5 Ways to Celebrate Samhain
Lately, as a way to connect deeper to seasonal living and to my roots as a person I have been studying and learning about Celtic Mythology and Celtic folklore. I even learned about it in my Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership Program in September.
A huge part of the Celtic tradition is celebrating the Celtic Wheel of the Year. The Wheel of the Year is common in other faiths and traditions such as Paganism as well. I have loved connecting with and celebrating The Wheel of the Year as a way to honor my roots AND connect deeper to mother nature. The celebrations of the wheel of the year are seasonal celebrations based in agricultural living and most celebrations line up with the times of harvest, and planting.
There are many different ways to celebrate the wheel of the year and I am slowly exploring my favorite ways to celebrate the season I am.
Samhain is usually associated with the harvest moon in the first week of November and is celebrated on Oct 31st/November First. It is known by many different names across religions and traditions.
5 ways to Celebrate Samhain:
Dumb Supper:
Since the veil is thin, our ancestors and recently lost family members are easier to contact and feel their presence. A Dumb support can also be known as a dinner with the dead. It memorializes and remembers loved ones and ancestors And invites them back into our lives for the duration of the meal.
the most common way to celebrate is to hold a meal in complete silence to show reflection and respected. A family meal is prepared and an extra place setting is set for the deceased loved ones and ancestors. each person considers and reflects on their private memories with those who are no longer with us.
Another way to celebrate is to have a supper that is loud, celebratory, full of your family foods and full of appreciation of being alive. Either way, it is important to cook foods that are authentic to your bloodline and heritage or to your family traditions and memories.
I love thinking about my Aunt's favorite meal or my Nanny's favorite dessert.
Harvest ritual:
If you have a garden, it is the time of final harvest. We have already had frost in the Berkshires but we have been able to keep some calendu and lettuce growing under fleece as well as our brassicas and fall veggies. If possible harvest something for your Dumb Supper or your all Hallow's eve dinner from your garden. Try this harvest ritual.
Walk outside barefoot so the earth kisses your feet. Say a prayer of thanks to your garden for sustaining you all season long. Place your hands on the earth around the plant you are harvesting and visualize a warmth sending deep into its roots. Say thank you as you cut and harvest the plant. When you cook the veggie or place the flower in a vase, take a moment to honor all the energy and resources that went into growing this plant. Enjoy!
If you don't have a garden, you can still perform a harvest ritual. Take a walk on Halloween and find a flower, leave or any piece of the natural world. Perform the same ritual above but with your foraged plant or flower.
Take a ritual bath
Really, I am all about baths lately. They are so so good for your lymphatic system, muscles, circulation and overall mind, body and soul. This SAmhain create a ritual bath to honor the turn of the wheel inward.
How to:
Draw your bath and light some candles (I have some battery powered ones near the bath and some flame candles slightly away) as you repeat "These candles will light me journey inward."
Grab epsom Salt and pour it into your bath as you repeat "To this bath, I add salt to protect and nourish me"
Add a bath bomb or essential oil with herbs and scents that speak to this season as you repeat "to this bath, I add clove/lavender/rose to honor the life that I have lived this past year."
Put on your favorite classical or sppoky season playlist.
Last but not least, add yourself (hehe) and repeat "I enter this bath to release and let go of what no longer serves me. I wash it all away to welcome what is yet to come."
Take a moment to close your eyelids and visualize all you no longer need melting away and washing off of you.
Enjoy!
Later, as you let the bath drain, visualize all you have let go going down the drain. Say thank you for the experience and welcome the turn inward for further reflection
Create empowering mantras
Take a moment to reflect on how you feel now an how you want to feel in the future. Write down at least THREE things you want to embody as you enter into this dark season. Let them be things that you want to invite into your life. State them into the present tense like they are already happening to you.
" I am powerful"
"I am abundant."
"I am strong."
"I am capable."
Hold a ritual of release
Similar to the ritual bath, create a ceremony to let go of what no longer serves you and welcome in further reflection. Try this:
Dim the lights and find a sacred space to sit.
Light a candle as you repeat " With this candle, I light the way for my journey inward."
Write down all the things you want to leave behind, let go of and release. This can be one word, a phrase, people, places, things or behaviors. Write it all out and let it all go. Let the energy these things were holding onto return back to you.
In a fire proof container, carefully light the piece of paper on fire, allowing it to fall into the fire proof container as you repeat "I let you go. I release you. I am ready to leave this behind."
Journal about what comes up for you as you perform this ritual.
You can perform the same ritual by tossing what you are letting go off into a fire place or bonfire.
Other ideas this November's Eve:
Create an altar (including photos, beloved food, and heirlooms) for family members, known or unknown.
Give gifts to the earth spirits, the fairies, the protectors of your land, and the spirits of your home.
Or make a little more spooky and magical
"Quick! Put a mirror in your window to ward off demons. Pile salt on your doorstep to keep bogeys at bay! Fix a rowan branch across your latch to protect the house from evil witches."
The wheel of the Year By: Jennifer Lane
My favorite part about celebrating the Wheel of the Year is to find rituals and celebrations that honor my ancestral roots. there are many ways to celebrate each holiday and you can truly tailor it to your own life and what is authentic to you.
