Honoring Samhain: 5 Quiet Rituals for Remembrance

Samhain (pronounced 'Sah-win') marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of the "darker half" of the year. It is the final turn of the Wheel before the quiet of Winter.

In many traditions, this is a liminal time when the veil between our world and the world of spirit is at its thinnest. It is a night for honoring the ancestors, for remembrance, and for releasing the old year.

You do not need an elaborate ceremony. The most powerful rituals are often the most personal. Here are five quiet ways to mark the passage of Samhain.

1. The Ancestor Candle

As dusk falls, light a single candle and place it in a window (safely). This is a traditional beacon, a light to guide and welcome the spirits of your beloved dead. Let it burn as you reflect on those who came before you.

2. A Silent Walk

Go outside and simply be. Notice the scent of fallen leaves, the crisp air, the quality of the last light. Acknowledge the death that is all around—the natural, necessary end of a cycle that makes new life possible.

3. Reflect and Release

Write down on a small piece of paper what you wish to release from the past year—a habit, a sorrow, a regret. Safely, in a fire-proof bowl or hearth, burn the paper (if you can do so safely) or simply tear it to pieces, thanking it for its lesson.

4. The Empty Place

When you sit for your evening meal, set one extra place at the table. This is the "Dumb Supper," a silent invitation and offering of respect to the ancestors, known and unknown, who join you in spirit.

5. A Simple Divination

As this is a time of wisdom, it is a traditional night for divination. This is not for predicting the future, but for seeking counsel. Draw a single Tarot card or Rune stave, or ask a simple, open question.

The question could be as simple as: "What wisdom do my ancestors offer me for the winter ahead?"

May your hearth be warm, and may you find peace in the turning of the Wheel.