Samhain is celebrated on October 31st and November 1st. This post contains magical writing prompts for Halloween, Samhain rituals for writers, correspondences, history, and the meaning of Samhain to help artists connect their craft to the season and find more creativity and inspiration. Prompts can be used as Halloween creative writing prompts or Samhain journal prompts. This post has ideas for how to celebrate Samhain and use the energy of Halloween to manifest creativity and inspiration for the year to come.

Samhain

The snow has started to fall here. Even the yarrow has given up the ghost, as if the very breath has left the land. There’s an intensity to silence, to the light. Though the sun is not burning as bright, the light that does shine is reflective, bouncing off snowflakes and looking so closely at itself that it shivers. 

My husband tells the story that he always wondered why kids in other places got to celebrate Halloween in September, when the leaves were changing, and Alaskans had to celebrate in October, in the snow. He didn’t realize then that the climates were different, but not the dates. It may not be traditional to have snow on Samhain, but it feels appropriate. If you listen closely, you can hear the heartiest of plants begin to wilt. The world is blanketed over now, put to bed. It’s quiet enough that you can almost hear the shadows and the ghosts of those you’ve loved.

This year, as a very late first snow fell, we raced around pulling up our kohlrabi, harvesting more kale than we could possibly eat (Would you like some kale?! Please take some kale!), and processing as much as we could before warming our frozen fingers around bowls of soup. 

What is Samhain?

Samhain (pronounced sah-win)  is celebrated on October 31st and November 1st and shares a lot of the traditions and symbolism of Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day.  It is the day when the veil between the worlds is the thinnest. It’s a celebration of the final harvest before winter, of our ancestors, of those we’ve lost, and of death and rebirth. 

In the northern hemisphere, Samhain is celebrated from sunset on October 31st to November 1st and in the southern hemisphere it falls between April 30th and May 1. When it is Samhain in the northern hemisphere, it is Beltane in the southern hemisphere and vice versa. 

Samhain is the third and last harvest festival in the Wheel of the Year, situated between Mabon and Yule. Traditionally, Samhain is the time to bring in and celebrate the very last of the harvest, all of those fruits and veggies that have held out until the cold begins to threaten: carrots, turnips, pumpkins, apples, berries and squash.

This holiday marks the start of the dark time of year. It is time to turn inward, look backward, and clean the slate for the new growth to come.

Many of the rituals, symbolism, and traditions of Samhain, along with All Soul’s Day, have evolved into the modern celebration of Halloween. The themes and correspondences of Samhain will be very similar to Halloween. Whether you want to celebrate Halloween or Samhain, a lot of the information, observances, and writing prompts in this post will work for both holidays.

In this blog post, I use Samhain and Halloween interchangeably, very conscientiously. For me, it’s a way to bring together the traditions of my childhood and where I live (Halloween) with the traditions of my Irish ancestors (Samhain). 

Meaning of Samhain

Samhain is sometimes called the Witch’s New Year, because it begins a whole new cycle of death and rebirth. Though there is traditionally the specter of death this time of year, with skeletons and ghosts and jack-o-lanterns, all of this is also connected with rebirth and new beginnings. The cycle of life requires that old things die to make room for new growth. Samhain is time to make that room. 

This is an excellent time to connect with your ancestors. While the veil between the living and the dead is thin, it is thought that our loved ones who have passed are closer than at any other time. How might you reconnect and honor those who have paved the way for you? Maybe it makes sense to do something to honor the people who took care of the land where you live before you were there. Maybe it means your blood relatives. Maybe it’s the most influential people in your life. Or even people you have never met but who have inspired you. What can you learn from them and what roots are you building your foundations on? Is there someone you have lost who you want to connect with? This is the perfect time. Ask for signs, ask for guidance, and then keep an eye out for the answers. 

But it’s not just about what our ancestors can do for us. What can you do for your ancestors? Are you honoring their memory? Are you keeping those characteristics that were wonderful about them alive?  

It’s also a time to reflect. Because it marks the end of harvest season, it’s a time to take stock of what has grown this year, what has been successful and what has not. As you prepare to make room for new growth, it’s important to look back first and see what worked. 

Traditionally, Samhain is a time of faerie tricks and ghosts and other supernatural creatures. Because of this, it’s also a time of offerings to elicit help and protections to ward off evil. 

History of Samhain

Samhain was originally celebrated in Ireland and Wales (shout out to the motherland!). It’s one of the four fire festivals that marked the seasons of the ancient Celtic year, the others being Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnasadh. Unlike Mabon, Samhain is quite an old festival, being found in some of the oldest Irish texts, dating back to the ninth century. There are even prehistoric tombs in Ireland that align with the sunrise on Samhain.

Bonfires were lit, emulating the sun and helping to give it strength as the light began to wane. They were also used for burning and banishing negative energies and spirits. Often, these community bonfires were used to light the hearths of homes for the rest of the winter. 

Divination was also an important part of Samhain. As the door between the spirit world and the material world is open, we have the opportunity to gain insight that is not always available to us. Traditionally, this might be done with fire, by bobbing apples, and cracking nuts.

Given that the line between worlds is hazy, it was a time to honor ancestors and help lost souls find their way to the underworld. It was also a time when the fairies and spirits were out and about. Faces carved into turnips or beets, the precursor to our modern jack-o-lanterns, were said to both honor the dead and also acted as protection from spirits with more nefarious purposes.

It was also a time for costumes and disguises. People would dress up and go house to house, asking for food or treats. In some cases, revelers would dress as those who had passed, asking for offerings, while in other areas, the disguises were needed to confuse and ward off the evil spirits that had passed through the veil. 

Samhain Correspondences and Symbolism

Samhain is a celebration of the dark side of fall. It’s a time to honor the beauty that comes as the landscape dies back. Pumpkins, jack o’lanterns, autumn leaves, and apples are all seasonally appropriate. So are symbols of death: skulls, zombies, skeletons, etc. You might also bring out things that remind you of loved ones who have passed: photographs, old possessions, things that remind you of them.  All of these can make excellent symbols of the season.

Any of these correspondences and symbols can be used to decorate your workspace, as your desktop or phone background, or even as something to wear. You might pull some of these correspondences into your Samhain altar, your desk, or the colors of pens you use. 

Colors of Samhain

If you live in a place where it is not quite winter, the colors of the season will be what you see when you look out the window: red, orange, and brown. Other colors are those outside the window once the snow flies: black and white. Decking out our desks or our selves in the colors of the season can go a long way in reminding us the lessons of this time of year. 

Foods for Samhain

Apples, squash, nuts, berries and bread are all great celebratory foods for Samhain. Parsnips, carrots and turnips are also very traditional! Pumpkins are not traditional, of course, but are definitely seasonal, especially if you are in North America. Everything that captures that end-of-harvest feeling. Even wild game can be a meaningful way to celebrate this season, if you are into that kind of thing. Rosemary and sage are also great herbs that help capture the magic of this time of year.

Pumpkin spice is also a good way to honor this time of year. Cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg are traditionally used to keep evil spirits away. (What does it say about me that I don’t like these spices?) So if you are a pumpkin spice person, anything with these spices is good for this time of year.

It’s also a great time for warm drinks: teas, hot chocolates, cider, mulled wine, hot toddies! You need something to keep your soul and your hands warm as the temperatures start to drop.

Every Sabbat is a great time for a feast. And this holiday in particular invites us to set out offerings for those who have passed. When we are honoring my grandfather, we always have Heineken (Pour one out for Grandpa!). But you might also set aside some of your feast, or set a place for loved ones who can only be there in spirit. 

Crystals for Samhain

The crystals for Samhain include a few different types: those that enhance our intuition and psychic abilities, those for protection, and those for connecting with death and the spirit world. There is a lot of crossover, of course. Labradorite, obsidian, and fluorite can heighten  divination and magical activities. Smoky quartz, amethyst, and hematite can help ground and protect you as the veil is thin. Bloodstone, carnelian, and petrified wood correspond to those who have passed and our ancestral roots.

You can connect with these stones by wearing them, or setting them on your writing desk or on your altar. Sometimes a little bit of sparkle that catches your eye can be a powerful recurring reminder of what you are trying to cultivate this season.

Samhain Rituals for Writers

There are quite a few writing-oriented ways that you can use the energy of Halloween to further your writing practice, and especially to hone your craft as an artist. It’s a great time to connect with your roots, reflect, let go, and set yourself up for the rest of the year. Here are some ideas for Samhain rituals that can also support your writing and creativity.

1. Connect with your literary ancestors. Who made you first want to write? What was the first book you read that lit your creative spark? Which authors have influenced you? It’s time to connect with those roots, with those who have come before us. Pick up your old favorite book. Read what your idols said about their writing practices or their craft advice. What has shaped and influenced you, and what have you learned from them? What can you still learn? It’s time to honor that, and give thanks to those who have paved the way. 
2. Simmer pot! I also suggested a Simmer Pot for Mabon, and I might suggest one for Yule, too. In my opinion, all of these “pumpkin spice” holidays lend themselves to beautiful simmer pots. There’s something cozy about a pot of spices and herbs bubbling in the kitchen. To make a writing simmer pot, simmer a large pot of water and add herbs, fruits, and scents that represent what you want to put out into the world. You might choose to write your intentions on bay leaves or basil so you are clear about what your wishes are.
3. Reflect. This is a great time to work with mirrors, both actually and metaphorically. This is a time when you are working to wipe the slate clean and make room for new growth in your life. How can you do this with your writing practices? Which of your writing goals are serving you and which are not? What do you need to let die? Habits? Beliefs? 
4. Use divination. What do you need to know to take your writing practice to the next level? This is the most perfect time of year to ask those questions and get some answers. You might ask your intuition, the universe, God, your ancestors or whatever feels comfortable for you. Make a list of questions you have been seeking answers to and ask for help. You could use tarot cards, tea leaves, meditation or any divination technique that works for you. Remember to keep your eyes out for signs. 
5. Dress the part. It’s an excellent time to try on new costumes, and disguise yourself. How might you dress in a way that can support your writing practice? How would it feel to write dressed as Dickinson or Hemingway? What about your main character? Or your ideal of the writer you want to be? Sometimes shaking up our look can open new doors to creativity and inspiration. Have fun with it!
6. Protect your practice. What is threatening your writing craft? What do you need to protect to enhance your writing practice? Your space? Your energy? Your mental health? Your time? Create a plan or a ritual to protect what needs to be protected as we settle in for the winter.
7. Plan for the year to come. As Samhain is also a celebration of rebirth, it is a good time, once again to craft a plan for your writing practice. What are you hoping to accomplish in the coming year, or the coming six months? How do you hope to grow as an artist and what steps are you going to take to support that growth? As you reflect on what you’ve harvested and clear space for new growth, it’s also a powerful time to think about what it is you want to plant in the future. It’s time to dream big!

Samhain Writing Prompts

Here are 30 Samhain writing prompts to help harvest your ideas. I have created these prompts to be interpreted in many ways, so don’t worry about “what it means.” Just let yourself write and see where your creativity takes you. 

Many of these Halloween-y writing prompts are intended as inspiration for creative projects like poetry, short stories, or memoir. However, I’ve tried to leave them open-ended enough that they can also function as Samhain journal prompts. How can you explore yourself through these lenses? Have fun with it!

1. Honor your ancestry. Do a little research into your past. Write about an ancestor you find compelling. 
2. Write a eulogy for someone who has passed.
3. Go outside and find something that is dying. What is the destiny of this thing? What happens to them in the underworld or afterlife?
4. Write a story about a ouija board session gone terribly wrong. 
5. Emulate your literary ancestors. Tell your story in the style of your favorite writer. How would they say it? What kinds of language, sentence structure, and dialogue might they use?
6. Write about someone who marries into the underworld.
7. Do an erasure of your favorite scary story. Don’t have one in mind? Check out the stories here and here. 
8. Write a story that begins with passing through a veil. 
9. You look in the mirror. What you see is your worst nightmare.
10. Write about a soul who passes back through the door to the living, only to find the world is very different than they left it. 
11. Write about an undead horseman who brings messages from beyond the grave. 
12. Create a recipe for the dead.
13. Write about a drunken pact made with the devil.
14. For your Samhain feast, you leave out a plate for the dead. In the middle of dinner, an unexpected visitor sits at the empty place setting.
15. Write about a musician who emerges from the underworld and puts everyone to sleep with his songs. 
16. Find one of these Death tarot cards in which the picture speaks to you. (If you have a favorite deck, you can also pull your card from there.) Look deeply at the picture. What is the story? What are the images on this card trying to say to you in particular? 
17. Write about tricking the dead by wearing a disguise.
18. Do some divination. Next time you have tea or coffee, look closely at the grounds. What do you see? Start your story there. 
19. Write a story about guiding a lost soul to its final resting place.
20. What comes inside when you leave the window open while the veil between the worlds is thin?
21. Write about an evil spirit who is thwarted by pumpkin spice.
22. Find a grave. Use the findagrave website to find the grave of someone important to you. This might be a hero, an ancestor, someone with your same name. Try to find one with a photograph. Imagine yourself at the grave, and start your story there. (Shout out to Katie Andrews Porter for introducing me to findagrave!)
23. Write in detail about a memory that is not yours. 
24. Try out one of these writing prompts from Marrow Magazine.
25. This photo by Bee Felten-Leidel on Unsplash.

26. ​​This photo by Paul Cuoco on Unsplash.
27. This photo by Thalia Ruiz on Unsplash.
28. This photo by Jennifer Marquez on Unsplash.
29. This photo by Eleanor Brooke on Unsplash.
30. This photo by Sara Kurfeß on Unsplash.

As we approach Samhain in the far north, it feels like new beginnings here, like a clean slate. The garden is put to bed. We have planted garlic, so even the seeds of next year’s first harvest have already been planted. The world is blanketed in snow and for a moment, and the spiritual world feels so close, as we shepherd the land to sleep.

“I love winter!” my four-year-old says, on the first day it snows. And in this moment, she does. I can’t help but wonder if she will feel the same way in six months. Luckily, the Wheel of the Year is constantly turning. Just as our feelings about the snow may not stay stagnant, nor will the land outside. More than any other holiday, Samhain reminds us that the wheel is always turning, that what grows must also die, and that what dies makes way for new growth. Sometimes we need to look back and let go in order to move forward.

If you are looking for more prompts and rituals based on the Wheel of the Year, you can find them here. For more creative writing prompts, look here. For more ideas about how to deepen your writing practice with rituals, check out this post.