Samhain: A Sacred Sisterhood Gathering

As autumn deepens and the Earth moves towards winter, we gather in sacred circle to honour Samhain, the ancient threshold marking the end of the harvest and our descent into the darkest part of the year. This is an afternoon devoted to sisterhood, remembrance and the quiet wisdom found in letting go.

Together we will enter a ceremonial space held with candlelight and intention, where each woman is invited to arrive exactly as she is. Samhain marks a powerful turning point upon the Wheel of the Year... a time when the old cycle comes to an end and we stand at the gateway of something not yet known.

As the trees surrender their leaves and the Earth draws her energy deep beneath the surface, we too are invited to turn inward. To honour what has been. To release what has reached its natural ending. And to make space for the quiet transformation that happens in the dark.

Guided by the warm, open-hearted spirit of Cacao, we will reflect upon the journey that has brought us here, giving thanks for what has shaped and nourished us while gently acknowledging what we are ready to leave behind.

Samhain has long been associated with ancestral remembrance, a time when the veil between worlds was believed to grow thin. Within our circle, we will honour those who came before us and the lives, stories and wisdom that have travelled through generations to reach us. You may wish to bring a photograph, flower or small offering for our ancestral altar.

Through a shamanic drum journey, you will be guided into the inner landscape of soul and intuition. A journey into the fertile darkness, listening for the deeper wisdom that can emerge when the noise of the outside world becomes quiet. 

What is ready to be released? 

What wants to be remembered? 

And what might be waiting beneath the surface for its time to be born?

From this place of deep listening, we will soften into a crystal singing bowl sound healing, allowing the body to rest within waves of sound and vibration. A spacious moment to soothe the nervous system, quieten the mind and allow everything we have explored to gently settle. Our candle ritual will honour the mystery of endings and beginnings. Together we will remember those who have walked before us, release what we no longer wish to carry, and tend a small flame of intention as we enter the darker months.

There is something deeply comforting about remembering that darkness is not something to fear. In nature, darkness is where seeds rest beneath the soil. It is where roots deepen. It is where life gathers itself quietly before it begins again. Samhain reminds us that we, too, are allowed seasons of stillness.

Held in warmth, safety and reverence, this circle is an invitation to reconnect with the ancient rhythms of the Earth, the wisdom carried within our bodies and the simple medicine of gathering together in conscious sisterhood.

Together, we honour what has been.

We honour those who came before us.

We honour what is ready to fall away.

And we trust the quiet mystery of what is yet to come.

Mats, blankets, pillows, bolsters and eye masks are provided. Simply bring yourself, a journal and pen, and any seasonal or ancestral offerings you feel called to place upon our co-created Samhain altar.

About your facilitator: Ruth Hoey @renurture

Meet Ruth

For over 20 years, I worked closely with children and families, supporting their growth, wellbeing and development. Whilst I deeply valued this work, there was a growing sense that something within me was calling for a different way of living and relating to the world.

A period spent in Devon during the 2020 lockdown became a turning point. Surrounded by nature and away from the pace and distractions of everyday city life, I began to reconnect to something I’d pushed away … the nourishment that comes from slowing down, listening deeply and reconnecting with my body and the natural world.

What followed was a journey of healing, learning and self-discovery. Through sound, mindfulness, community, ritual and time spent in nature, I found practices that helped me feel more connected, grounded and alive. They reminded me that wellbeing isn't something we find outside of ourselves, but something we cultivate through presence, connection and care.

ReNurture was born from this remembering.

Today, I create spaces where others can experience that same opportunity to pause, reconnect and return to themselves. Spaces where people feel welcomed, supported and reminded that they don't have to navigate life alone.