Samhain and the Witch Connection
Samhain is the last sabbat on the Wheel of the Year, the cycle of the year marked by solar events and midpoints. Ages ago, we as people used the Wheel of the Year, back when we relied on the cycles of the sun, moon, and stars to measure the passing of time. In the modern age, we still use the sun to measure time, but many of us have disconnected from the rest of the celestial bodies, and the sabbats have turned into holidays. “Samhain” became “Halloween”, and we took the old traditions and reshaped them into new ones, but some of them still hold powerful meaning.
Samhain was the last stop on the Wheel before a new spin began, and it was thought of as “the Witch’s New Year’ because of this. Samhain marked the third and final harvest, and it is still the day when the veil between realms is the thinnest. Traditionally, Samhain was believed to be the day when supernatural beings and those who had passed on could return to our world. The old practitioners would carve faces into turnips and other fall vegetables to ward away negative forces to protect themselves. These creations were known as “funkins” or “Jack-O-Lanterns”. Over time, “Samhain” evolved into “All Hallow’s Eve”, and then into “Halloween”, as we know it today. When All Hallow’s Eve came to Northern America with the immigrants, we became carving pumpkins exclusively, and it got so popular that farmers started to breed better carving pumpkins in the 1920’s, about 227 years after the Witch Trials tore through Northern America.
The old practitioners would also dress up in costumes to scare off negative forces, a tradition we’ve adapted as well, and they would hold large bonfires to bring light to the night as they danced around them in their costumes to keep themselves and others safe, as well as to celebrate the work of the harvest season being completed, and to honor the beloved who were no longer in the physical realm. But they would also use these fires as a part of a ritual practice to burn away the troubles of the past year to encourage a clean energetic slate for the new spin of the Wheel that began on November 1st. As I said, Samhain is also known as the “Witch’s New Year”, so this practice was similar to today’s New Year’s Resolutions. When we decide to take up a new healthy habit, it means getting rid of the old ones, but perhaps more of us would be more successful with our resolutions if we took a little bit of time to release the old first, as about 43% of Americans give up their resolutions before the end of January. Honoring the old, for better or for worse, helps us to find our closure by saying goodbye and truly releasing it, making way for the new.
While Trick or Treating is now a beloved tradition around the world, there is so much more to Halloween than just collecting candy. Life is what you make it, and Halloween can be an excellent excuse to celebrate many things, but it is also a powerful time for ritual. Many practitioners use this day to commune with ancestors, but it is also a great time to receive messages from spirit guides as well. You can do this with any divination practice, or even through meditation, but the thing no one seems to be talking about is that Samhain is an incredibly powerful time for manifesting. Since the veil between the realms is thin, it makes for an opportune time to connect deeply with your desires and bring them into the physical realm. This year, Samhain will be particularly powerful, due to the new moon in Scorpio that will also occur on this day. Samhain already occurs during Scorpio season, so with this new moon we are getting a double dose of that metaphysical and transformative energy.
We can use this energy to reshape our lives if we’re bold enough to do so, or to make a deep connection with the non physical influences in our experience. The new moon sets the stage for a brand new moon cycle and if we’re mindful, we can set the tone for the remainder of it. This is a powerful time for connection, to our higher selves, Source, ancestors, spirit guides, dearly departed friends, and our desires. Use this energy however you best see fit, but make sure to protect yourself through your practice. This is a powerful time, making protection magick extra important. Be sure to cast your protection circles and call in your spirit guides during your rituals, and don’t be afraid to keep a night light on. The more light we can bring to this day, the better. The veil is only this thin for a short time, but make sure you respect what that means if you choose to work with this energy.
I hope you all have a blessed Samhain and stay safe out there.