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Friday, October 20, 2017 3 Brooklin Town Crier A Special BTC Feature Samhain - Halloween A celebration of, well, the dead by Brad McIlwain A strong wind kicks up as swirls of orange and red leaves from old maple trees whisper, and tug at my shadow -- or is it something else trying to get my attention? Pumpkins adorn porches and are lit with the magic of the season. From the corner of my eye, I spot a broomstick. Coincidence? I pass century-old homes on Baldwin Street on my way to see Sara Trimarchi at The Mystic Moon to get a deeper, more mystical sense of the tradition of Halloween, or the ancient Celtic celebration known as Samhain. Chimes sound as I enter her shop and I inhale the smells of sage and other scents. On display are crystals, books, candles, dream catchers, rune stones, essential oils, jewelry and tarot cards as well an abundance of kindness as Sara greets me with a warm smile. No good hats "Halloween has been fun," she says. "I dress up and the shop is always decorated in a spooky manner. It's neat for people to see me in costume, but believe it or not, I've never dressed up as a witch. One of the reasons why is you can never find a good witch hat. I'll have to make my own." Sara started her spiritual path in her teens, wanting to learn about the 'deeper rooted stuff.' "It's about the earth and healing with it, which is a big part of paganism, Celtic, and druidism. There are many different layers, stories, and realms. And different paths. We all walk a different one. That's one of the fun things about it. People can be eclectic and makes it a lot more open to interpretation." Two years ago, she turned her passion and knowledge into her work. "Suddenly I had this quirky little shop in the heart of Brooklin. It's been a lot of fun meeting the many faces of Brooklin. I want to help people and show them there's more to discovering different religions. "Don't be afraid to sound silly when Continued on page 5