10 Things to Do in October
Did you get a chance to do all—or some—of September’s activities? I’d love to hear about what you did and how it went! Here is a list of suggestions for October. Feel free to alter any of these to your views or tastes as well as to add your own.
10. Make a Jack O’Lantern: If you want to be truly authentic, use a turnip, and find out more about the history of these lighted vegetables.
9. Make Your Own Runes: We made our own bean runes last Samhain and had a great time with them. We used the instructions in Circle Round, but any instructions can be adapted to include a simple bag of beans. Alternatively, if you’d like to make a fancier set with wood or gemstones, feel free.
8. Practice Another Form of Divination: Samhain is one of the most conducive holidays for divination. Try scrying, using your new runes, treating yourself to a new deck of tarot cards, or another activity.
7. Make Sugar Skulls: These traditional Mexican decorations are a lot of fun to make and decorate.
6. Do a Rainforest Ritual: October 12 through 18 marks National Rainforest week, a perfect time to send some loving energy to Mother Earth.
5. Celebrate the Crone and the Horned God: Use this excellent ritual or create your own personalized one. Decorate your altar in Her and His image with clay sculptures, paintings, or other symbols. Dress as the Lady or Lord for Samhain. Tell stories around a bonfire while you drink cider, roast marshmallows, or much on Hallowe’en candy.
4. Go Trick-or-Treating: Yes, pagans can trick-or-treat, too! In fact, it’s a lot of fun to dress as your favorite god, goddess or mythical creature and not be ostracized for it for at least one day!
3. Celebrate the New Year: Samhain marks the New Year for many pagans, making this a great time for resolutions. You may want to hold a ritual for burning the past year’s regrets or disappointments, writing them out on paper and saying goodbye to them for a fresh start as they burn (or are torn up).
2. Honor the Dead: Whether you celebrate with full Day of the Dead festivities or simply meditate on your family members who have passed, be sure to remember those you love at Samhain. We like to leave a bit of food outside for family members and friends who have recently passed for sustenance on their journey. You may even wish to host a full dead supper (or dumb supper) for this purpose.
1. Celebrate Samhain: You can do this by using any of the ideas above or your own! From honoring the dead to holding a séance to simply roasting pumpkin seeds and sharing them with those you love, you can make this the best All Hallow’s Eve ever.
