Samhain ~ honouring the ancestors

October 31st marks the day of the year where the veil is the most of thin. Some call it Halloween or All Hallow's Eve, some call it Samhain (pronounced- "Sau-wain"), some even call it the Day of the Dead. 
​
For witches, this day can often be seen as the New Year! The death of one year, and the birth of another. Since the veil is thin, we can sometimes speak with our ancestors, or receive messages from them. It is thus that we honour them- offer their favourite foods or treats on our altar to lure them even closer. 

I like to bake or cook meals this week and days that connect me with my past loved ones. I offer prayers and dances and gifts for them ~ so I may receive their messages, their blessings and the insights I am meant to hear for the year to come. 

~Dear grandmother spirit, dear grandfather spirit, please offer us blessings and messages and keep us on our right path.
Dear father and mother spirits, please keep us nurtured and loved and keep us in our honour.
Dear ancestors, light our way through another year.~

Our ancestors are SUCH a vital part of who we are. We literally would not be here without them. Period. So, we can take a day to party in their honour!

Things to place on your altar:

• A photo of a loved, or all passed ones
• Bake/cook their favourite meals and place some to offer up
• Place alcohol, tobacco, or other offerings, maybe simply lighting a candle in their honour
• Feel free to write a letter to anyone passed or current, burning it and letting it go
• Optional: add pumpkins, skulls, crystals, grimoire & tools to be blessed on your altar

If you cannot make it to a collective gathering (I host one annually, in person AND online) where you can dance & burn & share, take at least 5 minutes to consciously work with this energy! Dance, read, write, sign, cry and consume something in their honour!! 

May we be blessed.
May we be guided. 

Another amazing practice at this time of year is to reflect on the past 12 month cycle.

1. On one piece of paper (or individual rose petals or bay leaves) write all of the "thorns": The hardships, the struggles, the pain. 
2. On another piece of paper (or the rose petals or bay leaves) write all of the "flowers": The blessings, the wins, the love. 
3. With the thorns, speak them out loud and burn them one at a time!
4. With the flowers, speak them out loud, give gratitude and then either send them down a river for blessings, plant them in the soil, or keep them for another year. 

Often times, we can see more of the bigger picture when we do this practice. It can help illuminate what worked well, and perhaps what didn't. And this can help light the way for our next year ahead!!

Feel free to share some of your Samhain traditions and prayers. 

As always, you are welcome to join me in circle- we gather every month on the Full Moon via Zoom. (www.patreon.com/sarahbellab via the Witch Tier). 

Blessed Be!

(Oh, and there's also a full moon on the 31st this year (2020) so take heed... the energy will be extra high!)