As the Wheel of the Year turns to its final harvest, we come to Samhain (pronounced Sow-in), celebrated on October 31st – November 1st. Known as the Witches’ New Year, Samhain marks the midpoint between the Autumn Equinox (Mabon) and the Winter Solstice (Yule). It is a sacred time of endings and beginnings, when the veil between the worlds is thinnest, allowing us to honor ancestors, commune with spirits, and prepare for the darker half of the year.

The Origins and Practices of Samhain

The Practices of Samhain

A Samhain Blessing for You

As the veil thins and the magic of Samhain weaves through the air, I offer this blessing to you, dear reader, for protection, insight, and the courage to embrace the cycles of change. May this season bring you closer to your own wisdom and guide you through the dark half of the year with light and love.

"On this sacred night of Samhain’s embrace,
I send you blessings with gentle grace.
May the spirits guard you, and ancestors guide,
May you walk with courage, with love by your side.

As the wheel turns and darkness grows near,
May you find comfort, free from fear.
May the whispers of wisdom and stories untold,
Wrap around you like warmth in the cold.

May the flames of your spirit burn ever bright,
Lighting your path through the longest of nights.
May you release what is heavy and welcome what’s new,
Blessings of Samhain, I send unto you.

With the turning of the year and the thinning of the veil,
May you find strength in each myth and tale.
May peace be with you, from dusk until dawn,
As the old year dies and the new is born.

So mote it be, now and always,
In the circle of life, through Samhain’s days."

May this blessing carry you through Samhain and beyond, filling your heart with gratitude, your mind with clarity, and your spirit with the wisdom of the ages. Blessed Samhain to you, and may your journey be ever bright.

Samhain has deep roots in ancient Celtic traditions, where it was celebrated as the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The Celts divided the year into two halves—light and dark—and Samhain marked the transition. This was a liminal time when spirits and faeries were believed to walk among the living.

Bonfires were lit on hills to protect against wandering spirits, and offerings of food and drink were left out to appease the unseen. It was also a time of divination, as the thinning veil made it easier to glimpse the future.

Over time, aspects of Samhain merged with Christian practices, evolving into All Saints’ Day and later influencing modern Halloween. Yet for pagans and witches today, Samhain remains a deeply spiritual celebration of ancestors, transformation, and renewal.

Samhain is a festival of remembrance, release, and renewal. It honors the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, inviting us to face endings with courage and embrace new beginnings with hope.

Bonfires and Candles

Fires have always been central to Samhain. Light a fire or candle to honor the sun’s light as it wanes and to guide wandering spirits.

Ancestral Feasts

Prepare a “Dumb Supper”—a silent meal where places are set for departed loved ones. This ritual invites their presence and honors their memory.

Divination

Use tarot cards, runes, scrying mirrors, or pendulums to seek guidance for the year ahead. Samhain’s thin veil makes it an ideal time for such practices.

Ancestor Altars

Create an altar with photos, heirlooms, candles, and offerings to honor your ancestors. Speak their names, share their stories, and thank them for their presence.

Releasing Rituals

Write down what no longer serves you—habits, fears, grief—and safely burn the paper in a fire or cauldron, symbolizing release and transformation.

Seasonal Offerings

Decorate your altar with apples, pumpkins, gourds, corn, and nuts. Apples in particular are sacred to Samhain, representing wisdom, immortality, and the Otherworld.