Celebrate Samhain the Witchy Way

'Tis the Season of the Witch and it’s time to get spooky. I love Halloween. It has always been my favourite holiday since I can remember. When I reached the age of sixteen, my mum introduced me to the world of witchcraft and everything heathen. I felt like Sabrina the Teenage Witch joining my coven and I finally felt like I belonged somewhere.

I grew up near Stonehenge so the Wicca, Druid and everything witch is strong, with a sense of magic in my part of the country. As well as the aura of sage and dragon's blood. One thing about us pagans is we are self-taught bookworms that can see the beauty in the darkness, the weird and the wonderful. This is our New Year's Eve, so it's a time to party, celebrate and get spooky.

Every pagan has their own way of doing things, so there is no right nor wrong. So please ignore WitchTok as best you can. It's just a bunch of people thinking they are right in their beliefs telling everyone else they're wrong, which goes against what paganism actually is. It's a free spirited craft that you get to decide what is your faith and what isn't. As long as you are respectful to others and the planet, that's all that matters. That's why no two books of shadows will ever be the same.

Also quick side note: DO NOT pay for a reading. This is like the golden rule: you do not charge people for a reading from the universe, because the universe doesn't send an invoice to send messages, so why are you something that is a part of the universe paying for it?

Anyway, if you didn't already know, Samhain originates from Celtic Ireland, and was used to celebrate the end of the harvest, say goodbye to all those who lost their lives in the year, and prepare for the long night ahead. Winter is long and dark, so it's a great time to party the night away before we all have to hobble indoors, away from the freezing cold. Obviously we have come a long way since those days, with children dressing up as monsters begging for sweets, pumpkin spice lattes and the must have Hocus Pocus re-watch.

So what is it exactly do us heathens do on o' Hallows Eve? As I've said it depends on the person, but here are three simple things I do to Celebrate Samhain the Witchy Way:

1. Keep the Spirits Away

Always have a pumpkin outside the home, or a horseshoe. Superstition tells us we do this to protect our homes from bad spirits and evil witches entering our safe spaces. After all, the veil is very very thin, allowing the dead to walk freely among us, which is why we have pumpkins in the first place and carve scary faces onto them. Think of them as a festive gargoyle they keep the bad sprits a bay. Pumpkins (or horseshoes) protects us and makes great soup also (not the horseshoes). Let's not waste a single thing!

You're also welcome to put salt on your window seals and by your front door. Additionally, a witches bell is good for keeping the spirits out (that's if you don't want them of course). I on the other hand don't mind, as long as they are good and will do no harm, then I am not fazed. After all, the living can do more harm than the dead.

2. Cleanse, cleanse and cleanse

This is the perfect time to cleanse your home by getting rid of things you no longer need. It is the perfect season to so goodbye to the old before welcoming the new in the Spring. Don't forget to cleanse yourself. It's also a great time for you to let go of any negativity in your life. Maybe there are things that are weighing you down, allowing toxicity to invade your peace of mind. Fire spells are great for cleansing and earth spells are great for banishment. Depending on your intention depends on the spell incantation.

Remember, spells should rhyme, so poets, it's your time to shine! Oh, and spookily enough the moon is going to be in a Waning Gibbous phase, which is once again a perfect occasion to cleanse your space, and banish the bad, bringing yourself a little bit of closure. After all, that is what Samhain is supposed to be about.

3. Feast

Have a feast. It is a time of celebration! The end of the harvest happens on 30th October, so get those meats, cheeses, and gather your apples and grapes. Whack out the wine and party until the sun comes up. Oh, and grab yourself a yule log. Winter is coming, so why not have one at the start of the season, and then another midwinter? Treat yourself. There are no tricks here, well, except for the spells, of course.

Don't forget to invite your neighbours, family and friends to your feast, funnily it is also a time for giving, which is why we give out sweets and treats to the little monsters who come knocking on our doors.

That's the funny thing about traditions, they don't stay the same; they recycle themselves, appearing to be something new.

Other forms of celebration can include:

• A Nature Walk
• Tarot Readings
• Bonfires
• Seasonal Decorations (more pumpkins)
• Ancestral Altar

And that's pretty much it in a quick and very brief nutshell. Ooh nuts, they're good to have at a feast!

To get yourself into the spooky season, don't forget to enter the new Vocal Challenge Under a Spell and remember spells should rhyme, there is power in words that rhyme (x3):

I've also added in a Facebook group called Ancient Pagan Witches Shamans and Heathen Souls. There's a lot of us across the world all chilling together in one space. It's nice:

Happy Samhain and Blessed Be Brothers and Sisters!

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Stay safe, stay hopeful and stay blessed! :)