Samhain Journal Prompts
Samhain is an ideal time for journaling because it aligns with a natural turning inward—a moment to pause, reflect, and process the year behind you. As the final harvest festival, Samhain marks both an ending and a beginning, offering fertile ground for writing about personal transitions, completions, and what you’re ready to release. The thinning of the veil between worlds also makes this a powerful time to explore your inner landscape, uncover hidden truths, and listen for messages from your intuition or ancestors. Journaling during Samhain allows you to honor what has died or faded away in your life, and to give voice to the grief, gratitude, or wisdom that may come from those experiences.
Because Samhain is rich with symbolism and spiritual depth, it also encourages meaningful self-exploration through writing. You might use your journal to record dreams, track divinatory insights, or write letters to departed loved ones. It’s a time when the shadows speak more clearly, inviting you to explore aspects of yourself that may be hidden or overlooked. Journaling can help you integrate those parts and clarify what seeds you want to carry into the darker months ahead. Whether you approach it as a ritual, a daily practice, or a quiet moment by candlelight, journaling during Samhain becomes a sacred act of remembrance, release, and renewal.
25 Samhain Journal Prompts
What does the thinning of the veil mean to me personally?
What have I outgrown this year that I am ready to release?
Who are my ancestors, and how can I honor them during Samhain?
What ancestral wisdom lives within me, whether I know it or not?
How do I feel about death—not just physical death, but endings of all kinds?
What transformation have I undergone this year?
In what ways have I resisted change, and why?
What parts of myself have I hidden in shadow? What do they need?
What am I mourning or grieving, and how can I honor that process?
What dreams or insights have come to me lately that feel significant?
What does “letting go” look like in my life right now?
What gives me a sense of spiritual protection?
What are my beliefs about the afterlife or the spirit realm?
How do I want to be remembered by future generations?
What spiritual practices make me feel most grounded?
If I could speak with one ancestor, who would it be and what would I ask?
What symbols or signs have shown up for me this season?
How do I maintain boundaries between the physical and spiritual worlds?
What fears am I ready to face and transform?
What stories from my lineage or culture have shaped me?
What role does intuition play in my decision-making?
What wisdom does nature offer me at this time of year?
How do I navigate solitude, and what does it teach me?
What spiritual or creative seeds do I want to plant for the next season?
How can I honor the dark without fearing it?
Samhain Celebrations
Samhain (pronounced SOW-in) is an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. Celebrated from sunset on October 31st through November 1st, Samhain is considered one of the most spiritually significant points on the Wheel of the Year. It is a liminal time, when the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds is thinnest, allowing for deep introspection, ancestor veneration, and heightened intuition. Traditionally, it was a time to honor the dead, prepare for the cold months ahead, and reflect on the cycles of life, death, and rebirth. Many modern Samhain practices—such as lighting candles, carving jack-o'-lanterns, and setting out offerings—have roots in these ancient rituals.
Samhain invites us to slow down and embrace the mysteries of the unseen. It’s a powerful time for divination, dreamwork, and rituals of release, making space for inner transformation and renewal. Whether through quiet meditation, lighting a candle for a departed loved one, or holding a feast in honor of ancestors, this festival encourages a deep connection to both spirit and self. As the natural world turns inward, shedding what no longer serves, we are called to do the same—carrying forward what is wise and true, and leaving the rest behind. Samhain is not only an end but also a beginning, offering a sacred pause between what has passed and what is yet to come.
Introduction to The Wheel of the Year, the Cycle from Yule to Samhain
The Wheel of the Year is a spiritual calendar that underscores the cycle of the seasons. It details a web of holidays, or sabbats. By honoring this calendar, we can reflect on how nature around us changes, and we can think deeply about the same changes in ourselves.
The season of Yule, or the winter solstice, marks the longest night and shortest day of the year. The Wheel then turns to Imbolc (February in the northern hemisphere; August in the southern hemisphere), when the ground begins to awaken from its slumber and the sun begins to provide more light to the winter months. Next is Ostara, the spring equinox, when light and darkness are balanced and the Earth officially greets spring.
The fire festival Beltane marks the start of summer. The sun is strong, and the earth is full of life. The Wheel then turns to Litha, also called Midsummer (the summer solstice), the longest day of the year. The sun is at its strongest and the bright summer season is in full swing. Fire rituals and community celebrations of hard work and abundance fill the air! Celebrate Litha by leaning into your power (and by using the above Litha journal prompts of course.)
The first harvest festival, Lammas, arrives at the end of summer. Lammas marks the start of the harvest season, a great time for giving thanks and recognizing the yield of our hard work. The shadows are starting to stretch longer. At a harvest festival, Mabon, the autumn equinox brings balance to the earth once again, as day and night equalize.
Finally, the Wheel's end and beginning is at Samhain, the final community harvest festival. The veil between worlds is thinnest, the land is in shadows, and it is the perfect time for reflection on the past, letting go, death, and looking to the future with wisdom. The sun is appearing less every day, and we must make a fire to perform our harvest rituals and get ready for winter.
More About Samhain
Now that you have plenty of Samhain journal prompts, would you be glad to learn more about Samhain? Or check out winter solstice journal prompts for Yule, journal prompts for Ostara, and plenty of other options. Here are some places to start.
About Samhain. An introduction to the Wheel of the Year holiday.
Samhain Associations. Crystals, herbs, other symbolism, and Samhain correspondences.
Samhain Meditation. A meditation for the end of the year.
How to Celebrate Samhain.
Cerridwen and Samhain. Meet the Welsh goddess Cerridwen.
Why Should You Keep a Journal?
Journaling is surprisingly beneficial for writers! Writing down your thoughts, projects, and experiences can help you process emotions, track personal growth, and even spark creativity. Writing prompts, like these Samhain journal prompts, are a good way to get started.
You can Journal for Writing Practice
Like anything, practice matters when it comes to writing. That means choosing each word as you are writing your Samhain journal prompts can help your writing shine in other areas of your life! And these journal prompts are a great place to start your practice.
You can Journal to Reflect on Your Goals
Depending on what you journal about, writing can be an opportunity to focus on your personal growth, dreams, goals, and in-the-moment progress. Set intentions and write about why you want to achieve the goals you've set and brainstorm ways to achieve them. Write about what you are letting go of and the lessons you learn along the way, too. And don't forget to track your progress in your journal!
Similarly, you can use your journaling time to think through a situation in your life to sort out how you want to address it. In addition to using the autumn equinox journal prompts above, consider writing in your journal about your plans, new dreams, ideas, and goals.
You can Journal to Improve Your Health
Studies are showing that writing in your journal may also reduce stress, improve your immune system response, and even boost your memory. Here's an article from Intermountain Healthcare about how writing in your journal can improve your life.
More Self Reflection Journal Prompts for You
If you have set intentions about journaling and are looking for more writing prompts after your Samhain journal prompts, here is the perfect opportunity to keep writing in your Samhain journal. You can find plenty of options here, including higher self journal prompts and other creative writing prompts.