When I was young, the eve of Halloween was reserved for roaming the neighborhood late at night, unsupervised, and I was down for whatever. The boys had shaving cream, eggs, the girls had toilet paper, pumpkins got smashed, and police were on patrol. Not the best use of my time, but I thought it was cool.
As an adult, the eve prior to Halloween is still cool, but known as Samhain (“SOW-win”). It’s an ancient Celtic / Druid / Pagan / All Hallows’ Eve / Witches New Year / festival ushering in the “dark half of the year.” Where there is Halloween, it is also the time in the Wheel of the Year between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice.
All these special times of the year invite us to reach back and learn from ancient, hidden traditions, gather in community, reflect, release, plan, celebrate, honor. I invite you to bring in your ancestors’ energy, immerse in nature, while working with your crystals.
Samhain (Sow-en) honors the season of the Dark, where access to the Spirit realms is amplified and you can consciously attune with and dream what is coming for this next year.
Ameya + Woman Rising Mystery School
Ancestors
This time of year is when the barriers between the physical and spiritual world break down. Samhain is a sacred time when the veil between the physical world and the world of the mysterious unseen are at their thinnest, allowing the souls of the dead to come into our world where we can communicate and interact once again.
It’s a potent time to align with the mystery, ask for guidance from our ancestors, acknowledge our grief, celebrate their memory, and connect deeply with invisible forces that are always among us. A thinning of the veil occurs, allowing more interaction between humans and souls of the Otherworld. The doors to this Otherworld – the realm of deities and the dead – are opened, allowing spirits to more easily enter our world.
This liminal period enables both ancestors to visit their families and malicious spirits to haunt townspeople. The customs of Samhain include rituals to welcome ancestors and honor deceased loved ones while also taking action to thwart and protect against evil spirits.
Ritual Altar
We can honor this point in the year, the seasonal cycle of not just Halloween in America, but Samhain in your spiritual practice. We can use the unseen magic and the wisdom of our ancestors as we try to stand tall and still among the swirling reality of these challenging, transformational, and modern times. The Earth needs her witches to help others feel the benefits of living in flow, harmony, and healing with Nature. Through an Ancestor Altar we can intentionally invite in divine energies to support us in our souls’ journey. Ancestors can heal you, support you, and guide you, just like crystals can. Discover how rooting into our Ancestral energy will tend the fire in our souls, increasing our sense of power, purpose, belonging, and knowing.
Along with crystals, prepare your altar. Last year I had photographs, Italian herbs, candles, and some trinkets of my mother and her mother. Here are some other suggestions:
Samhain and/or Ancestors Altar
Find a space in your home to create an altar. Decorations could include fall leaves, acorns, Dark Goddess statues, candles, stones. Try to incorporate rich, deep colours like purples, burgundies, and black, and harvest shades like gold and orange. Cover your altar with dark cloths, welcoming the coming darker nights. You can also honor ancestors with this altar. Gather photographs, heirlooms and other mementos of deceased family, friends, or even pets. Arrange them with your Samhain décor or create a separate one especially for your beloved ancestors. Light the candles in their memory; while you do so, speak their names out loud, express well wishes and thank them for being part of your life or lineage. – JONITA DSOUZA
Suggested Items for your altar:
• A cloth to cover your alter in your ancestor’s favorite color, or the color of autumn
• Black candles to light the way
• Acorns, which hold the memory of those who have passed on, and the promise of what is yet to be
• Gourds, which represent new life/resurrection
• Pumpkins, which provide protection
• Rosemary for remembrance
• Photos of your loved ones, including pictures of your beloved pets
• Personal items of your loved ones include clothes, jewelry, handwritten note, glasses, ashes, etc. – SEANE CORN
Ancestral Land
In Celebrating Samhain, our ancestral voices are becoming louder and louder. Ancestors can help navigate us in the dark. Take a moment to express your gratitude towards the land you are in, for the blessings it provides. Today, now more than ever, we need to be seen as caretakers of the Earth and help others love and respect it like we do. By doing this ritual we are strengthening our connection with all that protects, supports, and sustains us. We can harness the energies of Samhain to transform, heal, and shine our lovelight.
Communing With Nature
Take a meditative walk in nature. Observe and contemplate the colours, aromas, sounds, and other sensations of the season. Experience yourself as part of the Circle of Life and reflect on death and rebirth as being an important part of Nature. This would be a great time to pick up some leaves, stones and any other natural objects that call to you as you stroll to adorn your home and or altar. ~ DESIRÉE DUNBAR
Crystal meditation
You can do a simple gratitude ritual by placing your hands on the Earth and saying a small prayer of gratitude. If you do not have access to Earth around, you can simply hold a crystal and offer your prayer of gratitude. You can say something like this –
“Thank you, Earth, for the land that I live on and for allowing me to steward life with you. Thank you for allowing me to walk upon your soil, cultivate you, and live in partnership with you. Thank you for supporting my home and my family.
Thank you, home, for allowing me to live within your walls. Thank you for giving me shelter, warmth, and security. Thank you for allowing me to live my life in your womb, for staying strong and sturdy, for supporting me, and for your beauty.
Thank you, plants, minerals, and animals that dwell on the land that I steward. Thank you for allowing me to experience your beauty, share in your wonderment of life, and for the honor of living with all of you on this earth. Thank you for the wisdom and joy you bring to humanity.
I bless you, I thank you, I honor you.” ~ JONITA DSOUZA
Over the years I have learned about these energies, wheels of the year, and rituals from some inspiring teachers, and their wisdom is mentioned above. I’d like to credit the following women: Flora Ware, Desirée Dunbar, Jonita Dsouza, Aurora Farber, Ameya, and Seane Corn ॐ
Boho Bahia 