.png)
.png)
.png)
Samhain - Halloween - the Third Harvest - Life, Death and Rebirth
- Sam Lacey
- Oct 1
- 16 min read
Samhain (pronounced Sow-een) is the third and final of the three Pagan harvest festivals, and one of the most important festivals in the witchy calendar. Set on 31st October, this is the harvest of nuts, berries, and meat! Traditionally our farming Ancestors would slaughter the livestock now to preserve over the Winter, as this would save them having to feed them precious grain and food supplies needed to sustain them over the harsh Winter months.
Many of us feel a natural pull to start foraging and preserving – creating jams, infused liqueurs and healing syrups.
Why I Love This Time of Year
If you hadn’t guessed already – I just LOVE this time of year. The colours, the cooler air, the baking – even the dark nights and rainy days I love it… and it’s not just me! There is something about this season that people just have an affinity with – a time to get cosy, light the scented candles, smother everything in pumpkin spice and eat soup.
There are psychological reasons for it too.
According to psychology experts there are some distinct qualities about this time of year to which people feel deeply drawn. Autumn can fit into our lives in a similar way to that of a birthday or a new year. They’re all temporal landmarks, or moments that create a structure for how we see and use time.
Research shows that experiencing temporal landmarks can boost motivation to pursue goals and in Autumn, a season we’re socially conditioned to associate with going back to school, that motivation may be directed toward our careers in adulthood.
Although I always dreaded the return to school so I’m not sure if that ticks my box. However, it does align with that "back to school / fresh start" feeling that we associate with the new term, and I tend to do a lot of "Spring" cleaning and sorting out the cupboards at this time of year...hence some pagans refer to the festival of Samhain as 'the witches new year'.
Why We Love Autumn
There are possibly other reasons at play for our love of the Fall season –
“During the summer, people tend to travel for vacation and have less predictable schedules. Once fall starts, most people resume their everyday routines, making it easier for friends to get together and socialize. There is a comfortable routine that this season brings,” says Sanam Hafeez, PsyD, neuropsychologist and director of Comprehend the Mind.
The weather may also present some mental health benefits. The cooler temperatures and spectacular foliage encourage us to spend time in nature, which has been connected with improvements in our happiness, wellbeing, relationships, and sense of having a life purpose.
There are loads more Autumn facts in my Autumn Equinox blog here.
Art by Janie Olson
Autumn vs Fall – Which Came First?
While researching the reason why we love Autumn so much I came upon some interesting info – I’d always assumed that here in the UK we used the term Autumn, and in the US it was Fall….apparently not! Fall originated in the UK!!
The older of the two words is autumn, which first came into English in the 1300s from the Latin word autumnus. The common name for this intermediary season prior to the arrival of autumn was harvest, which was potentially confusing, since harvest can refer to both the time when harvesting crops usually happens (autumn) as well as the actual harvesting of crops (harvest).
The word autumn was, then, a big hit.
Poets continued to be wowed by the changes autumn brought, and in time, the phrase “the fall of the leaves” came to be associated with the season. This was shortened in the 1600s to fall.
No one really knows why the Americans decided to favour the word “fall” and “autumn” stuck in the UK – Personally I love the word Fall, but old habits die hard!
What Samhain Means to Pagans
The last of the harvest is in – it is the end of the cycle of life and growth and the earth prepares to lie dormant. The sap in the trees begins its downward flow into the earth, the leaves turn from green to shades of red and gold, the seeds fall deep into the earth and death appears to come to the land.
The God, as Sun King is sacrificed back to the land with the seed until the Winter Solstice, and the Goddess, now as Crone, mourns Him until His rebirth at Yule. He travels the Underworld learning its wisdom. This is the time of the descent into darkness, of pre-conception, out of which new life, new ideas, will eventually emerge.
This story is echoed around many cultures around the earth and through time. The story of Persephone and Demeter is one many of us witches align with at this time of year - beginning at the Autumn Equinox, in Greek mythology, the Autumn Equinox is deeply connected to the story of Persephone’s descent into the Underworld. This ancient myth beautifully explains the turning of the seasons and the dance between light and dark, Yin and Yang, life and death.
Persephone, the beloved daughter of Demeter, goddess of the harvest, was taken by Hades, god of the Underworld. In her grief, Demeter let the earth grow barren, and crops failed. Nothing would grow until her daughter was returned....Winter.
When Zeus intervened, Hades agreed, but not without a twist. Persephone had eaten pomegranate seeds, binding her to the Underworld for part of each year. And so the rhythm of the seasons was born.
When Persephone is below, from the Autumn Equinox through Winter, the earth lies in stillness and darkness. We enter the time of descent, dormancy, and deep reflection. When she returns in Spring, the world bursts back into life, growth, and renewal.
This myth is more than a story, it is a sacred allegory. Persephone’s descent mirrors our own cycles of life, death, and rebirth, and reclamation of our sovereignty. It reminds us that just as the leaves fall and the earth quiets, we too can release, rest, and trust that light and growth will return.
The Autumn Equinox is her threshold moment, the balance point before she journeys below. It’s a powerful time to honour what we are ready to let go of, to sit with our shadows, and to prepare for the darker half of the year, we move through into Samahin, the time to connect with our darker selves, and our Ancestors.
The Crone
As the Spring is associated with the Maiden, and the Summer is the Mother, Autumn and Winter connect us to the Crone. We can now honour our own inner wisdom. The Crone is one of the most powerful archetypes of Samhain and she embodies everything this sabbat represents. She is the wise woman, the witch, the keeper of mysteries.
The Crone at Samhain:
She rules over death, transformation, and rebirth - teaching us that endings are not final, but part of the great cycle.
She carries the wisdom of age and experience, guiding us into the darker half of the year with knowledge of the unseen.
She asks us to face our shadows, fears, and mortality with courage, for in doing so, we uncover our deepest truth.
She is the Ancestor, the midwife of the soul, the gatekeeper between worlds.
The Crone at Samhain invites us to:
Honour our ancestors and draw strength from their wisdom.
Release what no longer serves, just as the trees release their leaves.
Step into our own inner power, trusting our intuition and inner knowing.
In many traditions she is seen as the Dark Goddess - Hecate, Cerridwen, The Morrigan, Kali. Powerful Goddesses / archetypes who walk between life and death, and who gift us the courage to walk through our own cycles of change.
At this time of year, when the veil is thin, the Crone whispers:
“Do not fear the dark. Within it lies the seed of new life.”
This is a time to descend deeper into reconnecting with our inner darker selves, the perfect time for embracing our shadow side ...(.check out all things related to that in my shadow work blog here.)
Art by Wendy Andrew
The Veil is Thin
Traditionally, we say the “veil is thin” at this time – meaning that the barriers between this world and the other realms is less dense.
It is the season of death, ghosts and the underworld. We can feel the connection to the world of spirit easily now.
Samhain is a time for honouring the dead, our Ancestors and all those who have gone before.
This is a magical time, as the dark half of the year commences. Our Ancestors would have huddled around fires, practicing divination and connecting with the spirit world, while planning for the year ahead.
We naturally feel a need to withdraw from the world, to go within. Like the Sun King, and Persephone, we feel the need to begin our own descent into darkness, into ourselves.
Death is always followed by rebirth and while this is the end of the old year, it is the beginning of the new year.
For the Celts, our Ancestors, the day did not begin at dawn, it began at sunset, it began with darkness. Light is always born out of darkness – they are inseparable, interdependent, and necessary. Darkness is fertile with ‘all potential’.
With the beginning of this dark phase comes the opportunity to rest and reflect on the past and to dream of new beginnings. The three harvest festivals give us the opportunity to harvest literally and figuratively in our outer physical, and inner emotional / spiritual worlds.
When we harvest we create room and space for new things to grow – we can harvest seeds, ready to store and regrow next year. The seed now hidden in the earth will germinate in its own time and season.
Where can you see what you need to let go of, and where are the seeds within yourself that you need to nurture and store lovingly over the winter months?
Personal Development To Honour the Energies of the Season
This time of year is the perfect time to start the journey of self-exploration and personal development.
As the nights draw in it is a natural part of our psyche to want to also begin to turn our attention inwards.
There is a duality about this time of year, as we feel the need to hunker down for winter, yet the consumer society is bombarding us with the need to gear up for the commercialism of Halloween and the impending Christmas festivities. We are pulled in different directions! No wonder there is so much stress and anxiety around this time of year.
Samhain at its very essence is showing us to slow down and reconnect with our inner being, our Ancestors, loved ones who have gone before – yet who are also still around us in their energy if we can tune in and hear them.
Group Ceremonies and Rituals
I hold regular events following the cycles and seasons of the year - small women's circles, where we can come together to recognise and honour the turning of the wheel, dropping the masks that society expects us to wear and just 'be'. These events are fun and sacred, giving an opportunity to rest, with deep guided meditations and a ritual, followed by a restorative sound bath, and always with tea and cake!
Or, if you just want to come and lie down, really go within and let the resonance of sound restore and heal you, you can just come to my Shortstown Soundbath, which is open to all - nothing to do but turn up and lie down! A perfect opportunity to passively let go of old stuck emotions.
Ritual To Honour Your Ancestors
Honouring your Ancestors is a very special thing to do at this time and can be done in many simple ways.
Think about all those beloved departed souls from your life, both family and friends, and of course our pet family! This is the perfect time to include children in the celebrations – place photographs of them on your altar. Offer them your hospitality, welcome their presence into your home. On this night lay an extra place for them to join you at the table – cook and eat their favourite dishes, talk about them – remember them, bring them closer. You and your children can make an offering for departed pets by leaving some dog or cat food outside on Halloween night, many night creatures appreciate this offering, and why just do it on one night!?…extend that hospitality throughout the dark cold days of the whole Winter season.
A Samhain Ritual to Honour the Dead
A simple ritual can be made by writing all the names of those you want to remember down on a piece of paper, I include my pet family. This can be done alone or with family and friends. After your Samhain feast you can all gather around a candle, have a fire-proof dish ready, take a few moments to reflect and remember on the names that you have before you. Switch off all the lights and sit gently in the darkness. Allow the darkness to enfold you. Ask for the presence of your ancestors to come to you. When you are ready, light the candle saying:
“We welcome our departed loved ones into this home and honour your presence amongst us”
Read the list of names aloud – maybe someone wants to say a few words about a particular person, or all of them, share some memories and stories! This is one way of honouring our people, to remember them with love and joy! When you feel you are ready to let them go, light the list of names, place it in the dish to burn away and just pause. This is often a moment when you feel your loved ones near. We are all energy – energy cannot be destroyed – when we pass through the veil we just transmute into different vibrations. Our loved ones only need to be thought of to be in our hearts and around us.
Herbs, Teas & Magic for Samhain
Herbs and plants associated with Samhain include mugwort, chamomile, lavender, valerian, ashwagandha, skullcap, and mint. Many of these aid in meditation, relaxation, and dreamwork, supporting us in connecting to the otherworld.
To honour this time I have created the Samhain Dream Tea Package, which blends these magical herbs with a free tarot reading to help guide your journey.
This ritual package will help you to connect more deeply with your Ancestors, and this time of year.
The tea and package are limited editions, and both pair really well with my Dream Weaver tincture, which is available all year, and is a great support to use during those times when sleep eludes.
The Spiral of the Year
Samhain is a time of death and rebirth, of endings and beginnings. As the earth grows darker and colder, we turn inwards, reflect on the cycles of life, and honour those who have passed before us.
It is a festival of:
Honouring ancestors and loved ones who have crossed over
Letting go of what no longer serves us
Preparing for the dark half of the year with wisdom and introspection
Embracing the Darkness
The darker months invite us to slow down, rest, and reflect. Samhain teaches us that the dark is not to be feared, but embraced as a time of dreaming, gestation, and inner work.
Honouring this season helps us step into the winter with courage, wisdom, and a deeper connection to ourselves and our Ancestors.
Traditional Samhain Rituals
Samhain traditions are rooted in deep connection to nature, spirit, and cycles of life. You may wish to include:
Ancestor Altars – placing photos, candles, food, or offerings for your loved ones
Divination – tarot, oracle, scrying, or meditation for guidance
Feasting – sharing seasonal foods such as pumpkins, apples, and root vegetables
Fire Rituals – writing down what you wish to release and burning it in a flame
These practices create sacred space for reflection, release, and renewal.
The Elements, Seasons, Qigong and Samhain
The more I study Qigong, the more I see that all practices across the world and throughout history share so many similar roots.
At this time of year you hear reference to the "veil thinning" - but what does this mean?
The belief that our world does not exist alone but alongside many other dimensions and panes of existence is universal and ancient. We refer to what separates the planes of existence as "veils", and as we move into the dark half of the year, 'spooky season', a more Yin time, passive, feminine, darker, reflective, it is said they thin, making contact between us all easier.
The Ancestors are beginning their return home during this season, piercing the thin veil between the living and the dead. The light gives way to darkness, and enables us to connect with them and them with us!
Tuning into the physical body, in Qigong, TCM and the Daoist belief, the lungs and large intestine are the organs of Autumn. When functioning optimally, we can process grief more effectively, transforming our experiences into valuable lessons and insights. However, imbalances in these organs can manifest physically and emotionally, leading to respiratory issues, digestive discomfort, or feelings of hopelessness. By taking our cues from the Daoist perspective and fully embracing this seasonal change, we can focus on fostering holistic mind-body-spirit health, creating harmony during this tenderly pensive time of year.
Along with my weekly classes, most of my events contain an element of Qigong, and sound!
Movement, breath, meditation and energetic vibration work synergistically to heal mind, body and spirit.
If you're new to Qigong, for more information on what it is and how it can help you read my blog here. It never ceases to amaze and fascinate me how there are the common themes that weave their threads throughout all cultures and history relating to the seasonal shifts, and how we are connected to the cycles of nature within them.
In Qigong, we work on building the Qi, the energy within us, connecting to the energy of the Earth and the Heavens (the Universe) and Nature, this Qi nourishes our blood which goes on to sustain our organs, which give us heathy bodies and longevity. We have the five elements that all correspond with different organs, meridians within our bodies, and seasons, as well as different animals. These elements are slightly different from the ones I am used to working with as a witch – Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit (or Ether), the Chinese elements are Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth. In Qigong everything is about balance, the Yin and the Yang, the light and the dark – one cannot exist without the other, but when there is an imbalance between the two, that is when dis-ease occurs.
As we move into the Autumnal season, connecting with the lungs, which are associated with sadness, sorrow and grief, and large intestines, which are associated with letting go – we see that these are absolutely the energies that we associate with Autumn! Each season and element not only has exercises that will help nourish and strengthen the organs, but also lifestyle habits that help us align fully with each season, such as the foods we should be eating – so with Autumn, some of the foods are things like stewed apples, pumpkins and squash – foods that nourish and support our Yin, and as we bring these foods into our diets, we should also not eat the cooling foods associated with Summer, salads etc.
Eating seasonally, connecting in with Nature, working with the natural rhythms, cycles and seasons of the Earth are all things that I have been doing as part of my practice for many years, so when I came to Qigong, many elements of it seem so natural.
Samhain Correspondences
Associations of the Season – Here are some of the most popular associations of the season:
The Apple
The apple is a sacred fruit to pagans. There are many apple games played at Samhain which grew out of the belief in the Apple as a sacred and magical fruit. The Apple is a symbol of life and immortality. In Celtic tradition, apples were buried at Samhain as food for those souls who are waiting to be reborn. The Apple, cut crosswise, reveals the five-pointed star, or pentacle at its core, a symbol of the Goddess.
The Pumpkin
Pumpkins are very much an American tradition which has been successfully marketed in the UK and Europe. Everyone loves them, especially of course, children. If you consider that the Celts regarded the human head as the Seat of the Soul, the concept of the carved pumpkin with a candle inside it as the Light shining from the Soul, it becomes just about acceptable… Apart from this the pumpkin has nothing to do with Samhain; however, it has weaved itself into our homes and associations of the season.
The Cauldron
The Cauldron or Holy Grail is closely associated with Samhain. It is feminine, and is the cosmic container for all life and death, of transformation and rebirth.
The Besom Broom
The besom is used as this time both practically and symbolically. It sweeps away the last of the Autumn leaves, but is also used ritually to sweep out the old, to clean and clear away old energy, creating space for the new. Traditionally besoms are made from birch twigs – the birch is associated with purification and renewal. You can make a besom at this time of year by gathering a large bundle of birch twigs tied together. Drive a broom handle into the middle of the bundle – ideally hazel or ash.
Animals
Corvids (Ravens, Crows, Magpies, Jackdaws etc), Owls, Spiders, Bats and Black Cats are creatures associated with Samhain and the night. Ravens and crows have long been associated with death, and several Goddesses and Gods are reputed to shapeshift into them, or have them as familiars, along with the other creatures mentioned.
Acorns
The Acorn is the seed of the great Oak, representing wisdom, longevity, rebirth – a promise of strength to come. An acorn in your pocket is an amulet of good fortune to come. All nuts from our indigenous trees – walnuts, hazelnuts, conkers and so on – are pure potential and carry the attributes of the mother tree.
Colours of Samhain
Black for death and endings, orange for the vitality of life within death, purple for wisdom, insight and inspiration.
The Samhain Altar
Creating an altar is a really good way to create a visual tangible space for your spiritual practices. It helps to manifest your intentions, and gives you a focal point. Having a dedicated space for your own belief system will make it more likely that you will spend some time each day on your meditations, manifestations and rituals. An altar space is also a great way to honour the Ancestors.
There is no right or wrong way to create an altar space, and they are all individual and unique. Just allow it to unfold and place whatever you feel is appropriate for the time, season, what you wish to manifest or meditate on, have fun and allow your creativity to flow! (the featured image on this blog is my own Samhain altar for this year)
Here are some ideas for a Samhain altar:
A cauldron
Apples, nuts and berries
Black candles to honour the passage to the other side and the Ancestors
Photographs of deceased family, friends and pets
Crystals, associated with the earth
Soil in a dish
A candle
Gourds and pumpkins, leaves, twigs and branches
Of course, the pagan Samhain is now so intertwined with the Americanised Halloween, and is also a real time to celebrate, get social and get into the party spirit! There are those that hate the commercialism of it all, but for me, it is a time when we are all celebrating together, pagans and muggles! (I use that term with endearment and respect). The details in how we personalise it are less relevant, and more personal, than the fact that we can all celebrate something together.
Whether you take the kids out trick or treating, have a Halloween party, hold or attend a personal or group witchy/pagan ceremony or ritual, or just spend time in quiet solitude, meditation and reflection, the fact we are all connected and honouring the season is what is important for me.
As the wheel turns and we honour the ancient fire of Samhain, may you find peace in release, joy in remembrance, and strength in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
Blessed Samhain.
However you choose to celebrate, stay well, and keep the love of your Ancestors in your hearts.
Much love and Samhain blessings,
Sam AuroraStar Green Witch XXX
© 2025 Sam AuroraStar, The Green Witchery. All rights reserved. Thank you for walking the Wheel of the Year with me. This blog is written by a human witch - AI used for research and SEO purposes only.
Comments