the Celts, symbolic patterns carved into objects repelled harmful entities. In various societies, animal sacrifices, food offerings, or valuable objects aimed to appease and satisfy the spirits, while sacred architecture, with its symbols and threshold stones, delineated territories and protected inhabitants. Wizards and shamans, experts in liminal knowledge, played a central role in these practices, employing magic, incantations, and symbols to secure these spaces. Finally, symbols such as circles and mandalas defined sacred boundaries, embodying order and protection against invisible forces.

The study of these practices reveals that liminal spaces, far from being merely physical, also represent zones of psychic and spiritual activation. Ancient rituals testify to a desire to tame the unknown by transforming fear into protective symbols.

The liminality of the body

The human body, both a physical and spiritual entity, is in constant contact with the external world. The space between the body and its surroundings is a liminal space—a subtle boundary where invisible exchanges occur. In this in-between, jewelry finds its place, not only as an ornament but also as a protective amulet.

Wearing jewelry marks a boundary between oneself and the external world, filtering and absorbing the energies of the environment. Metal, with its conductive and reflective properties, acts as an energetic barrier. Positioned at the body’s vulnerable points (neck, wrists, ankles, orifices), jewelry protects areas where energy flows abundantly.

A necklace around the neck, for instance, protects the throat by forming a circle around this energetic gateway, while rings channel energies through the hands. A nose ring protects the orifice from unwanted intrusion. By wearing these adornments, individuals shield themselves from the outside world.

Hidden amulets beneath clothing, symbols engraved in metal, stones with specific virtues, piercings—all of these create an intimate armor for protection. With every movement, jewelry serves as a reminder of this boundary, symbolically marking the territory we inhabit.

Thus, jewelry becomes an extension of the body, an interface between oneself and the Other. It embodies the human necessity to remain strong and grounded in the face of constant exchanges, to tame the invisible, and to maintain one’s integrity against the external world.

It marks the boundary between oneself and the rest of the world, like a silent declaration:

"I am here, intact, and I choose what crosses through this threshold."

Liminality on the night of Samhain

On Samhain, the earth falls asleep, and with it, the vital forces of nature retreat beneath the surface, entering a symbolic slumber. It is a moment when the veil between the world of the living and that of spirits, ancestors, and the dead becomes extraordinarily thin. This liminality creates an environment conducive to communication with the invisible, with those who have passed to the other side. The ancients believed that on this night, the souls of those who had departed could return, roaming around family hearths and sacred places.

Liminal spaces like Samhain are inherently unstable and ambiguous. They are zones of transformation, of in-betweenness, where the ordinary laws of reality no longer fully apply. On the night of Samhain, protective rituals took on vital importance. Offerings were left for the ancestors, lanterns or fires were lit to guide benevolent souls, and symbols of protection were placed on doors and windows to ward off malevolent spirits.

This is also a propitious time for inner journeys and revelations. In this in-between, the boundaries of consciousness can expand, allowing practitioners to delve into the depths of their souls, communicate with their own shadows, and invoke visions for the coming year. Samhain invites each individual to embrace what is hidden, what is liminal within themselves—to explore the mysteries that elude rational understanding.

Beyond its aspect of the end of a cycle, Samhain is a doorway to the invisible, a reminder that life and death, day and night, past and future form a continuum. This liminal space between the seasons invites respect for the invisible forces and honors the subtle link that unites the worlds.

In summary

Through rituals, sacred objects, and protective practices, humanity has always sought to navigate between the visible and invisible worlds. These spaces are both mysterious and revealing, testifying to our need to understand the unknown and to maintain a connection with what transcends us. Whether through jewelry that protects our being or ancestral traditions like Samhain, these passages to the invisible remind us that each threshold is an invitation to dive deeper within ourselves and surrender to the Great Mystery.