:the_veil: WITCH CHALLENGE - The Thinning Veil

[BryWisteria]

CW: Please be aware that this discussion explores the seasonal theme of death in relation to spirit and ancestor work.

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Merry meet,

Thank you once again to all those who joined in for the previous Witch Challenge - Foraging Fun

Natural treasures make for beautiful altar and home decorations, and this time of year, it’s important that things look their finest! After all, the Veil is thinning and otherworldly guests may be on their way to visit

This challenge is inspired by Halloween and the Sabbat and is…

The Thinning Veil

Communicating with spirits, ancestor work, hedge magick, and more-
How do you acknowledge the transitional energies of the season?

You may have heard mention of the “Veil” in witchy spaces, especially around this time of year. For many, the Veil is believed to be the separation between the world of the living and the spirits of those who have passed on.

What is the Veil?

The concept of the “veil between the worlds” holds profound spiritual significance, symbolizing the boundary that separates the physical realm from the spiritual or supernatural dimensions. In many spiritual traditions and mystical beliefs, this veil represents the thin, often imperceptible divide that conceals other realities where spirits, ancestors, and ethereal entities reside.

It is believed that during certain times, such as Samhain or Beltane, this veil becomes thinner, facilitating enhanced communication and connection with the otherworldly. This notion underscores the belief in a multifaceted existence where deeper truths and hidden realms lie just beyond our ordinary perception.

From Spells8: What is the Veil?

A thinning Veil makes it easier to connect or pass through from one realm to the next. This makes periods of the year when the Veil is thin ideal for communicating with spirits, working with ancestors, hedge magick, astral travel, and more.

How will you embrace the season of the thin Veil? There are some ideas below, and additional ideas can be found in the related previous challenges Ghosts & Spirits and Veil Between Worlds. Please feel free to revisit those challenges and read the challenge entries from your fellow coven members for additional inspiration!

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This challenge is about the thinning Veil - how you choose to take on this theme is up to you. So are you ready? Because it’s…

CHALLENGE TIME!

From Spells8: The Goddess Persephone

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Working with the Veil

This challenge is all about the thin Veil - as always, feel free to explore the theme in a way that aligns with you and your unique practice.

Still not sure where to begin? To help you get started, here are a few suggested spells and other ways in which a witch might approach this challenge.

Please make sure you are logged into your Spells8 Account so you can view all of the resources shared!

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Ancestor Work

What to Put on an Ancestor Altar

How to Make an Ancestor Candle to Honor Your Ancestors

Connecting with Ancestors & Passed Loved Ones

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Talking with Spirits

How to Talk to Spirits: Mediumship & Psychic Connection

How to Channel Spirits with Automatic Writing

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Interrealm Travel

Going Beyond the Veil: Guided Meditation

Hedge Witchcraft

Astral Travel & Astral Projection

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Cross-Quarter Sabbat Celebrations

The Veil thins universally - both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres experience the thinning of the Veil at the same time. Samhain and Beltane traditions are both interwoven with references to spirit and other realms. Consider exploring the thin Veil as part of your Sabbat celebrations.

How to Celebrate Samhain (Northern Hemisphere)

How to Host a Silent Supper

How to Celebrate Beltane (Southern Hemisphere)

World of the Fairies

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Protective Magick

For some, a thin Veil brings opportunities to connect and reach out, but for others, it brings a time of increased awareness that may cause worry. If working with the Veil or spirits isn’t your cup of tea, that’s fine! Consider some protective magick to help you through the spooky season.

Collection of Protection Spells

Protective Magick: Herbs & Spices

Protection Spell Chants for Spiritual Warding

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…And More!

The suggestions above are just a few ideas to help kickstart your creativity. If you feel called to explore the challenge theme in another way, you are welcome to do so.

From Spells8: The Hedge Witch and The Art of Walking Between Worlds

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How to Join the Challenge

In order for your entry to be counted, all you have to do is write/share about your experience and label it as your challenge entry. There is a lot of chatting here (which is awesome- chatting and discussion are very welcome!) so please clearly write that it is your entry so I know to count it!

Where Do I Share My Entry?

Click here to learn where to share your challenge entry

You are welcome to post it right here- just click “reply” to this post and write your experience in the text box that pops up!

Alternatively, you could create a new post in the forum (this is good for when you have a lot to share and/or would like to discuss aspects of your entry not related to the current theme)

Note: If you do choose to create a new thread, please add the “challenge-entry” tag and/or add a hyperlink back to this post so that it can be easily found- thank you!

Click here for a note for our lovely lurkers

Everyone is welcome to join the challenge. For those who would like the challenge prizes, please know that you will need to share your experience if you want to receive a prize and a public shout-out.

Don’t feel comfortable sharing? No fear! For lurkers and those who are shy, it is absolutely okay to follow along with the challenge on the sidelines. At the end of the day, these challenges are here to help you help yourself by expanding and enhancing your personal magickal practice. I hope they can be helpful for you!

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Deadline

This challenge will close in 13 DAYS

To join in, please share your experience by:

Tuesday, November 4 at 7:00 AM EDT (Eastern US Time)
2025-11-04T12:00:00Z

(Note that the time zone is ET- if you don’t see your time displayed above, you can use this time zone calculator to check for your time zone!)

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Prizes

For their efforts, all participants will receive a special shout-out and a small prize!

Acknowledgments will be given in a Props and Presents Post that will appear in the forums the day the challenge closes.

After the challenge closes, you are still very welcome to post but please be aware that no additional prizes will be given. This discussion will remain open for about a week after the challenge finishes.

From Spells8: How to Celebrate Samhain

A warm reminder that the challenges are designed to be very open- everyone is encouraged to participate in a way that honors and reflects their unique practice

If you’re not sure whether or not something is acceptable to post, please double-check with the Forum FAQ and/or reach out to your friendly Moderator Team.

And for those new to challenges- welcome! Know that the goal of these activities is to help you further diversify and strengthen your abilities and to bring together the Spells8 forum family to inspire and support one another in creative ways

From Spells8: Ancestor Altar Ideas

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The nights are long and dark and cold
It opens the door to spirits of old
They leave the crypt, the grave, the tomb-
And through the Veil, they’re welcomed home

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Happy Sabbat & Blessed Be

[BryWisteria]

Pick the Challenge Badge

The tradition continues! Let us know - which title do you like the most?

(Poll is anonymous)

• Spirit Tender
• Friend of Spirits
• Veil Worker
• World Walker
• Halloween Celebrant

The title with the most votes will be awarded to all challenge entrants.

Thanks for sharing your vote - blessed be!

[Artemisia]

I am not one for working with ancestral spirits or contacting members of my family who have passed, but the one thought that jumped to mind was to do something for my soulcat Donut, who passed 3 years ago. I’ll have to give it a think on my run this morning

Oh, I almost forgot that Día de Muertos de las mascotas is the 27th.

[georgia]

@Artemisia

Día de Muertos de las mascotas is the 27th.

Ooh! Thank you for the reminder!

[Cosmic_Curiosity]

CHALLENGE ENTRY (Trigger Warning)

My first challenge entry for a while…

I keep a permanent altar on the top shelf of my bookcase for my loved ones that have passed on.

It honours my grandparents, my brother and my wee dog Ralph. There are photos of each and I keep candles burning while I am at home. There is also a ring that I got made with my brother’s ashes, my grandparents wedding photo and my dogs paw print cast, a clipping of his fur and his ashes. I talk to them regularly and say good night to them when extinguishing the candles. I also write letters to them on their birthdays - I burn these outside to release them. I am currently doing a spiritual/automatic writing and drawing course so I am hoping that, with practice, I get something through from them. I have been asking them a lot to take care of my other dog as unfortunately, 3 months after losing Ralph, she has been diagnosed with cancer and has been given around 3 more months. I have asked them to comfort her and be ready to meet her when the time comes

My nephew (my wee brother’s son) seems to be in tune with those who have passed, even though he is only 2 and a half. He was only 10 months old when my brother passed so didn’t really know him.

He wouldn’t go to bed last week and wanted to sleep in his mum’s bed. When asked why, he said it because his daddy was sitting on mums bed.

Yesterday he was in the car with my mum (the car was my brother’s - my mum kept it after he passed). He told my mum “daddy is sitting here”. When asked about it, he said “daddy is crying and wants a cuddle off his mum”. This really shocked us because my brother committed suicide and it was almost as though he were looking for forgivensss.

He was in my house just today. He never met my dog Ralph and wasn’t really aware him because Ralph was a bit funny with strangers. He was on my sofa and he just come out with “oh its daddy…and he’s got Ralph”. Needless to say, I had a massive lump in my throat!

Blessed be

Alan

[Feathertip]

I have not heard of this either until now - thanks for this link, @Artemisia! I’m not one to work with ancestral spirits, either - but my animals are in their own category.

Will have to think on this one.

[Greenbriar]

I’m not sure if this qualifies as a challenge entry – it happened a long time ago, when I was at my first job, about 50 years ago.

The girl I worked with was telling me about this clairvoyant she had heard about. She had a phone number for the person, and on a whim, I called the number. The lady who answered sounded like a sweet old grandma. I said I had heard she was a clairvoyant and she said “that’s right dear, would you like a reading?” And she proceeded to give me a reading there and then, over the phone.

She was about 100 miles from where I was, and she didn’t charge a penny! During the course of the reading, she gave me a lot of details, some quite specific that related to me and my family and not the sort of thing that could be said of any family. I thought she was the real deal, even though my co worked was skeptical.

At the end of the reading she told me, “the person that is coming through wanted you to know that they passed away at Easter time, and have been watching over your family ever since.” She asked if I knew who that was, and at the time I had no idea. But a bit later in the day I started thinking about my maternal grandmother, who had died about 8 years before. So I called my mum and asked her when Nanny Haley, as we called her, had died. I nearly fell off my chair when she replied, “she died on Good Friday, and we buried her on Easter Monday”.

[Feathertip]

That’s wild - no doubt it had an impact on you! It sure would have impressed me. Very cool.

[TheMuslimWitch]

Great timing! I was planning to do set up an Ancestor altar for my father and this will give me the perfect opportunity

[Mystique]

@Cosmic_Curiosity I love this!! They say children and animals can see spirits easier than adults. I hope this little guy continues working with spirits when he gets older. The more he uses it the stronger it will grow.

CHALLENGE ENTRY

For this challenge I’m going to share our plans for Samhain.

My uncle (not blood related) comes from a long line of witches as do I. He has a tarot deck that he inherited when is aunt passed. The deck has not been touched or used since he got it. On Samhain I get the honor of being the first person to use this deck and we will be seeing if we can connect to his aunt and if there is any wisdom or information she would like to share with us.

Once we have completed with the tarot cards we are going to set up my spirit board and see if we can reach any ancestors through it and have a chat with some spirits.

I’m very excited for Samhain this year! It is going to be the first time in 35 years I have had someone to do these rituals with!!

[Artemisia]

I’ve got the beginning of a ritual to honor Donut, my soul cat who passed 2 years ago, in a way that honors my practice. I’m planning on doing it on Samhain. That will give me a few days to gather a few items tucked away and to prepare.

[Feathertip]

< blows a kiss to Donut >

[Garnet]

Greenbriar
Mornin’ I did some astral travel. My favorite uncle had passed and Auntie was devastated
I did the meditations and contacted my uncle, he said, tell Gerry (my Aunt) that I’m fine and there’s no pain. He said to tell her that she would be fine too.
I didn’t want to the sweet woman a stroke, so I just asked. “Did Uncle have pain?”
She put her fingers over her mouth and gasped. “Oh yes, his shoulder hurt so bad.”
Then I told her that I was able to contact him with astravel trave.
I Gave her his messages and we both cried about 20 min.
It was cleansing and she felt solid for the first time in weeks.
Spells8 is the only place I can discuss it. I’m the family Nut Bunny.
You know, like on Bewitched, her excentric aunt.
Blessed be
Garnet Adept witch

[georgia]

@Garnet

I’m the family Nut Bunny.

Have a carrot. We got you.

I’m glad you and your aunt had a good healing.

PS. You can come down my chimney anytime! My closets are kinda full, though.

[Greenbriar]

How wonderful that you and your aunt were able to have that moment. I’m sure it gave her peace.
We are lucky to have this coven where we can share things like that.

Blessed be

[BryWisteria]

One week to go!

The days slip by and the veil becomes thinner - Halloween and Samhain are lurking on the horizon! It’s been inspiring to see and hear about everyone’s seasonal spirit and veil work. Thank you to everyone who has shared so far

For those still pondering about the theme, rest assured that plenty of time remains on the challenge clock. There is one more week until this challenge closes.

Looking forward to seeing your entries!

Blessed be

[georgia]

Not much of a Challenge Entry, here. I was hoping things would calm down and straighten up before the holiday. Normally, I have a picture of the Navy ship SSBEARSS, which is where my father served in the 1950’s, hanging above my bed, decorated with a flag and a colorful lei. Since Housing still hasn’t paid their side of my rent, here, I don’t feel safe enough to pull it out. I could get kicked out at any time. No one has said anything, but I don’t feel safe enough to spread out. Part of me is almost nervous enough to pack up all I can. Thus, my ancestor altar is relegated to a 7 day candle painted with La Muerta.

[leilani1]

CHALLANGE ENTRY

Well, to let everyone know, I barely started my Wiccan path last October, so I do not have much experience. I have tried veil work though throughout the year. Last Samhain, as a complete novice; in April on my daughters 1 year anniversary of her death; and other family members at other times when I felt called to it. I really appreciate the freedom Wicca has in how we approach things. I love the “if it feels right/if you feel called….then do it”. I have written and collected many chants/mantras that I have written into my daily oblations to be used for Halloween/Samhain. I also plan on attending the Dia de Los Muertos festival, just up the road, for the weekend. Oh, forgot to say, what I am doing now. I have been burning black candles all day, during my waking hours, since last Saturday. I say oblations over my candle to the elemental dieties I work with, daily, as I feel called to do. The candle is right here, next to my ‘puter. Well, don’t want to take up too much time.

Merry Part all, Lady Gene

[georgia]

Update:

My driver often said she felt birds coming close to humans were spirit messengers. Today, she had the opportunity to prove her belief.

We were driving down the interstate near where a tent showroom had caught fire when we heard a scrape as though there were a critter in the back seat. We couldn’t find what caused the noise, so we ignored it while picking up my new glasses. As I came out of the optometrist’s, a pigeon was climbing up the passenger’s side of the windshield. It stayed on the roof of the truck no matter what we did, so I spoke gently to it and offered it crackers. It had bright eyes, but didn’t want to eat or fly- possibly hurt itself when it hit the truck and simply hid from the wind behind the ski rack on the roof.

We drove half way across town to go out to eat, and the bird was still there. I told the bird we would eat, and it could rest a bit. If it wanted, it could fly away at any time, but we would be back and she would drive some more. Then the bird could sleep until morning and would find itself closer to where we picked it up. When my driver dropped me off, the bird was still in the protection of the ski rack, standing one foot to sleep, all fluffied up. This is a good sign. If it were ill, it would have hunkered down to hide both feet.

My driver wanted to tuck in the bird with a blanket. I told her that birds fluff feathers to keep themselves warm. She suggested putting up Styrofoam to protect the bird from the wind, but again, I said no: it would scare the bird. Just being behind the ski rack was giving the bird more protection than being in a tree. As we drove back near the area where we’d originally heard the sound of scraping, she asked if birds could see or fly in the dark: if it knew where it was, it might try to fly home. No, birds don’t see in the dark. They get ready for bed long before sunset and stay still and quiet through the night unless an egg hatched or they have to feed a chick. I suggested she bring out some water in the morning. If the bird were still too injured to move, she could take the bird down the road to where humans take care of injured birds. She didn’t know they did that there.

My driver expressed several times that she was concerned about the bird’s health and wanted to keep it from getting more hurt. I was the one to remind her about her belief in birds being messengers. It caused her to stop and think and wonder why.

[Amethyst]

Witch Challenge for Amethyst:

Hey all! I don’t do too much with things like the Thinning of the Veil. My Mom had this thing where I was never to use a Ouija board, and that it was rude to talk to the dead if they didn’t start the conversation. And my Dad mostly agreed with her. So while I may send up a prayer or talk to them on special days, I mostly leave the long-distance calling to them.

But I wanted to do something for Samhain this year, so I found this prayer at Learn Religions.com. I figure I will light a candle tomorrow night, before turning on the electric candles in the windows. I also plan to do a bit of a Dumb Supper tomorrow night if I have time. We’ll see what happens.

Here’s the Prayer:

Samhain prayer to ancestors:

This is the night when the gateway between

our world and the spirit world is thinnest.

Tonight is a night to call out those who came before.

Tonight I honor my ancestors.

Spirits of my fathers and mothers, I call to you,

and welcome you to join me for this night.

You watch over me always,

protecting and guiding me,

and tonight I thank you.

Your blood runs in my veins,

your spirit is in my heart,

your memories are in my soul.

With the gift of remembrance.

I remember all of you.

You are dead but never forgotten,

and you live on within me,

and within those who are yet to come.

If you wish, you may want to recite your genealogy here. This can include both your blood family, and your spiritual one.]

With the gift of remembrance.
I remember all of you.
You are dead but never forgotten,
and you live on within me,
and within those who are yet to come.

Blessed be.

Hope everyone has a Blessed Samhain and a wonderful weekend!