Rituals

The witch’s new year is upon us! Samhain, the ancient Gaelic festival that marks the end of the Celtic year, occurs from October 31 to the November 1. Also known as the birth of Halloween, it’s a time when the veil between the supernatural and the physical world thins—and a time to honor the cycle of life, death, and renewal. Coinciding with the harvest and the transition from the light-filled days of summer into the darker days of fall, the pagan holiday urges us to reflect on the past, connect with spirits, celebrate loved ones (both living and deceased), and plan how we will enrich our lives moving forward.

There are many ways to partake in Samhain. Traditionally, many choose to make ancestral altars for the departed, leave offerings, and feast with the spirits—but, as this is such a magical time, aligning with a ritual that speaks to you is essential. To that end, there is no wrong or right way to observe Samhain; you should do what speaks to your heart. However, it never hurts to follow a few suggestions from the experts—not only to nudge you in the right direction, but also to help you understand the true importance of the witchy “high holiday” known as a “greater sabbat.” Here, 13 modern witches share 13 unique rituals for honoring the spirit of Samhain in style.

13 Samhain rituals

1. Release the past

Since Samhain is meant to be a time for contemplation, the focus is on releasing the past and tending to the present. “As the veil thins, prepare an altar with black candles, apples, and a bowl of water to honor the ancestors. Light incense and whisper the names of those who came before you. Reflect on what must die and what is ready to be reborn. Write what you’re releasing on paper, then safely burn it. Sip spiced wine or tea as you gaze into the flame, allowing visions and guidance to rise from the shadows. The new year begins in the dark,” says Bri Luna, founder of The Hoodwitch and author of Blood Sex Magic: Everyday Magic for the Modern Mystic.

2. Manifest the future

Since the energy is intensely magnified, we can use divination to manifest and claim insights through tarot. “Place the Death card from your tarot deck before you and spend a few quiet moments gazing at the imagery, reflecting on what cycles are ready to end and what transformation is calling you forward,” recommends Sarah Potter, author of Sober Magic: Using the Tarot and Ritual in Your Journey Away from Drinking. “Journal any insights that arise. Next, write down what you’re ready to release on slips of paper—old patterns, fears, or habits—and burn them one by one in a fireproof dish, letting the smoke carry those energies into the night. Soften your gaze into a bowl of water or a mirror to cross the veil and invite messages from ancestors or spirit allies, trusting any sensations or symbols that emerge. To close, hold the Death card to your heart, speak of an intention for the year ahead, and blow out the candle, sealing the ritual.”

3. Honor nature

Pay homage to nature is another Samhain tradition. Thus, Nicole Rallis, floral artist at Leila + Olive, suggests tending to a garden and focusing on the future. “I gather an altar from three categories of autumn botanicals: a flower, an herb, and a fruit. Dahlias, amaranth, and roses are potent options, but [for me] this year’s ritual holds blooms of anemone, a mythic sign of sacrifice to honor the resilience of those who’ve passed and to strengthen the will of the living; rosemary herbs to reflect memories, both bitter ones to dissolve and sweeter ones to envision; and pomegranate to connect cycles of loss and rebirth. Setting these garden intentions by a window, I ponder the portal between past and future seasons to come.”

4. Set an extra place

Having a formal “dumb dinner”—where one eats in silence and has a place setting for the deceased at the table—on Samhain is a quintessential way to commemorate the dead. “On the night itself, I hold a silent meal to honor those who’ve passed. One extra place is set at the table, with a candle to guide them and a glass of water as offering. The intentionally-prepared meal is eaten in silence, an offering of presence rather than words. In that stillness, memory feels closer, the air weighted with recognition and grace,” states Corbin Chamberlin, founder of the ritual brand Sage & Salt. You can even eat the food backwards to call in your future spouse, like they did in Victorian times.

5. Feast with the spirits

Satisfying the spirits’ thirst for energy and attention shows them that we know they are another form of life force that requires fuel. Marshall WSL, author of Cunning Words: a Grimoire of Tales and Magic, suggests having a feast for the spirits to “satiate their hunger for life and experience.” He says to offer a plate of dark bread to the spirits and a glass of red wine and say the following words:

Happy Halloween! Happy Samhain! Happy All Hallows’ Eve! The dead are alive, the veil is thin, we don masks to deceive. A liminal time, the witches’ new year, high magic do we weave. The devil dances, the Witch mother does sing, all one must do is believe. We break the bread, we sip the wine, hallowed blessings we receive. And for the spirits, of above and below, an offering we leave.

6. Offer sweets

Speaking of offerings, there are plenty of traditional Samhain treats which, traditionally, were used as “an acknowledgment and a way to give thanks for the abundance you receive throughout the year,” says writer, death doula, and tarot reader Marguerite Recupero, who therefore recommends baking “bread or offer sweet treats to your ancestors in thanks.”

In Ireland, this was done by baking a loaf of Barmbrack bread, or “speckled fruit loaf,” which was also used to fortune-tell with a variety of charms such as rings (foretelling marriage), coins (foretelling abundance), cloth (foretelling bad luck), and dried peas (foretelling singledom) baked into the bread. In Medieval England, when Samhain merged with All Saints Day thanks to the Catholic Church, soul cakes were given out to “soulers” who went door-to-door in an early version of trick-or treating.

7. Strengthen intuition

We all become more psychic this time of year, leading to enhanced awareness of our subconscious. “Dreams may become more vivid in the days surrounding this mystical holiday,” notes psychic Renee Watt. “Strengthen your ability to connect with the great beyond by making your own dream satchel. You’ll need a small mesh or organza bag, preferably in white, lavender, or light blue. Fill your bag with herbs such as rosemary, lavender, bay, or thyme, in addition to clear, blue, or purple crystals. Amethyst, quartz, angelite, kyanite, or selenite are all great options.” She recommends keeping a journal to note the visions that arise, help interpret their meaning, and to check-in with them in the future.

8. Call in protection

“Samhain is a gateway for all spirits to come through, even the mischievous ones, so spiritual protection is of utmost importance,” explains witch and psychic Michael Cardenas of Olde Ways. He suggests lighting “two candles dressed in patchouli oil; a white one for purity and a black one for protection. Burn dried rosemary throughout your home and set outside to ward off lower vibrational spirits. Wash your doors and threshold with salt water to set strong psychic boundaries against harmful energies. When complete, sit in silence visualizing yourself surrounded in white light.”

9. Dress the part

Wearing a costume is another form of protection because it hides your true identity. Historically, people disguised themselves in mystical and mythical ensembles time of year in order to confuse ghosts and deter them from wreaking havoc; the Celts even carved faces into vegetables to keep the entities away from their food.

10. Create a magic circle

Another way to protect yourself from spirits is by creating a safe haven in the form of a magic circle. “A magic circle performs many functions: to bind a spirit, to circumscribe ritual space, and to call upon the aid of sacred names and glyphs. While the elaborately constructed ritual circles of ceremonial magicians are the most iconic, simpler techniques can be found as far back as ancient Mesopotamia, where ritual circles were drawn in barley flour,” says Melissa Madara, author of The Witch’s Workshop: A Guide to Crafting Your Own Magical Tools.

11. Clear the cobwebs

The witch’s new year calls for a spiritual refresh, which is why Fernando Salinas opts to remove clutter and clear stale energy. “I’ll bless my broom (or besom, if you have one) by rubbing the bristles with an essential oil such as orange oil or a road-opening oil to bring good energy to my actions. Finally, I’ll get a rag and some magic water (like full moon blessed water) and wipe clean the door jambs to make sure blessings can find their way in.”

12. Awaken the body

Opening the body and awakening the senses via movement and self-care is another form of cleansing that’s imperative for chakra healing and attunement. “My Samhain ritual occurs in any body of warm and wet water,” explains Monisha Holmes. “Safely dancing and gently stretching with my window open for the sage to flow through the air helps make my senses hot and steamy for winter.”

13. Build an altar

Calling in one’s ancestors and commemorating their legacy is one of the most time-honored Samhain rituals; looking to our roots helps protect our energy. Creating an ancestral altar helps forge the bridge between the living world and the dead. “My process involves choosing a space differently from the one I use for my everyday altar,” says Narayana Montufar, author of Written in Your Stars: Use Your Saturn Return, Pluto Square, and Other Planetary Cycles to Become Your Best Self. “I choose a space that, in some form, matches the big and loving energy I want to bring. Before setting the altar, I clear the space physically and energetically, with incense or palo santo, making sure I clear the corners of the room as well. Next, I lay a see-through backdrop underneath candles, marigolds, crystals, animal spirits and totems, as well as objects and pictures that remind me of my ancestors.”