🍁 Between the Worlds: Honoring Samhain & the Spirit of Halloween

Root & Rising
Oct 30
7 min read

🍂 The Turning of the Wheel

There’s something about late October that hums with quiet magic — the crisp bite of the air, the scent of woodsmoke and fallen leaves, the way the light softens as the days grow shorter. It’s a time that invites reflection, a moment when the world seems to hold its breath between what has been and what’s to come.

As we reach this sacred point on the Wheel of the Year, many know it as Halloween — a night of costumes, carved pumpkins, and playful frights. But beneath those modern traditions lies something far older: Samhain (pronounced SOW-in), the ancient Celtic festival that marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of the darker half of the year.

Whether you celebrate Samhain, Halloween, both, or neither, this turning of the seasons holds an energy that can be felt by anyone who pauses to notice it. It’s a natural invitation to slow down, to look within, and to honor both what we’ve gathered and what we must now release.

As the veil between worlds thins, we’re reminded that endings are not final — they are thresholds. Samhain teaches us that death and rebirth are part of the same sacred cycle, and that even in the quiet of decay, new life is already stirring beneath the soil.

🕯 The History & Origins

Long before Halloween was celebrated with costumes and candy, the ancient Celts gathered to honor Samhain (pronounced SOW-in), one of their most important fire festivals. It was traditionally observed from sunset on October 31st to sunset on November 1st, marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter — a time when livestock were brought in, fields were cleared, and the community prepared for the cold, dark months ahead.

Samhain was seen as the Celtic New Year, the point on the Wheel of the Year when the veil between worlds grew thin. It was believed that during this liminal time, spirits could cross more easily into our realm — not only those of loved ones who had passed, but also wandering or mischievous entities. To honor and protect themselves, people lit great bonfires, offered food and drink to their ancestors, and carried lanterns made from carved turnips to ward off unwelcome spirits.

*Traditional “Plaster Cast” of a 1900s Irish Turnip Jack-O-Lantern located in The National Museum of Ireland*

When Christianity began spreading through Celtic lands around the 7th and 8th centuries, the Church sought to replace pagan festivals with Christian observances. In the year 609 CE, Pope Boniface IV established All Saints’ Day (also called All Hallows’ Day) on May 13th to honor all Christian saints and martyrs. Later, in 835 CE, Pope Gregory IV moved the feast to November 1st — likely to coincide with existing Samhain celebrations. The evening before became known as All Hallows’ Eve, which over time evolved into Halloween.

Though the names and customs changed, the heart of the season remained — a reverence for the dead and the mysterious threshold between worlds. Many of the old traditions persisted beneath new forms: lighting candles for departed souls, visiting graves, dressing in disguise to ward off spirits, and sharing food or offerings.

Even today, beneath the playfulness of pumpkins and costumes, the spirit of Samhain endures — a reminder that this is a sacred time for honoring both life and death, endings and beginnings, and the invisible threads that connect us all.

🌘 The Spiritual Meaning of Samhain

Samhain reminds us that everything in life moves in cycles — growth, harvest, decline, and rest. It’s a sacred pause between seasons, a threshold where the seen and unseen worlds meet. Many witches, pagans, and spiritual seekers view this time as the Witch’s New Year, a moment to honor endings, reflect on lessons learned, and prepare to step into a new cycle with greater awareness.

Because the veil is said to be thinnest during Samhain, it’s often seen as a time to honor our ancestors and loved ones who have passed. Some light candles in their memory, set an extra place at the table, or speak their names aloud to welcome their spirits. It’s not about fear or darkness in the way pop culture sometimes portrays — it’s about connection, gratitude, and acknowledging that death is part of the natural rhythm of existence.

Spiritually, Samhain also invites introspection and shadow work. The darker months ahead call us inward, encouraging us to face what we’ve buried or outgrown. Just as trees release their leaves, we’re asked to let go of what no longer serves us — old habits, beliefs, relationships, or patterns that keep us from growing.

This is also a beautiful time to set intentions for the new year ahead, not from a place of urgency, but from stillness. When we slow down and listen, we can hear the quiet wisdom that only comes from the dark — the kind that helps us realign with our truest selves.

Samhain whispers that endings are never just endings. They are sacred beginnings waiting to take root beneath the surface.

🔮 Ways to Celebrate or Observe

There’s no one right way to honor Samhain or Halloween — the beauty of this season lies in following what feels most meaningful to you. Whether your practice is steeped in tradition or simply guided by intuition, this is a time to slow down, reconnect, and create space for magic and reflection.

Here are a few ways to weave the spirit of Samhain into your own celebration:

🕯 Create an Ancestor Altar

Gather photos, mementos, or items that remind you of loved ones who have passed. Light candles in their honor, speak their names aloud, and thank them for the paths they’ve helped shape. Even if you don’t know much about your ancestry, you can honor the ancestors of the land, of spirit, or anyone whose life has influenced yours.

🍎 Share in the Harvest

Samhain is the final harvest of the year — a perfect time for kitchen magic. Bake bread, roast squash, make spiced cider, or prepare a favorite family recipe as an offering of gratitude. You might even leave a small plate of food outside as a gift for wandering spirits or the creatures of the night.

🌒 Practice a Ritual of Release

Write down what you’re ready to let go of — fears, habits, thoughts, or relationships that no longer serve your growth. Burn or bury the paper as an act of release, letting the smoke or earth carry your intentions. As the year turns, you make space for renewal and clarity.

🌿 Divination & Reflection

Because the veil is thin, Samhain is a powerful time for tarot, oracle cards, pendulums, or dreamwork. Ask questions about what the new cycle is inviting in, or what wisdom the shadows hold for you. Listen closely — the messages you receive now often speak straight to the soul.

🌌 Time in the Dark

Take a walk under the night sky or spend a quiet moment by candlelight. Let the darkness feel safe, soft, and sacred. The stillness of this season isn’t empty — it’s fertile. It’s where seeds of transformation begin to root.

You can make your Samhain as simple or elaborate as you wish. What matters most is intention — honoring the rhythm of endings and beginnings, and listening for what the dark wants to teach you.

📖 Journaling Prompts for Samhain

Samhain invites us to pause and listen — to our intuition, our ancestors, and the quiet truths stirring within. Journaling during this time can help us process what’s shifting, release what needs to be let go, and honor what’s ready to be born anew.

Here are a few prompts to guide your reflections this season:

🌑 Release & Renewal

What am I ready to release as the wheel turns?
What lessons have I gathered from this past cycle, and what can I leave behind?
In what ways am I being asked to surrender, soften, or trust?

🌒 Ancestral Connection

Who in my lineage (blood, chosen, or spiritual) would I like to honor or learn from?
How do I carry the strength or stories of those who came before me?
What ancestral wounds or patterns am I ready to heal?

🌕 Inner Shadow & Transformation

What parts of myself have I hidden in the dark that are ready to be seen?
How can I bring compassion to the parts of me I’ve judged or rejected?
What does rebirth mean to me at this moment in my life?

🌘 Intention for the New Cycle

As the darker half of the year begins, what do I want to nurture within myself?
How can I honor rest and reflection as sacred forms of growth?
What small rituals or practices help me stay rooted as the seasons change?

Take your time with these. Let your words flow freely — no need to edit, just feel. Sometimes the act of writing becomes a spell of its own, helping us see what was waiting to be heard all along.

🌙 Closing Reflections — The Beauty in the Dark

As the final leaves fall and the nights grow long, Samhain reminds us that darkness isn’t something to fear — it’s something to honor. It’s the fertile soil where our roots deepen, where rest becomes sacred, and where transformation quietly begins.

Whether you celebrate Samhain, Halloween, or simply feel the shifting energy of the season, this time of year offers a gentle invitation: to remember, to release, and to reconnect. To light candles for those who walked before us, to tend the inner fires that guide us forward, and to trust that even in endings, something beautiful is being born.

So as you sip your warm drink beneath the glow of candlelight, take a moment to breathe in the mystery of it all — the thin veil between worlds, the whispers of your ancestors, the steady beat of your own becoming.

May this Samhain bring you peace, clarity, and a renewed sense of connection — to yourself, to the unseen, and to the sacred cycle of life that turns ever onward.

💬 Join the Conversation

If you’d like to share your Samhain reflections, journaling insights, or simply connect with others on this seasonal journey, you’re warmly invited to join our Facebook community: Root & Rising: A Cozy Corner for Magic & Self-Love .

This is a cozy, supportive space for anyone looking for a community where you can be completely yourself, take gentle care of your mind, body, and spirit, and celebrate the magic in everyday life. Whether you’re a seasoned witch, just beginning, or simply curious about the rhythms of the seasons, this group is a perfect place to rest, share, and grow.

We’d love to see you there! ✨