The Samhain Altar:
The Altar decorations that are suggested for Samhain would be items like: Acorns, Apples, Balefires, Besom, Black Cats, Cauldron, Deity figures of the Goddess in her Crone phase, Dried Flowers, Grains, Harvest foods, Hazel Nuts, Indian Corn, Jack-o’-lanterns, Masks, the Moon, Pendulum, Photographs of your loved ones who have passed on, Pumpkins, Runes, Scrying Mirror, Spirit Boards, Tarot Cards, Turnips
Colors: Black, Brown, Gold, Orange, Yellow, Red, Silver, White
Image was found here: https://www.instagram.com/p/B2MUtRYndsF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Meditation Techniques
While meditation might sound like something that everyone can do in just a few simple minutes, the honest truth is that there is more to it than just sitting in a quiet space with your hands on your knees and saying “Om”.
When you start to learn to meditate you may wish to look for an experienced teacher or group to help you understand all of the steps to mediating.
Sitting there and closing your eyes and just hoping it will work will lead to no where and feeling frustrated with the practice all together. Once you have an understanding of the steps taken with each form of meditation and know which is right for you and your personality then you will see the results so many rave about.
Here is a technique for you to try on your own.
Samhain is the time for us to release the spirits of those who have died during the previous year and for us to honor our ancestors.
Samhain is not a scary time, like some religions or media would like people to believe. This is a time when the veil is thin and we can spend time with the spirits of those we loved. A time when we say good-bye to those who have left this physical plane. Though this is not a time of sadness, but a way to celebrate with the Dead.
Samhain also celebrates endings, and as such death. It honors the transition from light to dark. The growing time is over for this turn of the Wheel and the Earth begins it’s slumber.
Samhain is celebrated during October 31st – November 1st
Some other names this Sabbat is known by: Allantide, Calan Gaef, Calan Gwaf, Feast of Mongfind, Gealach a Ruadhain, Kala-Goanv, Nos Calan, Coef, Nos CalanGaef, Nos Cyn Calan Gaual, Nos Galan Gaeof, Oidche Shamhna, Oie Houney, Samhainn, Samhuinn, Samhtheine, Sauin, Third Harvest, Trinouxtion Samonii
Holidays/Traditions occurring during Samhain in the NH (Northern Hemisphere): All-Holland Day, All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day, Autumn Dziady, Boedromion, Day of the Faithful Dead, Dia de los Muertos, Diwali, Festival of Hacate, Hallowmas, Martinmas, Shadowfest, Triduum of Allhallows, Winter Finding
*Some of this information was found in Llewellyn’s Sabbat Essentials Samhain*