Samhain, Halloween, and All Hallows’ Eve

And yes, they all mean the same thing. If you live in Spain, like me, we could add “Tosantos” to the list too.

How quickly the sabbats fly by when you truly enjoy them! When I wrote to you about Mabon a few weeks ago, I said this Wheel of the Year was my favorite, and Samhain is especially dear to me. The God has died, and the Goddess mourns his passing, just as we mourn those who are no longer with us. And this year, there’s someone I’m mourning.

Darkness settles in even more across the Northern Hemisphere. It starts to win the battle, and we begin to feel older and more tired during those months of the year that, mistakenly, seem to demand more activity and presence from us as the Christmas festivities arrive—with all the rushing around, family gatherings and meals.

Halloween is a symbolic boundary between what we know and what lies beyond our control, between the identity we show the world and what we hide in the darkness.

What can we do to connect more deeply with this sabbat?

I feel I need to tread carefully with this festival. It’s one to experience in a state of deep introspection, especially as we’re going through a very powerful full moon and moving toward a moon that’s waning more and more (just like us at this point in the year). And, as in ancient traditions, I think it’s time to start looking for comfort within ourselves. So here’s what I recommend (and will do):

🎃Say a few words to those who are no longer with us

Halloween night is when the veil between the two worlds grows thin. So when it’s time to go to bed, say a few words to your loved ones—the ones who are no longer here but whom you can still feel with you. The power of words is all you need. I’ll share more about this ritual later.

🎃Light a candle

Light a candle to illuminate the way for both the living and those who are no longer with us. Simply light it, and say a prayer for everyone who needs a little warmth and encouragement, and for their path through life to be lit.

🎃Cook for the sabbat

A witch’s magic often begins in the kitchen. Fire up the stove and make a recipe you’ve been wanting to try for ages, or cook the dish you always make at this time of year. Use pumpkin, mushrooms, broths and seasonal vegetables to bring flavor to your magical day. You’ll find some recipes on my profile that are perfect for Mabon and work just as well at this time of year.

🎃Decorate your home or hearth

Decorate your home with autumnal touches or things associated with the night of the dead: pumpkins, turnips, chestnuts, walnuts, almonds, and candles in white, orange, purple or black. You could also get a gemstone associated with this festival (I’ll tell you which ones later).

If you’d like or need a more advanced ritual, keep reading:

First, I invite you to connect with these gemstones:

AMETHYST

An ideal stone for Samhain, its violet color invites imagination and a sense of the world beyond.

It’s associated with the Third Eye chakra and, in turn, with our most intuitive side.

MALACHITE

The stone of transformation, a reminder to find our way toward our goals in times of change.

So that everything we no longer want in our lives can pass through that door.

OBSIDIAN

Protection in its purest form. It’s also a gemstone of new beginnings, drive and inner strength.

BLACK TOURMALINE

With tourmaline, we’ll “ward off” the energies we no longer want in our lives.

It’s a gemstone of strength that creates a protective shield and transforms energy. Let’s picture placing our stagnation and negativity in its hands, and imagine it absorbing our darkest, most destructive feelings. This Samhain, may everything bad stay with the stones.

Once we’ve connected with the energy of these minerals, or any others we choose and feel are right, let’s prepare the space where we’ll carry out the ritual:

🦇Choose a quiet space that feels special to you. It could be your garden or whatever you consider your home.

Cleanse the space with incense or palo santo, if your health allows and you don’t have any respiratory problems, or with a little water and salt.

Light white, orange, black or purple candles to illuminate the path for the people we want to connect with. You can leave an offering, such as water, flowers, food or seasonal fruit.

In silence, meditate, focusing on calm breathing, and speak to the people or pets you miss. Let them know you feel them close and are thinking of them.

If you prefer, you can dedicate the space with their personal belongings or photos.

I want to be clear that this is simply a ritual for taking a few moments to think about or speak to our loved ones. It’s not a way to connect with the afterlife. We should always be respectful and avoid practices I don’t recommend, such as spirit boards or other objects.

👻Another ritual I’d like to suggest is more personal.

For this ritual, all we need is a gemstone we feel deeply connected to, two candles—one white and one black (preferably small or thin candles)—and paper and a pencil.

First, light the black candle to your left and the white candle to your right. On the paper, write down what you want to leave behind: what will die with Halloween night and make room for the new cycle that begins with the next new moon.

Let the candles burn down and, if possible—only if it’s possible—burn the paper you’ve written on in a fire-safe bowl.

If burning the paper could put your health, someone else’s health or the environment where you live at risk, DO NOT burn it. Tear it up and bury it in a plant pot, letting Mother Nature take care of it. The same goes for the candles: please don’t leave them unattended or where children or pets can reach them. I’d much rather you put them out when the ritual is over than let them burn down and risk an accident 🚩⚠️

If you’re from Spain, like me, we celebrate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day around this time. On those days, we visit cemeteries to clean our loved ones’ graves or cover them with flowers. We eat traditional sweets called “saints’ bones,” and food markets usually get ready for the festival by decorating their stalls with pumpkins, dolls or other seasonal decorations.

However you celebrate this night, I’d love to know. Leave me a comment telling me how you spend these holidays, and I’ll see you in future articles. Thanks for reading, and thanks for being here 🕯️ 🎃 🖤