The Wheel of the Year
The followers of Nature based spiritual paths such as Witchcraft, Druidry, Wicca and other Pagan traditions embrace the dynamics of the changing seasons, and the interplay between darkness and light. These homages being paid to the seasons are the natural origins of celebrations, festivals, and even sacred rituals. They are portals to magickal junctures and the first of holy days to which we now call holidays. Neo-Pagans observe certain holidays in which is called the "Wheel of the Year."
The Sabbats
The Wheel of the Year is divided into 8 seasons, in which are Pagan or Wiccan Sabbats. They call it the "Wheel" because of the seasons turn over and over again every year just like a wheel. These seasons are marked by 8 spokes in which we call the great Sabbats.
From the time of antiquity, no matter where in the world, the human race has always celebrated a type of ever-turning wheel of time marking the change in the seasons and times of harvests. Today's Pagans celebrate with the eight festivals that mark the important points in the cycles of Nature. These points are the two solstices and the two equinoxes. Pagans also have four cross-quarter sabbat days dividing the time between them. These cross quarters accentuate landmarks of times of farming, planting, gardening and all that is agricultural.
These sabbats are festivals and common across many Pagan traditions, including the Druid, Witch, Wiccan, Celtic, Norse (Asatru) and other Pagan spiritualist paths. The eight sabbats are: Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, Mebane and Samhain.
From the time of antiquity, no matter where in the world, the human race has always celebrated a type of ever-turning wheel of time marking the change in the seasons and times of harvests. Today's Pagans celebrate with the eight festivals that mark the important points in the cycles of Nature. These points are the two solstices and the two equinoxes. Pagans also have four cross-quarter sabbat days dividing the time between them. These cross quarters accentuate landmarks of times of farming, planting, gardening and all that is agricultural.
These sabbats are festivals and common across many Pagan traditions, including the Druid, Witch, Wiccan, Celtic, Norse (Asatru) and other Pagan spiritualist paths. The eight sabbats are: Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, Mebane and Samhain.
Yule, Winter Solstice - December 21st
A Time of Planning
This is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. The Sun stops it trip away and it begins to return to the Earth's hemisphere. In ancient lore the goddess gives birth to the Pagan Lord as the son (Sun) is reborn. Many traditions celebrates this holy day just before dawn to welcome His arrival. Candles and bonfires are lit, and fireplaces burns with Yule Logs (a log that partially burned the previous Yule) to welcome His returning arrival. The returning light completes the cycle of life, death and rebirth. In Pagan traditions, Yule symbolizes the end of the reign of the waning year's Holly-King, who is now replaced by the Oak-King of the year (who rules until Summer Solstice).
This is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. The Sun stops it trip away and it begins to return to the Earth's hemisphere. In ancient lore the goddess gives birth to the Pagan Lord as the son (Sun) is reborn. Many traditions celebrates this holy day just before dawn to welcome His arrival. Candles and bonfires are lit, and fireplaces burns with Yule Logs (a log that partially burned the previous Yule) to welcome His returning arrival. The returning light completes the cycle of life, death and rebirth. In Pagan traditions, Yule symbolizes the end of the reign of the waning year's Holly-King, who is now replaced by the Oak-King of the year (who rules until Summer Solstice).
- Look ahead for the coming year and make your plans.
Imbolc - February 1st
A Time For Preparation
This sabbat is a cross-quarter day and it celebrates the anticipation of Spring and the return of the light. Animals begin to peep out of their burrows, leave hibernations and return from migrations. Farm animals and animals in the wild prepare to mate and to bring new life. Farmers prepare for the upcoming planting season and seeds are laid out for upcoming gardens.
This sabbat is a cross-quarter day and it celebrates the anticipation of Spring and the return of the light. Animals begin to peep out of their burrows, leave hibernations and return from migrations. Farm animals and animals in the wild prepare to mate and to bring new life. Farmers prepare for the upcoming planting season and seeds are laid out for upcoming gardens.
- Prepare for your actions on this new year.
Ostara - Spring Equinox April 21st
A Time to Prepare for Engagement.
This is the Spring Equinox. Day and Night are equal in length. The Earth is becoming awake and alive with green grass and green leaves, and the young god is approaching maturity. It is a time of planting and welcoming back the fertility of the Earth. Easter and this sabbat, Ostara, gets their names from the Teutonic goddess of Spring who had a pet rabbit who kept colored eggs and gave them out to the young children. This is goddess' name, Ostara, is also spelled: Oestre, Ostare or Eastre. Her name is also the origin of the word "east" or "eastern star" which comes from various Germanic, Austro-Hungarian words for dawn. It shares a root word for "aurora" which means " to shine". As the first day of Spring reaches its midpoint, night and day stand in perfect balance. The young Sun god now dreams of a hierogamy (sacred marriage) with the young Maiden goddess.
This is the Spring Equinox. Day and Night are equal in length. The Earth is becoming awake and alive with green grass and green leaves, and the young god is approaching maturity. It is a time of planting and welcoming back the fertility of the Earth. Easter and this sabbat, Ostara, gets their names from the Teutonic goddess of Spring who had a pet rabbit who kept colored eggs and gave them out to the young children. This is goddess' name, Ostara, is also spelled: Oestre, Ostare or Eastre. Her name is also the origin of the word "east" or "eastern star" which comes from various Germanic, Austro-Hungarian words for dawn. It shares a root word for "aurora" which means " to shine". As the first day of Spring reaches its midpoint, night and day stand in perfect balance. The young Sun god now dreams of a hierogamy (sacred marriage) with the young Maiden goddess.
- Do all that is needed to do for engagement. The light has arrived.
Beltane - May 1st
A Time of Engagement
During this cross-quarter sabbat the god of the Sun has reached His manhood and May day is celebrated. This holiday celebrates the union of the goddess and the god in a major fertility festival. The maypole is wrapped with ribbons to symbolize their union. The planting of the farmers and gardener is under way. Seeds of the previous year are sprouting and being planted.
During this cross-quarter sabbat the god of the Sun has reached His manhood and May day is celebrated. This holiday celebrates the union of the goddess and the god in a major fertility festival. The maypole is wrapped with ribbons to symbolize their union. The planting of the farmers and gardener is under way. Seeds of the previous year are sprouting and being planted.
- Move from the sidelines. A new life is calling.
Litha, Summer Solstice - June 21st
A Time of Enjoyment and Partaking.
This major sabbat marks the longest day of the year and when the powers of Summer and Nature reach their zenith. The Earth is ample with the fertility of the goddess. The god is at the height of His power. Fires are lit to mark the longest day. It is a great time for hand-fastings (weddings), empowerment working, consummation and magick. This time is also referred to as Midsummer, so consequently it is the shortest night, and we enjoy the warmth of the longest day of the year. Midsummer symbolizes the end of the reign of the waxing year's Oak-King, who is now replaced by the Holly-King of the waning year (who rules until Winter Solstice).
This major sabbat marks the longest day of the year and when the powers of Summer and Nature reach their zenith. The Earth is ample with the fertility of the goddess. The god is at the height of His power. Fires are lit to mark the longest day. It is a great time for hand-fastings (weddings), empowerment working, consummation and magick. This time is also referred to as Midsummer, so consequently it is the shortest night, and we enjoy the warmth of the longest day of the year. Midsummer symbolizes the end of the reign of the waxing year's Oak-King, who is now replaced by the Holly-King of the waning year (who rules until Winter Solstice).
- This is a period of taking advantage of the bounty that was planted and is still growing for you.
Lammas - August 1st
A Time of Reaping the Bounty
This cross-quarter sabbat is often called the Feast of Bread. This sabbat marks the time of the first harvest. The Sun begins to lose its strength and the nights grow longer. The Pagan Lord is fading, but the memory of His strength lives on in the loaves of fresh baked breads and vegetables. Pagans celebrate this day. The greater view to Pagans is that when the Sun god loses His strength the nights grow longer. The goddess watches in sorrow as the Pagan god is fading, but She still enjoys the time She has with Him. As Summer begins its passing, Pagans savor its warmth and bounty with the foods they eat and their celebrations. This sabbat is also called Lughnasad, August Eve and the Feast of loaves.
This cross-quarter sabbat is often called the Feast of Bread. This sabbat marks the time of the first harvest. The Sun begins to lose its strength and the nights grow longer. The Pagan Lord is fading, but the memory of His strength lives on in the loaves of fresh baked breads and vegetables. Pagans celebrate this day. The greater view to Pagans is that when the Sun god loses His strength the nights grow longer. The goddess watches in sorrow as the Pagan god is fading, but She still enjoys the time She has with Him. As Summer begins its passing, Pagans savor its warmth and bounty with the foods they eat and their celebrations. This sabbat is also called Lughnasad, August Eve and the Feast of loaves.
- Dionysos reigns here, but begin to contemplate the future.
Mabon - September 21st
Begin Your Harvest
This is the Fall Equinox. It is the continuation of the harvest that begun at Lammas. Day and night are equal now, and it is a time of balance - eat some/save some. It is a time of contemplating about own personal lives and what were successes and what needs to be change. This is the time of canning the good and throwing away the bad that was harvested during the year. It is a time of balance for this equinox. The Sun god prepares to leave His body, and to begin the great adventure into the unseen and into the veils. This is His trek toward renewal and rebirth in His return to the goddess.
This is the Fall Equinox. It is the continuation of the harvest that begun at Lammas. Day and night are equal now, and it is a time of balance - eat some/save some. It is a time of contemplating about own personal lives and what were successes and what needs to be change. This is the time of canning the good and throwing away the bad that was harvested during the year. It is a time of balance for this equinox. The Sun god prepares to leave His body, and to begin the great adventure into the unseen and into the veils. This is His trek toward renewal and rebirth in His return to the goddess.
- This is a time of giving thanks for the bounty received.
Samhain - October 31st
A Time of Introspection
Samhain is a favorite cross-quarter sabbat now commonly known as Halloween. It is also called Witches New Year, because it is considered the beginning of the year and the time of new beginnings. This is also the final time of harvest for farmers, and the Harvest Moon can be seen. We now are coming to terms with the darker cycle of the Wheel. During this time Wiccans say farewell to the Pagan Lord. Lore states that the Pagan Sun god dies and He travels through the veils into the otherworlds to be reborn again at Yule. Samhain is a time of traditional sacrifice as livestock were slaughtered to ensure food throughout the Winter. This is also the time of the hunt since vegetation is not so readily available. The nights are longer during this time. This is a time of shadow work, reflection and introspection, following the Sun god in His time of thought and evaluation. Most of all this is a time of remembrance of our Ancestors and all those who have gone before us. This holiday marks the end of the old year and the beginning of the new.
Samhain is a favorite cross-quarter sabbat now commonly known as Halloween. It is also called Witches New Year, because it is considered the beginning of the year and the time of new beginnings. This is also the final time of harvest for farmers, and the Harvest Moon can be seen. We now are coming to terms with the darker cycle of the Wheel. During this time Wiccans say farewell to the Pagan Lord. Lore states that the Pagan Sun god dies and He travels through the veils into the otherworlds to be reborn again at Yule. Samhain is a time of traditional sacrifice as livestock were slaughtered to ensure food throughout the Winter. This is also the time of the hunt since vegetation is not so readily available. The nights are longer during this time. This is a time of shadow work, reflection and introspection, following the Sun god in His time of thought and evaluation. Most of all this is a time of remembrance of our Ancestors and all those who have gone before us. This holiday marks the end of the old year and the beginning of the new.
- Begin meditation and evaluation of oneself, and evaluate successes and any needs for change for the upcoming year.