The Witch's Halloween: 7 Rituals To Celebrate Samhain

There’s no better time to get in touch with our own magical practice than Halloween, or for some of us, Samhain. The veil between the worlds is thin. Fires are lit to help wandering spirits on their way, altars and offerings are set up to honor the gods, goddesses, and ancestors that have passed on. It is time to tidy up loose ends on goals we're striving towards and celebrate all that we've accomplished. We get ready for the months of introspection ahead and the cycle continues. 

With that, I share with you my favorite rituals to practice on this holiday.

1. Set Up A Samhain Altar

If you’re new to these witchy/pagan traditions and don’t have a permanent altar in place, you can easily set up a table to leave in place on the 31st and the 3 days after Samhain. Decorate the altar with symbols of late fall, such as:

• Skulls, skeletons, grave rubbings, ghosts
• Harvest food such as pumpkins, squash, root vegetables
• Nuts and berries, breads
• Dried leaves and acorns
• A cornucopia filled with an abundance of fruit and veggies
• Mulled cider, wine, or mead

2. Make an Ancestors Altar

Honor your deceased family members with this ceremony. Gather photographs, heirlooms and other mementos of deceased family, friends, or even pets. Arrange them on a table, dresser, or other surface, along with several votive candles. Light the candles in their memory; while you do so, speak their names out loud and express well wishes and thank them for being part of your life. Sit quietly and pay attention to what you experience. Note any messages you receive in your journal. This Ancestors Altar can be created just for Samhain or kept year round.

3. Bonfire Magic for Release

Start a bonfire outdoors or in a fireplace or a small cauldron. Write down an old habit that you wish to end and cast it into the Samhain flames as you imagine release. Imagine yourself adopting a new, healthier way of being as you move around the fire clockwise.

4. Divinatory Guidance

Using tarot, runes, scrying, or any other preferred method of divination, seek and reflect on guidance for the year to come. Write a summary of your process and messages. Select something appropriate to act upon and do it.

5. Samhain Nature Walk

Go outside, get as close to nature as you can. Take a solitary meditative walk in an area near your home. Observe and contemplate the colors, aromas, sounds, and other sensations of the season. Experience yourself as part of the Circle of Life and reflect on death and rebirth as being an important part of Nature. If the location you visit allows, gather some natural objects (leaves, sticks that have already fallen) and use them to adorn your home or altar.

6. Have a Dead Dinner / Dumb Supper

An evening to honor your beloved ones who’ve passed on. Enjoy a meal in silence to honor a passed loved one.  Make a family recipe or favorite meal. Photographs, jewelry, or memorabilia can be set out during the dinner to help connect with the deceased.  Write a Handwritten letter to your loved ones followed by a ritual to ground and connect you to the spirit world.

7.  Witchy Movie Marathon

Although I celebrate Samhain I love the vibe traditional Halloween brings...as well as the movies. Here are some of my favorites to indulge in:

The Love Witch

A campy parable of feminism and witchery,  The Love Witch, is about a modern-day witch named Elaine who uses spells and magic to get men to fall in love with her with disastrous results. Some may find it a little uneasy in places, but the brilliant ‘60s retro fashion and glamour is undeniable. 

Hocus Pocus

OBVIOUSLY Hocus Pocus is on the list, it’s a cult-classic. It’s the perfect Halloween movie, and a must-watch for aspiring young witches. The Sanderson Sisters are resurrected 300 years after their deaths to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting trick-or-treaters of Salem, Massachusetts.

Practical Magic

A witchy twist on romantic comedy, two sisters—one more sensible than the other but both of them practicing witches—kill an abusive boyfriend together, bury his body, and then have to reckon with the consequences of the crime after he comes back to life.

The Craft

“We are the weirdos, mister.” After transferring to a Los Angeles high school, Sarah finds that her telekinetic gift appeals to a group of three wannabe witches, who happen to be seeking a fourth member for their rituals.