by Jane Sandwood
What do witches eat – eye of newt and a toe of frog, wool of bat, and tongue of dog?
According to Hollywood and tales of the Brother’s Grimm, witches eat many dead and disgusting things to maintain their balance of power.
However, in the modern era of witches, this couldn’t be further from the truth. On Samhain, or the end of summer and All Hallows Eve, witches celebrate the coming of darker times of the year with their third harvest festival.
Also known as the Feast of the Dead, witches come together to celebrate the harvest, while also leaving food for the dead that can roam freely on Earth for one night.
To help you prepare for your Samhain the right way, check out these tips:
1. Cook a Healthy Feast
Your Samhain meal will consist of foods from the harvest such as apples, root veggies, ginger, and potatoes.
It is important in today’s era that you embrace a healthy and balanced lifestyle as you cook these ingredients.
Swap the sugar in your pumpkin or apple pie for stevia, drink tea instead of cider, and only use natural ingredients.
You can also use the following magical herbs to spice up your dish and to add their respective powers to your life.
- Marigold – Brings good luck, respect and love
- Sage – Sends away the bad energy and cleanses the mind
- Cypress – Heals and calms the soul
- Mandrake – Provides health, love, and protection
2. Embrace the Past
All Hallow’s Eve is the best time for you to communicate with the spiritual world and to connect and honor your ancestors.
Therefore, when you celebrate the Festival of the Dead, you should use family recipes that have been passed down for generations.
Cook meals that your ancestors would love to eat and set a place for them at the table during your festivities.
They will feel more connected to you and your family and be able to rest peacefully throughout the rest of the year.
3. Place Gemstones Around Your Festivities
Since the time of Samhain weakens the line between the world of the living and the world of the dead, we also need to protect ourselves from spirits that are not so friendly.
Some malevolent spirits are also awakened in the darkest hour and can become attracted to your Festival of the Dead.
To ward off these demons, you should place gem stones around your area. Some gems that protect from evil spirits include:
- Black Tourmaline
- Agate
- Bloodstone
- Black onyx
- Peridot
- Emerald
Out of these gems, the black tourmaline will have the most effective powers during Samhain.
You may also want to embrace a circle of light while you are celebrating, as this can also ward off any negative energy or bad spirits.
4. Heal the Earth
As modern witches, you need to cherish the earth and dedicate your energies to protecting and healing it after taking from it for the Samhain festival.
At the end of your festival, it is common tradition to light a bonfire.
This fire symbolizes unity between the witch and the earth, and the ashes are used to bless and protect the fields for the dark months ahead.
You can also burn sage to send away any negative energy surrounding the land or lavender to promote cleansing of the Earth.
Align yourself with the universe to help bring in the new season.
As a witch, Samhain is one of the most festive and important times of the year. Enjoy your festivities and honor those that came before us.
IN CONCLUSION
If this essay resonates with you, please join our WITCH email list by using the forms on this website so we can stay in touch.
About the Author:
Jane Sandwood is a professional freelance writer with over 10 years’ experience across many fields. Jane has a particular interest in issues relating to spiritual health and wellbeing.
featured image source
