Through the Thinning Veil: Preparing for Samhain and Ancestral Magic
- Scarly

- Oct 17
- 3 min read
As October wanes, the veil between worlds grows thin. The days shorten, shadows lengthen, and the air hums with ancestral presence. Samhain, the witch’s new year, approaches, a sacred time to honor those who have walked before, to reflect on cycles past, and to plant intentions for the year ahead. In this liminal space, magic is both gentle and potent, inviting reverence and careful preparation.

The Veil Between Worlds
In many traditions, Samhain is a time when the living and the dead can communicate more easily. Ancestors, spirit guides, and even forgotten souls wander close to our world. The thinning veil calls for mindfulness: respect, protection, and intention. Rituals performed now carry added weight, and offerings are received with heightened awareness.
For practitioners of brujería and curanderismo, honoring the ancestors is not just tradition, it is active magic. Ancestors provide guidance, wisdom, and protection. They are witnesses to spellwork, partners in healing, and keepers of family and spiritual lineage.
Preparing the Altar
A Samhain altar is a living bridge between worlds.
Essential Elements:
Photos, heirlooms, or objects representing ancestors
Candles for illumination and guidance
Offerings of food, water, or tobacco
Seasonal herbs such as sage, vetiver, or mugwort for cleansing and protection
Place each item with intention, acknowledging the presence it represents. As you light candles, speak aloud or silently:“Ancestors, I honor you. Walk with me now. Guide my steps and watch over my work.”
Ritual for Honoring Ancestors
This ritual strengthens connection and invites guidance:
Light a candle for each ancestor you wish to honor.
Sprinkle a few drops of water or offer a small portion of food.
Speak words of gratitude, sharing stories or lessons learned from their lives.
Meditate quietly, imagining their wisdom flowing into your heart and spirit.
Close by saying: “The veil is thin; our hearts are open. Thank you for your presence and guidance.”
The ritual can be repeated daily during the week leading up to Samhain, gradually deepening connection and clarity.
Magic for Reflection and Release
Samhain is also a time of letting go. Old wounds, stagnant energy, and unresolved intentions can be released to make way for the new. A simple letting-go ritual can be performed with paper and candle:
Write what you wish to release on a piece of paper.
Safely burn the paper in candle flame, imagining the smoke carrying the energy away.
Scatter the ashes in soil or flowing water to return the energy to the earth.
This practice clears the energetic field and aligns the witch with cycles of transformation, death, rest, and rebirth.
Connecting With Samhain Energy
Walk in nature if possible, feel the crisp air, and notice the shifting light. Collect herbs, stones, or fallen leaves to bring into your sacred space. Each object carries the energy of the season, grounding your magic in natural rhythms.
Remember, Samhain is not just about honoring the past, it is also about planting seeds for the future. Intentions set during this time are carried forward with ancestral support, nurtured by earth, spirit, and devotion.

Closing Reflections
Through the thinning veil, the witch walks in both worlds, seen and unseen, living and ancestral. Samhain teaches reverence, patience, and attunement to cycles greater than ourselves. It reminds that all magic is rooted in respect: respect for life, for death, and for the wisdom carried across generations.
As the week closes, prepare to meet the ancestors with open heart, steady mind, and sacred intention. Let their guidance illuminate the path, their protection strengthen your magic, and their presence remind that the witch is never truly alone.




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