Samhain Explained: History, Rituals, and the Real Meaning of the Thinning Veil

As the nights stretch longer and the veil between worlds grows thin, Samhain marks a powerful turning point, a moment to honor the dead, release what’s ready to go, and welcome the magic of new beginnings. In this episode of Demystify Magic, we begin our Wheel of the Year series with a deep (and delightfully nerdy) dive into the history and meaning of Samhain, the ancient Celtic fire festival often called The Witches’ New Year. We unpack the real origins of the Wheel of the Year, explore how Samhain inspired modern Halloween, and share low-effort, high-impact ways to celebrate from ancestor altars and dumb suppers to fire scrying and candle rituals. Along the way, we talk about grief, psychic boundaries, and finding a little warmth and wonder in the darker months ahead. Whether you’re witch-curious or walking the Wheel year after year, this episode will help you honor Samhain with intention, humor, and heart. Tune in and join us as we demystify Samhain, where science meets spirit, and the veil grows thin. Pre-order Molly’s book Mundane Magic A Lazy Witch's Guide to Hacking Your Brain, Building a Daily Practice, and Getting Stuff Done Preorder Mundane Magic & Join the Virtual Book Tour⁠ : Celebrate the release of Molly's new book with an exclusive online event on Feb 21, 12 PM EST. Get behind-the-scenes insights, live Q&A, and your copy shipped on release day. 🔮 Join the waitlist for Reiki 1: The Science of Self-Healing: https://www.mollydonlan.com/reikiwait 🛍️Shop our merch here: https://demystifymagic.com/collections/merch 🔮 Download the FREE Manifest with Reiki Ritual: https://www.mollydonlan.com/manifestwithreiki 🕯Shop spell candles and oils at Spellcrafter https://shopspellcrafter.com 🔮 Shop magical tools to enhance your practice, use code MAGIC to get 20% off your order: https://thehealinghedgewitch.com/ 🎬 Molly’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@m0dizzl3 Let us know your thoughts: ✨ Demystify Magic Instagram: @demystifymagic ✨ Molly’s instagram: @m0dizzl3 ✨ Madison’s instagrams: @madisonlillian.jpeg and @healinghedgewitch and @shopspellcrafter