They focus on nature so much that they realize natural laws, such as the principle that energy is neither created nor destroyed. That is applied to one's own spiritual energy as well. There are eight major holidays or festivals in the Wiccan religion, and they all have to do with conception, birth, mating, maturation, death and rebirth. Wiccan festivals begin at sunset and are usually celebrated on the correct date, but they allow some flexibility for individual interests or astrological timing. One way of celebrating Samhain is to build an altar to one's ancestors, both physical and spiritual.
Altars are a witches' way of focusing their thoughts, similar to prayer.
Creating something beautiful like an altar to meditate in front of is a way of pleasing one's self, gods and goddesses and others. Other altar decorations for Samhain include apples, spirals, branches of dead leaves and black mirrors. Also, every altar should have a representation of each of the four elements. There is a fifth element, the spirit, or aether, which is especially celebrated on Samhain. Witches believe that autumn is a time of mental strength, and Samhain in particular is a time of teaching.