Thank you for joining me around the virtual hearth today for a special Halloween episode. The veil is thin this week, friends, in the lead up to All Hallow's Eve, or Halloween. Perhaps you know that what we call Halloween has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which celebrates the end of summer on November 1 and the Celtic New Year.

In the Celtic tradition, departed loved ones were expected and welcomed with offerings of their favourite foods. The Day of the Dead, famously celebrated in Mexico on November 1 and 2, picks up on this idea. In Spain on November 2, there is a tradition for families to visit the cemetery to honour their late loved ones and attend to their grave sites.

Yet the story I am about to tell today is not a story about a gentle partnership between the living and the dead. It’s about the myriad ways a house can be haunted, and about how those who dwell in a house may themselves be a haunted house made of flesh and bones.

I’m grateful to Sarah, the dear member of the Spirit Sisters community who meticulously documented her story, and so graciously shared it with me. I’m in awe of her courage and generosity in doing so. I only received Sarah’s ok to use her name after I’d recorded the episode, which is why you won’t hear me use it in the episode.

Please note that this episode references sexual abuse. If you need support, contact 1800 Respect. You can call them on 1800 737 732 in Australia. If you’re elsewhere, please seek out support services in your area.

At the end of the story, Sarah invites me to share my thoughts, so I’ll offer a reflection at the close of the reading.

For now, I hope you have a cup of your favourite tea nestled warm between your palms as you settle in for a story which reminds us that even in the depths of the darkest, longest night, strength of spirit and bonds of love and sisterhood shine through.

Episode resources

Read more haunted-house stories in my books Spirit Sisters and Where Spirits Dwell.

Connect with me:

Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/

Email Karina at [email protected]

Learn more about Karina at karinamachado.com

Connect with Karina on Facebook.

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Listen to Soul2Soul Conversations – my podcast collaboration with my soul sister Sara Jayne: https://soul2soulconversations.podbean.com/

Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia.

Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters on Amazon or Kobo.

Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at Audible.

Show theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle

I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and community. I pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.