Amanita season and the turning of the year...

Samhain marks the closing of the harvest, a time when the light fades, and we begin our descent into the darker half of the year. The forest stills. What once reached for the sun now returns to the soil.

This is also Amanita’s season. Her red and white appear bright among fallen leaves, a reminder that not everything mysterious is to be feared. Sometimes, wisdom hides behind warning colours, waiting for those who are ready to listen.

For us, this time of year invites humility. Amanita muscaria is a teacher of cycles, of life, death, and renewal. She asks us to slow down, to transform what’s raw into something nourishing. Her medicine, like the season, is about surrender and integration, the quiet alchemy that happens in darkness.

As we honour Samhain, we’re asking ourselves:

What am I ready to lay down? 

What is composting in me, preparing to feed something new?

Amanita reminds us that transformation requires both fire and rest, that every ending carries its own kind of grace.

From the circle:
Elle has recently completed her pilgrimage along the Camino, a journey of walking, prayer, and deep listening. Her reflections are steeped in this season’s wisdom, and we’ll be sharing more from her soon. 

Over the past month Tracey has been focussed on preparing the 2025 Facilitator trainees to hold ceremony, the culmination of their study programme. These ceremonies will take place over the next four weeks, marking the deepening of our shared work and the closing of one cycle as another begins.

Elle has made a beautiful Samhain playlist - listen with us here.

If you’re feeling the pull to walk deeper with this work:

Start with our free Introductory Course – an entry point into building a grounded, respectful relationship with Amanita muscaria. 

Explore our Foraging Harvesting & Preparation Course – learn the essentials of safely identifying, gathering, and working with Amanita muscaria in right relationship with the land. Introductory pride of £55.

Join the Inner Child Healing course – a beautiful companion for this season of reflection, tenderness, and renewal. From now until Nov 1st use the code SAMHAIN to get £50 off.

Applications for our 2026 Facilitator Training are now open - a deep dive into ceremony, community, and holding transformative space with integrity.

Here’s to the turning of the year, the descent, and the quiet magic that asks us to trust what’s unseen.

With warmth,

The Amanita Rising Team