The Thinning of the Veil
There is a particular quality to the air at the end of October. Something shifts — a stillness beneath the wind, a sense that the world is holding its breath. In shamanic tradition, this is no coincidence. Samhain, observed on 31 October, marks one of the most potent thresholds in the wheel of the year: the moment when the boundary between the living and the dead becomes gossamer-thin, and the voices of our ancestors can be heard a little more clearly, if we are willing to listen.
A samhain ritual is not about superstition or fear. It is an act of remembrance, of reciprocity, and of healing — for ourselves and for the lineages we carry. In my work as a shamanic practitioner here on the East Sussex coast, this time of year feels deeply alive. The sea at Newhaven turns iron-grey, the cliffs hold a particular hush, and I find myself naturally drawn inward, towards the roots of things.
What Samhain Means in Shamanic Tradition
Long before Halloween became a commercial affair, Celtic and indigenous peoples across the world recognised this turning point in the year as sacred. Samhain (pronounced sow-in) was the Celtic new year — a time when the harvest was complete, the cattle brought in from the fields, and the community gathered to honour those who had passed.
In shamanic cosmology, death is not an ending but a transition. The ancestors — those who have walked before us — exist in what many traditions call the lower world or the spirit realm. They are not gone; they are simply elsewhere. At Samhain, that elsewhere draws closer.
This matters for healing. So much of what we carry — our fears, our patterns, our unexplained grief — can be rooted in ancestral experience. Unresolved trauma, broken contracts, inherited emotional burdens: these can travel through generations like an invisible thread. Acknowledging and honouring our ancestors is one of the most profound acts of self-healing available to us.
If you are curious about how ancestral and energetic patterns show up in the body and spirit, my piece on Signs You Need Energy Healing may resonate with you.
A Simple Samhain Ritual to Try at Home
You do not need to be an experienced practitioner to honour your ancestors at this time of year. The following practice is one I share openly because I believe everyone deserves access to simple, grounding ceremony. It draws on principles from the Andean shamanic tradition in which I trained, as well as broader shamanic understanding.
What you will need:
- A candle (white or black are traditional, though any will do)
- A small bowl of water
- A photograph or object that belonged to someone you wish to honour, or simply their name written on paper
- Something from the earth — a handful of soil, a stone, a fallen leaf
- Optional: a small offering of food or drink that the person loved
The practice:
- Find a quiet space where you will not be disturbed. Sit comfortably and take several slow, deep breaths to arrive fully in your body.
- Light your candle and place your photograph, name or object before you. Set your offering beside it if you have one.
- Speak aloud — or in your heart — the name of the ancestor or ancestors you are calling in. You might say something simple: "I remember you. I honour you. I am grateful for the life that flows through me because of you."
- Hold the object from the earth in your hands. Feel its weight. Let it anchor you to the physical world as you open to the spirit one.
- Sit in silence for a few minutes. Notice what arises — images, feelings, memories, a sense of presence. You do not need to interpret or analyse. Simply receive.
- When you feel complete, thank your ancestors for their presence and gently close the space. Blow out the candle with intention, releasing the connection with love.
This is a samhain ritual in its simplest, most honest form. It does not require elaborate tools or years of training. It requires only your willingness to remember.
"The ancestors are not behind us — they are beneath us, holding us up."
How Ancestral Healing Shows Up in Shamanic Sessions
In my private sessions, ancestral themes arise more often than people expect. Someone might come to me feeling inexplicably heavy, carrying a grief that does not seem to belong to their own life story. Another might find themselves repeating a pattern — in relationships, in work, in health — that no amount of conscious effort seems to shift. Sometimes, what we are working with is not purely personal. It is inherited.
Within the shamanic healing work I offer, there are several ways we might approach this:
Soul retrieval can recover parts of ourselves that were lost not only in our own lifetime but that carry the imprint of ancestral wounding. When a lineage has experienced significant trauma — loss, displacement, grief — those fractures can echo forward.
Contract resolution addresses the agreements, vows and patterns that have been passed down through family lines, often unconsciously. Releasing these with ceremony and intention can create a profound sense of freedom.
Energy extraction clears dense or stuck energy that may have accumulated over time, including that which has been inherited rather than personally generated. You can read more about how energetic intrusions can manifest in my article on dark entity removal and shamanic extraction.
I also work with despacho ceremony — a beautiful Andean offering practice — which can be a powerful way to give thanks to the ancestors and restore right relationship with those who have gone before. If you are unfamiliar with the despacho, my article The Power of the Despacho: A Living Prayer for Your Soul goes into much more depth.
It is worth saying clearly: shamanic healing is a complementary practice. It works beautifully alongside therapy, medical care and other forms of support, but it does not replace them. If ancestral themes are touching deep psychological wounds, I always encourage people to work with a qualified mental health professional in tandem.
Why This Time of Year Matters
I have been doing this work for over six years now, and every Samhain I am reminded of why the seasonal wheel matters so much in shamanic practice. We are not separate from nature — we are nature. The same force that draws the sap down into the roots of the trees in autumn is the force that calls us inward, towards reflection, towards our depths.
A samhain ritual — whether a simple candle at home or a full shamanic ceremony — is an act of alignment with that natural rhythm. It says: I acknowledge what has been. I honour those who came before me. I am ready to release what no longer serves and carry forward what is truly mine.
If you are drawn to explore this more deeply, I offer private shamanic ceremonies throughout the year, here in Brighton and Newhaven and online. You can also find details of upcoming gatherings and seasonal events on my events page, and explore the full range of what I offer at Shaman of Brighton.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a samhain ritual in shamanic tradition?
In shamanic tradition, a samhain ritual is a ceremony of remembrance and connection with the ancestors, held at the turning point of the year when the boundary between the living and the spirit world is considered most permeable. It typically involves creating a sacred space, making offerings, speaking the names of the departed, and sitting in receptive silence. It is less about contacting the dead in a dramatic sense and more about cultivating a living, grateful relationship with those who have come before us.
Do I need to be spiritual or experienced to try an ancestor-honouring practice?
Not at all. The simple practice outlined above requires nothing more than a quiet space, a candle and an open heart. You do not need to hold any particular belief system. Many people find that the act of lighting a candle and speaking a name aloud is, in itself, quietly powerful — a moment of genuine remembrance in a world that often rushes past grief.
How does ancestral healing work in a shamanic session?
In a session, I use a combination of shamanic journeying, energy work and ceremony to explore what ancestral patterns or energies may be present in your field. This is always led by what arises in the session rather than a fixed formula. Some people experience a strong sense of resolution; others notice more subtle shifts over the days and weeks that follow. Sessions last one to two hours and are priced at £80 per hour, with no extra charge if we run beyond two hours.
Is shamanic ancestral healing the same as mediumship or séance?
No. Shamanic ancestral work is not about dramatic communication with the dead or attempting to channel specific messages. It is a grounded, ceremonial practice focused on healing, releasing inherited patterns and restoring a sense of connection and gratitude. The intention is always your wellbeing and the restoration of balance — not entertainment or spectacle.
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If Samhain is stirring something in you — a longing to go deeper, to understand what you carry, or simply to feel less alone in the mystery of it all — I would love to hear from you. You are warmly welcome to get in touch or book a session and we can explore what the ancestors, and this remarkable time of year, might have to offer you.
