#sahmain

Sahmian is one of the Eight High Holy Days and deserves to be treated as such. Many people are going to be welcoming back ancestors and shielding their homes from malicious spirits. It's a reverent and respectful time because it is when the veil is thinnest.

Sahmain - October 31st

Ancestors night/feast of the dead

Casting off of old attachments

Ancestor altars/food offerings

Dumb supper - set out an extra plate and eat silently to invite spirits to eat with you

Yule - December 21st

Winter solstice

personal and passive magick

light candles, reinstate intentions, and incubate your plants on this day - thank life giving energy of sun

Litha - June 21st

Summer solstice 

Protection, charisma, and truth spells

Good time for cleaning

Lammas - August 1st

Day of fresh bread/harvest

Grain festival - worship of seltic sun god

Mabon - September 21st

Reflection and looking forward

Aging and death in spiritual world

Outdoor rituals should be done that day

Imbolc - February 1st

Brings purification 

Brings energy of creativity and imagination

Good time to reflect/refresh magic and intent, and reconnect with gods

Ostar - March 21st

Practice magick of love and prosperity 

Reflect on principles of balance

Beltane - May 1st

Fire festival/fertility festival 

Connect with lover around a bonfire

http://www.holidayinsights.com/halloween/witchcal.htm

https://www.dummies.com/religion/paganism/wiccan-holidays-celebrating-the-sun-on-the-sabbats/

https://people.howstuffworks.com/witchcraft8.htm

In lieu of witchy celebration, this day feels grim but important to me this year. 

Since I’m still in New York City for this year, I’m going to go to Ellis Island on 10/31 to see the point of entry to where my ancestors first came into the United States. I remember going with my mother when I was 12 years old, and I feel like this is a small thing to do to honor the ancestors I have. Ancestor worship and communication is not a significant part of my practice, as I feel unfortunately quite disconnected from my families history, and much of it was grounded in the Catholic Church which I have emphatically separated from, but there are roots there I want to explore and inhabit if I can. 

I also will be spending some time to mull over the departed from this year - those I personally saw to the other side and the hundreds of thousands more who also lost their lives. A full day of silence and commemoration. 

I also will probably bake something - maybe some baklava with apple cider.