How To Set Up A Gorgeous Samhain Altar
Samhain (pronounced SOW-in) is a Pagan holiday that honors the cycle of life and death. This Sabbat also celebrated as Halloween, All Hallows Eve and Dia de los Muertos primary focus is about honoring of the harvest season, transformation, regeneration, honoring the dead, the calling of the spirits, divination, and the preparation for the approaching winter season. It is also said the the veils between the worlds (life and death) are the thinnest and communication with those that have crossed over is easier.
Try some or even all of these ideas — obviously, space may be a limiting factor for some, so use what calls to you most.
One of my core teachings is that magic is an art, create magic the way it speaks to you!
Colors of the Season:
The landscape is almost bare as most of the trees foliage has either died off or fallen to the the ground. This is a time when the earth is going dark, so reflect the colors of late autumn in your altar decorations. Use rich, deep colors like purples, burgundies and black, as well as harvest shades like gold and orange. Cover your altar with dark cloths, welcoming the darker nights that are rapidly approaching. Add candles in deep, rich colors, or consider adding an ethereal contrasting touch with white or silver and gold.
Samhain Honors the Cycle of Life and Death:
Samhain is the time of the dying of the crops and of life itself as Earth Mother begins to go dormant. Add skulls, skeletons or ghosts to your altar. Death (the Grim Reaper) is often portrayed carrying a sickle or scythe, so if you’ve got one of those handy, you can display that on your altar as well.
You can add photographs of your deceased ancestors to your Samhain altar… or you can create a separate ancestor altar filled with photos, mementos, candles and other sentimental items. Learn more about altars and altar creation here.
Samhain is the Third and Final Harvest:
In addition to symbols of death, cover your Samhain altar with the products of your final harvest. Add a basket of apples, pumpkins, squash, or root vegetables. Fill a cornucopia and add it to your table.
Samhain Altar Decoration Ideas:
- Altar candles in orange, black, white, silver and gold
- Myrrh or patchouli incense
- Dried leaves, mums, marigolds small pumpkins and gourds, acorns, nuts, a cauldron, a goblet of mulled wine, dark breads, Indian corn or dried ears of corn, etc.
- Tools of divination or spirit communication like tarot, obsidian sphere, pendulum, runes, Ouija boards, scrying mirror, etc.
- Stones: Black obsidian, smoky quartz, jet, amber, pyrite, garnet, granite, clear quartz, marble, sandstone, gold, diamond, iron, steel, ruby, hematite, brass (I have a large Labradorite gemstone skull that I use on my Samhain altar)
- Offerings to the ancestors like their favorite food or drink, photos of ancestors, sentimental mementos, etc.
- Animal horns, skeletons, skulls, candy skulls, feathers or talons as a power symbol
- Statuary of deities symbolizing death: Demeter (Greek Goddess), Hades (Greek God of the Underworld), Freya (Norse Goddess), Hecate (Greek Goddess of the Cauldron), The Morrigan (Celtic Goddess), Hel (Norse Goddess), Yama (Hindu God), Anubis (Egyptian God)
Ideas For A Magical Samhain:
- Carve a Jack O Lantern and empower it with your intentions to repel negativity. Then put it in front of your front door.
- Create a altar that honors your ancestors.
- Fill a plastic pumpkin with gold wrapped candy to symbolize and sweet and prosperous new year.
- Set a place at your dinner table for the recently deceased. If the deceased is a pet, place their favorite food in their bowl (if you still have it) or plate and put it where their bowls used to be.
- Build your Samhain altars on top of hay bales.
- Visit the cemetery, clean up and place flowers for your deceased loved ones.
Your Goddess Lifestyle Assignment:
Your Goddess Lifestyle Assignment is to set up a Samhain altar using the suggestions I gave in this article that feel good to you! If the skulls and other more grim suggestions don’t resonate with you, then don’t use them. Create an altar of flowers, stones, incense, candles and items from nature that speak to your soul. Magic is an art, create magic the way that it speaks to you!
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Ooh..there are some new ideas for me here. Thanks so much! A few new additions to enhance the season are always welcome.
I am so happy that my article and suggestions inspired you Bonnie! Thank you for visiting and commenting lovely… Wishing you a Blessed Samhain!
I love the colours, candles and crystals. You create a wonderful image. Thanks for the ideas!
You are most welcome lovely, I love the candles, crystals and colors too!
Thank you so much for sharing the ‘true’ meaning versus the commercialized one. I love your ideas for creating an altar. I will honor this wisdom this year by creating my own. Thank you. I just signed up for your ezine and kickass workbook :-))
You are most welcome Nadia – welcome to my world beautiful one!
Thanks for inspiring me to add some new sacred items to my Samhain altar. Amber is a perfect addition and represents my Lithuanian heritage. My grandmothers altar is divine!
Happy Samhain Beautiful!
You are most welcome Shann! Samhain Blessings to you and yours Goddess!
Lisa,
For me, nature is a huge part of my spiritual practice as I love to be in nature to connect with the earth and animals. I enjoyed reading your ideas about creating a space that reflects those things that resonate with each person. Bringing together those items that embrace this time of year is a great honoring event. Thank you for sharing your light and purpose with us.
You are most welcome Teresa, I’m so glad you enjoyed and found value in my article. Samhain Blessings to you!
Oh, there is SO much to love in this post! First of all, thanks so much for giving the pronunciation of Samhain — I had no idea!
I lived in Mexico for 6 months and was lucky that my time fell over Dia de lost Muertos — I was forever changed by seeing house after house filled with ofrendas (the altars and offerings to the loved ones who had passed on) – everything from beautiful flowers and love notes to bottles of Pepsi. 🙂
Since then I also leave a little offering for our loved ones who have passed, but I love creating an alter that embraces all that I love about the season (it’s my favorite too!).
Thanks so much for all of the inspiration and encouragement! xxoo
I didn’t know you lived in Mexico for 6 months, I LOVE Mexico! You are so welcome for all the magical goodness you learned from my article my beautiful friend!
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