The Witching season is upon us! October is a month of great promise and prosperity- regardless of the dark days this season may bring.  Samhain encourages one to  “Face your shadows and accept your faults, Look now to the future to seek your results.”

Lily Dale Assembly - Spiritual Camp

Samhain, (pronounced SOW-in) means “End of Summer”.  It’s also known as The Day of the Dead, Shadowfest, and All Hallow’s Eve, Samhain is now generally considered the Witch’s New Year.  Samhain is the third and final Harvest of the year. It is one of the two “spirit-nights” each year, the other being Beltane. It is a magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily suspended, and the Thin Veil between the worlds is thinned. Communicating with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time. Traditionally, this harvest was celebrated by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the “wandering dead”, Single candles were lit and left in a window to help guide the spirits of ancestors and loved ones home. Extra chairs were set to the table and around the hearth for the unseen guest. Any crops still in the field on Samhain were considered taboo, and left as offerings to the Natural spirits. Turnips (now pumpkins) were hollowed out and carved to look like protective spirits, for this was a night of magic and chaos.  Bonfires were built, (originally called bone-fires, for after feasting, the bones were thrown in the fire as offerings for healthy and plentiful livestock in the New Year) and  the ashes were spread over the harvested fields to protect and bless the land.

Spirits, Ghosts in Lily Dale NY

The Natural Mystic in Lily Dale, NY

Samhain Oil:

  • 2 drops sandalwood oil
  • 1 drop peppermint
  • 1 drop myrrh oil
  • 1 drop patchouli oil
  • 1 drop jasmine oil

Samhain Brew:

  • 1 inch ginger root juiced
  • 1/2 inch turmeric root juiced
  • 1 star anise
  • 2 clove segments
  • 1 Lemon (before juicing , heat lemon in microwave for 7 seconds to stimulate juices)
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons local honey

Directions: Heat on a stovetop on very low heat for 8 minutes. 

Herbs of Samhain:

  • Mugwort
  • Allspice
  • Catnip
  • Deadly Nightshade
  • Oak leaves
  • Sage
  • Straw

Foods of Samhain:

  • Turnips
  • Apples
  • Squash
  • Nuts
  • Red Wines
  • Beef
  • Pork Poultry

Scents of Samhain:

  • Myrrh
  • Mint
  • Nutmeg
  • Clove