13 Easy, Last-Minute, and Low-Spoon Ways to Celebrate Samhain

13 Easy, Last-Minute, and Low-Spoon Ways to Celebrate Samhain

I don't know about you, but as a chronically-ill, disabled, AuDHDer, spoonie-witch millenial, and mama wolf of 10 wolfdogs.. holidays, full moons and other ideal times for rituals can creep up on me. Plus as a professional witch and psychic medium, after a days work I admittedly don't always have tons of energy for elaborate rituals. 🙃 I created this list for anyone who needs simple, accessible inspiration for spooky season rituals. Because tired witches deserve Halloween rituals too. ♥︎

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1. Light a Candle for Ancestors
Light a simple white or black candle in memory of ancestors or loved ones who have passed. You can also use one of our eco-friendly Ancestor spell candles, or even a simple tealight or birthday candle with a few drops of our Samhain ritual oil on it. Take a moment to call out to them, connect with their energy, setting the candle in a safe place as a beacon of remembrance.

2. Create a Simple Ancestor Altar
Gather a few cherished photos or mementos and arrange them on a small altar space. Adding items like dried flowers, candy, crystals, or even autumn leaves can create a comforting connection to those who came before. Learn more about connecting with Ancestors in this virtual class: Ancestors, Altars and Spirits.

3. Write a Letter to a Lost Loved One
Samhain is a powerful time for communicating with the spirit world. Write a letter to someone you've lost, expressing gratitude, memories, or any unresolved feelings. You can burn it safely afterward as a way to release these thoughts into the spirit realm. Alternately, you can place a letter beneath your pillow to invite your beloved dead to visit your dreams. Or place a letter on your ancestor/Samhain altar.

4. Enjoy a Soulful Tea or Smoke Ritual
Brew a cup of herbal tea, or roll an herbal joint with ingredients like chamomile, lavender rosemary, or mugwort, all associated with psychic intuition and relaxation. Take a few moments to enjoy your tea and/or smoke in silence, inviting Samhain’s energies of reflection and inward focus with each sip or inhale. If enjoying tea, stir clockwise while meditating and close your eyes, see what intuitions arise. If enjoying smoke, observe the movement and imagery or symbolism you see in the smoke. Talk to the spirits aloud and ask them to use the smoke to communicate.

5. Set Out an Offering Plate
Leaving an offering of food—such as apples, candy, oranges, nuts, or bread—outside or on your altar is a traditional way to honor ancestors and spirits. If you prefer, just place a symbolic item like a marigold flower, sweetgrass, tobacco, sprig of rosemary or a small bowl of salt. Whichever best reflects your ancestral heritage and means.

6. Take a Moment for Mindful Movement in Nature
If you have access to nature, take a brief, mindful walk/roll, perhaps at dusk or night. Notice the changing leaves, fallen branches, and autumn air. Reflect on the cycle of death and rebirth in nature, aligning your energy with Samhain’s themes.

7. Pull a Tarot or Oracle Card for Guidance
Use tarot cards to offer insight for the darker half of the year ahead. Draw a card with the intention of understanding what Samhain’s energy brings to your path and meditate briefly on its meaning. You can also personalize your altar with symbols of the spirit world like black candles, skulls, or tarot cards like the Death card.

8. Place a Small Pumpkin or Gourd Outside
A simple decoration like a small pumpkin or gourd can honor the season and invite prosperity into your home. You can even leave it outside as an offering for the spirits passing through and wildlife. After Halloween, you can also see if a local farm or ranch has animals that would enjoy eating your pumpkin. **Be sure to not use bleach or other toxic materials on your pumpkin.

9. Practice a Moment of Silent Reflection
Take just a few minutes to close your eyes, breathe deeply, and connect with the Samhain energy. Allow yourself to feel the presence of those who’ve passed, tuning into their wisdom and guidance. What is remembered, lives.

10. Decorate Your Space with Fall Foliage
Collect a few autumn leaves, acorns, or pinecones to place around your home or on a bedside table if spoons are limited. Optional: add a few drops of essential oil to make them living potpourri. These natural elements honor the season and remind you of the cycle of life, death, and rebirth central to Samhain.

11. Write Down What You’re Letting Go
Samhain is the witch's New Year and a time for release. Write down anything you’re ready to let go of and safely burn the paper to symbolize releasing what no longer serves you. Or, use voice to text on your phone or computer device, then erase it when you're done for ritual release.

12. Entertain Your Inner Child
What did you love and make time for during Halloween as a child that maybe hasn't been indulged in adult life for one reason or another? Consider enjoying nostalgic movies, cartoons, books and other festive media. There are also wonderful guided meditations and podcasts focused on Samhain and ancestor connection. Let yourself enjoy the festive fun without needing to do much more than tune in. I recently re-discovered the animated Tales from the Crypt Keeper series, and my inner child is stoked!

13. Create a “Gratitude for the Past” Jar
Write down a few positive memories or things you’re grateful for or proud of from the past year. Place these slips in a jar and keep them as reminders of the gifts the year has brought. Give thanks to your ancestors for bringing you here to experience the good things in life. ♡

Image ID: a purple glass skull candle with 2 lit wicks made by Revolutionary Mystic

Samhain and the Thinning of the Veil

Samhain is often recognized as the beginning of the "thinning of the veil," a period when the boundary between the physical world and the spirit realm becomes porous, allowing spirits to communicate more easily with the living. This gradual thinning, which starts with Samhain, reaches its peak at the Winter Solstice (Yule), marking the height of the “spirit portal” as the longest night of the year welcomes profound darkness, mystery, and introspection.

Many ancient traditions reflect this mystical time when it’s believed spirits roam freely. During Yule and even Christmas, people gathered around fires to tell ghost stories and tales of supernatural encounters, honoring this deep connection between the living and spirit worlds. These stories, some passed down through generations, weren’t just meant to thrill—they reflected an understanding that winter’s darkness opens doors to realms beyond, inviting us to confront mortality, honor ancestors, and embrace the magic of the unseen. Even the natural aptitude to sleep longer and nap more often lends itself to increased contact with the spirit realm. For many, that's the easiest way to receive psychic messages and communicate with spirits.

This time of year reminds us that winter’s darkness brings not only stillness but also rich opportunities for spiritual connection and reflection. Whether through Samhain, Yule, extra sleep, or even Christmas ghost stories, these traditions honor the cyclical nature of life and the enduring relationship between the seen and unseen worlds.

About the Author: Metztli Wolf

Metztli Wolf is an Evolutionary Astrologer, Evidential Medium, and founder of Revolutionary Mystic, a spiritual sanctuary offering eco-friendly spellcraft for radical witches and animal advocates. They bring a decolonial lens, trauma-informed care, and a focus on mutual aid into their practice, guiding clients through astrology, candle magic, and mediumship. Proceeds from Metztli’s work support the Black Moon Wolfdog Sanctuary, which rescues and cares for wolfdogs in need.

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