A recent essay in the National Geographic, “Into a Shadow Realm,” was about a archeological dig at Rathcroghan [rathcroghan.ie] Apparently we owe our Halloween festival on the Irish and the festival of Samhain. Samhain is a pagan religious festival originating from an ancient Celtic spiritual tradition. In modern times, Samhain (a Gaelic word pronounced “SAH-win&rdquo is usually celebrated from October 31 to November 1 to welcome in the harvest and usher in “the dark half of the year.” Celebrants believe that the barriers between the physical world and the spirit world break down during Samhain, allowing more interaction between humans and denizens of the Otherworld.