Rituals to Honor Your Past Loved Ones During Samhain 🎃

“I think that all women are witches, in the sense that a witch is a magical being. And a wizard, which is a male version of a witch, is kind of revered, and people respect wizards. But a witch, my god, we have to burn them. It’s the male chauvinistic society that we’re living in for the longest time, 3,000 years or whatever. And so I just wanted to point out the fact that men and women are magical beings. We are very blessed that way, so I’m just bringing that out. Don’t be scared of witches, because we are good witches, and you should appreciate our magical power.” -Yoko Ono 

The autumnal equinox has passed and Samhain is upon us, marking the transition from the season of harvest to the darkness of winter.

This ancient pagan holiday celebrated the final harvest and honored beloved ancestors who have crossed over from this life. It was a time to commune with spirits and contemplate both life and death.

For us modern women, Samhain holds magical significance as well. As the veils between the worlds thin, it invites us to reconnect with our feminine intuition and energy through ritual.

This Halloween, I encourage you all to honor your past loved ones and reflect on all they have taught you. Light a candle for those no longer with us in body, give thanks for the lessons of their lives, and feel their loving spirits embrace you once more.

It is also a time to reclaim our power as witches. For too long, Halloween has focused on frights and screams instead of the true magic of being a woman.

We are descendants of the wise women, healers and seers who danced under the moon long before any church came to be. In the dark of night, we remember that magic runs through our veins and fuel our souls like the sap in an ancient oak.

This year, celebrate as your ancestresses would – with feasting, bonfires, divination and spells to light your way through winter’s dark nights.

Find your coven of sisters and share in rituals both solemn and joyful. Allow your gifts to flow freely without shame or censure.

For anyone wishing to explore their burgeoning powers or requiring guidance through life’s challenges, I am offering tarot readings to help you tap back into your intuitive power and connect with past loved ones.

Rituals to Celebrate Samhain:

• Light candles to remember loved ones who have passed and speak their names to keep their memory alive.
• Use divination tools like tarot cards, runes, or pendulums to connect with spirits and discover insights for the coming winter season.
• Perform spells for protection, wisdom, or empowerment as the veils between worlds are thin. Brew protective herbal teas or dress candles for your intentions.
• Hold a solo or group meditation to go on an astral journey and communicate with guides beyond the veil. Journal any messages you receive.

Assemble an ancestral altar with photos, mementos and offerings of favorite foods of departed family and friends.

• Host or attend a bonfire gathering for dancing, storytelling and viewing the stars with your coven.
• Visit sacred outdoor sites like groves or stone circles at twilight to feel the presence of nature spirits.
• Use seasonal foods in your cooking to honor the harvest – things like pumpkin, squash, pomegranates or apples offer both nourishment and magical properties.

I hope celebrating with these time-honored rituals helps you welcome the dark half of the year with empowerment, insight and deep connection to your spiritual ancestry.

With love and blessings,
Brit xo