Samhain (pronounced sow-wan) is the Celtic druid celebration that inspired the commercialized Halloween we celebrate now. It’s sometimes referred to as the witches’ new year, so if you’re looking to deepen your magickal craft you don’t want to skip this important holiday. Samhain is based on the concept that around the end of October and beginning of November the veil between the world of the living and the dead is closer to us. Learning how to both honor the dead while also protecting yourself from spiritual attachments is paramount for sensitive people this time of year.
What is Samhain
Samhain marks the end of harvest and an introduction into the dark half of the year. For people who lived without modern science and industry, the changing of the seasons directly affected their lives and livelihood. The beginning of the dark months of the year was a monumental moment, one that begged to be acknowledged.
Light a Bonfire
If you’ve done any research into the Wheel of the Year and neo paganism then you’re familiar with this tradition. It seems that no earth based holiday is complete without a big fire. This one in particular is meant to be a goodbye to the light and a warmth that is receding at this time of year. The sun is often thought of as a god like creature in earth based religions, and Samhain is the time of his death. A bonfire is a way to pay homage to him.
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Pro tip: You don’t need a backyard fire pit to partake in this tradition. If you have a large fire safe metal bowl, you can make your own little bonfire in your apartment. Just please have a jug of water at the ready, and make sure you know where the fire extinguisher is in your building. Also, be prepared to set off the fire alarm! All that being said, have fun!
Sacrifice Something
Now that you’ve got your Samhain bonfire going it’s time to do something with it: sacrifice something to the gods. The point of a sacrifice is to ask that the gods watch over you in winter and help you to make it through. While this isn’t as life and death as it once was, winter is still a time of trial. Perhaps some sacrifice is worth a try if it will keep the winter blues at bay.
In ye olden days the sacrifice was usually livestock and maybe the occasional virgin (fun fact: in witchcraft a virgin has nothing to do with sex, you’re a virgin if you’ve never done magick). In modern times, I would suggest not choosing a living creature but instead an aspect of yourself or your life. Maybe it’s time to break up with a friend, partner or job. Maybe you need to quit smoking or drinking. Whatever it is, write it on a piece of paper and throw it into the fire. Watch as it burns to ash and imagine your bonds to these things turning away as well. Let the fire cleanse you.
Pro tip: make sure it’s something that is hard to walk away from. This is supposed to be a sacrifice!
Carve a Gourd
In modern times we use a pumpkin but, back in the day, it was proper form to carve a turnip. However, any old gourd will do! The purpose of this creative ritual is to scare off any unwanted spiritual visitors. The more gruesome or cruel looking the face, the better ward it will be against spiritual dangers.
Pro tip: make sure to place these dastardly gourds at both the front and back doors of your house as a means of protection.
Wear a Mask
Have you wronged someone who has passed? Owe a dead relative money? Been known to talk badly about a deceased politician? You may want to wear a mask or costume this time of year to get them off your trail.
Pro tip: makeup is a form of glamor magick, so even if you don’t want to put on a mask you can still disguise yourself. Play around with your fashion this month to truly get into the witchy vibe.
In this same vein, you may want to invite loved ones from beyond into your home. Lighting a candle and keeping your home bright is one way to do this. While Halloween decorations are fun, they have multiple uses in the modern age. String up your purple, green and orange lights to help guide your loved ones in the spiritual world to your home.
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Pro tip: buy some of those battery powered tea lights and set them up all throughout your home. This not only lights the way for good spirits to find you, it also creates a cozy autumnal ambience.
Make an Altar
Altars are a wonderful tool and can be used in many different ways, however this time of year you will want to focus on building an altar for the dead. To do this you’ll need some photographs of your deceased loved ones. If you have any items that belonged to them you can set them up on that altar as well. Next you’ll want to add things that they loved, things that will guide them to the altar like wine, cigars, flowers. Things that have a strong smell or taste are great to use here.
Pro tip: you might be lucky enough to not have anyone close to you who has died, but you can still participate in this tradition. You can set up altars for people you’ve never met like a celebrity (who wouldn’t want to pay respects to Robin Williams?). Or maybe your spouse lost a parent before you met them, setting up an altar is a great way to create a bond with them that extends beyond the physical plane.
Share a Meal
It’s a common tradition in wiccan and neo pagan circles to offer food to the dead. It’s said to strengthen their connection to the physical realm when we offer food to them. However, this tradition in particular is about more than just placing some bread on your altar. For this you’ll want to home cook a meal, if your altar is for family it’s always best to cook a family recipe. Once it’s finished, portion out a helping for your loved one and place it on the altar. Eat your portion next to the altar and don’t be afraid to speak to your loved ones as though they are there in the flesh.
Pro tip: be cautious of placing your altar for the dead in your bedroom. Doing this usually results in 2-4AM wake up calls. Your loved ones mean no harm, but when you have a spirit in your room watching you sleep, you tend to wake up. If you have no choice to set up your altar in your bedroom, the witching hour wake up calls can be remedied by stating your boundaries. Simply tell the spirits that you need to sleep and would prefer if they only visited during the daylight hours.
Jasmine Wolfe is a professional astrologer, tarot reader, numerologist, and witch. Being a Capricorn sun and Scorpio moon, her readings tend to focus on the more challenging aspects of life and what we can learn about ourselves when we lean into the challenge. Having entered the professional scene in 2018, she's grown a loyal following of students and mentees through social media. You can find her on Instagram and TikTok @satinsaturn or through her website https://www.jasminewolfe.xyz/
