Jonathan Rueffer
Science Editor
On Monday, Oct. 27, the Office of Sustainability hosted an event for the spooky season called “Sustainable Samhain.” The event took place from 5-7 p.m. at the Kenarden fire pit. Tables from various organizations and local businesses lined the walking path outside of Kenarden, bringing in groups of students to celebrate the Halloween spirit.
The event encouraged students to learn about the pagan origins of Halloween and various witchcraft practices, presenting information with sustainability as the central theme. The bonfire allowed attendees to not only keep themselves warm, but also roast s’mores and enjoy complimentary donuts, locally-sourced apples and refreshing seasonal cider. The fire was kept alive using invasive bamboo, furthering the event’s emphasis on sustainably celebrating the spooky season.
One table let students craft personal spell jars using crystals and foraged herbs. The many choices for ingredients were laid out on top of explanations for their spiritual uses, allowing students to create personalized jars. For example, cinnamon could be added for love, bay leaves for wisdom and amethyst for stress relief. Taylor Grant ’26, president of the Wooster Coven, the group that co-sponsored the event, ran this stand.
“Especially this time of year, people are getting stressed, I.S. is picking up, things are getting hard and something like this is just what people needed for a little bit of a refresh,” said Grant.
In addition to providing attendees with the opportunity to craft their own spell jars, Grant also gave tarot card readings. Grace Laymon ’27, a student attendee, said “just getting to sit outside by the fire and get my cards read was really fun.”
Another organization that had a table at the event was Religious and Spiritual Life, which shared information about the sacred spaces on campus, including the All Faiths Chapel in Lowry, the Muslim Prayer Room in Luce Hall and the Solemn Prayer Room in Compton. All of these spaces on campus are designed for members of the college community to gather, learn and cultivate a respectful curiosity for religious diversity, regardless of personal identification with religious/spiritual traditions. “I had a really wonderful time and everyone was so welcoming!” said Laymon.
In addition to campus organizations tabling at the event, local witchy businesses were also invited. Chicory Witch is a store based in Akron, and their table sold locally made candles, crafts and altar cloths. “When they reached out to us, I was really excited … I love the idea of bringing these two really important topics [spirituality and sustainability] together,” said owner Samantha Pomp.
A table run by the Office of Sustainability provided students with eco-friendly crafts, such as pumpkin decorating, besom (broom) creating and garland making. Overall, this new event was a huge success, bringing together the campus community to learn about and celebrate the sustainability of Halloween.