Spirit Work for Samhain

Samhain is the perfect time for spirit work. Like, is it even a question?! Like Beltane, the veil is super thin during Samhain and the days leading up to it and the days right after. This thinning of the veil makes it a perfect time to communicate with spirits. Here are three fantastic ways you can work with spirits this Samhain.

1. Work with your ancestors.

Communicating and working with your ancestors is the perfect activity for Samhain, and there are several ways you can do this. Set up an ancestor altar, hold a Dumb Supper, or invite them into your Samhain ritual. Here are three ways you can honor your ancestors this Samhain. Whatever you decide to do, they will appreciate that you have remembered them. In many traditions, it is believed this is the only time our ancestors can return to Earth, so if you have burning questions this is the best time to discuss it with them. To simply commune with your ancestors, light a black candle, and meditate on your question for your ancestors. If you would like to ask a specific question or a specific ancestor, include this in your question. Sit quietly with your eye closed or stare into the flame. Jot down any messages you receive including flashes of images, voices or whispers, and gut feelings. You can test the validity of what you have seen or heard or felt by using a pendulum to confirm.

2. Practice hedge riding.

As a hedgewitch, hedge riding is at the center of my practice. Since the veil between realms is already thin, Samhain is a great time to travel and is generally easier to do than other times of the year. If you still haven't worked up the courage to hedge ride yet, there is really no better time. I strongly encourage you to give it a shot, even if you are nervous. We all have to start somewhere. If this is your first journey, or you are seasoned in the art of hedge crossing, set your intention to meet with your spirit guides, whether for the first time or the hundredth, and discuss your successes and failures over the past year. While not the New Year per the modern calendar, Samhain is the witch's new year, a time when death sets in so that new life may come forth. This journey is not about performing magical workings or setting goals necessarily. Instead, the purpose of this journey is self-reflection and rest. After you have spoken with your guides, sit quietly within your garden or wherever you have traveled to and take in the sights, sounds, and smells around you. Let it be a relaxing and healing time for you as your process all you and your guides have discussed. New to hedge riding or not sure where to begin? Read my complete guide to hedge riding!

3. Speak with spirits using a spirit board.

Often called an Ouiji board, spirit boards are a great way to speak with spirits without astral travel. I am sure there are going to be witches out there who freak out at this suggestion, but let me clear a few things up. First, spirit boards are NOT portals. They do not summon demons and evil spirits from the depths of hell. This idea was perpetuated by Christianity and the media. Furthermore, up until 1970, with the release of the Hollywood film The Exorcist, there was not a single report of a demonic or evil entity engagement. Spirit boards are simply another tool to communicate with spirits, much like runes, oracle, and pendulums. How do you think divination works? Spirits! If you happen to believe in demons, it's going to take a whole lot more than some wood with letters painted on it to get their attention. If you are worried, simply cleanse and bless your board, just like you would any other tool used in our magical practice.

Using a spirit board is relatively simple. If you wish, cast a circle and call quarters. Sit in a comfortable chair and place the board on a hard, flat surface. Its ideal with the board is just above our waist so that your elbows can rest comfortably on the surface. You don't want any bodily movements to give you a false reading. Knock on the board three times, stating your intention. Then place both index and middle fingers on the planchette in the middle of the board and close your eyes. Breathe deeply and slowly until you reach a solid trance state. Tune into the spirit you want to communicate with by thinking about them and our connection with them, then allowing your consciousness to drift toward it. Once you feel the connection between you and spirit, confirm you are working with the correct spirit by asking its name, where it comes from, and how you know it. If it's the correct spirit, release the tension in your hands and allow your hands to move the planchette in whatever direction feels natural. Do not try to control it; let it glide as needed. Once it stops, check the letter and make a not of it. Continue letting it move until it is done and the question has been answered. Sometimes the answer may make sense, sometimes it won't and you'll have to do a little interpreting. When you are done, move the planchette to "Good Bye" and knock on the board 3 times to close it. I plan on writing an entire post about spirit boards another time, so keep an eye out for more.

And there you have it, three ways to work with spirits this Samhain! Keep an eye out for my Fruit of the Underworld Ritual: A Pomegranate Ritual to Connect with Your Ancestors later this week. Do you have any spirit work planned for Samhain? What about general spell work? Please share in the comments below!