Samhain (pronounced 'sow-in') is a Pagan festival originating from ancient Celtic traditions. It marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, or the "darker half" of the year.
Falling between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice, Samhain is a "cross-quarter" day and a fire festival. It is a time of transition, of letting go, and of deep reflection.
The Meaning of Samhain
At Samhain, the veil between our world and the Otherworld is said to be at its thinnest. This makes it a powerful time for honoring ancestors, connecting with the spirit world, and practicing divination.
It is not a time of fear, but one of respectful remembrance. It's an opportunity to close the cycle of the past year, give thanks for the harvest, and accept the necessity of death and endings so that new life may begin in the spring.
Simple Rituals for Honoring Samhain
Your practice can be as simple or as elaborate as you feel called to. The focus is on remembrance, release, and reflection.
- Set an Ancestor Altar: Place photos of loved ones who have passed. Light a candle for them and speak their names, thanking them for the gifts they passed on to you.
- Host a Dumb Supper: A "Dumb Supper" (or silent supper) is a traditional way to honor the dead. A place is set at the table for the ancestors, and the meal is eaten in silence.
- Journal for Release: Reflect on the past year. Write down what you are ready to let go of—habits, fears, or old patterns. You can safely burn this paper in a fire-proof bowl as a ritual of release.
- Practice Divination: With the veil so thin, this is an ideal time for a quiet Tarot reading, a Rune cast, or a session with the Oracle to seek guidance for the dark months ahead.
Samhain Correspondences
You can use these elements to attune to the energy of the season on your altar or in your home.
- Colours: Black, deep purple, rust, dark orange
- Herbs & Plants: Mugwort, Sage, Rosemary, Apple, Pomegranate, seasonal gourds
- Deities: The Cailleach (the Celtic crone goddess), Hecate (Greek goddess of magic and thresholds), and other crone or underworld figures.
- Element: Earth
However you choose to observe it, Samhain is a beautiful and poignant pause at the turning of the Wheel. It invites us to sit in the quiet darkness and remember what has been, in order to prepare for what is to come.
