Samhain Candle & Incense Workshop

Origin 
Samhain is a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter. Celebrations began on the evening of October 31st, since the Celtic day began and ended at sunset. Historically it was observed throughout Ireland, Scotland, Galicia and the Isle of Man. It is first mentioned in early Irish literature, from the 9th century, which talks of great gatherings and feasts. Samhain was a liminal or threshold festival, when the boundary between this world and the Otherworld thinned, meaning the Aos Sí could more easily come into our world. They were appeased with offerings of food and drink, to ensure the people and their livestock survived the winter. The souls of dead kin were thought to revisit, and a place was set at the table for them during meals. Mumming and guising were part of the festival, people went door-to-door in costume reciting verses in exchange for food. Divination was also a big part of the festival and often involved nuts and apples.

Modern
During the late 19th and early 20th century Celtic Revival, there was a swell of interest in Samhain and the other Celtic festivals. Since then, Samhain has been popularly seen as the Celtic New Year and an ancient festival of the dead. Celtic Reconstructionist Pagans celebrate Samhain around November 1st, but may adjust the date, such as when the first winter frost arrives. Their traditions include saining the home, lighting bonfires, and making shrines or altars to ancestors. A place for the dead is set at the table during a meal and any untouched portion is left outside as an offering.  A western-facing window may be opened and a candle left burning to guide the dead home. Divination for the coming year is often done, as well as communing with deities, especially those seen as being linked with this festival. 

Calendula
Planet: Sun    
Zodiac: Leo     
Element: Fire
Deities: Oshun, Xochiquetzal, Santa Muerte, Apollo, Lakshmi, Helios
Magical uses: protection, prophetic dreams, removing negative energy, enhancing mental strength, happiness, prosperity, love, psychic power, harmony, healing

Cinnamon
Planet: Sun    
Zodiac: Aries, Leo
Element: Fire
Deities: Venus, Aphrodite, Mercury, Dionysus, Apollo, Miletus, Ra, Helios, Asclepius
Magical uses: spirituality, healing, success, protection, love, luck, lust, strength, prosperity, vitality, abundance, psychic power

Cloves
Planet: Jupiter, Sun    
Zodiac: Aries     
Element: Fire, Air
Deities: Osiris, Oya, Hecate, Jupiter, Mars, Lakshmi, Zeus, Apollo
Magical uses: physical and spiritual protection, prosperity, abundance, banishing, purification, healing,
mental power, luck, love

Mugwort 
Planet: Venus, Moon    
Zodiac: Libra, Pisces     
Element: Earth
Deities: Artemis, Diana
Magical uses: wisdom, psychic power, visions, physical and psychic protection, warding, love, harmony, cleansing, prophetic and/or lucid dreams, divination

Rose
Planet: Venus, Mars    
Zodiac: Taurus, Cancer, Libra     
Element: Water
Deities: Adonis, Aphrodite, Astarte, Aurora, Bacchus, Chloris, Cupid, Cybele, Demeter, Dionysus, Eros, Flora, Harpocrates, Hathor, Hekate, Hulda, Inanna, Ishtar, Isis,  Lakshmi, Mars, Venus
Magical uses: love, beauty, protection, divination, harmony, healing, intuition, psychic power, cleansing, prosperity

Rosemary 
Planet: Sun, Mercury    
Zodiac: Capricorn, Aquarius, Leo     
Element: Fire, Air
Deities: Aphrodite, Hebe, Obatala, Oshun, Yemaya, Oxala, Apollo, Cerridwen, Hecate, Isis
Magical uses: cleansing and purification, strength, protection, love, clarity, luck, memory, focus, remembrance, rest and relaxation, grounding

Sage
Planet: Jupiter, Moon   
Zodiac: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Aquarius, Taurus 
Element: Earth, Air
Deities: Jupiter, Zeus, Consus, Hestia, Venus, Artemis, Diana, Hygeia
Magical uses: balance, clairvoyance, focus, blessing/consecrating, divination, energy, grounding, harmony, healing, insight, knowledge, mental clarity, prosperity, banishing, power, peace, purification, psychic power, wisdom