Ways to Celebrate Samhain – For the Beginner, Part One

Since this is my first blog post, I thought that it would be a good idea to start with my favorite holiday.

Called the Witch’s New Year, Samhain (pronounced SAH-win) is rooted in Celtic traditions.  It marks the end of the harvest and the preparation for winter.  For witches, this is an important sabbat that can be a time for connecting with ancestors, transformation, and a time for strengthening your natural intuition.

It is said that the veil is at its thinnest during Samhain and this can be a wonderful time to connect with ancestors.

1.       Make a special altar for your ancestors.  You can display pictures, heirlooms, give offerings of food and beverage, or light candles.  This is really a space to honor them and a place for you to feel close to them.  Whether you want to meditate, talk, sing, or sit in silence this is a great tradition to start.

2.       Host a Dumb Supper.  This is another way to honor those who have passed that you would like to celebrate on this day.  For this, you can prepare your loved one’s favorite meal or drink and sit in silence while enjoying your dinner, taking the time to reflect on them.  Sitting in silence allows their energy to join you at the table.

3.       Cleansing your space.  Samhain is a wonderful time to energetically cleanse your house and release the things you have been holding onto that longer serve you.  You can make a mix of rosemary and salt, sprinkle it on your floor and as you are sweeping, picture all the negativity and stuck energy being swept away with it.  Smoke cleansing is also a great option; I like to use a rosemary bundle and go room to room using the smoke to cleanse the space.  You can also make a list of everything you would like to let go of and (safely) burn the paper when you are done.

4.       Shadow work.  If you aren’t familiar, Shadow Work is the process of exploring the unconscious, repressed parts if yourself, often called the “shadow self” to foster self-awareness and healing.  You use specific prompts to journal your feelings and explore them.  Some examples of prompts are: Do I tend to self-sabotage?  How would I characterize myself?  What makes you feel valued?  Just remember to start gently with yourself. 

5.       Taking a meditation walk.  You don’t have to be still to meditate.  A walking meditation is a great way to take in all the beauty of autumn, while being mindful and staying in the present moment.

These are all great ways to connect with the spirit of Samhain.  Are you going to try any of these?  Leave a comment below.

Part 2 will be up soon, and I will discuss Divination, Kitchen Witchery and more.