Botanical: Hawthorn ~ a tree of love and protection, bearing fruit during Samhain. Hawthorn is said to be a gateway to the spirit world.

Crystal: Obsidian ~ helps with managing grief and depression best used during Samhain as it’s associated with the ancestral spirits that watch over us

Fragrance: Cardamom ~ Relieves anxiety, promotes calmness, and attracts gentle love

Date: October 31st

Samhain marks the end of the Celtic Wheel of the Year and the onset of winter. The change in seasons is characterized by the final harvest, the arrival of the first frost, and withering of plants preparing for dormancy. This signals to our bodies to prepare for hibernation as well.

On an energetic and magical level, Samhain or All Hallows Eve is the time when the veil between the earthly realm and the spirit world is said to be thinnest. Similar to Dia de los Muertos in Mexican culture, it offers a sacred opportunity to pay homage to our ancestors and departed loved ones, fostering a profound connection through remembrance and communion.

This ritual is about crafting a poignant tribute to your ancestors and departed loved ones by constructing an ancestor altar. As you assemble the elements for this sacred space, immerse yourself in a day of reminiscing, basking in the warmth of cherished memories and celebrating the profound moments that defined your connection with them.

CREATE YOUR ALTER

It is a beautiful ceremonial practice to spend the day gathering the items for this alter. Find your favourite photographs of departed loved ones, you can go print them out, maybe put them in a nice frame, or make one. Have their preferred beverage or cook some of their favourite food to put on the alter as an offering. You can include articles of clothing, jewelry, notes or things they have made or gifts they gave and set those out.

If you’re honouring your ancient ancestry get creative by drawing symbols, or using colours, scents or botanicals that represent your culture, heritage and traditions.

Some other traditional items that are significant to Samhain:

Plants & Botanicals: nuts, berries, acorns, dried leaves, pumpkins or other squash

Fragrance oils: Rosemary, Sage

Colours: black, brown, orange, yellow,

Crystals: obsidian, amber, carnelian, onyx

Once you have the alter arranged, light the candle and have a heartful dialogue with these ancestors. This can be in the form of journaling, or speaking to them out loud, both serving as therapeutic avenues for appreciating the time you had together and navigating grief. Reflect on the qualities you loved and cherished about them, reminisce about your fondest moments, and update them on how you are doing now. Additionally, depending on your healing journey, consider addressing ancestral or generational traumas during this sacred interaction. Sharing your methods of processing can be particularly impactful, fostering a deeper understanding and potentially facilitating collective healing.

I like to leave the candle burning as long as possible, using it as a guiding light to those visiting us during this period.