With October in full swing, the sight of red berries and russet reds and warm oranges has got us thinking about Samhain and how to build a Samhain altar. Whilst many people celebrate Halloween on the 31st of October, we prefer to honour the traditional Celtic festival which marks the division of the year between the lighter half (summer) and the darker half (winter). For Wiccans the last day of October also marks a time to celebrate those that have passed on. Samhain provides a junction between our world and the otherworld allowing spirits to pass through.
Altars are a sacred space used for ritual and at this time of year we like to reflect on the first half of the year. Bringing an altar into our Samhain ritual.
But first a little more about this late autumn celebration.
What is Samhain?
Traditionally in the Celtic wheel of the year Samhain marks a New Year. The transition from the light year to the dark year. Festivities honouring the start of the darker half of the year involved the lighting of winter fires, feasting and celebrating. During this time the Celts considered the boundaries of our world and the otherworld at their thinnest. The night of Samhain being a bridge between light and dark. A time for the unearthly world to become untangled with the earthly world.
Many traditions during this time involved masks, dressing up and celebrations with light (candles and fires) which is where many of our ideas of Halloween come from today.
How can I bring Samhain into my home?
Samhain has huge magical significance and we like to bring practices into our homes to celebrate this ancient tradition. It’s a time of reflection, transformation, and connection with the natural and supernatural worlds. Bringing Samhain into the home through rituals, ceremonies and reflection can also helps us to let go of certain aspect of life. Start afresh for the winter ahead.
We like to celebrate by preparing a special dinner to celebrate the harvest. Bringing people together and remembering and honouring those that have passed and the eternal bond with our ancestral heritage. We also like to build an altar that brings together all the elements of Samhain and provides a focus for our thoughts and feelings during this time.
How do rituals honour Samhain?
Many of the Samhain rituals derive from Pagan and Druid practices, these involved disguising themselves to avert evil, and celebrating all the things the darker months bring. For us, we like to bring nature into the home, feast, dance and make music, and build an altar to honour our ancestors.
Creating a Samhain Altar
An altar is a sacred space, a spiritual focal point and a place for reflection during Samhain.
You may have seen our latest altar over on our social media (Facebook and Instagram) but here’s a little guide on building your own:
It's best to find a small bowl or sacred focal point to begin with. This could be a statue also. Then start by adding things of meaning to you and the natural world. Adding in elements that appeal to your senses. The aim to create an area that will allow you to clear your mind, relax and bring about calmness for you. In celebration of a new year (winter) and to bring peace to those that have passed. You could select some of the following:
Seasonal items from nature
We like to find small nature offerings such as leaves, acorns, feathers, and conkers, all of which can be found at this time of year. These mark the turn of the season and help us to remember the cyclical way in which the natural world changes. This can also help us change certain aspects of ourselves for the better
Personal mementoes
These often include items that are special to us and help us to remember those that are no longer with us. Signifying important moments in our lives. We love that an altar can be as unique as you are and allow you to connect with yourself or those spirits you are trying to reach.
Candles or incense
Bringing the light to your altar provides you with focus and movement. Flickering candlelight adds a sensory dimension and a place for your intentions. Incense brings scent into play allowing you to open up to memories past or create new memories for the future. The beauty of building your own altar is that you can create one that reflects your own belief system.
We especially like this incense for using on our Altars at this time of year
These are the candles we like best for this.
Crystals and flowers
Amplify the energies, choosing crystals for your mood or mood you wish to emulate. Flowers bring beauty and colour, and during a Samhain alter we especially like to use yellow and red flowers to signify Harvest time. The autumn colour change.
Our full range of crystals are here
We hope this blog has helped you to understand more about this celebration. Bringing the different elements together can help us to slow down and be present in this special month. It's important to take a step back and look back on where we have been. Be present for the seasonal change and move forward intentionally through the darker months. We like to think the link with the other world brings a different dimension to life, and brings us gratitude for what is all around us.
