Who are the Spirits of Samhain?

Honoring the Gods, Goddesses and Ancestors at Samhain

Oct 29, 2009

Spirits and Dead Souls Cross Over at Samhain, Michael S Richter

Samhain is traditionally a time for honoring ancestors and looking to the coming year. Learn how to connect with the past and which gods and goddesses to work with.

Samhain is the Celtic fire festival from which Halloween derives. Marking the passing of summer into winter, a time of death and then rebirth, it is traditionally a time of reflection, honoring the dead, and looking ahead to the coming year, both in terms of personal change and goals, and in terms of the Earth’s future.

Honouring the Ancestors at Samhain

At Samhain, ghosts and spirits pass over into the physical world. But while traditions such as fires and carved pumpkins are designed to keep away the evil spirits, other souls of the dead are welcomed and honored.

The Celts believed that the veil between worlds was thin at this time, particularly in the midnight hour between Samhain Eve and Samhain. As spirits of the Otherworld pass into that of the living, so began the perfect time to connect with the souls of deceased loved ones and ancestors of long ago.

Today, those celebrating Samhain will honor the ancestors through ritual, meditation, spells, altars and shrines. It is a wonderful way of remembering loved ones who have passed over on an annual basis, giving meaning to their lives.

Connecting with the Dead at Samhain

There are numerous ways in which to connect with the deceased at Samhain. If all family members are open to the idea, it is a perfect way to bring the family together, as well as honoring the past. Some ideas include:

Creating a family or ancestral shrine, with mementoes and photographs
Integrating ancestral and family photos into the Samhain altar
Creating a scrapbook or photo album of family memories
Researching and creating a family tree
Meditating with angels, spirits or guides to connect with loved ones
Asking deceased loved ones for advice, either through personal psychic ability or that of a medium
Holding a private or group ritual to honor the deceased
Helping children feel involved by remembering deceased pets or close family members as well as ancestors of the past

At a more advanced level, Samhain can also be a time to remember past mistakes, past lessons, past traumas, and put them to rest, with the intention of moving forward into the next year with lessons learned.

Working with Samhain Goddesses and Samhain Gods

As with most pagan festivals, Samhain is also a time for connecting with the goddesses and gods of choice, to work towards goals and focus intent.

The gods and goddesses of Samhain are generally those of death, rebirth and darkness, but this does not mean that they should be feared. Death is part of life; it forms part of the great cycle and without it, there could not be rebirth. Death symbolizes change, allowing the birth of something new.

Work with Samhain deities to bring about life changes, connect with the cycle of life, focus intent on new goals, honor the changing seasons, and remain connected with nature – something that is often hard to do in the bitter cold of winter.

Which Goddesses are Associated with Samhain?

The Goddess takes on her crone aspect at winter. At Samhain in particular, the Serpent Goddess rules, Queen of the Underworld, symbolizing renewal and rebirth through the snake, which emerges from a deathlike phase to shed its skin and begin anew.

First and foremost associated with this time of year is the goddess Samhain, who is an aspect of the Cailleach, or Winter Hag, a dark Scottish goddess. Almost the whole of November is her dedicated month, ending on November 27th.

Any crone aspect or underworld goddesses are appropriate for working with at Samhain. These include:

Baba Yaga
Carlin
Crobh Dearg
Frida
Hekate
Lilith
Morrigan
Pamona
Psyche

Which Gods are Associated with Samhain?

As with goddesses, any gods associated with death, ancient wisdom and the underworld are ideal for working with at Samhain. Hades, for example, is a well-known Greek god of the Underworld, while Odin is a Norse god of war and death, but also has relevant associations through the Norse underworld, his ordeal of hanging on the tree Yggdrasil, and wisdom gained through communication with the dead. Other relevant gods include:

Anubis
Arawn
Dis
Kronos
Nefertum
Osiris
Pluto
Woden
Xocatl

Samhain Brings Balance and Healing

Whether working with underworld deities or connecting with ancestral souls, the spirits that come forth at Samhain have much to teach and share. Their wisdom and experience can help with the transition from one year to the next, healing past ills and focusing intent on the changes required for the future.