Honoring Our Ancestors, Connecting with the Spirit World & the Herbs That Guide Us
As autumn deepens and the last leaves begin to fall, something shifts in the natural world. The days grow shorter, the nights stretch longer, and the earth begins its slow descent into winter.
There is a stillness that comes with this time of year. A quiet invitation to turn inward, reflect, and listen.
For centuries, this seasonal transition has been honored through Samhain (pronounced SOW-in), an ancient Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.
Traditionally observed from sunset on October 31 through November 1, Samhain represents a threshold between the light and dark halves of the year. In many contemporary Pagan traditions, it is also understood as a time when the veil between the living and the spirit world grows thin.
But what does it mean when we say the veil is thinning? And how might we use plants, ritual, and intention to connect with those who came before us?
The Thinning of the Veil
In spiritual traditions that honor Samhain, the veil is often described as the energetic boundary separating our physical world from the realm of spirits and ancestors.
During Samhain, this boundary is believed to become more permeable, creating an opportunity for remembrance, reflection, and spiritual connection.
Whether we understand this literally or symbolically, there is something powerful about intentionally making space for those who came before us.
Our ancestors are more than the names on our family trees. They are the people whose lives, struggles, knowledge, and choices helped shape the world we inhabit.
They are also the teachers, mentors, friends, and beloved members of our communities who have passed on.
And perhaps our ancestors are also the plants themselves.
After all, plants have been nourishing, healing, and teaching humanity for thousands of years. They connect us to traditions of medicine, food, ceremony, and survival that extend far beyond our individual lifetimes.
When we work with plants, we participate in something ancient.
My Personal Connection with the Spirit World
For as long as I can remember, I've felt a connection to the spirit world.
Much of this connection happens through my dreams, particularly in that mysterious space between being awake and asleep. That in-between place where our conscious minds begin to quiet, but we haven't fully entered the dream world.
From the time I was a child until my mid-20s, I experienced what I believed to be a spirit that followed me through different chapters of my life. This wasn't simply something I dreamed about. I could actually see a figure and feel its presence.
For years, I didn't fully understand why this presence continued to appear or what these encounters meant. It wasn't until I was older that I began to recognize a pattern. I came to understand these experiences as a warning sign that something in my life needed to shift.
What made these encounters even more interesting was that, during my 20s, I witnessed what I interpreted as this same spirit interacting with other people I knew. Through my own experiences, I felt I could help them understand the meaning behind their encounters.
Looking back, these experiences shaped my relationship with intuition, dreams, and the mysteries of the unseen world.
For years, I thought of this presence as a spirit, but as I've grown older, I've wondered if perhaps it was something else. Maybe it was a guardian angel, appearing at different moments in my life to guide me or draw my attention to something I needed to change.
I may never know exactly what that presence was, and I'm okay with that.
I've learned that we don't always need to understand everything in the moment. Sometimes the meaning of an experience reveals itself years later. Sometimes we simply need to pay attention.
This is one of the reasons Samhain resonates so deeply with me.
The idea of the veil thinning reminds me of those moments between waking and sleeping, when the boundaries between our conscious and subconscious worlds seem to soften.
And perhaps that is part of the invitation of Samhain. To slow down, become more aware of our dreams, honor those who came before us, and remain curious about the mysteries we may never fully understand.
Honoring Our Ancestors During Samhain
Across many cultures, people have created rituals to remember and honor the dead. Samhain has its own historical traditions, while practices such as Día de Muertos and other ancestral observances carry distinct cultural histories.
One way to create a personal Samhain ritual is to build a small ancestral altar.
You might include:
· Photographs or meaningful objects belonging to loved ones
· Candles to symbolize remembrance and guidance
· Seasonal offerings such as apples, nuts, or autumn flowers
· A favorite food or beverage of someone who has passed
· Herbs associated with memory, protection, and spiritual reflection
· A handwritten note expressing gratitude or asking a question
There is no need to make this elaborate.
Sometimes simply lighting a candle, speaking someone's name aloud, and remembering a story is enough.
Ancestral connection doesn't always have to be about receiving messages. Sometimes it is about remembering that we belong to something much larger than ourselves.
Herbs for Samhain, Dreamwork & Ancestral Connection
Throughout history, plants have played important roles in spiritual ceremonies, remembrance practices, and seasonal celebrations.
Some herbs are traditionally associated with dreams, protection, intuition, and the opening of our inner awareness.
Here are a few plants I love exploring during this season.
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) — Dreams & Intuition
Mugwort has a long history in European folk traditions and contemporary herbal practices.
Often associated with vivid dreaming, intuition, and divination, Mugwort is a favorite among herbalists exploring the relationship between dreams and the subconscious.
Given my own experiences with dreams and that mysterious space between waking and sleeping, Mugwort has a particularly meaningful place in my exploration of the plant world.
During Samhain, Mugwort can serve as a symbolic companion for dream journaling, meditation, and reflecting on ancestral stories.
Consider placing a small sachet of dried Mugwort near your bedside and keeping a journal nearby to record your dreams.
Safety note: Avoid Mugwort during pregnancy. People with allergies to ragweed or related plants should also exercise caution.
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) — Remembrance & Protection
Rosemary has long been associated with remembrance, fidelity, and honoring the dead.
Its fragrant evergreen leaves symbolize enduring memory, making it a beautiful addition to an ancestral altar.
Rosemary can be incorporated into ritual baths, herbal bundles, or a warming tea.
As you work with Rosemary, consider the memories you wish to preserve and the wisdom you hope to carry forward.
Elder (Sambucus nigra) — Ancestral Wisdom & the Otherworld
Elder holds a fascinating place in European folklore.
Associated with the Elder Mother and various protective and supernatural traditions, the Elder tree has often been regarded as a plant deserving special respect.
Elderberries also have a long history of culinary and medicinal use.
During Samhain, Elder can symbolize the relationship between generations, the cycles of life and death, and our connection to the natural world.
Properly prepared elderberry syrup or cordial can be a lovely seasonal offering.
Safety note: Use properly identified, fully ripe elderberries that have been thoroughly cooked. Avoid raw or unripe berries, leaves, and stems.
Rose (Rosa spp.) — Love Beyond the Physical World
Rose is one of my favorite plants for working with the heart.
Associated with love, compassion, grief, and emotional healing, Rose reminds us that our relationships continue to influence us even after someone has passed.
Rose petals can be incorporated into teas, ritual baths, or placed on an ancestral altar.
When working with Rose, consider inviting gratitude for the love you have experienced, including the love that may now exist primarily through memory.
Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) — The Heart & the Threshold
Hawthorn has deep roots in European folklore, where it has been associated with fairy realms, sacred boundaries, and protection.
In herbalism, Hawthorn is also traditionally used as a heart-supportive plant.
Its symbolic connection to both the physical and emotional heart makes it particularly meaningful during times of grief, remembrance, and transition.
Hawthorn berries can be used in teas and culinary preparations, including the cordial recipe below.
Safety note: Consult a healthcare professional before using Hawthorn medicinally, especially if taking heart or blood-pressure medications.
Ancestral Remembrance Cordial
A Warming Herbal Elixir for Samhain
A cordial is a sweetened herbal preparation traditionally made by combining botanicals with alcohol, often alongside fruit, spices, and other flavorful ingredients.
For this Samhain-inspired cordial, I've chosen herbs that represent remembrance, love, protection, and our connection to the generations before us.
The result is a warming, ruby-colored cordial that can be shared with friends, enjoyed during reflection, or offered symbolically on an ancestral altar.
Ingredients
· ½ cup dried elderberries
· ¼ cup dried hawthorn berries
· ¼ cup dried rose petals
· 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
· 1 cinnamon stick
· Peel of 1 orange (avoid excess white pith)
· 2 cups brandy
· ½–¾ cup honey, to taste
· 2 cups water, for the berry decoction
Instructions
1. Prepare your berries. Place the dried elderberries and hawthorn berries in a saucepan with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for approximately 30 minutes, adding water as needed to prevent the pan from drying out. Strain, discard the solids, and allow the liquid to cool completely.
2. Infuse your herbs. Place the cooled berry decoction, Rose, Rosemary, cinnamon, and orange peel in a clean glass jar.
3. Add the brandy. Pour in the brandy, seal, and gently shake. Refrigerate because the decoction introduces water.
4. Allow the flavors to mingle. Infuse in the refrigerator for 24–48 hours, shaking occasionally.
5. Strain and sweeten. Strain the herbal infusion through cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer. To dissolve the honey into all of the cordial, place the strained liquid in a heat-safe vessel and set it in a warm-water bath with the heat turned off. Stir in the honey until fully dissolved, gently refreshing the warm water if needed. Avoid direct heat, open flames, or simmering the alcohol-containing mixture.
6. Bottle your cordial. Transfer to a clean bottle and refrigerate. Enjoy within one week, or freeze portions for longer storage in a freezer-safe container with room for expansion.
Storage note: This is a short-lived refrigerated cordial, not a shelf-stable liqueur. The final alcohol content depends on the amount of water remaining after simmering. Use properly identified, food-grade herbs. This alcoholic recipe is for adults and should be avoided during pregnancy or when alcohol or the herbs may interact with medications.
A Samhain Cordial Ritual
Pour a small amount of your cordial into a beautiful glass or cup.
Light a candle and take a few moments to settle into your body.
Think of someone who came before you. Perhaps someone you knew and loved, or perhaps an ancestor whose story you have never heard.
Hold your cup and consider:
· What wisdom have I inherited?
· What patterns am I ready to release?
· What gifts do I want to carry forward?
· How can I honor those who helped make my life possible?
Take a sip, allowing yourself to slow down and reflect.
You might also pour a small symbolic offering into a separate cup and place it on your ancestral altar.
Listening to the Wisdom of the Season
Samhain reminds us that endings are not necessarily empty spaces.
In nature, decomposition becomes nourishment. Fallen leaves feed the soil. Seeds rest in darkness before the next season of growth.
Our lives move through similar cycles.
We experience loss, change, renewal, and transformation. And through it all, we carry the stories and teachings of those who came before us.
As an herbalist, I find comfort in remembering that the plants have witnessed countless generations. They have grown beside our ancestors, nourished their families, and accompanied them through celebration, illness, grief, and joy.
Perhaps connecting with our ancestors is not always about reaching beyond the veil.
Perhaps sometimes it is as simple as preparing an old family recipe, sharing a story, sitting quietly with a plant, or remembering someone we love.
This Samhain, I invite you to create a little space for remembrance.
Light a candle. Brew the tea. Pour the cordial.
And listen.
The wisdom of those who came before us may be closer than we think.
Blessed Samhain.
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