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| The Wheel of the Year |
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| The Pagan year is divided by eight celebrations. These celebrations are known as Sabbats and they relate to the acknowledgement and celebration of agricultural and astronomical events: the cycle of life, death and rebirth. In remembering and celebrating the Sabbats we feel closer and more integrated with nature. A time for reflection, clarifying, reaffirming, unifying and decision making. The Sabbats are Celtic and Nordic in origin having evolved from the seasons and relate to the planting and the harvesting of crops. As such the Sabbats vary from the Northern Hemishphere and the Southren Hemisphere, yet they remain essentially the same. |
| Samhain 31 October (north) 1 May (south) The beginning and the end of the Pagan year. The God descends to the underworld and the Goddess becomes Crone, the Keeper of the Mysteries of Life and Death. The dead are remembered and honoured, and as the veils between the worlds are thinnest thier spirits may be contacted. On the land, any final food storage for winter is done. During now and Yule, the Goddess journeys to the underworld and joind with the Dark God. Many pagans believe that at Samhain a window open between this world and the one beyond the grave. It is a time to best communicate with the spirits of those who have departed this world and a day to honour dead ancestors. Yule (Winter Solstice) December 20-23 (north) June 20-23 (south) The longest Night. Sunrise marks the birth of the waxing year. From now the days grow longer and it is a time of feasting, celebrating and making plans for the coming spring. The Goddess gives birth to the Male Child of Promise and as such the Dark God is reborn as the infant Sun God. A Yule log is burnt and the ashes are kept to be put into ointments and potions for healing as they have life-giving powers. Part of the log is also kept to rekindle next year's Yule log. Imbolc Feburary 2 (north) August 1 (south) The end of darkness and a time of growth, the land is awakening and the Goddess has recommenced her menses and her fertility is recognised as the young God grows in strength. It is a time of purification, let go of what doesn't work anymore and get ready for new directions in life. Ostara (Spring Equinox) March 20-23 (north) September 20-23 (south) The Goddess as Maiden instructs the Young God of his burgeoning powers as new life springs from the earth. Again fertility is recognised and celebrated and what was set in motion during Imbolc gains momentum at this time. Beltane May 1 (north) October 31 (south) The friendship between the Madien and the Young God becomes courtship and they join in the Great Rite (sexual union). It's a time of great festivity and celebrtaion of life and fertility - with outdoor feasting and bonfires to light proceedings, the Great Rite is enjoyed by lovers as a sacred part of this festival and many hand-fasting are performed on this day. The land is well and truly ebullient with spring energy. Litha (Summer Solstice) June 20-23 (north) December 20-23 (south) The longest day of the year, when creative powers of the Goddess and God are at their peak. The Goddess is Mother and ripe as the baby conceived on Beltane grows within her, but from this day on the Sun God will weaken as the days grow shorter, and the Waning year commences. Lammas August 1 (north) Feburary 2 (south) On the land the first harvest of grain begins and is turned into life sustaining bread and brew. The Goddess sees with sadness that the strength of the Sun God is fading, but it lives on inside her as her child. The bounty of life is celebrated, with achievements and successful efforts acknowledged. Mabon (Autumn Equinox) September 20-23 (north) March 20-23 (south) Mabon is the second harvest as the rest of the grain is stored for winter. Day and night are equal and the God prepares to leave his physical body and ready his spirit for its descent into the Underworld. The Goddess prepares to farewell him even as she feels him burning inside her. It is a time for introspection. |
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| Sabbat Rituals |