There’s a palpable shift in the air as autumn deepens. The crisp breeze carries the scent of Earth and fallen leaves, and the sky seems to hang lower, its light softer, more golden.
Nature herself is preparing for rest. The trees, now undressing, stand tall and bare, allowing the light to filter through in ways it hasn’t all summer. The once vibrant colours of the landscape begin to dull, and as the cool air wraps around you, there’s a sense of something more—something unseen awakening.
This is Samhain (pronounced "Sow-in" or "Sah-win"), the Witch’s New Year. An ancient Celtic festival that marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of the dark half of the year. Historically, Samhain is a time when the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds thins, inviting us to honour the dead, commune with our ancestors, and reflect on the cycles of life, death, and rebirth.
For those of us walking the Wise Women’s Path, this festival holds a deep connection to our Menomorphosis—the sacred transformation into our Crone/Crown phase. Just as the Earth prepares for her long winter’s rest, we too honor the changes within, shedding what no longer serves us and stepping into the wisdom of our elderhood. Samhain invites us to fully embrace this metamorphosis, walking through the veil with intention and grace. It is a time to shed the layers that no longer serve us, to let go of old stories, habits, and beliefs, and to open to the deep remembrance that rises from within.
In this season of Samhain, as the year comes to its close, we release what is no longer needed and prepare ourselves for the unfolding journey ahead. Like the Earth herself, we honour the cyclical nature of life—knowing that in the darkness, there is always the promise of renewal.
The Thinning Veil: A Time of Sacred Connection
The "thinning veil" is a central theme of Samhain. It refers to the time when the boundary between the physical and spiritual realms becomes porous, allowing for deeper communication with spirits, ancestors, and our own inner wisdom. During this time, we are more attuned to the energies around us, able to access insights from the past and receive guidance for the future.
This thinning veil is symbolic of the Menomorphosis—the process of transitioning into the Crone/Crown phase, where our connection to the unseen grows stronger.
The thinning veil invites us to look inward, to listen more deeply, and to honour the transformation happening within.
It is a time to release the old, outdated energies and beliefs that no longer serve us, and to create space for new insights and wisdom to flow in. New wisdom which is deeply routed in our intuition and ancient remembrance.
Enhancing Dreamwork: Samhain Dream Tea and Dream Pillow
As we release the old and make space for new wisdom to flow in, dreamwork offers a beautiful way to access deeper layers of the subconscious during this potent time. With the veil thinning, our dreams become powerful messengers, guiding us with ancestral wisdom and intuitive insight.
A perfect way to enhance this practice is with Samhain Dream Tea and a Dream Pillow—tools that allow you to explore deeper layers of the subconscious and strengthen your intuitive connection.
Samhain Dream Tea Recipe
This tea blend can be sipped before bed to invite dream clarity and ancestral connection during Samhain.
Ingredients:
1 tsp dried mugwort (for vision and spirit connection)
1 tsp dried lavender (for relaxation and peaceful sleep)
1 tsp dried chamomile (for calming the mind)
½ tsp dried rosemary (for clarity and protection)
½ tsp cinnamon (for warmth and grounding)
Instructions:
Boil a cup of water and add the herbs to an infuser.
Steep for 5-10 minutes, covering the cup to hold the steam and essence.
Slowly sip this tea with intention, calling upon your ancestors or spirit guides to send messages through dreams.
Dream Pillow Recipe
A dream pillow is a simple yet powerful tool to aid in dreamwork during Samhain. Placing the pillow under your head or near your bed will encourage prophetic dreams and restful sleep.
Ingredients:
1 tbsp dried mugwort (for spiritual dreams)
1 tbsp dried lavender (for peaceful sleep)
1 tbsp dried rose petals (for heart protection and love)
1 tbsp dried hops (to encourage deep sleep)
A small fabric pouch or piece of muslin to sew together
Instructions:
Combine all the herbs in a small bowl, blending them gently with intention.
Add the mixture to your fabric pouch or muslin, sewing or tying it closed.
Place the dream pillow under your pillow or near your bed to enhance dreamwork and invite clear, meaningful messages during this sacred time.
Blessing Herbs for Protection and Cleansing
As we move through this liminal space, the energies we encounter—both spiritual and emotional—can become overwhelming. It is essential to cleanse and protect ourselves during Samhain, ensuring that our energy remains clear and grounded.
In the Wise Women’s Way, we turn to the wisdom of blessing herbs to support us in this process.
Sage, one of the most well-known protection herbs, is a powerful purifier that clears away negative and stagnant energies. However, in recent years, white sage has faced issues of overharvesting and misuse, often being gathered disrespectfully from wild populations.
It’s also important to acknowledge the concerns around cultural appropriation, as white sage holds deep spiritual significance for Indigenous cultures.
As part of the Wise Women’s Path, we are deeply connected to the Earth and its rhythms, and it's essential to be mindful of how we gather and use our plant allies. If sage is not readily available in your region, consider working with other local herbs that are equally powerful for protection.
For example, Bay leaf, a common herb found in nearly every cupboard, is a potent protector. It has been used for centuries to banish negative energies and create a sacred space. Its energy is warm and purifying, perfect for invoking strength and clarity in your rituals. Working with herbs that are abundant in your local environment honours both the Earth and the spirit of sustainability.
Cedar grounds us in the presence of our ancestors, offering deep protection and connection to the ancient ones who have walked this path before us.
Rosemary, with its sharp and protective energy, strengthens our boundaries, keeping us focused and guarded against unwanted influences.
Finally, mugwort, the visionary herb, cleanses while opening pathways to the spirit realm, making it a perfect ally for divination and ritual work during Samhain.
To prepare for your rituals, use these blessing herbs to cleanse your space and your energy. Burn them as incense or create a smudge bundle, allowing the smoke to waft around your body and home. As the smoke rises, visualize it lifting away any heaviness or negativity, leaving your energy field clear and radiant, ready for the transformation that Samhain brings.
Harnessing the Magic of Protection
Samhain’s energy is not only one of transformation but also of protection. As the veil thins, it’s crucial to create a protective circle around ourselves and our sacred spaces, ensuring that we remain grounded and shielded from any negative energies that may be present.
The blessing herbs we use for cleansing also serve as potent protectors—working with bay leaf, cedar, rosemary, and mugwort creates a natural barrier, allowing only positive energies to enter.
One of the most powerful allies in protection magic is black salt, a combination of sea salt and activated charcoal. Black salt is revered for its ability to draw out unwanted energies, clear blockages, and create a shield of protection around the body or home. It is deeply grounding, helping us stay anchored as we navigate the unseen realms of Samhain.
To create a protection circle with black salt, start by cleansing your energy with blessing herbs. Then, sprinkle black salt around your ritual space or home, creating a protective boundary. As you lay the salt, set your intention for protection, calling upon the Earth’s energy to anchor and shield you. This protective circle will hold you in safety as you move through your Samhain rituals, allowing you to fully embrace the Menomorphosis without interference from external energies.
Black Salt Recipe for Protection:
1/4 cup sea salt
1 tbsp activated charcoal (for deep cleansing)
1 tbsp crushed rosemary (for protection)
1 tbsp ground black pepper
A pinch of ash from protective incense (such as frankincense, cedar, or mugwort)
1. Mix the ingredients together, stirring with intention. As you blend the herbs and salts, visualize a powerful shield forming around you.
2. Sprinkle the black salt in a circle around your ritual space, calling upon the elements to protect and guide you as you work. (you can read out the Samhain Blessings as you cast your circle)
3. Step inside the circle, stand still and breathe deeply. Feel the energies of the Earth below you and the sky above you aligning, creating a sacred space where you are held in safety.
The Black Salt Bath Ritual: Stepping Into the Darkness for Deep Release and Renewal
Samhain is also a time of deep release. Just as the trees shed their leaves, we are called to shed old energies, beliefs, and patterns that no longer serve us.
One of the most powerful ways to release and cleanse during Samhain is through the Black Salt Bath Ritual. This sacred bath ritual uses the cleansing and protective properties of black salt to draw out stagnant energies and open space for renewal.
Ingredients for Black Salt Bath:
1 cup Epsom salt (for detoxification)
½ cup Himalayan pink salt (for grounding)
1 tbsp activated charcoal (for deep cleansing)
5-10 drops of juniper essential oil (for protection)
5-10 drops of rosemary essential oil (for clarity)
A handful of dried mugwort (for spiritual connection)
Dried yarrow (for healing and protection)
Instructions:
Draw a warm bath and add the black salt mixture, stirring the water with your hands to activate the blend.
As you step into the water, allow yourself to sink fully into the warmth. Feel the salts begin to draw out any heaviness, fear, or outdated beliefs from your body and energy field.
Close your eyes and meditate on the darkness as a space of growth and transformation. With each breath, release what no longer serves you, trusting that the salt is purifying your spirit.
When you’re ready, step out of the bath, feeling lighter, renewed, and ready to walk forward into your Menomorphosis.
This ritual not only cleanses and protects but also honours the process of stepping into the dark. It is in the depths of winter’s darkness where true transformation begins—just as seeds are planted in the quiet of the soil, so too is your wisdom and growth nurtured in the silence of Samhain.
A Samhain Blessing: Honoring the Elements and the Sacred Cycles
As we close our Samhain rituals, we honour the elements and the sacred cycles of life, death, and rebirth.
The following blessing calls upon the elemental forces to guide, protect, and transform us as we walk the Wise Women’s Path which teaches us that true power lies in embracing both the light and the dark, the seen and the unseen.
As we cleanse, protect, and release what no longer serves us, we step deeper into our Menomorphosis—the sacred evolution into our Crone/Crown phase, where wisdom, strength, and intuition guide us.
By working with the blessing herbs of our land, practising sustainability, and honouring the traditions with respect, we walk in harmony with the Earth’s rhythms and our own inner cycles. Let us welcome the dark as an ally, trusting that in the quiet stillness of winter, the seeds of new growth are already stirring.
Samhain Blessing
Earth of the North, steady my soul, as winter’s chill comes to make me whole.
Ground my steps as I walk this way, into the dark where shadows play.
Air of the East, clear my mind, with your breath of wisdom, gentle and kind. Lift the veil, let the truth be known, as I journey inward, seeds are sown.
Fire of the South, ignite my heart, bring warmth and courage as I start, to release the old, embrace the new, in your flame, I am made true.
Water of the West, cleanse and heal, your flowing depths reveal what’s real. Wash away all doubt and fear, as I cross into the Witches’ New Year.
Blessed be the night, blessed be the day, in this sacred circle, I find my way.
As the veil thins and wisdom’s near, I honour the cycle, year to year.
Blessed be.
As we step into the darkness of Samhain, we are reminded that transformation comes from the still, silent places within. The Wise Women’s Path is one of honouring the cycles, trusting the darkness, and knowing that in the quiet of winter, the seeds of renewal are already stirring.
Blessed be this sacred time of Menomorphosis—where we shed the old, embrace the wisdom of the crown, and walk forward into the mysteries of the unseen.
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