Rooted Fall

Honoring Samhain

May the nourishment of the earth be yours, 

May the clarity of light be yours,

May the fluency of the ocean be yours, 

May the protection of the ancestors be yours.

And so may a slow

Wind work these words

Of love around you,

An invisible cloak

To mind your life.

• Excerpt from the Beannacht by John O’Donohue

This past weekend I spent a chilly, sunlit morning, sheltered by the warmth of a greenhouse on an herbfarm. The pull to the farm (though it doesn’t take much for me to spend a day on a farm or anywhere outside) was to learn about potent plant medicines to use during this Samhain season. The class was taught by Rosa Vissers, co-owner of Hildegard Ferments & Botanicals and was attended by a group of women all delighted by spicy ginger tea and playing with flowers. While I’ve long had a curiosity about Celtic tradition and even incorporated some of their ideas of how the year is divided in my next book, much of the information below is what I learned from our kind and generous teacher, Rosa. 

Samhain, pronounced SOW-in, is the ancient Celtic festival that inspired modern Halloween. Samhain is an important time for reflection, honoring ancestors, and connecting with nature. With its focus on remembrance, gratitude, and spiritual renewal, Samhain can be a deeply meaningful experience for anyone seeking to celebrate the cycle of life and death. In the Celtic/Gaelic tradition Samhain marked the beginning of the year. The Wheel of the Year, which was the way in which the Celts divided the year, begins at sundown of Samhain. 

Rituals for Samhain

Making an Ancestral altar:

• Choose a meaningful location in your home for the altar, such as a quiet corner or near a window.

• Gather photos or objects that remind you of your loved ones, such as jewelry, books, or personal items.

• Arrange the photos and objects on the altar in a way that feels respectful and thoughtful.

• Light candles or incense to create a calm and meditative atmosphere.

• Take some time to reflect on your ancestors and their impact on your life.

• Offer thanks for all the ancestors.

Feast

A full feast, while wonderful, is not needed but rather bring in a bit of the harvest from this season; apples, squash, pears... and bake a simple cake or make a soup. Fill your house with the scent of the harvest as you prepare to fill your belly. 

This apple cake from my grandmother’s recipe collection is a favorite and always makes me feel like we are baking together in the kitchen. 

Chopped Apple Cake

This cake is wonderfully simple and takes no more time to make than it does your oven to preheat. 

1 ½ cups flour

¾ teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

¾ cup sugar

¾ cup neutral oil (I used canola and walnut)

2 eggs, lightly beaten

½ teaspoon vanilla

2 cups peeled and chopped apples (about 2 medium)

Preheat your oven to 350*F. Butter a loaf pan and set aside.

Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar in a medium bowl. Add the oil, eggs and vanilla and stir until combined. Fold in the apples. Scrape batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the loaf comes out clean, about 60 to 70 minutes.

Let cool for 10 minutes before unmolding onto a wire rack. Let cool until just warm then slice. 

Release

As each new season approaches I often find there is a tendency to want to clean and clear my space. This time of year is no different. Fall and Samhain invite us to notice what in our lives, like the leaves falling outside, need to be released and return to the soil as healthy compost? This is a great time of year to clean physically and energetically. You could also clear your space by working with smoke medicine. Rosa suggests using Mugwort, Cedar, or Juniper this time of year. She suggests burning an aromatic in a small bowl then starting at your backdoor or window before moving throughout the rest of the house. While doing this carry with you an intention and move things out of your space that are no longer needed or don’t belong. 

Remember

Samhain is an important time to remember; remember our ancestors, the gifts from the year, the abundance of harvest, etc. Rosemary has long been used as a medicinal herb and is believed to be a helpful aid for memory. I love both the scientific and sacred behind this, by incorporating rosemary into our rituals and on the table this time of year, we can remember our place in the interconnectedness and it may well indeed improve our memories. Rosemary is also used to relieve circulatory and respiratory complaints as well as muscle and digestive pain. You can simmer rosemary in water to scent your home, use it for smoke medicine, hang a bundle at your altar, and/or cook with it. The recipe below uses rosemary to lightly season a crisp and hearty savory granola. Paired with buttery avocado and citrus, it’s a filling and fresh way to start the day. 

Citrus and Avocado Salad with Yogurt and Rosemary Granola

I’m not actually much of a breakfast person. I like my mornings served with coffee and if the day allows leisure, a good book. But when it’s time for breakfast it’s usually savory that I crave. This simple parfait or breakfast salad of sorts sits somewhere in between sweet and savory and really you could push it further into either side if you’d like. Omit the fennel and chili flake and add more honey if you prefer to tip towards sweetness. Either way, keep the rosemary. I feel like that is what makes this dish decidedly wintery, but in an unexpectedly fresh and light sort of way. 

1/2 cup yogurt (I prefer plain, Greek yogurt)

1 orange, segmented (if you can find it Cara Cara is a favorite or use grapefruit instead of orange)

1/2 avocado, pitted, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch wedges

1/2 cup Rosemary Granola (recipe below)

Honey or olive oil to finish, optional

Flake salt, optional

1 teaspoon fresh rosemary 

These amounts and arrangements are mere suggestions. Add more or less if you see fit.

Add the yogurt to a bowl or plate. Arrange the oranges and avocado on the yogurt. Top with granola and finish with fresh rosemary. You can also add on a drizzle of honey or olive oil (or both!) and a sprinkle of flake salt.

Rosemary Granola

1 egg white

1 cup oats

1/2 cup pistachios

1/2 cup pepitas

1/4 cup white sesame seeds

1/4 cup black sesame seeds

1/4 teaspoon chili flake

2 teaspoons fennel seeds

1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary

2 teaspoons honey

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 cup olive oil

Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 350*F.

In a medium bowl add the egg white and whisk until frothy.

To the bowl add the oats, pistachios, pepitas, sesame seeds, chili flakes, fennel seeds, and rosemary. Stir to combine. Then stir in the honey, salt and olive oil.

Spread this onto the prepared sheet pan and bake for 25 - 30 minutes, until deeply toasted. Stir every 10 minutes. 

Let cool on the tray before storing in an airtight container for up to two weeks. 

Embrace the darkness

Waking up in the dark takes some adjustment, especially on particularly chilly mornings when the bed is still so warm. We’ll spend some time this evening turning off the electric lights and lighting the room by candlelight. I love this intentional way of honoring the darkness that comes with this season and learning to see the beauty in it. 

This season invites a slower pace and a time of reflection. Create the space to spend time with your journal. Here are a few journal prompts in the spirit of Samhain:

• Write about a memory you have of a loved one who has passed away.

• Imagine what you would say to a deceased loved one if you had the opportunity to speak with them again.

• Describe what "honoring your ancestors" means to you and how you can incorporate it into your life.

• What are a few favorite taste memories from this time of year? 

• What are you noticing that is being invited to be released right now? What needs clearing away? 

Resources:

If you’re curious about learning more about Samhain and what you can do to embrace this time of year check out these sites:

Working with Rosemary and Samhain

Samhain Rituals

Samhain Slow Living Tips