As October draws to a close and the air grows still with the promise of winter, we enter one of the most significant festivals of the year - Samhain (pronounced sow-in). Celebrated from the night of 31 October to 1 November, Samhain marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the dark half of the year. Often regarded as the Witches’ New Year, this sacred festival invites reflection, remembrance, and renewal.
At Hidden Self, we view Samhain as a time of deep transformation - a moment to honour our ancestors, release what no longer serves us, and step consciously into the mysteries of the shadow season.
Origins and Meaning of Samhain
Samhain originates from ancient Celtic traditions, predating modern Halloween by many centuries. It was one of the four major fire festivals in the Celtic calendar, marking the transition between seasons and acknowledging the natural cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
For the Celts, Samhain represented the end of the agricultural year. The final harvest had been gathered, livestock were brought in from the fields, and preparations were made for the long, cold months ahead. Fires were extinguished and then rekindled from communal bonfires, symbolising renewal and the sustaining of life through darkness.
Spiritually, Samhain was considered a liminal time - a threshold between worlds. The veil separating the physical and spiritual realms was said to grow thin, allowing communication with ancestors and otherworldly beings. It was both a solemn and magical occasion: a time to honour the dead, seek wisdom from the spirit world, and protect the living from wandering energies.
The Witches’ New Year and the Power of Magic
In modern Pagan and Wiccan traditions, Samhain marks the turning of the Wheel of the Year - the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. It is a powerful time for introspection, divination, and magical workings, as the energies of death and rebirth are at their height.
Samhain reminds us that endings are not to be feared but embraced as necessary for transformation. It is a season to shed the old and plant the seeds of what will grow in the light’s return. The boundary between worlds is thin, and the energy of magic is most potent - a time when practitioners believe that all forms of spellwork, intuition, and spirit communication are heightened.
Rituals for Samhain
Samhain rituals vary across traditions, but they share the common themes of remembrance, release, and renewal. Whether practised alone or with others, these rituals help us align with the natural cycles of the Earth and our own inner rhythms.
1. Lighting a Candle for the Ancestors
Create a small altar or sacred space with photographs, keepsakes, or symbols of loved ones who have passed. Light a candle in their honour and spend a few quiet moments offering gratitude for their guidance and presence.
2. A Feast of the Final Harvest
Prepare a meal using seasonal ingredients such as apples, pumpkins, grains, and root vegetables. Share the meal in silence or reflection, acknowledging the Earth’s abundance and the turning of the seasons.
3. Releasing the Old
Write down what you wish to release — habits, emotions, or attachments that no longer serve your growth. Burn the paper safely in a fireproof bowl, allowing the smoke to carry your intention into transformation.
4. Divination and Introspection
Samhain is the ideal time for tarot readings, scrying, or meditation. Ask for clarity about the path ahead and listen to the messages that arise, whether from spirit, intuition, or your own inner wisdom.
Traditional Customs of Samhain
Many modern Halloween practices have their roots in the ancient customs of Samhain. These traditions blend practicality, superstition, and spiritual belief, all centred around protection and honouring the dead.
Wearing Masks - In ancient times, people wore disguises to blend in with wandering spirits and avoid being recognised by mischievous or malevolent entities that crossed the veil.
Carving Pumpkins or Turnips - Long before pumpkins, the Celts carved faces into turnips to ward off unwelcome spirits and protect their homes. The flickering light inside symbolised the fire of life and guidance for lost souls.
Lighting Bonfires - Communal fires were lit to purify, protect, and symbolise the light that endures through the dark season. Families would relight their hearth fires from the sacred flames to bring blessings into their homes.
Honouring the Ancestors - A place was often set at the table for the spirits of loved ones. Food and drink were offered as tokens of remembrance and gratitude, welcoming ancestral presence into the home.
The Deeper Meaning of Samhain
Samhain teaches the importance of embracing darkness - not as something to fear, but as a space of rest, renewal, and regeneration. Just as nature retreats into stillness, we too are invited to turn inward, reflect on the past year, and make peace with the cycles of change.
This is a time for shadow work, for meeting the unseen aspects of ourselves with compassion. The energy of Samhain supports introspection and transformation, helping us to clear away emotional clutter and prepare the ground for new growth in the seasons to come.
Honouring Your Hidden Self
At Hidden Self, we believe Samhain is not an ending, but a profound beginning. It is a moment to reconnect with our roots, honour the unseen, and align with the deeper rhythms of the Earth and spirit.
By embracing this sacred turning of the year, we step into alignment with our most authentic selves - the part that listens to intuition, honours ancestry, and welcomes both light and shadow as integral parts of growth.
As the wheel turns once more, take time to pause, breathe, and listen. Within the stillness of Samhain lies the promise of renewal - a reminder that from every ending, something new is waiting to be born.
A Samhain Blessing
May your Samhain be filled with light in the darkness, warmth in remembrance, and peace in renewal.
May the wisdom of your ancestors guide you, and the magic of this sacred night awakens your hidden self.
Blessed Samhain everyone!