Samhain: The Blood Harvest & Witches’ New Year
As the last leaves curl to ember and darkness stretches across the land, we arrive at Samhain (pronounced SOW-in) — one of the oldest and most potent festivals in the Celtic wheel of the year. Celebrated on October 31st, Samhain marks the final harvest and the turning of the year’s great wheel from light into shadow. It is a threshold: between seasons, between worlds, between life and death.
The Final Harvest & the Blood Season
While Lughnasadh and Mabon honored grain and fruit, Samhain was known as the Blood Harvest. Before winter arrived, animals that could not survive the cold were slaughtered and preserved. Nothing was wasted. Meat offered sustenance, hides offered warmth, and tallow offered light. It was a solemn, sacred act of survival.
This cycle reminds us that death feeds life and endings nourish beginnings.
Why We Celebrate
Samhain honors:
The last agricultural work of the year
Ancestors and beloved dead
The turning of the wheel
Releasing what must be left behind
The seeds of future growth resting in the dark
For many witches, Samhain is the Witches’ New Year — the energetic reset before winter’s deep descent.
All Hallows’ Eve
You may also hear Samhain called All Hallows’ Eve, the root of modern Halloween. Though modern traditions have shifted, the heart of this festival remains tied to remembrance, protection, and honoring the dead.
The Veil Grows Thin
On this night, it’s believed that the veil between the living and the spirit world is at its thinnest. Ancestors visit. Guidance becomes clearer. Dreams carry messages.
Because spiritual activity rises, many practitioners blend protection and invitation: candles, incense, and grounding rituals create a safe container for spirit work.
Why We Carve Pumpkins
Long before pumpkins, the Irish carved turnips into lanterns to ward off wandering spirits during Samhain. When immigrants arrived in America, pumpkins — larger and easier to carve — took their place. This tradition eventually became the jack-o’-lantern.
Rituals & Practices
The Silent Supper
A quiet meal eaten by candlelight with a place set for departed loved ones. This simple ritual invites connection and remembrance.
Ancestor Altars
Common items include:
Photos
Small heirlooms
Candles
Flowers
Foods they loved
Tell their stories. Say their names. They live through memory.
Offerings
Traditional offerings might include:
Apples
Dark bread
Cider or wine
Nuts
Honey
Herbs such as rosemary or mugwort
Offer them outdoors or on your altar.
Divination
Because the veil thins, Samhain is a powerful night for:
Tarot
Scrying
Pendulums
Runes
Bone casting
Readings often focus on the winter ahead and personal transformation.
Shadow Work
As the world sleeps, we turn inward. Samhain’s energy supports:
Releasing old patterns
Healing ancestral wounds
Facing fears gently
Examining habits that no longer serve
Ask yourself:
What am I ready to let die?
What wants to rest until spring?
What truth is ready to rise?
Correspondences
Colors: Black, orange, deep purple, rust
Herbs: Mugwort, rosemary, wormwood, sage
Crystals: Obsidian, smoky quartz, amethyst, jet
Symbols: Skulls, bones, lanterns, cauldrons, pumpkins
The Cycle Continues
Though Samhain honors death, it also carries a quiet promise: beneath frozen soil, life persists. Seeds dream in the dark. Transformation begins invisibly.
Just like nature, we rest, release, and prepare to rise again.
Blessed Samhain and Happy Witches’ New Year.
May your ancestors guide you, and may the quiet of winter bring reflection, healing, and renewal.
