Samhain (pronounced Sow-in) is one of the most sacred Sabbats on the Wheel of the Year, celebrated on the 31st of October.

Known as the Witches’ New Year, it marks the final harvest and the turning of the wheel into winter’s dark half. This is a liminal time when the veil between worlds is at its thinnest, allowing us to connect with ancestors, honour the dead and reflect on the cycles of life, death and rebirth.

Rooted in ancient Celtic tradition, Samhain was both a harvest festival and a spiritual threshold. Food was shared, fires were lit and offerings were left for spirits wandering the night. It is a time of endings, but also of beginnings, the closing of one year and the quiet planting of seeds for the next.

Let’s explore how to bring the spirit of Samhain into your hearth and heart this season, with rituals of remembrance, protection and deep reflection.

The Energy of Samhain: Death, Renewal & AncestralWisdom

The fields are nearly bare, the nights are long, and the chill of winter is settling in. Samhain carries a solemn but powerful energy, both of grief and of reverence. It invites us to face the mysteries of death not with fear, but with honour.

Spiritually, Samhain is a time to connect with those who came before us, to seek wisdom from beyond the veil and to honour our place within the endless cycle of endings and rebirths.

It’s also a time of protection, warding our homes, cleansing our spirits and strengthening our inner light as the nights grow darker.

Samhain Rituals & Practices: Ancestors, Protection & Reflection

  • Create an Ancestor Altar

    Place photos, mementos or candles for your loved ones who have passed.

    Add offerings such as bread, wine, or seasonal fruit to honour them.

  • Hold a Silent Supper

    Also called a Dumb Supper, this is a ritual meal eaten in silence, with a place set for the spirits. Use it to reflect and invite ancestral presence.

  • Light a Candle for the Departed

    Place a candle in your window to guide wandering souls, offering them warmth and respect.

  • Practice Divination

    Samhain is one of the most potent times for tarot, oracle, scrying or pendulum work.

    Ask for guidance as you step into the new year.

  • Offer Protection

    Hang protective herbs (like rosemary or mugwort), sweep your thresholds with
    intention or cast wards to keep your home and spirit safe.

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 Samhain Journaling Prompts: The Veil Between Worlds

  • What am I ready to release as this witch’s year comes to a close?
  • What wisdom or blessings have my ancestors passed down to me?
  • How do I honour endings in my own life?
  • What seeds of intention am I quietly planting for the year ahead?

Samhain Ritual: Ancestor Candle Ceremony

  • You’ll Need:

    • A black or white candle
    • A photo or symbol of an ancestor (or someone you wish to honour)
    • A small offering of food or drink

  • Instructions:

    1. Cleanse your space – Dim the lights, light incense or herbs and centre yourself.
    2. Invite presence – Place your ancestor’s photo or token before the candle. Say: I honour you, I welcome your wisdom and I carry your love in my heart.”
    3. Light the candle – Focus on the flame as a bridge between the worlds. Speak, pray or sit in silence, allowing any feelings, images or memories to arise.
    4. Make an offering – Place your food or drink near the candle with gratitude.
    5. Close with reverence – Extinguish the candle, thanking your ancestors and releasing their presence with love.

Final Thoughts: Walking Between the Worlds

Samhain is a threshold, an ending and a beginning. It teaches us that death is not to be feared but embraced as part of the sacred cycle. It is a time for honour, remembrance and deep listening to the whispers beyond the veil.

Whether you light a single candle, gather with loved ones or walk alone beneath the autumn moon, may this Sabbat ground you in reverence for the mysteries of life and death.

Wishing you a blessed and meaningful Samhain.