Samhain Meaning and magickal uses
Also called Samhuinn, Halloween, All Hallows' Eve, Witches' New Year
The final harvest and the witches' new year, a night to honor the dead.
- Intentions
- Divination, Protection, Wisdom, Banishing
- Zodiac
- Scorpio
- Date
- October 31
- Also called
- All Hallows' Eve, Witches' New Year
How to use it
- Ancestor altar
Set a small table with photos, names or mementos of loved ones who have died, along with a candle and an apple or bread. Light the candle on Samhain night and speak to them, sharing news and thanks.
- Silent supper
Serve a simple meal and set one extra place for the ancestors. Eat in quiet or speak only of good memories, then leave that plate's portion outside for the earth the next morning.
- Year-ahead divination
Samhain is traditionally a favored night for divination. Draw one tarot card or rune for each season ahead, write what you see, and keep the notes to revisit next Samhain.
Works well with
History and folklore
Samhain, pronounced SOW-in, was a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest and the start of the dark half of the year. Irish tales set many otherworldly events at this time, when the boundary between worlds was believed to grow thin. Bonfires, guising and fortune-telling games all appear in later folk custom, and much of Halloween grew from them. Many modern witches treat Samhain as the new year, a night to remember the dead and look ahead.
The final harvest and the witches' new year, a night to honor the dead.
- Intentions: Divination, Protection, Wisdom, Banishing
- Zodiac: Scorpio
- Date: October 31
- Also called: All Hallows' Eve, Witches' New Year
How to use it
- Ancestor altar. Set a small table with photos, names or mementos of loved ones who have died, along with a candle and an apple or bread. Light the candle on Samhain night and speak to them, sharing news and thanks.
- Silent supper. Serve a simple meal and set one extra place for the ancestors. Eat in quiet or speak only of good memories, then leave that plate's portion outside for the earth the next morning.
- Year-ahead divination. Samhain is traditionally a favored night for divination. Draw one tarot card or rune for each season ahead, write what you see, and keep the notes to revisit next Samhain.
Works well with: Black Candle, Obsidian, Mugwort, Apple, Othala
Folklore
Samhain, pronounced SOW-in, was a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest and the start of the dark half of the year. Irish tales set many otherworldly events at this time, when the boundary between worlds was believed to grow thin. Bonfires, guising and fortune-telling games all appear in later folk custom, and much of Halloween grew from them. Many modern witches treat Samhain as the new year, a night to remember the dead and look ahead.
The Witch's Cabinet is a free reference for your practice. Correspondences are traditional associations, not medical advice. Always follow the safety notes, especially with herbs and essential oils around children, pets and during pregnancy.