Samhain in Tasmania 2024

Samhain in the Southern Hemisphere falls on April 30, the Northern Hemisphere Samhain is October 31st. The Pagan year begins (and ends) with Samhain. It is a time of reflection, or looking back over the last year (farewelling the old year and welcome in the new).

This is also a time when the veil is thin between the worlds of living and dead and the realm of the faery: the powers of divination, clairvoyance, and the supernatural communication are strengthened on Samhain night.

It is considered a powerful time to communicate with lost loved ones. This is also a time where souls that are leaving this physical plane can pass out and souls that are reincarnating can pass in. Pagans celebrate Samhain as an acknowledgment that without death, there can be no rebirth.

At Samhain, the darkness increases and the Goddess reigns in her powerful aspect of the Crone. The God passes into the underworld to become reborn of the Goddess again at Yule (Winter Solstice). It is a time to honour those who have gone before us – relatives, loved ones, ancestors.

The cold is just starting to set in but no frosts yet. Steam can be seen rising from the dams in the paddocks creating low lying clouds that cling to the trees. The night air is crisper and the stars seem to be brighter in the sky. The Southern Lights are getting ready to put on their best shows over Winter. Indoor fires have started to be lit for people to warm themselves down to their bones, dry washing and pot belly stoves might have some fragrant soup on top of them filling every room. There is nothing like a wood fire. 

I watch the yellowing sliver birch leaves in the yard floating down to the ground. I could watch them forever, it’s incredibly relaxing and meditative.  Leaves gather to the sides of footpaths, gutters and dance across the roads. There are some humans that don’t like the leaves, but I do. I love them. The trees show us how beautiful it is to let go.

The earth begins its descent towards the colder season of Winter. Many of the world’s great migrations begin on land, in the sea and in the air. It is breeding time for the Tasmanian Devil. For a male Devil this means going all out to get his paramour’s attention. Great eerie shrieks, growls and howling between the fighting males can be heard for many kilometers.

The last of the harvests are in – the fruits of labor are in storage to see you through the coming Winter. Interestingly, I am still getting strawberries! The garden beds will slowly provide carrots, swede, beetroot and silverbeet over winter. The gathering of fallen leaves and piling them onto the garden beds to provide nutrients and protection over the colder months is quickly accomplished before the trees are bare.

Spiritually, your energy is going inward, towards contemplation, meditation, touching base with life with a deeper sense of awareness. Self-awareness, A.K.A spiritual fruits are what you are harvesting now, and they will sustain your spiritual growth through the Winter months.

Contemplate your health on every level – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual,

Your relationships (all relationships/family/intimate/friendships/work) – be honest with your experience, commitment, what would you like to foster or need to change,

Your life situation – again, be honest with your experience. Where would you see yourself in six months or a year from now if you followed your heart, made a few changes, changed your perspective or patterns of behaviour?

The answers to the above prompts are the resulting fruits of your harvest. What wisdom have they given you? What seeds of new growth do you now hold in the palm of your hand? We can often trap ourselves by treading the same safe path over and over, wearing a deep groove into the earth which can make it difficult to get off from. You have the time now to plan the ways and the means to ‘plant’ your seeds/ideas/ways forward in the coming Spring.

Connecting with Samhain can be an opportunity to honour your ancestors, those who have passed before you and to heal family. While the ancient ones are always around you, there are some pivotal times of the year when the ‘veil’ is more accessible. Samhain is one of those times.

Write a letter, imparting all you wished you could have or would have said and with your heart open, listen to what they say back to you.

Many of our loved ones pass after a long illness or through great suffering – physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually.  Know that when they leave their physical body, they go to a resting place in the spiritual realms where their Soul can be replenished and healed. You can help this process by lighting and dedicating a white candle in their honour. This light will reach them. Time in this healing place is irrelevant. It might take many earth years for the Soul to heal.

The Australian Bush Flower Essence Boab is a high vibration form of healing that clears unhelpful emotional and mental family patterns that are passed on from generation to generation. Boab can access and clear those core patterns and all related ensuing beliefs. Boab will also clear lines of karma between people.

Australian Bush Flower Essence Sturt Deseret Pea is one of the most powerful essences to release and heal grief and sadness, allowing healthy grieving to happen. If you feel you would like to use this powerful vibrational healing, I am a qualified Australian Bush Flower Essence Practitioner and can look after your healing requirements.

Ways to Observe/Honour or Celebrate Samhain:

Leave offerings of food and drink outside for the Spirits. An outdoor altar or space is ideal for your feast for the dead. If you are honouring your passed over loved ones or your ancestors, you might wish to put a little magical intention into your food preparation like grandma’s favourite biscuits or uncle Jo’s homemade rum!

Altar Decorating Ideas – skulls, skeletons (animal or human), pumpkins, squash, root vegetables, nuts, berries, dark breads, dried leaves, acorns, mulled cider/wine or mead.

Herbs to use with magical workings or on your altar are: Thyme – associated with departing souls, Rue – the flower of repentance, and Rosemary – for remembrance. Smoking sticks of eucalyptus are also burned and homes are ritually cleansed and purified.

Candles or lanterns are traditionally burned at each window of your home to guide Souls to the Spirit world. Filling a window ledge or the area in front of a window on a small table you could easily incorporate a Feast for the Dead and lit candles or lanterns. If you take the time to celebrate Samhain, please post a picture on the page. I’m sure everyone would love to see them J

Visit where your loved ones resting place. Freshen up the flowers and reminisce.

Research your family tree.

Make an Autumn wreath for your front door.

Reflect on your life over the past year. Review journals, planners, photographs, blogs, and other notations you have created during the past year. Consider how you have grown, your accomplishments, challenges, adventures, travels, and learnings. Meditate. Journal about your year in review, your meditations, and your reflections.

If you’re up for it, hold a séance. Please be mindful that séances require discipline, knowledge, understanding and the ability to move spirits on and confidence. They are not for the untrained, children or the inept.

Light a bonfire outside (when possible) or inside with an open fireplace or use a small cauldron. Write down an outdated habit that you wish to end and cast it into the Samhain flames as you imagine release. Imagine yourself adopting a new, healthier way of being as you move around the fire clockwise.

Samhain is a fabulous time to make mulled wine or brew spiced rooibos to enjoy during the cooler days and evenings.

Storytelling around a fire with friends, mead or mulled wine/grape juice and food is always a winner 😉

Using tarot, oracle cards, runes, scrying, or some other method of divination, seek and reflect on guidance for the year to come. Write a summary of your process and messages. Select something appropriate to act upon and do it.

Connect with people. Join in or organise a group ritual/dance/meditation/party in your area. Organise a Samhain potluck in your home. Research old and contemporary Samhain customs in books, periodicals, on-line, and through communications with others. Exchange ideas, information, and celebration experiences. Regardless of whether you practice solo or with others, as part of your festivities, reflect for a time on being part of the vast network of those celebrating Samhain around the world.

How ever you observe or honour Samhain is up to you. There is no right or wrong way. What feels right IS right for you! Enjoy your Samhain celebrations 😊