As the light wanes and the air grows crisp, we find ourselves at the turning of the wheel- Samhain, the ancient Celtic festival that marks summer’s end and the beginning of the dark half of the year. Long before Halloween took its modern form, Samhain was a time of deep reverence for the cycles of death and rebirth. It’s a season of liminality, of standing at the threshold between what has been and what is yet to come.
In the Celtic Wheel of the Year, Samhain represents the New Year- the closing of one cycle and the beginning of another. It’s the cross-quarter day between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice, a time when the veil between worlds grows thin, inviting us to slow down, turn inward, and listen more deeply.
This is the moment when the final harvests- roots, squashes, fruits- are gathered. The last jars of honey are poured, the roots are washed and tinctured, and the world begins to quiet. For many of us, Samhain invites a sacred exhale after the long stretch of busyness that defines late summer and early fall. It’s a time to rest, compost, and protect what is most essential.
Honoring the Shadow and the Need for Protection
The folklore of this season reminds us that as the nights grow long and the veil thins, protection becomes a central theme. In ancient times, people carved faces into gourds or turnips- what would later become our modern jack-o’-lanterns- to ward off mischievous spirits.
They dressed in costume to disguise themselves from tricksters wandering between realms. Even now, the essence of Halloween carries these echoes: the understanding that there are unseen energies moving about, and that ritual can help us find safety and grounding within the mystery.
As someone who feels deeply and often moves through the world with a high degree of sensitivity, I’ve always been drawn to the plants that help hold and protect us. These are the guardians of the veil- herbs that strengthen boundaries, keep our energy contained, and allow us to explore shadow and spirit safely.
Yarrow: The Wounded Healer’s Shield
Few plants embody this protective medicine more clearly than Yarrow (Achillea millefolium).
Her Latin name comes from Achilles, the great warrior who carried yarrow into battle to staunch his soldiers’ wounds. Myth tells us that Achilles’ mother dipped him in a vat of yarrow to grant invincibility- except for the small place where she held his ankle, his one vulnerable spot. From that myth, we inherit the phrase the Achilles heel.
Yarrow’s physical medicine is astringent- it tightens tissues, staunches bleeding, and firms what has grown too porous. On an energetic level, she does the same. For those of us who feel everything, who easily absorb others’ emotions or energies, Yarrow helps seal the aura, drawing our energy back into center.
I still remember my first experience with this medicine. When I was only 19 years old, I decided to journey to a massive women’s gathering (over 500 people) solo. I was incredibly overwhelmed by the magnitude of emotions & energy. I wandered into the woods in tears and was met by a kind therapist who tucked a sprig of Yarrow into my hat. Whether it was her kindness or the plant’s magic, I instantly felt something shift. My edges firmed. My center returned.
Yarrow reminds us that boundaries are not walls- they are forms of love. They allow our sensitivity to remain a gift rather than a burden.
In flower essence form, Yarrow offers subtle yet profound protection:
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Pink Yarrow supports emotional boundaries for empaths and healers.
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White Yarrow fortifies spiritual boundaries, especially when the veil feels thin or dreams grow vivid.
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Yellow Yarrow creates environmental boundaries, helping us stay centered amid overstimulating spaces.
Whether taken as a drop dose tincture or flower essence, Yarrow fortifies the field.
Rose & Hawthorn: The Thorned Heart Keepers
Moving deeper into autumn, I often turn to the rose family, specifically Rose and Hawthorn, both plants of thorny boundary medicine.
Rose softens and shields the emotional heart. Her astringency mirrors Yarrow’s, but her medicine is more tender- perfect for those whose empathy runs deep. Working with rose petals or rosehips restore self-compassion and healthy boundaries rooted in love rather than withdrawal.
Hawthorn, meanwhile, is the great guardian of the liminal spaces. In Celtic folklore, Hawthorn trees mark thresholds between worlds- planted near holy wells and fairy mounds, they were believed to be gateways to the Otherworld. To sleep beneath a blooming Hawthorn was said to risk being spirited away into fairy realms.
Yet Hawthorn is not just mystical; it’s profoundly grounding. Her berries, leaves, and flowers strengthen the physical heart, support circulation, and ease emotional heaviness. Energetically, Hawthorn anchors us in the body while allowing the spirit to wander safely. She is the tree of protection, transition, and deep trust.
Across the Wheel of the Year, Rose and Hawthorn carry us from Beltane to Samhain- from spring’s exuberant bloom to autumn’s rooted descent. In spring, their flowers remind us to open and love boldly. In fall, their berries and hips teach us to nourish, conserve, and protect.
Elder: The Crone’s Cloak of Protection
If Yarrow is the shield and Hawthorn the gateway, Elder is the wise grandmother standing watch at the threshold. Her berries and flowers have long been associated with protection and the underworld, bridging realms of life and death.
On a physiological level, elderberries literally protect our cells. Compounds within them deactivate viral enzymes, preventing pathogens from penetrating and replicating- an apt mirror of their energetic medicine.
Old European folklore even linked Elder to protection from vampires. The story goes that placing a branch or bushel of elderberries by your door would keep vampires occupied counting the berries until dawn, sparing your household. Beneath the humor lies ancient knowing: Elder holds strong protective magic at every level of being.
When taken as syrup, decoction, or tincture, Elder nourishes immunity and brings the body’s defenses online. Spiritually, she wraps us in her cloak of wise crone energy, reminding us that we are held.
Aromatic Allies: Protection Through Presence
While the thorned and astringent plants help us hold our boundaries, the aromatic herbs often traditionally used during this time- Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Cinnamon, Clove, Cardamom, Ginger and Lavender- help us fill the space within those boundaries with our own light.
These herbs circulate warmth, awaken blood flow, and help us inhabit ourselves fully. They are the plants of kitchen magic and everyday ritual- infused in mulled cider, simmering on the stove, woven into cleansing smoke bundles, or tucked into protection sachets.
To work with aromatics is to remember that our joy, vitality, and presence are inherently protective. When we fill our own vessel, there is no room for unwanted energy to linger.
Rituals for the Thinning Veil
Samhain is also a time to honor the ancestors and the benevolent spirits who walk with us. Across Celtic lands, people left offerings of food and drink on their altars or doorsteps, or set an empty chair at the table- the “dumb supper”- for loved ones who had crossed over.
You might mark the season by:
- Lighting a candle for your ancestors each evening
- Preparing a meal with apples, roots, and warming spices to share with unseen guests
- Creating a small altar with Hawthorn berries, Yarrow flowers, Cinnamon sticks or Elderberry
- Sitting in stillness to feel the shift of the season, the descent into darkness, and the protection it offers
These rituals remind us that we are part of a lineage of people who listened to the Earth’s turning and trusted in the cycles of death and rebirth.
Whether you brew a pot of Hawthorn-Rosehip-Elderberry decoction, take a drop of Yarrow tincture before entering a crowded space, or simply cook with rosemary and cinnamon as an act of warmth and remembrance, you are participating in the lineage of seasonal herbal medicine that connects us all.
As we cross this threshold into the darker half of the year, may you feel held, protected, and deeply rooted in yourself. May the guardians of the veil—Yarrow, Hawthorn, Rose, Elder, and the aromatic allies—walk beside you, illuminating your way through the mystery.
Shop the Plants Mentioned:
- Yarrow Tincture
- Hawthorn Leaf, Flower & Berry Tincture
- Rooted Heart Elixir: Rose, Hawthorn, Reishi
- Elderflower Tincture
- Elderberry Syrup
- Extra Medicinal Mulling Spices
Listen to the full episode on the Dancing Willow Podcast for the complete storytelling and seasonal reflections.