The Pagan Wheel of the Year

I would like to start off by saying that Halloween is NOT the "Witches Holiday". Halloween is a holiday for little children to get candy, and for Adults to decorate their houses with scary witch and ghost figures. The true Witches Holiday is Samhain, pronounced "Sow-en" by most people of the Craft in modern day. Samhain literally means "Summer's End", and it marks the end of the harvest. A time when our ancestors would harvest their crops one last time to prepare for the long winter ahead. 

Samhain is a Celtic holiday. The Celts divided the year into two seasons, the light half and the dark half. Samhain is a celebration of the Beginning of the Dark half of the year, and was actually considered to be more important than its counterpart, Beltane for its magickal potentials.

Samhain is considered a "cross-quarter" Sabbat, even though it always falls on the 31st, and the cross-quarter doesn't officially occur until the Sun reaches 15 degrees of Scorpio, sometime in the 1st week in November. (Note: In 2005, Samhain actually occurs on November 2, 2005 at 6:03AM EST, on the same day as the new moon.)

Samhain also symbolizes the death of the God, the final turn of the wheel. The days become shorter, the nights longer. Also, Samhain falls between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice, a time when the "veil between the worlds" becomes very thin. It is a time to pay homage to our elders and ancestors that have passed from this world to the next.

This time is a time much like Thanksgiving, a celebratory feast in which we celebrate the year's bounty, and remember those who have passed. Many people of the Craft hold traditional "Dumb Suppers", called a Feast of the Dead, in which a large meal is prepared and eaten in silence, with an extra place set in remembrance of our ancestors. Many also light a candle to bring in the "New Year", lighting their way through the darkness of the upcoming months until Yule.

Yule

Our ancestors would celebrate this night as they waited for the rebirth of the Oak King who was born of the earth itself that had started warming again after the winters coldness. Bonfires were often lit in the fields and crops and trees were "wassailed" by toasting them with apple cider.

Children were often escorted from home to home and they would give out gifts of clove spiked apples and oranges which were placed in baskets along with boughs of evergreens and wheat stalks dusted with flour. The apples and oranges represented the sun, the evergreen boughs immortality; the wheat stalks portrayed the harvest and the flour represented triumph, light and life.

Holly and evergreen not only decorated the outsides of their homes but was also brought inside in hopes of inviting the Nature Sprites to come and enjoy the celebrations and a sprig of holly was kept by the door all year long as a constant invitation of good fortune to come into the families lives.

The highlight of the Yule festival came with the lighting of the Yule log. This was a log that either had to have been harvested on the households land or must have been given as a gift, it could not be purchased. Once it was taken into the house it was decorated with evergreen, apple cider or ale would be poured over it followed with flour and set on fire with a peice of last years Yule log that had been set aside for this exact reason. The log would burn through the night and be left to smolder for the next 12 days before it would be put out. Ash was traditionally the Yule log of choice as it was the sacred tree of the Teutons. Ash was thought to bring light in to the hearth at Solstice.

As Modern day practitioners of the old celebrations one might go looking for a piece of wood such as oak or pine that was flat on one side to be used as base and large enough to drill 3 holes into so that it will hold 3 candles (red, green and white for the seasons; green, gold and black to represent the Sun God; or white, red and black to represent the Great Goddess). Then continue to decorate with greenery, red and gold bows, rosebuds, cloves and dust with flour.

The deities of Yule are all the Newborn Gods, Sun Gods, Mother Goddesses and Triple Goddesses; of them might be the Dagda, and Brighid (daughter of Dagda). Brighid taught the smiths how to tend fire and how to shape metal. Brighid's flame shines like the flame of a new light and it pierces the darkness and shines into our spirits while Dagdas cauldron which is always full assures that Nature will always have abundance for its children.

Imbolc

Imbolc, or Imbolg, is the midway point between winter and spring. It is also called Candlemas. This is a time to celebrate the Triple Goddess Brid in her maiden form. Brid is the Goddess of fire, inspiration, craftsmanship and midwifery. 

Imbolg is a celebration of all life being reborn from the cold winter months. Imbolg literally means “in the belly”.

Many choose to celebrate Imbolg by taking the time to nourish the spirit within us by perhaps choosing a “magickal name” and examining your spiritual path. This is also an excellent time for taking stock in your herb cabinet and gathering the supplies you may have run low on. Many take this time to work on creative projects as well that express the Craft; some by painting or sculpting; others by creating wreaths and such.

There are many ways of celebrating Imbolg. One way may be to create your own “eternal flame” or at least one that burns through the holiday; this can be done by selecting a nice white candle to light or if you are fortunate to have a fireplace you could choose a nice piece of wood to burn. This is also a prefect time for dining with your family and giving thanks to those who have helped you through your spiritual journeys whether it is family, elder or friend. Take this time to express your gratitude and share what you have learned from this person with others present. Think of this as a way of nourishing your own inner growth. After the meal is a good time to share the chores of cleaning up as this will show respect for the host and hostess. You could consider this a physical action to show that you understand the interconnections of life and your respect for all that you have been given. Be sure to end your evening with a private reflection on your own actions and your growth throughout the winter months. This is a perfect time for seeing how much you have grown spiritually. Be sure to write down your emotions and thoughts in your Book of Shadows during this High Holy Sabbat.

Ostara

This lesser Sabbat is celebrated on the Vernal or spring equinox on or around March 21st

The name for this Sabbat comes from the Teutonic Goddess Eostre. Her chief symbols are the bunny to represent fertility and the egg as it represents creation. 

Ostara is a time to celebrate spring and the rebirth of nature itself and the coming of Summer as well. This is the time when light and darkness are equal but light is starting to take over the darkness.

This is an excellent time for personal growth, for mending old conflicts and ensuring the continued growth of treasured friendships. This is a great time of the year to start learning something new as well and taking advantage of skills already learned and becoming more adept at them.

According to the Wheel of the Year Ostara signifies the time when the Great Goddess who was a virgin at Imbolc is now joining with the Sun God, she conceives a child which will be born at Yule.

Ostara is a fertility festival that celebrates spring and the reawakening of life in and on earth. Everything begins to emerge from its slumber that the winter months have brought.

Deities that are invoked on this Sabbat would be Eostre; the Saxon Goddess of fertility and Ostara; the German Goddess of fertility. Some traditions also invoke the Green Goddess and the Lord of the Greenwood as the Goddess blankets the earth with fertility and the God starts to grow into maturity. He will walk to earth and take in all its beauty.

Other appropriate deities would be any youthful and virile Gods and Goddesses, Sun Gods, Love Goddesses, Moon Gods and Goddesses as well as fertility deities. Examples of these may be Blodeuwedd, Persephone, Aphrodite, Athena, the Green Man, Cernunnos, the Dagda, the Horned One, Osiris and the list goes on.

There are many ways to celebrate Ostara. They range from lighting a fire at sunrise to ringing bells to decorating hard-boiled eggs, which is an old Pagan custom, associated with the Goddess of Fertility. During those times the eggs were gathered up and used as talismans and were then broken and eaten.

There is a great deal of symbolism behind the egg as the golden orb represented the Sun God and the white shell was seen as the White Goddess and its entirety symbolized rebirth.

Ostara is seen as a time of renewal so it is also an excellent time for “Spring Cleaning” not only to clean the physical realm but also to clear away negative influences as well. One way of clearing unpleasant energies from the home might be to hand wash all the floors while rubbing in a “clockwise” direction as this is thought to bring in positive energies and encourages growth.

In keeping with the Wheel of the Year Ostara is a time to celebrate new beginnings and opportunities. So now is a time to start putting into action some of the plans you started to make during Imbolc. This is an excellent time as well to do spell work for improving communication and group work as well.

Beltaine

Beltane marks the second half of the Celtic Year. This is one of the two most important Sabbats of the year. Beltane is opposite Samhain and also marks the time when the veil between the Otherworld and this are thinnest. Instead of our ancestors passing over to our world however we can travel to their world.

Beltane is celebrated as an early agricultural festival when the herds were turned out to the fields; rituals were performed; such as driving the herds between the beltane fires to drive away ills and to promote fertility. Contact with the fire was thought to represent contact with the sun and people would also be seen jumping over the fires as well to promote their own fertility and prosperity.

Beltane was a time of participating in fun and games; Beltane games were played to display a warriors skills in friendly competition against their friends. They would often hold archery games and have feasts and story telling; this was a chance for people to get together and enjoy each others company.

This Sabbat is considered as the time when the God and Goddess come together to add new life to the land and to encourage harvests to grow faster. As the summer months approach the earth is becoming warmer the plants are starting to grow and the general atmosphere that surrounds us is more joyous and playful. Beltane is a time for sexuality and passion; young adults would often spend the entire Beltane night out with the mate of their choice and then dance around the "phallic" may pole the following morning. May morning was a magickal time for collecting "wild" dew from the flowing streams and springs or the mornings dew and bathing in it to bring beauty and to drink for health.

The Maypole is a very important symbol of Beltane; the tall pole is decorated with many brightly colored ribbons, leaves, flowers and ribbons. Young men and women would gather the ribbons and dance about the pole interlacing each of the ribbons. This ritual was thought to promote an abundant harvest that season as it would encourage fertility and growth of the earth.

Colors that are associated with Beltane include green, yellow, light pinks and soft or sky blues. Lilac, frankincense, rose and honeysuckle are all appropriate scents of the season as well as are the presence of any flowers of the season which could be gathered and placed throughout your home. Foods of the day would be fresh fruit, green salads, berries, oatmeal cakes and dairy products and of course fruit wines.

Litha

This day is celebrated as the longest day of the year and consequently the shortest night as well (this day is opposite Yule). In many traditions Litha symbolizes the end of the Oak-Kings (waxing year) reign and is replaced by the Holly King (waning year). 

It is important to note that even though there is now a separation of the light and dark half of the year it doesn’t mean good against evil but rather that light stands for life, growth and birth where darkness represents regeneration and withdrawal; both which are necessary in our lives.

It is believed that on Litha the veil between the worlds is again at it’s thinnest just as it is on Samhain and that the spirits can travel freely between the worlds.

Litha is the traditional time to harvest your magickal and medicinal herbs that have grown. Remember when you gather them to take no more than a 1/3 of the plant if possible so that healthy growth may continue and always remember to first ask and then thank the plant for its gift.

In June the full moon is known as the Mead (or honey) moon because June is an excellent time for harvesting honey from the hives. Mead is a brew made from honey and a traditional drink for summer solstice. It is also appropriate to have honey on your altar during the ritual cakes and wine for dipping. This symbolizes the sweetness of life.

Often times Litha is celebrated near the water since the sun is entering into Cancer during this time and Cancer is a water sign. Many will take rituals to the beaches if they are fortunate to live near one. This is an excellent time as well for gathering Magickal water for your spell work. If you are not fortunate enough to live near the ocean than gathering rainwater will work just as well, especially during thunder and lightening storms; the more electrical energy put out the better! Collect your water in a glass jar or porcelain, never metal. Store it on a shelf and never leave it on the ground, as the energy will ground itself out. Whatever hasn’t been used after 6 months you can return to its source and collect fresh. Feel free to add coral, shells and rocks to the water to increase its energy during this time. This water is for magickal use and not for drinking purposes. 

Here are some ideas for how to celebrate Litha with some age-old customs. Jump over a small fire you have built with your partner to bring blessings into your life whether they are spiritual, material, physical or symbolic. Make ritual symbols of something’s in your life you would like to be rid of, charge them and toss that into the fire to burn them from your life. If you work with a group you might choose two men to act out the battle between the Oak King and the Holly King. Lastly celebrate the harvest of the season by enjoying the many fruits and vegetables picked during the summer. In this way you will be celebrating the richness and abundance of our earth mother. Share your harvest with those who may be less fortunate as well.

Lammas

Lammas marks the end of the Summer and the beginning of Autumn. The days are starting to grow shorter and the nights longer. This holiday is one of the High Holidays or Greater Sabbats. Lammas was the medieval Christian name for Loaf Mass because it was on this day that loaves of bread were baked from the first grain harvest and placed on the church altars as offering.

Lammas is celebrated for the Celtic God Lugh (meaning light or shining). He was known to be the patron of all the arts, traveling and influence in money and commerce. Lugh was the son of Arianrhod associated with Kingship and threefold death. His wife was Blodeuwedd also known as the flower maiden.

Lammas is the first of three harvest festivals; Mabon and Samhain being the last two, which celebrate the ripening of the grains and the corns. Pagans view this theme as the celebration of the God known as the "Green man" , "Wicker Man" or the "Corn Man" and his time to sacrifice himself so that rebirth can begin in the Spring. This ritual of the gathering of crops tells of the success as well as the power raised during the Beltaine Fires when the Sacred Marriage of the Lord and Lady took place, representing sexuality and reproduction as well as a remaining good harvest.

This Sabbat is a celebration of the bread, as bread was the main staple of our ancestors and a good grain harvest was cause for rejoice. The reaping, threshing and preparation of the grains were all parts of elaborate rituals and the ceremonies were hoped to ensure bountiful harvests the following year. This time of year does find us harvesting in the fields and gathering crops that will hold us through the long winter months. While it is still warm and sunny outdoors we can see the noticeable change in the days length and realize that winter is not far away.

Below are suggestions for ways to celebrate Lammas in your own home with your family or as a solitary:

1. Sacrifice unwanted or bad habits from your life by throwing symbols of them into the Sabbat fire.
2. Harvest fruits and vegetables from your garden. If you don't have one of your own you might consider visiting one of the local farms.
3. Gather your tools of harvest together and bless them to ensure a richer harvest next year.
4. Share your harvest with those less fortunate.

Mabon

The Wheel of the Year has turned once again and we are now celebrating Mabon, the second harvesting Sabbat. This is the time of the Autumn Equinox or when the the days are again of equal length, but now the nights are becoming longer and the days grow even shorter as the Earth goes into its slumber for the long Winter months.

The month of September hosts the "Wine Moon" or the lunar cycle when the grapes are harvested and pressed to make wine; a beverage enjoyed by many. Wine and grapevines were considered sacred by early Pagans because Dionysus, a God of resurrection honored them as symbols of rebirth and transformation. Traditionally, the wine represents the God and the bread represents the Goddess.

The full moon that is celebrated closest to the Autumn Equinox in called the "Harvest Moon" since farmers would often harvest most of their crops by the light of the full moon. With the fading sun being seen in the sky the farmers would start to gather their crops in anticipation of the long winter months ahead. During this season farmers would also start slaughtering their herds so that they may have meats during the winter months as well. During early history people lived by the harvest and preparing for winter consumed many of their waking hours.

The Autumn Equinox is celebrated as the day when the God of light Lugh is defeated by the God of darkness (Lughs twin) Tanist. The night conquering the day. The story tells that the Equinox is the only day of the year when Lugh is vulnerable and it is possible to defeat him. Lugh stands on the balance of the Autumn Equinox with one foot on the goat ( the winter solstice) and the other foot on the cauldron (the summer solstice). He is betrayed by Blodeuwedd, the Virgin and is transformed into an eagle.

Two events transpire at Lugh's defeat; Tanist takes overs Lugh's place as the King of our World and lover to Tailltiu. Although Tanist sits on Lugh's throne, his induction wont be done until six weeks later at Samhain when he becomes the Dark King and mate to Tailltiu who conceives and will give birth nine months later (summer solstice) to her son who is Tanist reincarnated into the Dark child.

Wiccan mythology sees Mabon as the days and nights being equal; when the God prepares his departure back to strength and developement within his mothers womb. Both with sadness and joy the Goddess awaits his birth again in the Spring.

Mabon is the Pagan Thanksgiving. It is a time to celebrate the passing year and give thanks for all that we have been given throughout the year and as well look forward to all the future holds in store.

During the Autumn months the suns rays are dying off and we now start to commemorate the dead with joyous celebrations (It is considered bad luck to pass by a burial ground and not pay our respects to those buried there).

Many choose to do rituals based around balance and harmony at this time because natural energies are aligned towards protection, wealth, prosperity, security and boosting of self confidence.

Now is the time to start decorating your altar with gifts from nature; acorns, berries, leaves and other symbols of the season. You may like to take some of the autumn leaves and dip them in paraffin; after they have dried you can draw sigils of protection into the wax and hang them around the house.

Going through your personal garden and harvesting what is ripe is also appropriate at this time (don't forget to give thanks). Baking breads in the shape of the sun and combining them with fruits or vegetables of the season incorporate both major aspects of this holiday. The seeds of the various plants are harvested and stored so that they can be used again for planting next season, therefore the rebirth of the plant next Spring. Remaining seeds can be set out for wildlife so that they will have a healthy abundance to start off the winter season.

To honor the dead, traditionally apples are placed on burial sites to symbolize rebirth and gratitude.

Elders are also celebrated during Mabon for all they have taught us and all the energy and devotion they have given to us. Don't forget to do something extra special for the elders in your life.

Finally, don't forget those less fortunate than yourself. Small baskets of food can be donated to shelters in your city. What may be small and meaningless to you is another families next meal.