The Energy of Samhain
- Martina
- Oct 31
- 5 min read
November is upon us and as we are adjusting the time change we are ever so aware of nature's strong reminder that we are moving more deeply into autumn. The leaves are showing their bright vibrant colours and we are feeling within ourselves the invitation to go deeper into stillness and to enjoy the warmth of home, family, friends and nurturing foods as we slow down a little bit more each day allowing ourselves to rest on all levels.
October 31st and November 1st: The Energy of Samhain
As the Wheel of the Year turns, energy of Samhain invites us to listen more from within. Samhain is one of the oldest and most sacred Celtic festivals, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Traditionally it is celebrated from sunset on October 31st to sunset on November 1st. Samhain was seen as a threshold moment, when the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds grows thin, allowing easier communion with ancestors and the unseen realms. It reminds us of the natural cycle of life, death, rebirth, and the beauty in releasing what no longer serves us to make space for new beginnings.
As the earth rests, we too are called to realign, restore, and nurture our own inner light in preparation for the darker months ahead. When the ancient Celts celebrated the turning of the wheel of the year they also celebrated New Year’s Eve on Samhain, and took time to give thanks for the abundance of the harvest and prepared for the quiet introspection of winter. The Celts lit Bonfires on the hills to honour the sun’s waning power and to offer protection to the community. Families would set an extra place at the table or leave food outside to honour the spirits of loved ones who had passed, inviting their blessings for the year ahead. Since then Samhain is known to be a deeply spiritual time of divination and renewal, when people seek guidance for the coming year.
Today, Samhain continues to be honoured as a time of reflection, remembrance, and spiritual connection. It reminds us to slow down, release what no longer serves us, and to honour the wisdom of our ancestors, whose light still walks beside us.
Growing up in Ireland as a child, I remember the pure joy and laughter that filled our home on this special night each year. Everyone in the family joined in, no one was left out, as we played games steeped in fun, folklore, and a touch of magic.
One of our favourites was Ducking for Apples. A large basin of water was filled with floating apple pieces, and with our hands kept firmly behind our backs, we’d plunge our faces in, trying to catch one in our teeth. It was more than just a game it was a symbol of abundance and fertility. Everyone wanted their bite of the apple, believed to bring good fortune for the year ahead.
Another favourite was Snap Apple. My Dad would hang apples from strings attached to the ceiling, and we’d try to catch them in our mouths as they swung wildly, again keeping our hands behind our backs. The room would fill with laughter and shouts of triumph as someone finally managed to take a bite.
Then there were the blindfold games, though I’ll admit they were never my favourite! One involved placing several saucers before the blindfolded player, each holding something different: soil, water, or a ring. The first one touched would predict your fate: soil for death or change, water for a journey, and the ring for marriage.
My Mom, a wonderful baker, always made a barmbrack a sweet, fruit-filled bread that remains a beloved Irish tradition. Hidden inside were charms, each carrying its own meaning: a ring for marriage within the year, a coin for prosperity, and a stick for staying single! We would all hold our breath as we bit into our slices, hoping for a lucky find.
We always ended the evening around the table, playing cards and telling fortunes, weaving stories of what the year ahead might bring. Those nights were filled with magic, laughter, and a deep sense of togetherness, memories I still treasure to this day.
As part of this tradition we also did prayers together, and I am sharing below one such remembrance we did that you may wish to do this year, let me know how it goes for you:
Take some time, find a quiet space, and safely light a candle. Gently reflect on your loved ones, both family and friends, who have passed over and give thanks for each of them and how they blessed your life. As you look into the flame of the candle, as you breath in and out, allow your heart to open and let love and gratitude flow as you remember one person at a time. Gently say thank you to each of them and take some time to reflect on each of your ancestors e.g. grandparents, great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents, great-great-great-grandparents, thank all your ancestors for they came before you, and because of them you are here today.
The Full Moon
On November 5th we celebrate a Full Moon known as the Beaver Moon. This name was given to the moon in colonial traditions as during this time beavers are most active, building their lodges and preparing for the coming winter. This moon invites us to do the same, to fortify our foundations, complete what is unfinished so we can rest during the darker season ahead.
As this years Beaver Moon falls under the influence of Taurus it is grounding, reflective, drawing symbolic attention to inner and outer values, it invites you to reflect on what you truly treasure, what is worth protecting in your life? The light of the moon may shine on issues of self-worth, resources, boundaries, and on your comfort zones. You may notice where you’ve been holding on too tightly. It’s also a time to align your outer life (your home, your finances, your physical body) with your deeper values, your spiritual and soul path.
As the energy of the moon is a mirror, reflecting what lies within us and illuminating both our light and our shadows with gentle clarity. Spiritually, the full moon offers a time to release what no longer serves us, to clear emotional residue, and to reset our energetic field. You may find heightened intuition, vivid dreams, or deep emotional insights surfacing now, all of these are signs that your inner self is aligning with a higher rhythm of truth.
Energetically, this is a powerful moment to purify and recharge your crystals, your space, and your own energy body. A simple practice you can do on November 4th or 5th, the full moon night, or on the night after the 6th is to sit beneath the moonlight outside or inside near a window, and breathe deeply, connect by looking toward the moon itself and inviting it to flow to your crown, and then invite her silvery light to cleanse and balance your aura.
Take long breaths in and exhale out fully and allow the moon’s energy to soothe your mind and awaken your spirit’s quiet strength. Sit, relax, and be in the moon light and let as much light come into you as you can and enjoy it. This moon also amplifies intentions, whatever you choose to release, or to call in, is magnified under her glow. Take some time to write down your intentions, speak them aloud, and feel the vibration of truth moving through you.
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