Honoring Samhain: Creating an Altar, Crafting a Ritual Oil, and Celebrating the Spirit of the Season10/27/2024 Cultures steeped in ancient traditions have long celebrated the time between the Autumn harvest and the anticipation of the upcoming Winter with celebrations centered around honoring the lives of our ancestors and loved ones who have departed from this earthly realm. In modern America, Halloween has become the focus of our October festivities, a lot of which have their roots deep in these historical practices. Samhain (Gaelic* pronounced Sow-en) is the most sacred of the Pagan holidays. Although widely celebrated on October 31st -just like Halloween-The Festival of Fire was traditionally held over multiple days. The Witches New Year honors the halfway point between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice. The Druids and Ancient Celtic civilizations revered this first dark turn of the Wheel of the Year as the time where the veil between the spiritual and physical worlds was the thinnest. These festivals had been held to connect with their ancestors and the spirits of their lost loved ones, with gratitude for their sacrifice and wisdom as well as prayer and asking for their continued protection. The winter has long been associated with mortality, and as such the time to ask for the assistance of those who came before them was of the essence. There is something cozy and communal about sitting around a fall bonfire, perhaps for some of us this feeling comes from our souls remembering how the bonfire was the focal point of Samhain in the time of the Druids and Celts. Bonfires were lit on hilltops to ward off evil spirits and plead with the sun to stay, in villages strewn across Ancient Europe in countless Tribal Chiefdoms. This was not just in Ireland, Scotland and Britain, as many believe. They would not have referred to themselves as Celts, as it was a name given to them by the Greeks sometime around 540 B.C, who referred to them as Keltoi-meaning barbarians! The people in these villages would extinguish their homes' hearths and take some embers of the sacred bonfire to relight them, in the belief that this newly lit hearth of the sacred fire would bring them protection, warmth, and prosperity for the new year ahead. Offerings of livestock bones were placed in the fire hence the name Bon-Fire. Eventually, as time went on and Christianity spread throughout the world, these villages that were expansive all throughout Europe dwindled, and people of their lineage predominantly settled in what is now Ireland and Northwestern Europe. Christian churches vilified Pagan practices, especially Samhain. Which led to the creation of All Saints Day on November first, and All Souls Day on November second. Though both of these newer holidays are centered around the same theme, the afterlife and the bond between the living and the heavenly. As the Irish came to America during the potato famine, they brought so many of their Ancestral practices with them, passed down through generations. Much like a game of telephone though, the message has become diluted and missing much of its original meaning. -Today, Jack O’ Lanterns are carved in countless homes in America. Originating from the hollowing out of turnips and carving faces into them, to bring light into darkness while scaring away evil spirits. They were used as lanterns to take home the embers of the bonfire. As the bonfires of Samhain started disappearing across Europe, families would still carve turnips to keep outside of their homes for protection and as people immigrated to the New World they found that pumpkins were much easier to carve.
The Samhain Altar The Altar you create for Samhain is a sacred place dedicated to the honoring of your loved ones who have left this Earthly realm and the ancestors who came before you. The Altar represents, in big part, your own connection to the spiritual world. Magic is an expression of the individual, so while there are certain aspects that you would want to include, you’ll want to use your creative freedom to make it your own.
The entire process of setting up your Altar is one of reflection and oneness. The burning of incense, and cleansing herbs and resins such as Sage, Mugwort, Copal, and Santo Palo to ready your space and altar components is part of the practice. Samhain oil can also be used for anointing our Altars. Placing your chosen items with intention and reverence and mindfully honoring the spirit world reminds us that we are loved, protected and evermore connected. Taking our time to lovingly acknowledge this connection is a beautiful experience. This Altar is a place you can pray, give thanks and communicate(talk with your dead) Samhain oil is a blend of herbs, and essential oils placed into a carrier oil. Making this sacred tool is another lovely way to feel wholly a part of this holiday. You can work with it to anoint your Altar, your tools, Altar items and offerings,as well as your self. Making a Samhain Oil  Some other things we can do for the Witches New Year
This post was written by Debra Romano, an apprentice at Herbs Love And Yoga
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 The fall equinox, a celestial event marking the equal day and night, is a time of profound spiritual significance across cultures. It symbolizes a pivotal moment in the natural cycle, a transition from the vibrant energy of summer to the introspective quiet of autumn. As the days shorten and the leaves begin their colorful descent, this equinox invites us to reflect, harvest, and prepare for the seasons ahead.
Spiritual Symbolism
Traditional Celebrations Throughout history, cultures around the world have celebrated the fall equinox with unique rituals and traditions. Here are a few examples:
Honoring the Equinox Today While the specific traditions may vary, the underlying themes of gratitude, balance, and renewal remain universal. To honor the fall equinox in your own life, consider these practices:
By embracing the spiritual significance of the fall equinox, we can align ourselves with the natural rhythms of the earth and cultivate a deeper sense of peace, gratitude, and renewal. 
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Research has shown that success is dependent upon the mindset surrounding one’s ability to change and develop abilities. A growth mindset is a belief that with practice, perseverance, and grit, individuals have endless potential to learn, grow, and achieve their goals. A fixed Mindset is a belief that we are born with a set amount of ability that cannot be developed or changed. Very simply put, people with a growth mindset experience better outcomes than individuals with fixed mindsets Keep reading to learn how a growth mindset will help you achieve your goals. 
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Whenever starting a new endeavor, there is sure to be a lot of questions.
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If we had to think about every little thing we do daily we would be exhausted before breakfast. Scientifically, our brain automates tasks in order to save energy for more important tasks that require our attention. In this post I will be discussing a three part science backed habit loop that helps us form routines that become automatic and stick. 
Motivating Yourself Through Self Compassion To Achieve Your Goals
Without self-criticism as a motivator to achieving our goals, people worry they will end up a blob on the couch with a tub of ice cream in one hand and the remote in the other spiraling deeper and deeper into self-indulgence. But science tells us a different story.
Research has found that self compassion is much more effective than self-criticism as a motivator to achieving our goals. Many people confuse self-compassion with self-indulgence and letting ourselves off the hook but there is a big difference. Self-compassion supports our desire to thrive and is what motivates healthy changes in our lives. 
Mindfulness, meditation, and yoga have benefits that reach far beyond the mat.
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Hi, I'm AlyssaMindfulness, yoga, and herbal medicine have been fundamental to my own journey in life. I hope to share my experiences and perspectives in order to inspire and connect with others. Archives
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