It’s Halloween — Happy New Year!

“As long as we remember a person, they’re not really gone.” Justin Cronin

For Pagans, Halloween is more than costumes, trick-or-treating, and spooky movies. Witches consider this celebration a new year. And we don’t call it Halloween; to us, it will always be Samhain.

However, you don’t have to be a practicing witch to appreciate the spiritual connection to this time of the year. All of our ancestors were agrarian. In those times, people had one last feast to finish the food sources that wouldn’t make it through winter. The last seeds were sown as the community knew that life and activity would soon slow and then still.

Our ancestors probably saw the new year as two seasons. One was when the growing season began. But the second could have been during the season of the dark skies and cold days—a perfect time to go within. To retreat and rest.

Many cultures believe that the veil is the thinnest between the physical world and the spiritual realm during this time. This is not only rooted in paganism but seen in other religions. Whether you celebrate Dia de los Muertos of the Mexican people or All Souls Day of Roman Catholic tradition, the concept is the same. We honor our ancestors through memorials and offerings.

I recently hosted my first Pagan Dumb Supper. I know. What a strange term. But in this sense, the word “dumb” signifies “silence.” Yep, that’s how it works. No one talks during the meal. The reason is so that the quiet will allow your ancestors to come through the veil and send messages. This silent atmosphere is considered crucial to spirit communication.

Some people go to Seances during this potent spiritual time. But I find that the experience of the meal is quite powerful enough.

Like typical witches, we started the evening with a ritual. We first protected our space by cleansing and charging our jewelry. We called in the elements and lit our candles. With hands held, we stood in a circle as sisters. We declared that our intentions were full of love and peace and that we only moved in white light. We each put our offering on the altar before moving to the dining table.

There are many ways to organize a dumb supper. I liked how we did ours. Since there is no talking, it can make serving a little confusing. Since we decided on a potluck supper, whatever dish you brought, you were responsible for serving the other guests.

At each setting is a second plate. Each guest brought a picture of their ancestor and placed it by the second plate. Before taking a bite of every course, we “shared” our food on the second plate with the ancestor we each honored.

Next to every table setting was paper and pencils. This was a tip I learned from some research on dumb suppers. That suggestion was so that each participant could jot down messages that come to them so they wouldn’t forget. I am grateful for such an amazing idea. After the dinner, everyone shared their experiences, and it was fascinating to hear all the communication that came through.

For me personally, there was acknowledgment to stay true to my path. To continue to hone my skills and maintain trust. The importance of being aware of nature and signs also came through. I already often receive messages from my mother, but I still appreciated the ability to spend an evening honoring her memory.

I highly recommend everyone to experience a dumb supper at least once in their lives. It was a fabulous evening and a beautiful magical way to usher in the dark half of the year.