Honor Your Ancestors for Samhain
Samhain (pronounced “SAH-win” or “SOW-in”) is a pagan festival rooted in ancient Gaelic spiritual traditions. It is celebrated from October 31st to November 1st, and is a time to welcome in the season’s harvest and the darker half of the year. During this holiday, the veil between the physical world and spiritual world is at its thinnest. Samhain is the most significant of the four quarterly fire festivals, and is the halfway point between the autumn equinox and winter solstice. It is sometimes referred to as the “Witches’ New Year.” Historically, traditions include things like large community gatherings, feasts, bonfires, guising, saining, divination, and honoring and remembering the dead.
There are so many ways to honor, remember, and connect with those on the other side, not only during the season of the witch, but always! The following methods can of course be utilized at any time of year, but what better time to use them than now, while the veil is thin?!
DIVINATION
I love using this time of year as an excuse to try out new methods of divination! I just used a set of divination dice for the first time, and it was a really neat experience. So whether you prefer Tarot, oracle decks, a pendulum, dowsing rods, etc., it doesn’t matter! Find a technique you vibe with and reach out; the connections you create might surprise you!
MEDITATION
Have you ever tried dropping in and connecting with your ancestors or spirit guides (perhaps ancestral spirit guides) through meditation? It can take some practice, but with just a little focus and time it can be an incredibly healing experience.
SET UP AN ALTAR
Dedicate a space somewhere to your ancestors. It can be big or small, a whole room or just a spot on a shelf. Set up the space with candles, photos of passed loved ones, crystals, symbols of life & death, offerings, and any trinkets or talismans that hold significance or meaning for you.
GATHER & SHARE STORIES
Gather with your community, friends, and family. Take the time to remember your loved ones and the lives they lived before you. Share your favorite memories; share stories that have been passed down for generations.
HOST A DUMB SUPPER
Serve a delicious dinner at your holiday gathering! Feast with your loved ones on a meal with roots in your ancestral lands, or even just the favorite meal of a dead relative. Set out a plate for your deceased loved ones as an offering, tossing the food outside and giving it back to the Earth afterwards.
I hope I was able to provide a little insight on some easy ways to honor the ancestors in your life and celebrate during this transitional time of year! Please note, I do not refer to ancestors as only those blood related to you. Ancestors do not necessarily have to be “family.” Also, If you have any more ideas or traditions you partake in, I’d love to hear about them in the comments below! Thanks for reading!
