Part Seven

The Wheel of the Year is a cycle beginning and ending on October 31st. It is a series of eight days, or nights, depending on your path, called Sabbats, throughout the year that are considered more magickally powerful than the rest. There are specific rites and rituals for each one, and specific meanings behind them. The rites will be discussed in a later chapter of this series. For now, discussion will focus on each “holiday,” for want of a better term, and the meaning or symbolism behind it. The first one is Samhain, also called Sowyn, and more commonly called Halloween. It is a time of death, in a metaphorical sense, with a promise of rebirth. It is also a time when the veil between worlds is thinnest, when we can peer into the other side. This would be a time to perform any divination or necromantic rites, as the astral plane is closest to this plane on this particular day. The next one is Yule, which is around December 20th. It represents the coming of solar light, and is the longest night of the year. This is a time of growing energies, and a celebration of the birth of the God to the Goddess. It is also a time of symbolic rebirth or renewal. Yule rites and rituals usually involve a renewal of goals or making life changing alterations. Following Yule Is Imbolc, or Candlemas, on February 2. On this day, spring is six weeks away, and the slumbering Earth is starting to get ready to awaken. The last sheaf of wheat from the fall harvest was kept and often made into what was known as a corn dolly, harvest mother, or sheaf mother. This is laid in a bed known as a Bride’s bed, with a priapic or phallus-shaped wand laid across it to form an X. Next we have Ostara, or Eostara, or spring festival. This falls on about March 21 or 22. A reawakening of the world is in order, with flowers blooming, and hibernating animals wakeup. It’s also mating season for most animals, so fertility rites would be especially powerful during this time. Following is Beltane, also spelled Bealltuinn or Bealtaine. Falling on either April 30 or May 1, this day is the opposite, both chronologically and symbolically, of Samhain. It is the second most important day of the Wiccan year, marking the end of winter and the beginning of new life. It also features the unrecognized ritual of the maypole, which symbolizes the wrapping of the God’s member in preparation to being received by the Goddess. Next we have Litha, or Midsummer’s Eve, on or around June 21 or 22. This is actually the first day of summer, and also has the shortest night of the year, as well as the longest day of the year. As with Samhain, the veil between worlds is at its thinnest during the night of this holiday. This is a day of giving thanks for all the things the sun has given us, and to celebrate its dwindling dominance, especially for those on a nocturnal path. It represents a wedding of the heavens and the earth, as the sun’s full power is poured into growing crops. Then there’s Lughnasadh, which falls on about July 31 or Aug 1 or 2. This is the first of the harvest thanksgiving holidays. The altar would traditionally be covered and surrounded by baked loaves of bread made from the first grain harvested, food from the fields, and fish from the stream. After the rites and rituals, athletic competitions and marriage fairs were held. This is also an excellent time for prosperity rituals or embarking on new endeavors. Mabon is next in the cycle, usually occurring on September 21 or 22. This is a time to rest from the harvest, as this is the final harvest. The days and nights are once again equal, but with night regaining dominance. The prosperity rituals started on Lughnasadh can be culminated today. This is the final holiday in the Wheel of the Year, cycling back to Samhain. There are many days of power in the year, as we have seen, with accompanying rites, rituals, and symbols, which will be discussed elsewhere. Enjoy these days, as they are sacred. Namaste.