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| The cycle of seasons from winter through to spring, summer, autumn and then back to winter is known as the ‘Wheel of the Year’. It is the cycle of nature, the cycle of life where we witness the beginnings, the first shoots of life in spring, the blossoming, coming into fruition, fading and dying in the winter to be reborn again into the spring. This spiral reminds us that we must experience every aspect of life to truly be alive, that we cannot perpetually live in the warmth of the summer sun, and that to grow and move on our path we must experience the fading of one aspect of ourselves so that another aspect may be born. |
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The eight Sabbats of the witch’s year mark the turning of this wheel, observing and celebrating the Earth’s seasons. In modern society, nature’s journey through its cycle can now go almost unnoticed, as many people live in cities, surrounded by concrete, we import food in from other hotter climes when we ourselves cannot produce it and it can be easy to feel disconnected from the world around us because of this.
The eight festivals that traditionally mark the turning points within the year are:
Samhain 31st October. This is better known as Hallowe’en, or the eve before All Saints Day on the 1st of November. Samhain translates as “summer’s end” and is the Celtic New Year. A time for reflection on what has come to pass for us over the last year, and for honouring our ancestors and all those who have gone before us.
Yule 22nd December, the midwinter Solstice, the shortest day and the longest night of the year. A celebration of the rebirth of the Sun, whose power begins to increase again after the solstice.
Imbolc 2nd February. The festival of light also known as Bride’s Day, associated with the Goddess Brigit, Goddess of Fire, who brings the warmth of the sun back to the lands as the first shoots of spring start to appear.
Ostara -21st March. The Spring Equinox, when the hours of light and dark are equal once more. A time of action, movement and new beginnings, when all forms of life are awakened fully by the energy of spring.
Beltane 30th April. Heralding the beginning of summer, a festival of fertility and fire. The return of vitality, passion, hope and creativity.
Midsummer 22nd June, the shortest night and the longest day. When the powers of nature are at their highest, the perfect time for magic of all kinds.
Lughnasadh (or Lammas) 31st July, harvest time. The time to reap the fruits of our labour, and also to celebrate transformation. The transformation of the grain into bread is representative of the changes we have achieved or wish to achieve for ourselves through our own hard work.
Mabon 21st September, Autumn Equinox when night and day are equal again. The commencement of Autumn, a time for contemplation now that the hard work of the harvest has been completed and it is time to reflect on past achievements, and plans for the coming year.
Notice that four of the festival are connected to the solstices and equinoxes, the astronomical beginnings of the seasons. The other four festivals are connected with the agricultural cycle and the cycle of the land.
The story of the wheel of the year is the story of the Goddess and the God, her lover, and how their relationship unfolds through the seasons of the year.
At Yule the Goddess gives birth to a son, the God. This festival marks the shortest day and longest night, and since the God is also the Sun, this is the point of the year when the Sun is reborn again as well. The Goddess rests after her delivery through the winter as the Sun grows in strength.
Imbolc marks the recovery of the Goddess after giving birth, the lengthening periods of light awaken her. The God’s power is felt in the lengthening days and warmth from the Goddess fertilises the Earth causing seeds to germinate and sprout.
Ostara marks the first day of true spring, when the Goddess carpets the Earth with fertility, and awakens fully from her slumber as the God grows into maturity.
Beltane marks the emergence of the young God into manhood. He desires the Goddess and they fall in love and unite amongst the flowers and meadows. The Goddess becomes pregnant.
Midsummer is when nature’s powers are at their highest point. The Earth is awash with the fertility of the God and Goddess.
At Lughnasadh, the time of the first harvest, when the plants of spring start to wither and drop their fruit, so too does the strength of the God start to fade, and the nights grow longer. The Goddess watches in sorrow as she realises that the God is dying but yet he still lives on inside her as her child.
At Mabon the harvest is completed, when once again day and night are equal, as the God prepares to leave his physical body and move towards renewal and rebirth, as the Goddess’ pregnancy advances.
At Samhain we bid farewell to the God with the death of the sun, although we know that he is to be reborn again. This is a time of reflection and withdrawal, to consider the past year, to honour all that has passed. On this night especially the veil between the two worlds is at its thinnest, so it is a time for honouring our ancestors and those spirits who reside in other planes.
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