These are wheels of the year, they show each Pagan Sabbat that we celebrate. The description below the pictures are from the book 'A Year of Ritual- Sabbats & Esbats for Solitaries & Covens' by Sandra Kynes.
From Imbolg to Litha, it is the time of the big sun, and from Lughnasadh to Yule, it is the time of the little sun.
Yule, December 21 (Winter Solstice): Marks the longest night of the year, the return of the light, and the (re)birth of the God.
The celebration of Yule is deeply rooted in the cycle of the year and stems from the very ancient practice of honoring the return of the sun after the longest night of the year. A time of transformation, Yule symbolizes the rebirth of the God and the virgin Goddess. The return of the sun/son brings hope and the promise of ongoing life, the coming warmth, and the reawakening of the earth. While the Celts had established Samhain as the beginning of the new year, tenth-century Nordic Pagans moved the new year to Yule to coincide with the solar year.
If the December full moon occurs before the winter solstice, it is traditionally called the Oak Moon. With its roots deep in Mother Earth and its topmost branches high above the ground, the oak was symbolic of the living in both the material and spirit worlds. Considered sacred by the Druids, trees figure largely in the Yuletide season. Yule marked the succession from the Holly King (king of the waning year) to the Oak King (king of the waxing year). Holly symbolized death; oak symbolized rebirth.
The use of mistletoe can be traced back to the Druids and Gaul who gathered it from the highest branches of oak trees. Mistletoe is also called "the golden bough" and is considered powerfully magic, especially for fertility. At Yule its white berries are plentiful and symbolize the sacred seed of the God who embodies the spirit of vegetation and the divine spark of life.
At this time of the year holly is bright and vital, promising ongoing life. Like holly, evergreen trees were considered sacred because they didn't seem to die each year, and so the represent the eternal aspect of the Goddess. The Great Mother Goddess/ Mother Earth remains constant while the God dies and is reborn each year; endings become beginnings.
With all the sacred trees, holly, and mistletoe brought into the home, it's no accident that Yule is a magical time of year.
Imbolg, February 2 (Midwinter): The time of quickening. Halfway between Yule and Ostara, the growing light is definitely noticeable. The baby God is growing and the Goddess is once again a maiden.
It is at Imbolg/Midwinter when we are halfway between winter solstice and spring equinox that the days become noticeably longer. While winter is not yet over, the promise of spring becomes palatable as receding snow begins to reveal greening grass. Traditionally to celebrate the strengthening sunlight, numerous bonfires and candles were lit. As Christians adopted Pagan practices, Imbolg evolved into Candlemas.
The word Imbolg (also spelled Imbolc) is derived from an ancient word (possibly Gaelic or Anglo-Saxon) meaning "ewe's milk". In the British Isles this is the time of the lambing season, another promising sign that spring is on the way.
The powerful fire goddess Brigid presides over Imbolg. Her many aspects are called into play at the sabbat. In addition to fire, she is the goddess of holy wells and springs, crossroads (divination), and is a midwife (transformer). As midwife, she helps to "birth" the new year/growing light. She also helps us divine the path we need to follow for self-transformation.
Imbolg is a time of purification clearing out old things from our lives. As the world is beginning to waken from the winter's slumber, it is time to shed the past and move forward with hope.
Ostara, March 21 (Spring Equinox): This is a time of balance when light and dark, male and female energies are equal. This is the time of courtship between the Maiden and young Lord.
Ostara is the Latin name for the Saxon spring goddess, Eostre. Her counterpart in ancient Greece was Eos, also called Aurora. The vernal equinox is a time of balance when day and night are equal. It is a day to celebrate both the earth and sun. Our ancestors included the symbolic sexual union of Goddess and God in their rituals and honored the balance of all things: female and male, spiritual and physical. In Celtic Cornwall and Wlaes, Ostara was called Lady Day and celebrated the return of the Goddess after her winter hibernation.
In the maiden-mother-crone cycle of the Goddess and the seasons, the maiden phase is now unfolding as the earth renews herself. Signs of reawakening life can be seen everywhere as snowdrops and crocuses emerge and trees come to bud. This season brings freshness into our lives and new perspectives as we shed heavy winter clothes and feel the warmth of the sun on our bodies.
One of the most well-known stories of the Maiden Goddess is that of Demeter and her daughter Persephone (also called Kore). Persephone felt that it was her calling to go to the underworld to comfort and guide the spirits of the dead to their rest. Even though Demeter knew her daughter would return, she put life on hold and waited. During this time, grain and other plants didn't grow and the weather was cold. When Persephone returned bringing and love for her mother, the entire earth came alive again. Later (ancient Greek) versions of this story added violence with Persephone being kidnapped to the underworld by Hades and Zeus bargaining with Demeter to bring the plants back to life.Happily, this gentler version is gaining popularity.
Eggs, which symbolized sacred life to our ancestors, were decorated to honor the Goddess and given as gifts. In the Middle Ages decorated eggs were used as Easter tithes to parish priests. Present-day Wiccans and Pagans decorate eggs with symbols such as circles and spirals, the sun, and the Tree of Life.
Beltane, May 1: Fertility in the "lusty month of May." This marks the sexual union of the Goddess and God. It is a time to feel the vitality of life.
Beltane falls directly opposite Samhain on the Wheel of the Year. Both sabbats mark points in time when the veil between the worlds is particularly thin.
The traditional bonfire on May Eve was started from a bundle of wood that came from nine types of trees. The bundle was wrapped in ribbons and adorned with flowers. A small smoldering piece of the fire was carried to each person's home to ensure summer blessings.
The most widespread and enduring of Beltane rituals is the dance around the maypole on May 1. The tree for the pole was usually a type of fir with the top branches intact. In some parts of Europe the branches were replaced by a Christian cross. Just the mention of the world maypole conjures up images of customed dancers weaving a spiral dance while winding red and white ribbons down the pole, raising energy for (pro)creation. Beltane is a celebration of the union of the Goddess and God, fertility, new life, and resurrection. At this time of the year the Goddess's mother aspect is in youthful bloom. The phallic symbol of the pole represents the Green Man.
May is strongly associated with other worlds. Just as the veil between the worlds is thin at Samhain, so it is Beltane and the unseen can be seen. The faery folk are particularly active during this month. Watch for faery rings of toadstools or flowers, and leave an offering in the woods to make friends with them.
May is also a good time to leave offerings at wells and springs. During this time the healing powers of water from sacred wells is amplified. The water of life is especially important at this time of year when crops are just beginning to grow. In ancient Rome, coins and other offerings were left at wells and pools, and the tradition continues unabated year round at the Trevi fountain, which originally honored the Roman goddess Trivia.
Litha, June 21: The Goddess becomes mother. This is a turning point for the God as his light begins to wane. We celebrate long days and warm weather.
Summer solstice falls midway between the two equinoxes. The ancient Celtic year consisted of two primary seasons with summer (big sun) beginning at Beltane and winter (little sun) beginning at Samhain. Summer solstice is also referred to as Litha from the Anglo-Saxon phrase Aerra Litha, which meant "before midsummer." Themes for the passage of the year are fertility and fire.
In the Dianic tradition, this is a celebration of the Goddess's power of fire. Hestia, Vesta, Pele, Artemis, and Brigid are specifically honored. The Great Goddess is in her full mother aspect. She is the full moon of summer. It is a time of year when everything is ripening. This aspect is synonymous with adulthood and knowledge, as well as developing the body, mind, and spirit in balance. Litha celebrates the Sun King and Queen of Summer. For the Sun King (known as Lugh and Beli Mawr to the Celts) this is more or less a wake because as the Wheel of the Year makes this turn, he begins his decline into darkness.
Like many celebrations throughout the year, bonfires were an important part of the revelry. In the farming communities of Europe, ashes from the solstice bonfire were sprinkled over the fields to promote fertility of the land. It was also a time when our ancestors would seek the Goddess's blessings and protection for the animals on which their livelihoods depended.
As late as the eighteenth century in England, bonfires would be lit on all hilltops around the countryside. Like other sabbats, Litha is a time for divination, and the embers from the bonfire are used to tell fortunes. Oak is generally used to create a long-burning fire. Oak is significant at this time of year because in the Celtic calendar , June (or most of it) is the month of oak. Throughout the year Druids worshiped in sacred oak groves.
Stonehenge is the most famous of monuments that mark the sun's course, but there are many others, some of which are a mix of Pagan and Christian tradition. For example, on the flagstone floor of Chartres Cathedral in France, the midday summer solstice sun casts a circle of light on a diamond-shaped stone.
The herb St.John's wort is in full bloom in June; a sprig of it was placed over the doorway of houses, as well as tossed onto the solstice bonfire to guard against faery mischief. In medieval England, garlands of St.John's wort were woven with marigolds and ivy. These were placed around the necks of farm animals. St.John's wort has been used medicinally for more than 2000 years, and is still a favorite of many herbalists for a range of ailments.
Lughnasadh, August 1: Time of ripeness. Because the Goddess and God provide for us, this is a time to pause and think about the blessings we receive.
Lughnasadh (Lammas in English) is the time of the first harvest, the festival of first fruits when the Sun King fades as the grain is taken from the fields. As god of the harvest and light, Lugh, king of the Tuatha de Danann, was the male counterpart to Brigid. His death, according to Edain McCoy, comes from the "belief that a god must eventually bow down to his goddess through whose benevolence he is reborn".
In Scotland Lughnasadh was called Lunasduinn. In France the first harvest was celebrated in honor of the god Lugus. The Latin word for the town named after him was Lugudunum ("Lug's town"), which eventually became Lyons. Under Roman influence, the celebrations were held in honor of the emperor Augustus whose name was adapted for the month. In August, the hot, humid weather that bathes the land in a war haze imposes a slower pace so that plants and animals (including we humans) have time to complete the annual cycle of growth. Roses may be fading, but lavender and chamomile are in their glory. Thunderstorms bring relief from blazing temperatures and raise energy that further nourishes growing plants. Whenever possible, tap into this energy. Rituals performed during storms can be powerful experiences.
Mabon, September 21: A day of balance. The time of the major harvest and the time to give thanks for abundance. Pagan Thanksgiving. This is the God's last sabbat.
Mabon, the second of the three major harvests, is also the autumn equinox. Like its spring counterpart, this is a day of balance between light and dark, but the bright summer sun will soon be overtaken by darkness as the days grow short. This marks the Sun King's/ Corn King's descent to the underworld, his return to the Goddess's womb from which he will be reborn at Yule.
This time of the year brings a harvest of carrots, parsnips, and beets. Fruits and vegetables that grow on vines are ripening and ready to harvest. It is also time to harvest blackberries (a fruit sacred to Brigid), which are used to make wine in the British Isles where grapes do not always fare well.
If you have a garden (large plot or containers on a small porch), give thoughts to its wonders. Spend time with your garden. Enjoy the plants that provide food and flavorings, or sweeten the air. Your energy nourishes them. Sing or chant as you tend and harvest, and you will be rewarded.
Samhain, October 31: The Goddess is alone as crone. The God has descended to the underworld. We prepare for our journey through the dark of the year.
Samhain is a time to remember ancestors and invite their spirits to come close. Legends of evil spirits on the prowl this night is a misrepresentation of the belief that the barrier between worlds of the seen and unseen is thin. It was the custom in Europe to place candles in the windows to help ancestors find their way. This developed into the jack-o-lantern, which was intended to welcome and guide as well as warn any unwanted spirits to stay away.
In many parts of the British Isles, Samhain marked the beginning of the winter half of the year. Before the dark of the year began, it was important to have the final harvest gathered in. Anything not harvested by October 30 remained in the fields.
It was also customary to celebrate and hold a feast for the dead. (The Christian church later fashioned it into the Feast of All Saints.) The feast could be a complete meal with an extra place set for the dead, or it could be as simple as leaving cakes and wine by the fireside.
The hazelnut is associated with Samhain because it is one of the last things to be harvested. The hazel tree itself was revered by the Celtic peoples as a symbol of wisdom and divination. It is customary to string nine hazelnuts together (hazel is the ninth month in the Celtic tree calendar), tie the ends together, and consecrate it in the smoke of the Samhain fire. The hazelnut ring is then hung in the house as a protective amulet for the coming year.
This is the time when the Goddess is in her full crone aspect. She represents winter and death, which is necessary for the future renewal. The death/regeneration aspect of this time of year is signified by animals going into hibernation. For humans, it's a time for personal study and introspection in preparation for the new cycle that begins at Yule. It is our own symbolic death before renewal.
From Imbolg to Litha, it is the time of the big sun, and from Lughnasadh to Yule, it is the time of the little sun.
Yule, December 21 (Winter Solstice): Marks the longest night of the year, the return of the light, and the (re)birth of the God.
The celebration of Yule is deeply rooted in the cycle of the year and stems from the very ancient practice of honoring the return of the sun after the longest night of the year. A time of transformation, Yule symbolizes the rebirth of the God and the virgin Goddess. The return of the sun/son brings hope and the promise of ongoing life, the coming warmth, and the reawakening of the earth. While the Celts had established Samhain as the beginning of the new year, tenth-century Nordic Pagans moved the new year to Yule to coincide with the solar year.
If the December full moon occurs before the winter solstice, it is traditionally called the Oak Moon. With its roots deep in Mother Earth and its topmost branches high above the ground, the oak was symbolic of the living in both the material and spirit worlds. Considered sacred by the Druids, trees figure largely in the Yuletide season. Yule marked the succession from the Holly King (king of the waning year) to the Oak King (king of the waxing year). Holly symbolized death; oak symbolized rebirth.
The use of mistletoe can be traced back to the Druids and Gaul who gathered it from the highest branches of oak trees. Mistletoe is also called "the golden bough" and is considered powerfully magic, especially for fertility. At Yule its white berries are plentiful and symbolize the sacred seed of the God who embodies the spirit of vegetation and the divine spark of life.
At this time of the year holly is bright and vital, promising ongoing life. Like holly, evergreen trees were considered sacred because they didn't seem to die each year, and so the represent the eternal aspect of the Goddess. The Great Mother Goddess/ Mother Earth remains constant while the God dies and is reborn each year; endings become beginnings.
With all the sacred trees, holly, and mistletoe brought into the home, it's no accident that Yule is a magical time of year.
Imbolg, February 2 (Midwinter): The time of quickening. Halfway between Yule and Ostara, the growing light is definitely noticeable. The baby God is growing and the Goddess is once again a maiden.
It is at Imbolg/Midwinter when we are halfway between winter solstice and spring equinox that the days become noticeably longer. While winter is not yet over, the promise of spring becomes palatable as receding snow begins to reveal greening grass. Traditionally to celebrate the strengthening sunlight, numerous bonfires and candles were lit. As Christians adopted Pagan practices, Imbolg evolved into Candlemas.
The word Imbolg (also spelled Imbolc) is derived from an ancient word (possibly Gaelic or Anglo-Saxon) meaning "ewe's milk". In the British Isles this is the time of the lambing season, another promising sign that spring is on the way.
The powerful fire goddess Brigid presides over Imbolg. Her many aspects are called into play at the sabbat. In addition to fire, she is the goddess of holy wells and springs, crossroads (divination), and is a midwife (transformer). As midwife, she helps to "birth" the new year/growing light. She also helps us divine the path we need to follow for self-transformation.
Imbolg is a time of purification clearing out old things from our lives. As the world is beginning to waken from the winter's slumber, it is time to shed the past and move forward with hope.
Ostara, March 21 (Spring Equinox): This is a time of balance when light and dark, male and female energies are equal. This is the time of courtship between the Maiden and young Lord.
Ostara is the Latin name for the Saxon spring goddess, Eostre. Her counterpart in ancient Greece was Eos, also called Aurora. The vernal equinox is a time of balance when day and night are equal. It is a day to celebrate both the earth and sun. Our ancestors included the symbolic sexual union of Goddess and God in their rituals and honored the balance of all things: female and male, spiritual and physical. In Celtic Cornwall and Wlaes, Ostara was called Lady Day and celebrated the return of the Goddess after her winter hibernation.
In the maiden-mother-crone cycle of the Goddess and the seasons, the maiden phase is now unfolding as the earth renews herself. Signs of reawakening life can be seen everywhere as snowdrops and crocuses emerge and trees come to bud. This season brings freshness into our lives and new perspectives as we shed heavy winter clothes and feel the warmth of the sun on our bodies.
One of the most well-known stories of the Maiden Goddess is that of Demeter and her daughter Persephone (also called Kore). Persephone felt that it was her calling to go to the underworld to comfort and guide the spirits of the dead to their rest. Even though Demeter knew her daughter would return, she put life on hold and waited. During this time, grain and other plants didn't grow and the weather was cold. When Persephone returned bringing and love for her mother, the entire earth came alive again. Later (ancient Greek) versions of this story added violence with Persephone being kidnapped to the underworld by Hades and Zeus bargaining with Demeter to bring the plants back to life.Happily, this gentler version is gaining popularity.
Eggs, which symbolized sacred life to our ancestors, were decorated to honor the Goddess and given as gifts. In the Middle Ages decorated eggs were used as Easter tithes to parish priests. Present-day Wiccans and Pagans decorate eggs with symbols such as circles and spirals, the sun, and the Tree of Life.
Beltane, May 1: Fertility in the "lusty month of May." This marks the sexual union of the Goddess and God. It is a time to feel the vitality of life.
Beltane falls directly opposite Samhain on the Wheel of the Year. Both sabbats mark points in time when the veil between the worlds is particularly thin.
The traditional bonfire on May Eve was started from a bundle of wood that came from nine types of trees. The bundle was wrapped in ribbons and adorned with flowers. A small smoldering piece of the fire was carried to each person's home to ensure summer blessings.
The most widespread and enduring of Beltane rituals is the dance around the maypole on May 1. The tree for the pole was usually a type of fir with the top branches intact. In some parts of Europe the branches were replaced by a Christian cross. Just the mention of the world maypole conjures up images of customed dancers weaving a spiral dance while winding red and white ribbons down the pole, raising energy for (pro)creation. Beltane is a celebration of the union of the Goddess and God, fertility, new life, and resurrection. At this time of the year the Goddess's mother aspect is in youthful bloom. The phallic symbol of the pole represents the Green Man.
May is strongly associated with other worlds. Just as the veil between the worlds is thin at Samhain, so it is Beltane and the unseen can be seen. The faery folk are particularly active during this month. Watch for faery rings of toadstools or flowers, and leave an offering in the woods to make friends with them.
May is also a good time to leave offerings at wells and springs. During this time the healing powers of water from sacred wells is amplified. The water of life is especially important at this time of year when crops are just beginning to grow. In ancient Rome, coins and other offerings were left at wells and pools, and the tradition continues unabated year round at the Trevi fountain, which originally honored the Roman goddess Trivia.
Litha, June 21: The Goddess becomes mother. This is a turning point for the God as his light begins to wane. We celebrate long days and warm weather.
Summer solstice falls midway between the two equinoxes. The ancient Celtic year consisted of two primary seasons with summer (big sun) beginning at Beltane and winter (little sun) beginning at Samhain. Summer solstice is also referred to as Litha from the Anglo-Saxon phrase Aerra Litha, which meant "before midsummer." Themes for the passage of the year are fertility and fire.
In the Dianic tradition, this is a celebration of the Goddess's power of fire. Hestia, Vesta, Pele, Artemis, and Brigid are specifically honored. The Great Goddess is in her full mother aspect. She is the full moon of summer. It is a time of year when everything is ripening. This aspect is synonymous with adulthood and knowledge, as well as developing the body, mind, and spirit in balance. Litha celebrates the Sun King and Queen of Summer. For the Sun King (known as Lugh and Beli Mawr to the Celts) this is more or less a wake because as the Wheel of the Year makes this turn, he begins his decline into darkness.
Like many celebrations throughout the year, bonfires were an important part of the revelry. In the farming communities of Europe, ashes from the solstice bonfire were sprinkled over the fields to promote fertility of the land. It was also a time when our ancestors would seek the Goddess's blessings and protection for the animals on which their livelihoods depended.
As late as the eighteenth century in England, bonfires would be lit on all hilltops around the countryside. Like other sabbats, Litha is a time for divination, and the embers from the bonfire are used to tell fortunes. Oak is generally used to create a long-burning fire. Oak is significant at this time of year because in the Celtic calendar , June (or most of it) is the month of oak. Throughout the year Druids worshiped in sacred oak groves.
Stonehenge is the most famous of monuments that mark the sun's course, but there are many others, some of which are a mix of Pagan and Christian tradition. For example, on the flagstone floor of Chartres Cathedral in France, the midday summer solstice sun casts a circle of light on a diamond-shaped stone.
The herb St.John's wort is in full bloom in June; a sprig of it was placed over the doorway of houses, as well as tossed onto the solstice bonfire to guard against faery mischief. In medieval England, garlands of St.John's wort were woven with marigolds and ivy. These were placed around the necks of farm animals. St.John's wort has been used medicinally for more than 2000 years, and is still a favorite of many herbalists for a range of ailments.
Lughnasadh, August 1: Time of ripeness. Because the Goddess and God provide for us, this is a time to pause and think about the blessings we receive.
Lughnasadh (Lammas in English) is the time of the first harvest, the festival of first fruits when the Sun King fades as the grain is taken from the fields. As god of the harvest and light, Lugh, king of the Tuatha de Danann, was the male counterpart to Brigid. His death, according to Edain McCoy, comes from the "belief that a god must eventually bow down to his goddess through whose benevolence he is reborn".
In Scotland Lughnasadh was called Lunasduinn. In France the first harvest was celebrated in honor of the god Lugus. The Latin word for the town named after him was Lugudunum ("Lug's town"), which eventually became Lyons. Under Roman influence, the celebrations were held in honor of the emperor Augustus whose name was adapted for the month. In August, the hot, humid weather that bathes the land in a war haze imposes a slower pace so that plants and animals (including we humans) have time to complete the annual cycle of growth. Roses may be fading, but lavender and chamomile are in their glory. Thunderstorms bring relief from blazing temperatures and raise energy that further nourishes growing plants. Whenever possible, tap into this energy. Rituals performed during storms can be powerful experiences.
Mabon, September 21: A day of balance. The time of the major harvest and the time to give thanks for abundance. Pagan Thanksgiving. This is the God's last sabbat.
Mabon, the second of the three major harvests, is also the autumn equinox. Like its spring counterpart, this is a day of balance between light and dark, but the bright summer sun will soon be overtaken by darkness as the days grow short. This marks the Sun King's/ Corn King's descent to the underworld, his return to the Goddess's womb from which he will be reborn at Yule.
This time of the year brings a harvest of carrots, parsnips, and beets. Fruits and vegetables that grow on vines are ripening and ready to harvest. It is also time to harvest blackberries (a fruit sacred to Brigid), which are used to make wine in the British Isles where grapes do not always fare well.
If you have a garden (large plot or containers on a small porch), give thoughts to its wonders. Spend time with your garden. Enjoy the plants that provide food and flavorings, or sweeten the air. Your energy nourishes them. Sing or chant as you tend and harvest, and you will be rewarded.
Samhain, October 31: The Goddess is alone as crone. The God has descended to the underworld. We prepare for our journey through the dark of the year.
Samhain is a time to remember ancestors and invite their spirits to come close. Legends of evil spirits on the prowl this night is a misrepresentation of the belief that the barrier between worlds of the seen and unseen is thin. It was the custom in Europe to place candles in the windows to help ancestors find their way. This developed into the jack-o-lantern, which was intended to welcome and guide as well as warn any unwanted spirits to stay away.
In many parts of the British Isles, Samhain marked the beginning of the winter half of the year. Before the dark of the year began, it was important to have the final harvest gathered in. Anything not harvested by October 30 remained in the fields.
It was also customary to celebrate and hold a feast for the dead. (The Christian church later fashioned it into the Feast of All Saints.) The feast could be a complete meal with an extra place set for the dead, or it could be as simple as leaving cakes and wine by the fireside.
The hazelnut is associated with Samhain because it is one of the last things to be harvested. The hazel tree itself was revered by the Celtic peoples as a symbol of wisdom and divination. It is customary to string nine hazelnuts together (hazel is the ninth month in the Celtic tree calendar), tie the ends together, and consecrate it in the smoke of the Samhain fire. The hazelnut ring is then hung in the house as a protective amulet for the coming year.
This is the time when the Goddess is in her full crone aspect. She represents winter and death, which is necessary for the future renewal. The death/regeneration aspect of this time of year is signified by animals going into hibernation. For humans, it's a time for personal study and introspection in preparation for the new cycle that begins at Yule. It is our own symbolic death before renewal.
