Welcome to the October Monthly
Welcome to October at Sacred Ground. The wheel turns toward Samhain, the old festival at summer’s end when the veil is said to grow thin — a season of remembrance, gratitude, and gathering in before the quiet of winter.
This month we lean into what the season truly means: the roots of Halloween, the Wheel of the Year, and the earth-honoring traditions behind it all — explained simply, and made welcoming for everyone, whatever you believe.
Thank you for being part of our Sacred Ground family.
What Are We Really Celebrating at Halloween?
Every October, I hear the same question: “Isn’t all this Halloween and Pagan stuff a bit… dark?”
The history is actually much gentler than most people realize.
Long before Halloween, the Celtic festival of Samhain (roughly “SOW-in”) marked the end of harvest and the beginning of winter. It was a time to gather, prepare for the darker months, remember loved ones who had passed, and honor ancestors. It was also believed that the veil between the living and spirit worlds was thinner at this time. Over centuries, some of these traditions blended with All Hallows’ Eve and helped shape Halloween as we know it.
Samhain is one of eight celebrations on the Wheel of the Year, which follows the Earth’s seasonal rhythms — planting, growing, harvesting, resting, letting go and beginning again.
And Pagan doesn’t mean “dark” or “evil.” Paganism today includes many different spiritual traditions, often centered around reverence for nature and its cycles.
At Sacred Ground, we love replacing mystery with understanding. You don’t have to change your faith or believe anything differently to appreciate the wisdom of honoring the seasons and those who came before us.
That’s what Kate shares through her Wheel of the Year classes and our Samhain celebration at the end of October.
Come curious.
Sometimes what seems mysterious simply needs to be understood.
— Deneene · Founder, Sacred GroundGalactic Adventures
Have you spotted us out among the stars? We’ve launched a playful new series — Galactic Adventures — following our crew across the galaxy as we gather sacred crystals and tumble into all kinds of cosmic mischief along the way. Starring Deneene’s pup Luca, her cat Kobi, Cheryl, and the whole Sacred Ground crew.
Look for us on social media — and if you enjoy the ride, please follow and comment. It genuinely helps us grow our community and share a little more magic.
Lisa Maria
This month we’re delighted to spotlight Lisa Maria — vibrant and full of life, she draws on many different decks when she reads, and her presence has become a favorite at Sacred Ground.
Lisa Maria offers Intuitive Tarot and Somatic Healing — letting you choose the session that meets you where you are, whether that’s the reflection and clarity of the cards or the body-centered release of somatic work. She also leads a monthly class, Awaken Your Intuition: Exploring Oracle & Tarot in a Sacred Space, and hosts a free community Meditation night — an easy, no-pressure way to experience her work.
Welcoming New Practitioners
We’re excited to welcome several new practitioners to the Sacred Ground community this month.
Jeniffer
Jeniffer joined us this fall and leads the Moon Alchemy Journey — Six Moons of Intention, working with the lunar cycle, crystals, and intention to build a practice you can carry home. October is the last month to join — after this gathering the journey closes to new participants for its remaining four moons (Wednesday, October 14; see the calendar).
Lita
Lita is a tarot reader with a grounding, generous presence — her readings feel less like predictions and more like sitting with someone who helps you hear your own inner knowing. With warmth and honesty, she offers reflection, clarity, and gentle guidance for wherever you find yourself. Deeply connected to the Wheel of the Year and the turning of the seasons, Lita also leads Crafting the Sacred Besom, a hands-on workshop on the history and purpose of the traditional broom (Sunday, October 11; see New at Sacred Ground below).
Melissa
Melissa is one of the beating hearts of Sacred Ground. A talented artist, shaman, and medium, she creates original artwork we’re proud to carry in the shop, sees clients most Saturdays, hosts art experiences for children and adults, leads a monthly meditation, and guides our solstice and equinox celebrations as the Wheel of the Year turns.
Melissa’s relationship with art deepened in 2011 while completing her master’s in Transpersonal Psychology. During that time, she began recognizing the powerful connection between creativity and healing, first using art as part of her own personal journey and eventually incorporating creative practices into her work with others. She discovered that so many people who said, “I’m not an artist” were simply waiting for permission to explore, express, play, and create without judgment.
Today, Melissa’s process remains intuitive, playful, and healing-centered. Sometimes she creates simply for the joy of creating; other times, art helps her explore old beliefs, move through places where she feels stuck, or understand what is unfolding within. She also uses art to invite others inward — to rediscover who they are, reconnect with the imaginative child within, and explore what may truly be possible.
For Melissa, art is more than something she makes. It is a pathway to healing, self-discovery, soulful connection, and possibility. As she beautifully reminds us:
We do not have to call ourselves artists to create — we only need the willingness to begin.
Mother to six and a devoted wife, Melissa brings warmth, creativity, and a generous spirit to everything she touches. She is a treasured part of our Sacred Ground community and a dear friend, and we are honored to celebrate her as this month’s featured artisan.
This Month’s Gatherings
A hands-on, 1.5-hour workshop perfect for the season: learn the history and purpose of the besom — the traditional broom — and craft your own to take home.
Gather to honor Samhain — the turning of the wheel, the harvest’s end, and the ancestors we carry with us. The living heart of this month’s focus, and a warm, welcoming way to experience the season firsthand.
Featured This Month: Samhain & the Wheel of the Year
To go with this month’s focus, the Library leans into the real history and folklore of the season — de-mystified, and welcoming to the curious.
A respected historian’s clear, even-handed tour through the origins of the ritual year — Samhain, Halloween, and the seasonal festivals — sorting real history from later legend.
An accessible documentary tracing Halloween back through All Hallows’ Eve to its Samhain roots — a friendly starting point for the whole family.
Look for the Samhain and Halloween episodes: warm, well-researched conversations on where our autumn customs actually come from.
Our own Samhain playlist: candlelit, autumnal, and gently haunting — for remembrance, reflection, or a quiet evening in. Copy it into Spotify or Apple Music and press play.
A short, reputable read on how an ancient harvest festival became the holiday we know — perfect to share with anyone who’s curious but unsure.
A Simple Samhain Remembrance
One evening this month, when it’s dark and quiet, light a single candle and give yourself a few unhurried minutes:
- Bring to mind someone you’ve lost. Say their name out loud, and one thing you’re grateful they gave you.
- Name one thing from this past year you’re ready to let go of as the light fades — a worry, a habit, a weight.
- Sit with the candle a moment longer, then blow it out with a small thank-you to the turning season.
That’s the whole of it. No special words, no belief required — just remembrance, gratitude, and a little release before winter. That is what Samhain has always been about.
October Highlights
A few of the experiences we’re most looking forward to this month — moments to step into.
Lisa Maria’s monthly class — see Practitioner of the Month above.
Readings under October’s full moon.
Broom-making for the season — see New at Sacred Ground above.
The next gathering in the Six Moons series.
Our free Wednesday-night community evening.
A monthly gathering for making something with intention.
Meditation, reflection, and connection in circle.
The heart of the month — see New at Sacred Ground above.
Free community meditation nights through the month (Oct 6, 20 & 27).
Renee’s free, donation-based sessions continue, alongside Rose’s Reiki healing. Sign up on the events calendar.
Hours: Sun 11–5 · Mon 11–6 · Tue 11–8 · Wed 11–6 · Thu 11–7 · Fri 11–7 · Sat 10–8. Hours flex with Alfresco’s schedule, so it’s always worth a quick check before you visit.
Past Issues
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Browse every past issue, from the inaugural June 2026 edition onward.
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