SAMHAIN: a portal to honor our roots – by Ana Leo

In many spiritual traditions around the world, the end of October marks a special moment. The veil between worlds becomes thinner. It is the time of Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”), the Celtic New Year, celebrated by ancient European peoples as the close of one cycle and the beginning of another. It is when time stands still and the invisible draws near the ancestors, dreams, mysteries.

In the Northern Hemisphere, Samhain marks the beginning of winter, the descent into longer nights, colder winds, and the inner work that only darkness invites. In the Southern Hemisphere, it signals the end of winter, a farewell to the season of shadows and the slow return of warmth and light. No matter where you are on the planet, Samhain always arrives in the final days of October, as a spiritual threshold between worlds. It reminds us that we are either entering or leaving the darker half of the year. It is a time of transition, of release, and of deep remembrance.

In the Americas and among Latin cultures, this portal also resonates deeply. In Mexico, there is the Día de los Muertos. In Brazil and other parts of Latin America, African diasporic traditions such as Umbanda and Candomblé revere the spirits of the dead. And across the continent, even in households without a name for it, many families light candles, display photos, say prayers, and tell stories to remember those who came before.

What unites these practices is a deep reverence for our origins. A loving listening to the roots. And a perception of time not as a straight line, but as a spiral, where the past is still alive within us.

A RITUAL TO TRY AT HOME: THE ANCESTORS’ DINNER

This Samhain, you can create a simple, beautiful, and deeply meaningful ritual. A dinner dedicated to your ancestors.

Begin by choosing a recipe with history. It could be your grandmother’s soup, a childhood dessert, or, if no family recipe comes to mind, something ancestral and earthy like a root vegetable stew with sweet potato, yam, carrot, pumpkin, and spices. These foods come from the earth and carry lots of memory. Set the table with intention. Light candles. Add dried flowers, autumn leaves, stones, family treasures, or symbolic objects that represent your lineage. Prepare an extra place at the table with a plate, glass, and cutlery. This is the place for your ancestors. You can place a photo, a note, or simply keep a candle lit to represent their presence.

Invite the people you consider to be the right ones. It can be a quiet moment alone or a dinner shared with family or friends. Make room to tell stories about those who came before. It can be a toast, a precious memory, a funny story, or even an unresolved feeling that you want to honour and release.

If you’re with friends, invite each person to share something about their own lineage. Healing can happen simply through presence and listening. It is a gentle way to honor the diverse threads that make up the collective soul. At the end of the dinner, offer thanks. Thank your ancestors for their journey, for the love and lessons passed down through generations. You can write a letter, burn a bay leaf in gratitude, or close the ritual with a song, a prayer, or a moment of silence.

I must warn you to be prepared for surprises at this dinner, such as flickering lights, furniture being moved, or even a vivid dream that same night. When we call on our ancestors, they appear with great pleasure. Samhain reminds us that death is not the end, but transformation. That the darkness of winter carries invisible seeds. And that by honoring those who came before, we also remember who we are. May this ritual strengthen your roots and illuminate your path.

Ana Leo is an astrologer and author of The Astrology Diary, 
an internationally published astrological planner. 
She has over 80,000 followers on social media and leads rituals and transformative 
experiences in Brazil and around the world, combining presence, ancestral wisdom, 
and cosmic consciousness in everything she offers. You can find her on social media: 
Instagram @analeo & youtube.com/analeo