October arrives with crisp air and the scent of fall leaves. There’s a whisper of things to come and the promise of the cycle continuing on. The magick of October lives in the energies that shift this month from a colorful display of vibrant leaves into the gray of winter’s rest.
We feel this magick deep into our bones. It’s something ancient and familiar to us, even if it’s mysterious.
Let’s explore what makes October so magickal and how the green witch can embrace its unique gifts.
What Makes the Magick of October Special?
October is a turning point in the Wheel of the Year. The bridge between this and that.
The harvest season comes to an end, the energies of descent have deepened, and the natural world becomes quieter.
We’re invited to turn inward. To do as the trees do and release the things that aren’t serving us. To prepare for rest and understand that just as things end, so do they begin.
Each is a necessary part of the cycle of death and rebirth. One doesn’t exist without the other.
Simple Ways to Celebrate the Magick of October
1. Create Your Ancestor Altar
The month of October, especially as we near Samhain (October 31st), is a potent time to connect with your ancestors. Create (or refresh) a space in your home where you can honor those who came before you. Add photographs, heirlooms, mementos, trinkets, seasonal offerings like apples or dried herbs, and a candle to light in their memory.
Tip: Speak their names out loud. Tell them what’s in your heart. The veil is thin now and they’re listening.
2. Hold a Fire Ceremony to Let Go of What No Longer Serves You
Use the magick of October to release what no longer serves. You can do this with an outdoor fire or a candle. (If you’re using an outdoor fire, please use caution.)
Write down the habits, beliefs, or burdens you’re ready to let go of. Offer them to the flames.
(If you’re using a candle inside, be sure to have a way to extinguish your paper, like a bowl of water or stand by a sink when you do this. Safety first.)
This is a powerful ritual of alignment that mirrors the trees releasing their leaves without fear or resistance.
They know that new leaves will return in the spring. For you, new things will come to be also.
3. Do a Seasonal Walk
In the Northeast, October brings fiery foliage, acorns, fallen leaves, and the scent of damp soil. Taking a slow walk through the woods or even in your own backyard, you can gather items that call to you. Pinecones, nuts, moss, berries, fallen leaves or interesting pebbles (always with permission, gratitude and respect).
Create a seasonal altar or mandala using these found items. Let this be a living prayer for Mother Earth and her cycles.
4. Light a Candle Each Night
As the days grow shorter, we move more into the dark half of the year. Let this become a nightly ritual. Choose a specific time to light a candle. No distractions. Just you and the candle. Center yourself, ask for guidance or just breathe gently as you watch it burn.
Let the flame remind you that light still exists, even in the increasing dark.
5. Deepen Your Shadow Work
October invites us inward. Nature reflects our own inner landscapes. Use this time to journal about your fears, dreams, grief, or growth. Sit with your shadow self in compassion, instead of judgment. Consider what you’ve been avoiding and why that is so.
Shadow work carries powerful transformation energy and at this time, it’s amplified. Let the season support you in this work.
6. Celebrate Apples with a Little Kitchen Magick
The apple is a symbol of the Goddess, of knowledge, of life and death (cut an apple crosswise to reveal the star within). Bake apple pies or apple crisps as offerings and family mealtime additions, leave apples on your altar, or make some spiced cider to warm your spirit.
Journal about this: what wisdom is hidden at my core?
7. Notice Any Omens
October is a time of messages. Pay attention to crows, owls, the way the wind moves through the trees, or the way certain dreams linger. Keep a small journal just for omens or signs that appear this month. Nature is speaking in symbols now more than ever.
Living the Magick Every Day
Not everything needs to be a full on ritual. In fact, here at Ravynwood, we think that living your magick every day is the goal. Here’s how to find magick in the mundane:
- Sipping cinnamon tea while gazing at the changing trees
- Sweeping your porch with intention
- Wearing a cozy scarf that makes you feel like a stylish witch
- Walking barefoot in the crunchy leaves (yes, even if it’s chilly)
Living with seasonal awareness allows you to practice magick without needing elaborate tools or timing. The season creates the spell. You live it.
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Magick of October
October is not only a time of natural beauty, it’s also a time of endings.
A threshold and sacred descent.
Let it show you what must fall away. Be reminded that even in decay, there’s grace. The promise of rebirth lives in the ending.
As the October breeze moves through the trees and fallen leaves skitter across the ground, may you be reminded that you are part of all this too.
Blessed be.
Ready to go deeper this October?
Let The Magick of October Workbook be your sacred companion through this powerful month of remembrance, release, and renewal. Created especially for the solitary green witch, this 40+ page printable guide weaves together ritual planning sheets, lunar prompts, Samhain reflections, and weekly activities to help you honor the thinning veil and connect more fully with the season’s energies.
Whether you tuck it into your Book of Shadows or use it as a seasonal practice guide, this workbook is designed to support you on your journey.
Undated. Buy once. Use forever.
👉 Get the Magick of October Workbook here.
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Blog Post – Celebrating Samhain – A Personal Perspective
Karen
