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Samhain: Psychic Eeriness and a Meeting with the Otherworld

When the clocks have changed and the evenings come in fast and deep... when the autumnal mists create that intense otherness in the air... when certain strange things start happening around you and there’s that uncanny feeling that the veil is thinning... it must be SAMHAIN.

A cross-quarter fire festival marking the half way point between Equinox and Solstice, Samhain (pronounced Sow-In or Sow-Een) is also a changing of season.

The final harvest - a harvest not of fruits and grains, but of flesh.

The descent into Winter.

In ancient times, only Summer and Winter seasons were observed: the period of life and the period of death.

 

And here, in this liminal space as we transition from summer to winter, from light to dark, from life to death, something else happens… the veil between this world and the Otherworld becomes thin and the two places have a moment of merging; a moment where it is possible to reach through and touch those from different realms and states of existence. The living and the dead come into closer contact, just for a little while.

It is worth noting that this merging of worlds happens also at Beltane, the opposite side of the wheel. As we come out of Winter and back into Summer, the veil thins again but at that time, the focus is more upon rebirth and bursting back into life so the mood tends to be much more upbeat and we feel more contact with the fae and nature spirits who are just waking up from their winter slumber. A lot less macabre!

 

SAMHAIN’S ANCIENT ROOTS

At its first observances, Samhain was not really about contacting the dead. People were, in some ways, much more practical in ancient times, particularly when it came to survival. Enduring the long months of scarcity and lack was a very real and pressing issue to our ancestors - they had to take careful precautions to ensure they could subsist through those long, Winter months. It was an extremely important time for them and many considerations of what food to store and how to store it, what food could be spared for barter, how to distribute and ration resources... all these decisions had to be made by the time Samhain rolled around.

 

This preparation would have included the ritual slaughter of their weaker livestock in order to sustain the tribe or village folk. The burning of the remains on huge “Bone Fires” was a mundane form of magic performed most likely to avoid disease from rotting remains. Whilst being a practical idea, this also may well have carried some spiritual significance, perhaps using the fire as an offering to the dark spirits of the time and as a tribute to the animals sacrificed. A little later in time, sometimes, white stones would be placed in the fire by family members and if your stone was missing the next day, it was believed you would probably die during the coming year... indeed the most common question for divination at that time was whether one would survive the winter!

 

MEDIEVAL SAMHAIN

A little later, as Christianity became the dominant belief system, and Christians introduced the concept of All Hallows Eve (31 October), All Saints Day (1 November) and All Souls Day (2 November), this became a time where people began to create space to revere their honoured dead. Here is where the traditions of “spooky ghosts” and superstitious beliefs about “evil spirits” most likely originated.

a cast representation of an OG turnip lantern from Ireland

In line with those superstitious beliefs, some stemming from The Church, about “Evil Magic” and “Demons and Devils”, on a bucolic level, dressing up or “guising” was a common practice amongst the simple folk, in order to confuse and confound any passing spirits and supernatural entities. The carving of lanterns from root vegetables (most often turnips in the UK) was also done to deter unwelcome spirits and keep the home and hearth safe on this spooky night. Later, as is well-known, Pumpkins became the favoured choice as they’re much easier to carve and work with and the Jack-o-lanterns we all know and love today became commonplace.

These fun and light-hearted practices continue to this day and it’s worth remembering that Hallowe’en is also a night of mischief and mayhem…

 

The Lord of Misrule (one aspect of The Horned One), inspires his sprites to play tricks on us to remind us not to take ourselves too seriously. He loosens us up with his surprises, jokes and bizzare events and because the lines are blurred between the realms, the sprites have even more scope! Perhaps those Trick or Treating children in their scary costumes are the temporary human emissaries of The Lord of Misrule on Hallowe’en Night! Make sure to give them their treats lest they play a trick on you!


ENERGETIC AND MAGICAL SAMHAIN

On a magical level, this liminality of energy and power brings about a heightened level of intuition and psychic awareness. As boundaries between worlds break down, messages from the Otherworld, from the Ancestors and Guiding Spirits become more accessible. The communion between the living and those who have passed through the veil becomes possible. Those who watch over us – the dead and the unborn – have the opportunity to come through and commune with us psychically, exchange information with us, and allow us to feel their presence in our lives.

 

IMPORTANT: There is no tradition in witchcraft which requires us to “call the dead back” – it’s important to realise that our Beloved Dead have their own journey to make and if we interrupt them by dragging them back here, this can be detrimental to their progress. Therefore, making space for them to come if they want to or can is the most respectful practice. Welcome them if they come, but if they don’t, won’t or can’t, we must accept their absence and simply honour them in our thoughts and memories.

 

You may well get, during your meditations, messages from the dead, messages from the goddess or your personal guiding spirits. Listen to them all. These insights often provide the key to major themes for your coming year. Trust your intuition more than ever at the liminal times.

 

You should be aware that not all spiritual entities are friendly or have your best interest at heart – just like in the human realm, not everyone is to be trusted. You might meet the spirits of your ancestors but it’s always possible to encounter unfriendly energies which is why it’s unwise to walk alone on this night. However, if you have cast your circle carefully and have your spiritual hygiene up to par, you can rest assured that any mischievous or unwelcome guests would be deterred from coming near and nor will they get past your guardians - you will be perfectly safe from any negative influence!


INTROSPECTION AND REFLECTION

On a personal level, the darkening of the year, the energetic death of the Earth and the quietening of the natural world lead us to also draw our focus inward. Introspective practices such as reflective contemplation and journaling, shadow work (always the shadow work) and releasing rituals to let go of energies no longer serving a useful purpose are most appropriate at this time.

 

Samhain is not necessarily the “Pagan New Year” as is sometimes suggested but it certainly is the end of a cycle, the “death of the year” and therefore, rebirth and renewal is implied – so even if the “new” is not easily seen at this time and the death and darkness is much more obvious to us, the seeds are planted and we now have to slow down, snuggle up and wait out the dark, cold months until the return of the light. This can be reflected in our day to day activities and interactions as a much slower and less active time of year in many ways. A time to rest and regenerate in peace.


At Samhain, the goddess, in her triple form, enters the final aspect of her cycle - that of the crone. A phase of wisdom and and understanding. A phase of slowing and quieting. A phase of darkness and mystery.

Hecate by Cedric Ferris
HECATE by Cedric Ferris

HOW CAN YOU OBSERVE OR CELEBRATE SAMHAIN?

·      Descend inwards…

Meditation, journaling and shadow work are all powerful practices at this time – also, divination of all kinds, especially powerful if this is a skill handed down from an ancestor! Candle gazing meditations are especially potent at Samhain.

 

·      Release old, unwanted energy…

Formal releasing rituals, burning or cord cutting ceremonies are great at this time. But mundane magic is powerful too! So just a manual decluttering of your space and a good old deep clean before the winter is a wonderful and beneficial practice energetically and physically.

cat sleeping on tarot cards
Cats have the unique ability to travel between the realms and are really helpful in divination practices (apart from when they sit in the middle of the spread!!!)

·      Connect with your ancestors and guides…

Through meditation, looking at photographs, listening to their favourite songs or watching their favourite movie… even cooking their favourite food! “Dumb Suppers” where we leave a place and a plate for our Beloved Dead became commonplace in the 19th century and still continue to this day.

 

·      Offer lights to passing spirits…

Light your candles, pumpkins and lanterns to light the way for passing spirits and to encourage any ancestors to find their way to you if they want to.


·      Call on your protective energies in the darkness…

Cast your circle carefully, place your crystals and protective charms and talismans and allow the guardian spirits, the god and the goddess to do the rest!

 

·      Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!

Any excuse for a party, am I right!?! Cook your favourite hearty winter-themed dish – soups and stews (especially if you’ve got pumpkin flesh and root veggies about) are perfect to warm you up, keep you healthy and honour the land. Make a mulled wine or spiced cider to wash it all down and you’re one happy witch!


SOME SAMHAIN ASSOCIATIONS

Deities: Hecate, Persephone, The Morrigan, The Cailleach, Anubis, Hel

Colours: black, orange, purple, silver

Foods: apples, squashes, root vegetables, berries, nuts, honey, mushrooms, family recipes, 'soul cakes' as an offering to the spirits

Crystals: black obsidian, black tourmaline, amethyst, petrified wood, bloodstone, smoky quartz

Symbols: besom, cauldron, bones, keys, leaves, pumpkins, acorns, apples

Herbs: sage, rosemary, mugwort, patchouli, dragons blood

 

As always with your practice, I encourage you to do only what resonates with you, your local environment and culture. No-one is qualified or has authority to tell you what to do and my suggestions and information above is given in good faith in line with what I know and what I like to do myself. This is in no way a book of instructions or a “doctrine that must be followed or you’re doing it all wrong” – it’s just inspiration for you to help you find your own path.

 

And I hope it’s helpful! Always reach out and contact me if you have ANY questions, want further advice on how to do something or further resources for research – ALWAYS DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE ENGAGING IN MAGICAL PRACTICE… and I don’t mean Instagram or TikTok – whilst there’s some good info there, it’s not monitored or vetted - that’s not research, it’s entertainment! Do your research properly – that’s the only thing I will ever strongly say you MUST do ;-) So Mote It Be.

 

Blessed Samhain – Happy Halloween – Blessed Be

 

Cheryl <3

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