Samhain

This is my most favourite time of the year. I love the cooler days, the falling leaves, and the cosy darker evenings. I’m also a big lover of Halloween and spooky season, for this short blog I want to talk about Samhain.

Samhain (pronounced ˈsɑːwɪn/ SAH-win, /ˈsaʊɪn/ SOW-in, Irish: [ˈsˠəunʲ], Scottish Gaelic: [ˈs̪ãũ.ɪɲ]), literally means ‘summer’s end’. It is a Gaelic festival marking the third and final harvest, and is the Irish language word for November. Traditionally, it is celebrated on 1st November, which also marks the pagan New Year and the death of the old one.  Samhain was eventually attributed to the 31st day of October along with the arrival of Christianity, and became known as ‘All Hallows Eve’, with ‘all Saints Day’, ‘Hallowmas’, or ‘All Hallows Day’ falling on 1st November, and ‘All Souls Day’ falling on the 2nd. ‘All Hallows Eve’, then evolved into the word we know as ‘Halloween’.  The Celtic day traditionally began and ended at sunset.

It is a cross-quarter day and marks the halfway point between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice.

Getting married during Samhain makes it possible for loved ones who had passed to attend. If you are getting married on Samhain, set an extra place at your wedding breakfast and invite your passed loved one to attend.

You will have noticed the veil has been thinning between this world and the spirit world, and it is an ideal time to work on mediumship skills, divination, candle magick, astral projection and mirror magick.

Your altar

Your altar should incorporate and honour your ancestors, which could be photos of deceased loved ones. Some people put something on their altars to represent children they’ve lost, as an ancestor honouring and remembering a child who has passed.  I have my father and his mother on my altar. I also have a few tarot cards on my altar; the death card to represent Samhain as the old year ends and the new year begins, and the Emperor to represent my father’s father, as I don’t have a photo of him.

Add the following:

• A black candle to honour the passage to the Summerland and the Ancestors, and for the Lord and the old year. A white candle for the Lady and the new year on November 1^st. You can also have orange, purple and brown candles.
• Burn some purifying incense and cleanse your sacred space. Sage is probably most familiar, but you can burn for others like sandalwood, lavender, frankincense or myrrh. Using an incense that will help with psychic ability will also help you connect to you your ancestors. I have sandalwood ready to use on my altar as it represents the femininity of the moon and offers protection. It can also be used for purification and consecration.
• Seasonal foliage and food. This time of year, try collecting and drying some fallen leaves and acorns, freshly picked berries or late apples, rosemary, and place a small pumpkin on your altar. Oak and acorns have their own magickal protective properties. You can keep one of the acorns and plant it under the next new moon to encourage the growth of abundance, and carrying one in your pocket will bring you creative ideas. You can also put cooked foods onto your altar, such as gingerbread and chestnuts, and if you prefer, put a drink there in a cup such as mulled wine. You can also do something simple, by setting an extra place at the dinner table on Samhain for a loved one who has passed.
• Crystals. I have obsidian and lapis lazuli to help me connect to my ancestors, but you can have others such as onyx, tourmaline, amethyst or jet.
• Cauldron. The cauldron for me represents the womb and beginnings and endings, and could be integrated in your end of year work. For example, you could write a list of all the things you want to let go of and burn it in your cauldron and offer up a prayer. This can be worded in any way you like.

Remember, this isn’t an instruction book. Do whatever feels right for you!

Shop

We stock many items to help you with your journey at Samhain, such as my blend of Samhain loose incense, which has a Wormwood base to aid with divination and spiritual work.

If you have bought loose incense from me in the past, return the jar for a refill and get £1 off the price. This is normally £7 per jar.

We also stock spell candles, herbs, salts, incenses, resins, crystals and divination tools such as spirit boards and tarot cards.

We will be offering sweets on 31st October to any kids in Fancy Dress!. Pop along to the shop in fancy dress between 3.30pm and 6pm. We will have pumpkins out front, a smoke machine and spoooooky music!

Blessings

Saranne