Samhain: Beyond the Veil

A Shamanic Journey & Ancestral Ceremony

Sunday 1 November 2026 | 4–7pm
£30 per person | East Sheen, SW14

As the Wheel of the Year turns and we cross the threshold into the darker half of the year, I invite you to join me for a very special Samhain gathering.

An afternoon of shamanic journeying, ancestral remembrance, sacred ritual, the deep resonance of the gong and food shared in honour of those who came before us.

This will be an intimate ceremony in my private healing space, with each person becoming part of what we create together.

I am so looking forward to bringing this gathering to life and sharing it with you.

The Sacred Traditions of Samhain

Long before Halloween became associated with costumes, pumpkins and trick-or-treating, Samhain was traditionally celebrated across the Gaelic world, marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter.

It was a time of gathering, feasting and preparing for the darker months ahead. In Gaelic folklore, Samhain became closely associated with the Otherworld, a time when the veil between the worlds was believed to grow thin. Traditions of remembering the dead, leaving food offerings and welcoming departed loved ones became part of the ways people marked this special turning of the year.

For me, Samhain is an invitation to slow down and honour the great cycle of life. To give thanks for what has been, acknowledge what has passed and recognise that endings are as much a part of nature as beginnings.

It is also a time to remember our ancestors, those we knew and loved, and those whose names and stories may have been lost to time.

This year, I would love us to honour that connection together.

What to Bring

This gathering is something we create together, so what you bring forms part of our ceremony.

A photograph, small memento or other meaningful representation of someone who has passed, if you wish, to place upon our ancestral altar. It doesn't need to be a photograph, simply something that represents them or holds meaning for you.

An altar offering, should you feel called to bring one. This might be something from nature, flowers, herbs, a crystal or another small object that feels appropriate.

A small plate or portion of food to share. Think delicious grazing and snacking food rather than a full meal. Sweet or savoury, homemade or shop-bought, our Samhain feast will be created collectively from what we each bring. I will contribute some food too.

Please let me know about any food allergies or dietary requirements when booking.

You may also like to bring a journal and pen to record anything that arises during your journeys.

Our Samhain Ceremony

Creating Our Ancestral Altar

We will begin with smudging and the opening of our sacred space.

At the heart of our gathering will be our Samhain altar, with candles, seasonal offerings and the photographs, mementos and representations we have each chosen to bring.

There is no expectation to bring anything if that doesn't feel right for you. All ancestors, known and unknown, are welcome to be honoured here.

Shamanic Journeying: Beyond the Veil

With the steady, rhythmic beat of the shamanic drum, I will guide you on two journeys inspired by the spirit of Samhain.

Shamanic journeying is an active practice, rather than a passive meditation or sound bath. Think of it almost as an inner quest. I will guide you into each journey and offer a focus or intention, but you then participate in and follow your own unfolding experience.

Our journeys will explore themes of ancestral connection, the wisdom of nature, healing, remembrance and the guidance we may seek as we enter the darker half of the year.

You may meet a helping spirit, encounter an ancestral presence, receive an unexpected insight or find yourself somewhere quite different from where you imagined. There is no prescribed destination and nothing you need to force or make happen.

After each journey, we will return to our circle, with time to reflect and share our experiences if we wish.

No previous experience of shamanic journeying is necessary. I will explain the process and guide you throughout.

The Gong: A Space to Simply Be

After the active work of our journeys, this is where you get to completely let go.

Lie back, get comfortable beneath your blanket and simply receive the deep, resonant vibrations of the gong. No intentional journeying and nowhere you need to go. Just time to rest, receive and allow everything we have experienced to settle.

The Samhain Fire: A Ritual of Release

Weather permitting, we will move outdoors, where I will light our Samhain fire.

You will be invited to write down anything you feel ready to release and offer it to the flames. An old pattern, something you have carried for too long, a belief that no longer serves you, or simply something that has reached its natural ending.

If the weather has other plans, we will remain indoors and place our written releases into a ceremonial cauldron, which I will offer to the fire at a later time.

The Ancestral Feast

And then, we feast!

Before we share our food, we will each be invited to take a little from what we have brought and place it upon a shared plate for our ancestors.

The plate will sit within our circle as we eat together, a simple acknowledgement of those who came before us and whose lives, in so many different ways, are woven into our own.

Weather permitting, we will gather around the warmth of the fire. Otherwise, we will stay cosy together in the healing space.

This isn't a formal meal, but a relaxed Samhain grazing feast created collectively from the food we each bring. A chance to remember, laugh, connect and celebrate life.

For Samhain is not only about death and endings. It is also about gratitude, community, the richness of life and the wisdom we carry into the next turning of the wheel.

About Me

I'm Justine Nagaur, an Integrative Healer, Counsellor and Guide.

My work brings together shamanic journeying, energy healing, sound, meditation and therapeutic approaches, creating space for people to explore themselves more deeply and reconnect with their own inner wisdom.

I have a particular love for the turning of the seasons and the ways in which nature's cycles can mirror our own experiences of change, loss, growth and renewal.

Practical Information

Sunday 1 November 2026
4–7pm
£30 per person
East Sheen, SW14

This ceremony takes place in my private residence and healing space, rather than a public venue. The full address and arrival information will be provided following booking.

Mats, blankets and eye masks are provided. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring something warm and suitable footwear, as part of our gathering may take place outside around the fire.

This will be a small, intimate gathering, allowing time and space for our journeys, reflection and sharing.

Bookings close at 6pm on Sunday 25 October, allowing me time to prepare our sacred space, altar and my contribution to our shared food.

Is This Ceremony Suitable for Me?

Shamanic journeying can bring up strong imagery, emotions and memories, particularly when working with themes of ancestors, loss and remembrance. You are always in control of your participation, and sharing anything that arises is optional.

The ceremony also includes live gong and sound, which can be experienced both physically and emotionally.

Please contact me before booking if you are pregnant, have epilepsy or a condition involving seizures, a pacemaker or other implanted medical device, significant hearing sensitivity or tinnitus, or if you are currently experiencing significant mental health difficulties or feel that working with grief or ancestral themes may be particularly destabilising for you.

This does not necessarily mean that you cannot attend. It simply gives us an opportunity to discuss whether the ceremony is appropriate for you and whether any adjustments may be helpful.

This ceremony is offered as a wellbeing and spiritual practice and is not a substitute for medical or psychological treatment.

If you feel drawn to join us, I would love to welcome you into the circle.

With love,

Justine