Ahh yes, spooky season. Perhaps most magickal time of year, especially if you identify as “wicce”, or wise person, from the original use of the word. The veil is thinning, the doors to the otherworld are open, and we are surrounded by the closeness of our more-than-human kin.

This time of year is very dear to me. It is a time when Ancestral Veneration + Ceremonial Celebrations of the dead are widely practiced, across cultures worldwide. This is something I’ve come to practice year-round, however I can feel the potency of this Samhain season + the closeness of our beloved dead kin.

This year, the Celtic celebration we know as Samhain coincides with the Scorpio New Moon, on November 1st at 8:47am EST. The next day is Día de los muertos. There is much to celebrate, as a way of honoring life and the people we come from.

Death is a doorway, not so much a finale. What carries on beyond life is our memory. The bones carry memory; in our own bodies, we remember where + who we come from. What is a truly death if not forgetting? What is dead may never die.

At its essence, the celebration of the dead is one of Re-membering. Putting back together the stories that have made us who we are, the lineages that have survived and sacrificed so much so that we can even exist. Honoring those that came before us, to venerate their spirits and support them in becoming healthy, vibrant ancestors.

They are our allies, our guides and protectors in places seen + unseen. The kinship of our Ancestors is Birthright; it is a form of belonging that goes deeper than anything else. Our Ancestors are our clan, our tribe, our identity. The lands we come from are our Ancestors, too. The word Ancestor is expansive, magical, primordial remembrance; it goes beyond just our grandparents + immediate known family.

There is no right or wrong way to celebrate this time. The point is remembrance. Some suggestions here as reference; but trust your heart’s intuition, as that’s likely indicative of how YOUR people want to connect with you. No matter where on Earth you come from, your people did (and potentially still do) practice some sort of Ancestral Veneration rituals, to honor the dead. This interdependence never dies.

I will be sharing some Samhain rituals from the Celtic lineage this week for Substack patrons <3 Blessings to you + Your people!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit altarofstars.substack.com/subscribe