**Samhain: The Witches’ New Year & Entering the Dark Half**
As the nights have lengthened and brisk air fills our lungs, so have we reached the final turn of
the Wheel of the Year. Samhain—the Witches’ New Year—has gently passed. Traditionally
observed on October 31 st /November 1 st , Samhain marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. Rooted in ancient Celtic seasonal observances, it has become one of the most significant celebrations within modern Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism, marking not only the
transition into the darker months but also a time of reflection, transformation, and new
beginnings.
While it is widely celebrated on October 31 st , the astrological midpoint of Samhain actually
occurs when the Sun reaches 15 degrees of Scorpio, as it did on November 7 th 2026. This astronomical cross-quarter marks the halfway point between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter
Solstice; it is particularly significant to those who follow the astrological Wheel of the Year.
Scorpio is a sign of profound transformation, death and rebirth, hidden knowledge, Shadow
Work, and the mysteries which lie beneath the surface of the soul. Traditionally ruled by Mars or
Pluto, Scorpio encourages us to look inward, confront all that we might otherwise avoid, and
embrace the transformative power of endings. It is perhaps fitting then, that this midpoint should
fall within a season associated with the thinning of the Veil and the descent into the Dark Half of
the year.
As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, modern Witches often turn their attention
towards introspection, ancestral connection, divination, Shadow Work, and spiritual
development. The Dark Half of the year is not a time to fear or resist, but rather, to embrace.
Nature itself retreats into dormancy, conserving its energy until the return of spring; we too
benefit from slowing down, resting, and examining the events of the past year carefully.
The Dark Half of the Year is also a time to honour the Dark Goddesses, Who embody the
mysteries of death, transformation, the Underworld, winter, and the wisdom found in darkness.
Hekate, Goddess of the Crossroads and Torchbearer of the Underworld; Persephone, Queen of
the Dead Who journeys between the worlds of the living and the departed; the Cailleach, ancient
Crone of Winter; Hela, Norse Goddess of the Dead; and the Morrigan, Irish Goddess of
Sovereignty, Battle, and Fate, are among those invoked and honoured by modern practitioners
during this season. Although Their origins and traditions differ, each offers a powerful reminder
that darkness is not the absence of life, but instead, an essential part of its cycle.
Samhain season is also the perfect time to set intentions for the coming year. Rather than simply
making resolutions, Witches may use this period to reflect upon lessons learned, what they wish
to release, and consider what to cultivate in the coming months. Candle magick, journaling,
divination, meditation, and personal transformation spells are all wonderful ways to mark this
transition.
This year, the astrological timing brings another interesting layer to the season, particularly as
Friday the 13th falls in November. Both Mercury and Venus are stationing direct on this date,
following their recent retrograde journeys. Mercury turns direct in Scorpio, encouraging clarity around matters of the mind, communication, and the truths we have been uncovering, while
Venus turns direct in Libra, bringing renewed attention to relationships, self-worth, harmony,
and matters of the heart. The Moon is in Capricorn, adding a grounding influence that favours
practical planning, and bringing our intentions into tangible form.
Friday itself also has an interesting connection to the Norse Goddesses. Deriving from Old
English Frīgedæg, it is traditionally known as Frigg’s Day, in honour of Frigg, Goddess of
Marriage, Motherhood, and the Heart. Freyja, Goddess of Love, Magick, and Seiðr, is also
associated with Friday in some modern Pagan traditions. The two Goddesses have occasionally
been conflated throughout later interpretations of Norse/Germanic mythology, particularly as
both are the wives of Allfather Óðinn, and may be aspects of a Triple Goddess together with
Idunn.
The number thirteen meanwhile, has acquired a special place in modern Witchcraft through its
association with the thirteen lunar cycles of the year. Although the historical origins of Friday the
13th as an unlucky day are quite different, many contemporary Witches have reclaimed it as a
day of feminine power, lunar magick, and Goddess worship. Rather than fearing the date, it is a
chance to honour the Divine Feminine, work with the Moon, and celebrate the magickal power
of the Goddess.
As we cross the threshold into the Dark Half of the year, may we remember that every ending
carries the promise of a beginning, transformation often requires us to sit with the darkness, and
even in the deepest winter, the seeds of renewal are quietly waiting beneath the Earth.
Blessed New Year and may the Goddess in all Her Aspects guide you always.
— R.H. Winters
Sources:
- The Astro Academy. Ephemeris 2026: Daily Planet Positions. November 2026. 2026
Ephemeris. - Cafe Astrology. This Month’s Astrology: November 2026. November 2026 Astrology.
- Hermetic Library. Samhain: The Astronomical Cross-Quarter. Samhain.
- Theoi Greek Mythology. Hekate: Goddess of the Underworld, Ghosts and Necromancy.
Hekate. - Theoi Greek Mythology. Persephone: Goddess of Spring and Queen of the Underworld.
Persephone. - Online Etymology Dictionary. Friday: Origin and History of the Name. Friday.
- Library of Congress. On the Possible Origins of Friday the Thirteenth: Metafolklore, Fear,
and Fun. Folklife Today. - Cafe Astrology. 2026 Planetary Overview. Astrology of 2026.
