Samhain represents the threshold between life and death, and between death and rebirth. Connect with your beloved ancestors who are behind the thin veil.

This year, in the beginning, the usual winter holiday festivities felt staged to me. A little barren, a little rote. We had more cash to buy gifts than usual, but this actually made everything a tad more stressful (shopping) and left me feeling hollow. Here’s how to find the magic inside the consumer-driven madness.

Around Bealtane 2012, I set up my first altar. It was confusing at first, because I had many reasons to have one. So I set up three… and it didn’t work. But I learned a ton - baby steps!