Herbs Beyond the Veil: A Samhain Herbal Workshop

Spend an autumn afternoon sipping seasonal herbal brews and creating four beautiful preparations to carry with you into the darker season.

As autumn deepens and the natural world settles toward winter, Samhain invites us to pause at the threshold—to remember those who came before us, honour the final harvest, and consider what we want to carry with us into the darker season.

Join us for a warm and atmospheric afternoon of herbal creation, seasonal folklore, and gentle ritual. Together, we’ll explore plants connected with remembrance, protection, transformation, and the space between endings and new beginnings.

What We Will Be Creating

Ancestor’s Hearth Tea

We’ll open our gathering with a fragrant, warming tea created especially for Samhain. As we share the tea, we’ll explore how plants can become part of remembrance and create a small symbolic offering to honour an ancestor, loved one, teacher, or source of wisdom from the past.

The Witching Hour Honey

We’ll create a rich, warming herbal honey inspired by crossroads, transitions, and the paths that open before us.

As you prepare your jar, you’ll reflect on a personal choice, transition, or new beginning. Take it home and stir a spoonful into tea whenever you want to reconnect with the intention you set during our gathering.

Autumn Veil Anointing Oil

At Samhain, we stand between what has ended and what is waiting to begin. You’ll create a personal botanical anointing oil to honour that threshold.

Choose from infused herbal oils and gentle aromatic blends connected with remembrance, protection, guidance, release, and carrying light into the darker season. You’ll name your blend, set a personal intention, and take home a roller bottle to use during meditation, journalling, seasonal ritual, or meaningful moments of change.

An unscented option will be available for anyone who is sensitive to essential oils.

Ancestor’s Whisper Incense

Using rosemary, juniper, lavender, rose, frankincense, and a natural botanical incense binder, we’ll blend and shape our own self-burning incense cones.

You’ll create three cones—one for remembrance, one for release, and one for guidance through the season ahead. Your cones will need to finish drying at home for approximately five to seven days before they are ready to burn.

Samhain Ember Cider

Deep crimson and filled with the flavours of the late harvest, our Samhain Ember Cider brings together tart fruit, warming roots, aromatic herbs, and spices in a rich blend of apple cider vinegar and honey.

You’ll prepare a jar to continue infusing at home. Together, we’ll explore how vinegar and honey draw out and preserve the gifts of the plants while reflecting on the warmth, wisdom, and inner fire we want to carry into winter.

The Witch’s Cauldron Root Beer

Roots grow in darkness, quietly storing their strength beneath the earth while the world above them grows still. Together, we’ll explore their deep, earthy flavours as we create our own witchy botanical take on classic root beer.

Dark, sparkling, and gently spiced, this playful brew will be shared during the workshop as a delicious celebration of the hidden world beneath our feet.

Throughout the Afternoon

Alongside our herbal creations, we’ll explore:

• Samhain and the turning of the seasonal year
• Plant folklore connected with remembrance and protection
• The symbolism of roots, seeds, apples, fire, and the final harvest
• Ways to honour our ancestors and those who have shaped our lives
• Simple ways to create meaningful seasonal rituals at home
• Safe preparation and use of herbal teas, infused honey, vinegar, anointing oils, and incense

No previous herbal experience is needed. All ingredients, materials, and step-by-step guidance will be provided.

During the gathering, we’ll share our Ancestor’s Hearth Tea and The Witch’s Cauldron Root Beer. You’ll also leave with four handmade creations:

• The Witching Hour Honey
• Autumn Veil Anointing Oil
• Ancestor’s Whisper Incense
• Samhain Ember Cider

Event Details

Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026
Time: 12:00–3:00 p.m.
Location: Centennial Park Field House
7526 Wallace Drive, Central Saanich

Cost

$95 with an emailed digital booklet
$110 with a printed booklet

The cost includes all ingredients and materials, shared seasonal drinks, the herbal creations you’ll make during the workshop, and your class booklet. Please select your preferred booklet format when registering.

Can’t Join Us in Person?

You can still explore the season at home with our Samhain: Herbs, Rituals & Recipes for the Turning of the Year digital guide.

Come gather around the herbal hearth as we remember, create, and step gently across the threshold into winter. We would love to welcome you.

Reserve your place.