What Is the Veil Between the Worlds, and Why Is It Thin?

At Samhain, the veil between the worlds is thin. Here’s what this means.

The veil between the worlds is thin.

Perhaps you’ve heard this phrase, particularly in October, and even more particularly around Samhain or Halloween.

But what exactly is this veil? And why is it thin? And why does it matter?

This post explores the meaning of the phrase, “the veil is thin.”

Let’s begin this exploration by considering that on one level, we are each separate beings with our finite little lives. But on a truer level, we are each infinite and eternal. We have no beginning and no end. And we are one with each other and every single thing.

At Samhain, that relentless, all-pervasive Mystery is as close as it ever gets. And now we’ve arrived at what we mean when we say “the veil is thin.” You might say the veil is the place where the everyday illusion of separation brushes up against the divine truth of eternity and universal interconnection. The place where form meets spirit, seen meets unseen, known meets unknown.

When we meditate or perform ritual, or when we have a mystical experience of any variety, this curtain parts and we are able to gaze into the place of power, the place between the worlds.

Why does the veil thin throughout October, and particularly at Samhain? Because the days are getting shorter and the natural world is preparing to temporarily withdraw from the realm of life and growth. The harvest cycle is waning, but it’s not gone. This means Samhain is a transition: a doorway between the season of life and the season of death. Beneath this realm of constant change, there is a wide open space of eternity. A place of stillness in which the appearance of change arises. A serene openness to which we will always return, and with which we are one, even at this very moment.

This, my friends, is why we love fall. It’s also the meaning of “the veil is thin.”

Because the veil between the worlds is thin in October, we feel drawn to certain themes at this time of year. Namely…

Death

There’s no denying that as we approach Samhain and Halloween, whether or not you’re magically inclined, death is the primary cultural symbol. Scary movies, ghosts, graveyards, zombies, and skeletons abound. When the veil between the world parts, our finite nature meets our infinite nature, so the realms of the living and the dead naturally intersect.

Black Cats

If you’re friends with a black cat, you likely know that that consciously connecting with them can be like gazing beyond the veil of time and separation, and looking straight into the heart of magic. Why? It’s a mystery. But it’s absolutely true.

Magic and Witchcraft

In the space between the worlds of form and spirit, we bravely gaze into the realm of death and transcend our fear so that we can draw upon the infinite power that is our birthright. Here, everything is illuminated with that special light that reminds us that mundane is the illusion and only magic is real.

Did this explain the meaning of “The veil is thin” for you?

If you still have questions, feel free to leave them in the comments.

You may also like these 22 Samhain Quotes to Inspire You This Halloween and these 9 Ways to Sensitize Yourself to the Thinning of the Veil.