Halloween Offerings to the Dead

In this post we will briefly explore the origins of Halloween, why this time is so special for communicating with the spirit world, and how you can honor your loved ones who have passed on.

Roots of Halloween or One Version of History:

Upon the death of Jesus, approximately 2,000 years ago, Christianity was created as a religion in the Middle East. Over the centuries since then, Christianity has spread to every corner of the world to become the most popular and influential religion on the planet. In my studies and research, it seems that the actual teachings of Jesus have nothing to do with how widespread the religion has become. It was rather the brutal force that those in power wielded “in the name of God” that allowed Christians to take ownership of the lands of others in every continent and subjugate the people of those lands.

Along the path to world domination, those in charge of spreading the Christian teachings had to break the spirits of those they oppressed and enslaved. To do this effectively, they needed to violently and savagely destroy the indigenous culture and spiritual practices of the local people they encountered. In lands that proved more difficult to subdue, the success of Christianity came down to the cleverness and adaptability of those in control of the conversion. Often, these invaders would adopt bits and pieces of local traditions and assimilate them into the Christian calendar around the same time they were celebrated locally.

The tradition of Halloween has its roots in exactly this type of cultural and spiritual assimilation. Originally set in the Celtic calendar, Samhain, celebrated on Oct 31st, was honored as a time of transition. For the earth, it marked the shift from the crisp bounty of the fall harvest into the dark and cold sleep of winter. For humans, it represented a time when the veil between the world of the dead and the world of the living was highly permeable. This permeability allows for active communication between worlds.

For the Christians seizing the British Isles, the creation of All Saint’s Day on Nov 1st was the perfect way to both allow for this pagan time of gathering one day and convert the locals the next day.

When invading Central America, the Christians used a similar move by shifting the Aztec celebrations of death to the already created All Saint’s Day. This fusion evolved into the current celebration of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

Communication Between Worlds

History and religion aside, every culture around the globe believes that there is the world of the living and the world of the dead.

In the space between the worlds, there is a veil or film separating them. In an effort to not go down the rabbit hole of physics, I’ll synopsize by saying that this thin separation is created by our minds to filter out what our brains can handle from what would be too overwhelming. For some, this veil is more clear and for others it is more obscured. Those who see clearly between worlds can easily communicate with the other side, while those who can’t live in a world with no spirit contact. Most of us live somewhere in between with the potential to reside anywhere on the spectrum.

During this time of year, pay special attention to signs of communication from the world around you. If your grandfather collected pennies and you suddenly are finding pennies everywhere, this may be your grandfather reaching out. These types of sweet communications can feel like getting a text of an emoji from the other side.

If you do choose to actively reach out to a departed loved one, make sure you are following your own intuition when receiving feedback. For example, if you are getting a tarot reading and the Moon card appears, the reader may suggest the traditional meanings of the unconscious and illusions. However, if your mother used to always say that she loves you to the moon and back, this card could have a special message from her that the reader may not be aware of.

Trust yourself when inferring any messages from departed loved ones.

Making Offerings

Similar to the traditional ofrendas for the Day of the Dead celebration, offerings are a kind and generous way to show love and respect to those who have gone before. It is a reminder to them that they are not forgotten.

On Halloween, I like to set up a nice tea service with place cards for all the women in my life, family and friends, who have already passed. To avoid interference from my cats, I set the offerings on a high shelf in my living room. I get out my finest tea cups, offer some nice, hot tea and homemade soul cakes. I refresh the offering every day for 2-3 days by brewing new tea and offering fresh soul cakes.

For your own offerings, first find a space where they will not be disturbed, preferably in the living room or another location where you would receive guests. You can add pictures of your loved ones, a piece of their jewelry or clothing, or decorations they would appreciate. (Note: Make sure that when using pictures, the photo contains only those who have already passed and no one still living. Otherwise, you may send the wrong message to the other side!) Set out a glass of their favorite drink and a plate or bowl of their favorite food. If you are concerned about indoor pests, select a sealed food - like a pack of M&M’s. Just make sure no one eats or drinks what has been offered, even after it is removed from the space. Pour liquids out onto the ground outside and throw out (composting is even better!) any leftover food.

This can be a precious time to invite your loved ones back into your home. Remembering and honoring those close to you who have passed is a beautiful way to keep them alive in spirit.