The Wheel of the year is basically a calendar of the 8 festivals called Sabbats celebrated by Wiccan’s and some other pagan paths. The wheel looks like a cartwheel with 8 spokes marking the sections of the year. The wheel is in 2 sections the first is the Quarters know as “the lesser Sabbats” or “quarter days”, these quarters mark the movement of the sun through the year with the vertical spokes marking the solstices and the horizontal spokes marking the equinoxes
The second section represents the cross quarters “cross-quarter days,” “fire festivals,” or “Greater Sabbats”, these are a mix of Gaelic and Germanic festival but basically or from my understanding the cross quarters are the cycles of life and death.
The truth be told the Wiccan Wheel of the Year as been made up and in fact at the very starting of Wicca only the Cross quarters where celebrated online pharmacy without prescription it was the Bricket Wood Coven that added the quarter days basically because the wanted more meeting They did this while Gerald Gardner was away although he did not object to the additions as this brought Wicca closer to Gardner’s Long time friend Ross Nichols’s Neo druidism groups the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids.
Although this Wheel has no historical value in terms of reclaiming the Craft it is a valued addition to Wicca and in other pagan paths.
For me the wheel is a great source of meditation, understanding of life and death, a reminder of the cycles in life and most important reason of them all 8 reasons to party and celebrate the divine source. But the Wheel is more than that the symbology of the circle and it relation to the sun and moon a reminder that the wheel is eternal it has no beginning and no end.
The solar aspect of the wheel relates to the God forms of the Oak and Holly kings, twin gods sharing or battling for control The Oak King will rule the light Half of the year he is born at the winter solstice and begins his rule in spring and dies in autumn to be reborn again at the winter solstice.
Whilst the Holly King rules the dark half of the year he will take control at the death of his twin and will rule until the re-birthed Oak Kings is strong enough to control and then will step down and withdraw.
Although there are version of this story that state that the 2 twin are fighting for the favour of the goddess, I see the Holly King as a wise and caring father figure Protecting and helping his brothers and the earth he is a reminder that The God form is eternal, While the Oak king is a reminder of how fragile life is we are born grow die and are reborn with all that that entails.
The Luna Aspects of the wheel, which relate to the goddess aspect are easier to identify the wheel turns as the moon turns with midwinter being the new moon the vernal equinox the first quarter Midsummer the full moon the autumnal equinox the last quarter and back to the new moon
Now for the eight spokes each of the spokes relate to a different festival in ancient times these festivals where used to mark agricultural events such as planting and harvesting and storing food as well as the solar events of the solstices and equinoxes.
Since different pagan paths and Wiccan groups and individuals have different names and rituals on these date their no correct formula to the festivals in fact the festivals change depending on what hemisphere your in.
If we take a quick look at the festivals and how I see them I will cover them in greater detail in the future.
For me the wheel starts a Samhain (Sowain) the Celtic New Year and the Festival of the dead a time to remember friends family past and present. But it a reminder to me that at the start of any thing you will face hardship and you will need support, it also a reminder that in time passed this would be a harvest your last one for a long while and what you have will have to last if you did have enough to last you through the winter you could die. I celebrate this time by having a feast where guest bring some raw food and a meal is created from the food gathered, silly games are played and everyone has fun customers are often worn.
The Next spoke is Yule the winter solstice this to be is about the rebirth of the god and the potential that is still hidden. Since Christmas is around this time I combine the both I send Yule Cards to friends. I have my own Yule tradition that Mix the Christmas feel for the Children in my life I buy tiny presents from the pound shop wrap them up and hang them from the tree, these are what I call tree presents they are gift from the tree.
The Next is Imbolc this signifies the beginning of spring it a time of new beginnings and the beginning of planting this is about preparing the food for the year to come. I use Imbolc to plan what I am going to do in the coming year. Traditional I would find a daffodil and just meditate on the story of Persephone.
The next is the Vernal Equinox or Ostara for me this is a time for fertility rites and the creation a time of change this is also the time that the Goddess and god are reunited as lovers. This is the time where I would work closely with my partner on intimate rituals to strengthen our love and relationship.
Beltane is next this is a fire festival and has great focus on masculine energy and Sex although there are many May day rituals that are still preformed today the may pole is one of the most know, For me beltaine is a time for sacrifice and surrender it is a time for me to accept what I need to give up to achieve what I planed to achieve at Imbolc. This would be the time when I would choose to walk through the woods charging myself with the potency of the God.
Now we are at Litha or Mid Summer the point where the Goddess is swollen which the fruits of the earth the God are at his Full potential, for me it’s a time to Enjoy and celebrate a day where theirs nothing to do everything is in balance and as it should be. It for me a day where I just enjoy the goddess and god.
Then we have Lammas the first harvest it’s a time when I would go in to the garden and pick my fruits and veg I would normally prepare a meal with what has been gathered and share with friends and family. Sharing your hard work is a wonderful of honouring The God and Goddess.
And the final spoke before returning to the new year is the Autumnal equinox the final harvest so back into the garden for the last harvest and clearing the garden ready for next year again I would share this food with family and friends either as food baskets, or as a meal depending on size of harvest.
Although I have not gone into to much detail of the rituals and correspondences I will do this as in later articles.
Sabbats name
|
Date |
Sun’s position |
| North |
South |
North |
South |
| Samhain, All Hallow’s Eve, Last/Blood Harvest, Ancestor Night, Feast of the Dead, Nos Galan Gaeaf (Welsh) |
31 Oct – 2 Nov (alt 5–10 Nov) |
1 May (alt 4–10 May) |
≈ 15° Scorpio |
≈ 15° Taurus |
| Midwinter, Yule, Cuidle, Alban Arthan, Winter Rite, Mothers Night, Gŵyl Galan Gaeaf (Welsh) |
19–23 Dec (winter solstice) |
19–23 June (winter solstice) |
0° Capricorn |
0° Cancer |
| Candlemas, Imbolc, Oimelc, Brigit, Brigid’s Day, Bride’s Day, Brigantia, Gŵyl y Canhwyllau (Welsh) |
1–2 Feb (alt 2–7 Feb) |
1–2 Aug (alt 3–10 Aug) |
≈ 15° Aquarius |
≈ 15° Leo |
| Vernal Equinox, Ostara, Lady Day, Earrach, Alban Eilir, Festival of Trees, Gŵyl Ganol y Gwanwyn (Welsh) |
19–23 Mar (spring equinox) |
19–23 Sept (spring equinox) |
0° Aries |
0° Libra |
| Beltane, Beltaine, May Day, Gŵyl Galan Mai (Welsh) |
1 May (alt 4–10 May) |
31 Oct – 2 Nov (alt 5–10 Nov) |
≈ 15° Taurus |
≈ 15° Scorpio |
| Midsummer, Litha, Samradh, Alban Hefin, Aerra Litha, Gŵyl Ganol yr Haf (Welsh) |
19–23 June (summer solstice) |
19–23 Dec (summer solstice) |
0° Cancer |
0° Capricorn |
| Lammas, Lughnasadh 1st Harvest, Bread Harvest, Festival of First Fruits, Gŵyl Galan Awst (Welsh) |
1–2 Aug (alt 3–10 Aug) |
1–2 Feb (alt 2–7 Feb) |
≈ 15° Leo |
≈ 15° Aquarius |
| Autumnal Equinox, Mabon, Foghar, Alban Elfed, Harvest Home, 2nd Harvest, Fruit Harvest, Wine Harvest, Gŵyl Ganol yr Hydref (Welsh) |
19–23 Sept (autumn equinox) |
20–23 Mar (autumn equinox) |
0° Libra |
0° Aries |
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Originally posted 2011-01-23 05:39:51. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Jump the balefire. The bonfire, or need-fire, is one of the oldest Beltane traditions. When lighting the fire, use nine sacred woods from the following list: oak, apple, hawthorn, birch, elder, ash, blackthorn, grape vine, mountain ash (rowan), holly, willow, cedar, yew, and hemlock.
