Samhain

                                                    SAMHAIN

                                             Witches’ New Year

         All Hallows Eve, Hallowmas, Feast of the Dead and Ancestors Night


Pronounced…

Sow-in (rhymes with cow-in)

When

November 1st

Symbolism

The Goddess is at the peak of her Crone aspect.

Myths associated

The Goddess still mourns her lost husband.  His soul is now released and passing through the cycle to slowly be reborn within the womb of the Goddess once more to repeat the never ending cycle. This season is to celebrate the ascension of souls from this world to wherever you may believe they go to, and also to celebrate the memory of a passed loved one or an ancestor.

This is also a good time to remember passed civilizations and how they lived all those years ago, like Pagans and their kind. Whilst not as far forward in evolution then us their ways were masterful at the time and aided to bring us to the modern diversity we enjoy today.

It’s time to bring about old practices, to practice them as if a Pagan of Old and to look to the night for closure and security as it guides all energy around its true path in the cosmos.


Common understanding

This is also considered the beginning of the New Year to many Wiccans. While the dead and the past is still in our memories the only thing that can follow history is the future and so we must look forward.
Yule is also considered the New Year and should still be celebrated as so. While Samhain is mainly towards celebrating the dead it can still have aspects of the future involved, the same goes for Yule.


Altar tools and Decorations

Colour: gold, shades of orange-red, copper and deep browns

Candles: white, black orange and gold

Herbs and plants (none consumable): acorns, coloured leaves, poppies and seed pods, walnut leaves and husks and yarrow.

Stones: amber, cat’s eye, clear quartz, peridot and yellow topaz

Other : your altar should contain a tool for divination and also items of remembrance like photos and so on.


Ritual

This is a good season for divination.
‘Dumb supper’ is a ritual many Wiccans enjoy. It’s ‘dumb’ because the dinner is held in complete silence to encourage contemplation. All get to eat but one plate is left aside as offerings and can be given its own place on the table, on an altar or outside.

Contacting ancestors and spirits is also common on Samhain as the world is active with all the spirits passed. With the world in a sensitive and less dense state (the veil between the worlds is thinnest) now is a good time for divination.

This is also another good time to stock up and charge on energy the world has around it. This is a different type of energy to the one released during the summer months and is more direct towards the spirit and Self state and that of the energy beings we may call on when in our Self state.


Activities

These months are also called the Blood Harvest because farmers cull their animals to lessen the mouths they need to feed during the winter months. This is a good sign for Wiccans to begin a small clear out of clutter, to kick addictions or to begin to seek help for troubles that will double the burden of the coming winter.

Reflection is a good activity as well. For Dedicants now is definitely the time to stop searching for new lessons and to reflect on those already experienced so that you may continue to fully understand their lessons.

More importantly let go of old grievances that will just pull you down during the winter months. Try to forgive or seek forgiveness.