Pronounced: Sam-hwen or Sow-in; Meaning – Summer’s End
Celebrated on October 31 until November 2 at midnight
Also known as: Samhna and Sauin, Samain Oiche Shamnhna, Hallows Eve and Feast of the Dead, Allantide, All Saints’ Day / All Souls’ Day (Christianity), Calan Gaeaf (Wales/Welsh), Day of the Dead (Mexican), Dziady (Slavic/Polish), Halloween, Hop-tu-Naa (Isle of Man), Kekri (Finnish)
Rebirth, Transformation, Wisdom
Samhain is a time that represents the ending of one cycle, as another begins. This is when the Father God passes on, his death bringing a soon rebirth, this goodbye will only be temporary. The veil between worlds is at its thinnest now (Similar to the time of Beltane, when we celebrate life), giving us time to contact and/or honor our Ancestors and those we love who have passed. We celebrate the ending and death of this cycle, acknowledging that death is something we cannot control and always predict.
Nature now finally rests and is in a peace, life prepares for the Winter and as do we, our final harvest. After preparations for the Winter are complete, we use this quiet and perfect time to study our ancestry and genealogy. We may learn more about where we come from, or just simply look back on the happy memories we had with loved ones who have passed, remembering the positive despite the dark. You may even make a food altar to keep out for the passing spirits during this time. We know that the cycle is about to begin anew, and new cycles bring new energies. Sometimes things are removed from our lives to make room for even greater. This is a great time of transformation and inner work, focus on self love and peace even. Find your quiet time, and get cozy during the wonderful fall!! This is a common time for scrying, seances, divination and magickal practice altogether.
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Colors: Black, Orange, White, Gold, Silver, Purple
Stones: Jet, Obsidian, Apache Tears, Amber, Smoky Quartz, Amethyst
Herbs, Flowers and Incense: All grains, Apples, Wormwood, Mugwort, Chrysanthemum, Pomegranates, Thistle, Pumpkins, Corn, Dried Herbs, Nuts, Hazel, Oak Leaves, Sage, Bayleaf, Lavender, Rosemary, Juniper
Tree: The Reed Tree
Zodiac: Scorpio ♏
Symbols of the Sabbath: Apples, Bedoms, Pumpkins, Gourds, Black Cats, Cauldrons, Spiders, Ravens, Owls, Webs
Samhain Lore
Samhain is believed to be a time where doorways to other worlds and realms are accessible, to not only ourselves but other beings from them, being celebrated for 3 days and 3 nights. Many like to meditate, speak to spiritual guides and ancestors, do tarot readings or other forms of divination, contact the dead, and create altars in honor of their loved ones or all that have passed in the last cycle.
In many cultures, fires would be lit by the spark of a spinning wheel. This is most often found in Druidic, and when animal sacrifice often took place. This is not a common practice in this day and age now, as a matter of fact, the vast majority of Witches, Wiccans and Pagans are HIGHLY against animal cruelty of any kind and do not agree with animal sacrifice for any reason.
Ancient Celtics would leave offerings outside of their villages for the fairies, fae, spirits, sidhs, shapeshifts (Pukah) and otherworldly beings to keep them from tormenting their homes. They would also dress up to scare these beings away from tormenting their passed loved one and Ancestors. In many cultures, there are beliefs to be groups of evil spirits on the other side that hunt and steal innocent souls of the living during the day of Samhain – especially at night. Another reason many dress up, light bonfires and stay in gatherings of multiple people. They also celebrated the sexual and romantic union between the Tuatha De Danann Gods, Dagda and River Unis.
In Irish culture, the Dullahan (Also known as the Headless Horseman), would ride around on horses with flaming eyes, carrying their own head and was an omen of death to any these encountered them. They would also carve turnips – which later turned into pumpkins – hanging them as decoration to look like heads that would scare away the spirits that came through during this time. A majority of Halloween traditions all stem from Irish culture! Going door to door dressed up, singing for candies and cakes, playing tricks to often blame of the fairies and fae!
In many practices, people would leave doors and windows open at night to allow the souls of past loved one’s to enter their homes. They would prepare a dinner (Dumb Supper), where they would invite the souls of their Ancestors to join and speak to them as they “feasted”. After, the rest would feast and continue conversations updating the passed souls on recent years in the human realm. Kids sometimes would play certain games to keep the spirits entertained. Some left cakes for the past loved ones to feast after they went to bed, or make a plate of food for them at the table as they all eat together.
The Samhain tradition can be traced as far back as 5,000 years before the Irish And Celts, as the entrance to the Mound of Hostages on the Hill of Tara was aligned with the Sunrise on the day of Samhain. This hill is at least 5,000 years old, so someone 5,000 years ago was honoring the power within this day. Unfortunately, with the name of the “Mound of Hostages”, some speculate whether the intent was done for good..or actual evil.
The Father God has reached his time of death as the Mother Goddess nears the end of her pregnancy, and the birth of the new God. She mourns the loss of her love, but knows he still lives on. The cycle shall begin anew soon, with a new love and light.
The Mother Goddess goes through her own cycle, the Maiden, Mother and Crone, and begins a new cycle within her own spiritual being and energy. This is to represent the physical rebirth that happens in multiple lives, but also the mental/emotional/spiritual rebirths we experience throughout our current lifetime as well. These past rebirths are just as important as the present, physical ones.
☽ Hazel ☾
Photo Credit: Here
This Life to Experience 