In the vastness of our Universe, seemingly unknowable and often hostile, our human voices sometimes seem small and insignificant. Our Spirits cry for something more, some connection which will prove that we matter, that we exist. We can assure you that the Universe and particularly our own planet, Mother Earth (Gaia), is knowable to a great extent and Not hostile to those willing to listen honestly to Her song.

Our inseparable relationship to Mother Earth is nowhere more beautifully represented than in the Wheel Of The Year. The Wheel Of The Year is an ancient and sacred ritual calendar marking the EarthØs changing seasons and the SunØs never-ending journey across the sky. This extraordinary calendar was begun in Pre-Christian, Proto-Celtic times and is observed today in its modern form. Each event marks a significant moment of change in the Earth and is rooted in one of the eight Lunar and Solar festivals of the ancient Celts.

The calendar is circular and includes as polar opposites on the eternal Wheel the following celebrations (holidays); Samhain (pronounced sow-en) and Beltane, Imbolc and Lughnasadh (pronounced loo-na-sa), the Summer and Winter Solstices, and the Spring and Autumnal Equinoxes.

Each celebration brings joy and good times along with deeply felt spiritual, cultural, and ecological meaning. Celebrated in three-day cycles, festivities carry on for three days encompassing the Eve of, Day of, and Day After celebrations.

By observing the Wheel of the Year, we are learning to respond and act toward the Earth, for She is always responding and acting toward us. She gives us clean or foul air to breathe, clear or poisoned water to drink, and rich or poor soil to till. The folly of our human family has been in thinking we could grow old without Her counsel.

We should be encouraged to participate in the Wheel of the Year, and to believe in ourselves and in the restorative powers that dwell within every human being. Perhaps it is, and always has been the time to speculate and act upon the infinite connectedness of all things, the vision of universality. Perhaps we must consider and nurture the radiant bloom of wisdom within each of us, forever passing and forever present. By these considerations, we will realize now that the powerful magic we possess is the answer to the ultimate healing of Mother Earth.

Femwizard

SAMHAIN (October 31st)

Samhain is no doubt the most important, though least understood, of the ancient Celtic festivals. Unlike its modern counterparts of Halloween or All Hollow’s Eve, the holiday of Samhain has nothing to do with evil practices or horrific, ghoulish costumes.

Samhain is a holiday infused with positive energy and filled with hope for our planetØs future. To the ancients, this great holiday divided the year into two seasons, Winter and Summer. Samhain is the day in which the Celtic New Year and Winter begin together, so it is a time for both beginnings and endings. On this day the veil between the worlds of Spirit and matter is lifted. Samhain is a time of change and a time to look to the future. This is a time to celebrate and perform rituals to keep anything negative from the past-evil, harm, corruption and greed-out of the future.

Samhain is a mystical and enchanted night, when magic can be done to benefit our personal lives as well as our planet. The rituals we choose keep us steadfast in our understanding that human life parallels the changing of the seasons--that through death in Winter we pass on to new life in Spring. We honor the dead-those who came before us and who may have suffered for our benefit-bet we also recognize the incredible change in the Earth from Summer to Winter.

It is generally celebrated on October 31st, but some traditions prefer November 1st. It is one of the two "spirit-nights" each year, the other being Beltane. It is a magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily suspended, and the Thin Veil between the worlds is lifted. Communicating with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time, for they journey through this world on their way to the Summerlands. It is a time to study the Dark Mysteries and honor the Dark Mother and the Dark Father, symbolized by the Crone and her aged Consort.

Originally the "Feast of the Dead" was celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the "wandering dead". Today a lot of practitioners still carry out that tradition. Single candles were lit and left in a window to help guide the spirits of ancestors and loved ones home. Extra chairs were set to the table and around the hearth for the unseen guest. Apples were buried along roadsides and paths for spirits who were lost or had no descendants to provide for them. Turnips were hollowed out and carved to look like protective spirits, for this was a night of magic and chaos. The Wee Folke became very active, pulling pranks on unsuspecting humans. Traveling after dark was was not advised. People dressed in white (like ghosts), wore disguises made of straw, or dressed as the opposite gender in order to fool the Nature spirits.

This was the time that the cattle and other livestock were slaughtered for eating in the ensuing winter months. Any crops still in the field on Samhain were considered taboo, and left as offerings to the Nature spirits. Bonfires were built, (originally called bone-fires, for after feasting, the bones were thrown in the fire as offerings for healthy and plentiful livestock in the New Year) and stones were marked with peoples names. Then they were thrown into the fire, to be retrieved in the morning. The condition of the retrieved stone foretold of that person's fortune in the coming year. Hearth fires were also lit from the village bonfire to ensure unity, and the ashes were spread over the harvested fields to protect and bless the land.

Various other names for this Greater Sabbat are Third Harvest, Samana, Day of the Dead, Old Hallowmas (Scottish/Celtic), Vigil of Saman, Shadowfest (Strega), and Samhuinn. Also known as All Hallow's Eve, (that day actually falls on November 7th), and Martinmas (that is celebrated November 11th), Samhain is now generally considered the Witch's New Year.

Symbolism of Samhain:
Third Harvest, the Dark Mysteries, Rebirth through Death.
Symbols of Samhain:
Gourds, Apples, Black Cats, Jack-O-Lanterns, Besoms.
Herbs of Samhain:
Mugwort, Allspice, Broom, Catnip, Deadly Nightshade, Mandrake, Oak leaves, Sage and Straw.
Foods of Samhain:
Turnips, Apples, Gourds, Nuts, Mulled Wines, Beef, Pork, Poultry.
Incense of Samhain:
Heliotrope, Mint, Nutmeg.
Colors of Samhain:
Black, Orange, White, Silver, Gold.
Stones of Samhain:
All Black Stones, preferably jet or obsidian.

Moon Angel

YULE-WINTER SOLSTICE (December 20-23)

Winter Solstice marks a point of dramatic change on Earth. This is simultaneously a time of balance and change. In its journey across the sky, the Sun, on Yule, is at its most southeastern point over the Tropic of Capricorn in the northern hemisphere and has no apparent northward or southward motion. Winter Solstice marks the longest night and shortest day of the year. From this point on, the Sun rises earlier and earlier, each time adding a little more of His light and warmth to the cold and silent days of Winter. On Yule we honor the Goddess, Mother Earth (Gaia) for giving birth to the Sun once more.

The Yule rituals are warmly memorable and enriching. They help reconnect us to the spiritual and life-affirming essence of the holiday season. We are entering into a partnership of empowerment that breathes with the wind like fire, an odyssey to the heights of spiritual joy and wonder. We gather on Yule to renew, celebrate, and see through innocent eyes.

Witches Cauldron

IMBOLC (February 1st)

There is a youngness and Springtime glory about the festival of Imbolc, which first appears to be out of step with February’s stark and bitter Winter face. In the silence of February mornings, we will wake to rime-edged window panes and the air so pure and thin it cuts like crystal through the wind. We are reminded during this time of year that the icy frost lies just beyond the door, and so we make ourselves content with home and familiar things-within.

The Goddess continues to thrive in her Crone phase in February, but at Imbolc, we honor the Celtic Triple Goddess Brid (Brigid, Brigit, or Bride) (pronounced breed) in her maiden aspect, and as Protector and preserver of All memory and knowledge.

At every point on the Wheel of the Year, EarthØs virginity in effect renews itself. At each festival we celebrate this renewal as the bringing forth of Light from the Sun. At Imbolc, which is called the Festival of Lights, we are nurtured by our home fires which continue to burn through the final days and nights of Winter.

Rainbow Prayer

SPRING EQUINOX ( March 21st)

As we experience Spring Equinox, the dramatic moment each year when night and day are equal length everywhere on the Planet, we are reminded of the newness of our human family and of the ancient relationship between Earth, Sun, Moon and Sky. The turning of the Wheel of the Year is timeless and never-ending.

Spring Equinox is an enchanted borderland time outside of time, where a magical seam joins dark with light. From this moment on, the Sun God begins His seminal journey across the sky, His light and warmth overtaking the darkness of Winter until His power peaks at Summer Solstice in June.

The influence of Spring Equinox upon the human experience is generous, dramatic, and profound. At last we have arrived at the point on the Wheel when the Maiden Goddess becomes Mother once more, giving birth to the power of the Sun. As the melting snow and ice gives way to the green petals and delicate blooms of early Springtime flowers, we, too, feel a sense of renewal and joy. In return we honor Her by giving thanks and praise to the Goddess Ostera and the Faery Queen Blodeuwedd (pronounced blod-00-eeth).

Lemuria

BELTANE (May 1st)

The word Beltane simply means "Fire of Bel" Bel is the ‘bright or shining one.’ The Romans called him Belanos, but his roots can also be linked to Baal from Asia, which means "god" In modern Irish, Beltane means May. In his honor, on the eve of May 1st, the ancients Celts set two large fires or pyres using none of the sacred woods.

On Beltane, we celebrate the great fruitfulness of the Earth, the union between the Great Mother and her young Horned God. Their coupling brings fresh new life on Earth, which we each experience in the exuberance of Spring.

Beltane is the season to "go-a-maying" May, the fifth month in numerology, is a month of sensuality and sexual revitalization. Our five senses are particularly sharp in May. Love is in the air.

Beltane~Rowan Witch Day~Kalends of May~May Day~Cetsahmain
April Showers Bring May Flowers! Leave a bouquet of May flowers at a friend or loved ones door today!
May gets its name from the Roman Goddess Maia, who embodies the earth's renewal during spring. Next to New Year's Eve, May Day (Beltane) was among the most popular holidays in the old world, marking the time when the sun's warmth and nature's fertility began appearing in the land. Later, well over 100 nations chose to celebrate Labor Day on May 1, giving everyone a much-needed rest from winter's tasks.

For the purpose of your magical escapades, the theme is definitely blossoming and liveliness. Use as many flower parts as possible in spells and rituals, and go outside frequently to get closer to nature. Energies emphasized by this month include creativity, inventiveness, fertility, health, and metaphysically "spring cleaning" any area of your life or sacred space.
Love Your Mother!

The marsh marigold is considered of great use in divination, and is called "the shrub of Beltane." Garlands are made of it for the cattle and the door-posts to keep off the fairy power. Milk also is poured on the threshold, though none would be given away; nor fire, nor salt--these three things being sacred.
2 cups milk
1 cup unsprayed marigold petals
1/4 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. sugar
1 to 2 inch piece of vanilla bean
3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1/8 tsp. allspice
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. rose water
whipped cream
Using a clean mortar and pestle reserved for cooking purposes, pound marigold petals. Or, crush with a spoon. Mix the salt, sugar and spices together. Scald milk with the marigolds and the vanilla bean. Remove the vanilla bean and add the slightly beaten yolks and dry ingredients. Cook on low heat. When the mixture coats a spoon, add rose water and cool.
Top with whipped cream, garnish with fresh marigold petals.
(Source ~ Wicca: A Guide For The Solitary Practioner, by Scott Cunningham)

Artemis

SUMMER SOLSTICE-MIDSUMMER ( June 21st)

Poised in perfect symmetry, the Sun at Midsummer reaches that moment in His journey across the sky when His power peaks and in one magical instant begins to wane. Of course, to many of us, the weakening of the Sun’s fiery strength is barely discernible in the hot, dry month of June, but to the ancient Celts, in tune as they were with the rhythms of nature, the Sun’s change was a significant event.

Midsummer shares many of the same bawdy, sensuous, carefree qualities of Beltane. Amid MidsummerØs love ™madness,Ó we ultimately can bring into balance the activities of the Faery world with our own. ItØs Midsummer! We are human and we are in Love! We put our trust in nature and the Wheel of the Year, knowing that as we pass through this enchanted time, all things aright themselves anew.

Midsummer is in the enchanted realm of the Goddess Arianrhod. Arianrhod means ™silver wheel,Ó and her palace, known as Caer Arianrhod, is the Aurora Borealis. She is the Goddess of Reincarnation.

Cave Dream Art by Nancy Bright

LUGHNASADH (July 31st orAugust 1st)

Lughnasadh (pronounced loo-na-sa) marks the beginning of the grain harvest, the first harvest of the Wheel of the Year. The importance of grain to life is evident in virtually every deity structure in every religion on Earth. The entire preparation of grain from seed to harvest parallels the life-in-death and death-in-life aspects of the Great Goddess, Mother Earth, Gaia.

The Triple Goddess Macha in her warrior aspect often presides over the Lughnasadh festival. She is concerned with any kind of conflict and its resolution. Macha usually shapeshifts into a crow-a common appearance on both the battlefield and in the cornfields of Summer.

Lughnasadh marks the last heyday of the Sun God. Beneath the Barley Moon and Summer stars, we, too, enjoy the expiring passions of the season. It is a time when the symbolic aspects of the life-sustaining elements of grain spill over into every part of life.

Lughnasadh -The eventual passing of the Sun God brings our
seeds to fruition yet they can not be harvested yet. We sacrifice the light
to bring new life. Wheat, grain and a cornbread God figure decorate our
altars as the Mother now becomes the Reaper.Colors: Gray, green, gold, yellow
Symbols: All grains, breads, threshing tools, athame
Date: Occurs 1/4 of a year after Beltaine. True astrological point is 15
degrees Leo, but tradition has set August 1st as the day it is typically
celebrated. Since the Ancients Celts passed their days from sundown to
sundown, the celebration would usually begin the night before on July 31st.

The turning of the wheel now brings us to Lughnasadh, also
known by its medieval Christian name of Lammas, named in honor of the Celtic
god Lugh, a name which means “light” or “shining.” Although somewhat
confusing, we are not celebrating the death of Lugh (the God of light does
not mythically die until the autumn equinox), but rather the funeral games
that Lugh hosted to commemorate the death of his foster mother, Taillte. In
Ireland, Lugnasadh is often called the "Tailltean Games". A common feature
of the games were the "Tailltean marriages", rather informal and lasting
only a year and a day or until next Lammas, at which time the couple would
decide to continue the arrangement or stand back to back and walk away,
thereby dissolving the marriage. The parish priest was not bothered to
perform these trial marriages, they were usually performed by a poet, bard,
priest or priestess of the Old Religion, or shanachie, and were very common
into the 1500's. It is from this custom that our present-day Handfastings
must come.
According to one of his many legends, Lugh was the last great leader of the
Tuatha de Dannan. In one of the Tuatha’s victories, Lugh spared the life of
Bres, a defeated enemy captain, in exchange for advice on ploughing, sowing,
and reaping. He was seen as a multi-talented deity, being capable and quite
good at all he undertook. The myths of Lugh include the prevalence of his
many skills and the wedding of these skills to the potential or unrealized
abundance of the land. According to the writing of Caesar, he was also
regarded as the patron of all the arts, traveling, and influence in money
and commerce. To the Romans, Lugh was seen as a counterpart to Mercury. Lugh
is the son of Arianrhod, who is associated with sacred kingship and
Three-fold Death. His wife’s name is Blodeuwedd, also known as the Flower
Maiden.

Lughnasadh is the first of the three harvest Sabbats, Mabon and Samhain
being the other two, which celebrates the ripening grains and corn. With the
harvest so prevalent, Pagans see the theme of the sacrificed god motif
emerge. His death is necessary for rebirth of the land to take place. Called
by many names, “Green Man,” “Wicker Man,” “Corn Man” or just the “Spirit of
Vegetation,” his essence begins to merge with the harvested crops, a
sacrifice that will be realized with the new growth in the spring.
In old times, it was the duty of the King to sacrifice himself for the land,
an idea that has been seen in the many legends of cultures both new and old,
throughout recorded history. The gathering of the first crops of the year is
also used to symbolize the success and extent of the power raised from the
Beltane rites when the Sacred Marriage of the Lord and Lady took place. The
theme of sexuality and reproduction is carried over into Lughnasadh as well
to ensure the remainder of a good harvest.

This sabbat is also known as the celebration of bread. As bread was one of
the main staples of our ancestors, the ripening of the grain was the cause
for great celebration. The reaping, threshing and preparation of these
breads spawned great ritual and ceremony to ensure bounty for the following
year.

This time of the year finds us with fields to harvest, the first of a
bountiful crop that will hold us through the winter months. Even though the
hottest days of summer are upon us, we have but to observe to see that fall
is just around the corner. Shadows are growing longer as the days slowly
become shorter. Squirrels are busily gathering food for the coming winter.
It is a time to begin canning produce from the garden, a time to save and
preserve.

Some ideas for celebration include:
Sacrifice bad habits and unwanted things from your life by throwing symbols
of them into the sabbat fire.

Bake a loaf of bread in the shape of a man and sacrifice him in your ritual.
Make him a part of your feast but save a piece to offer the gods.

Take time to actually harvest fruits from your garden with your family. If you don’t have a garden, visit one of the pick-your-own farms in your area.Include bilberries or blueberries in your feast; these were a traditional fruit, whose abundance was seen as an indicator of the harvest to come.

Gather the tools of your trade and bless them in order to bring a richer harvest next year. Share your harvest with others who are less fortunate.

Decorate with sickles, scythes, fresh vegetables & fruits, grains, berries,
corn dollies, bread.

Colors are orange, gold, yellow, red and bronze.

And so the wheel turns.....

Sienna With Dove

MABON-AUTUMNAL EQUINOX (September 22nd)

From the moment of the September Equinox, the Sun’s strength diminishes, until the moment of Winter Solstice in December, when the Sun grows stronger and the days once again become longer than the nights. This dramatic moment of the Equinox we can celebrate cosmic balance as well as change.

Mabon rituals put us in touch with the transformational elements of life here on Earth. This is a bittersweet stop on the ever-turning Wheel of the Year. The September Equinox is a beautiful, natural phenomenon worthy of our recognition and honor. On this particular holiday, we cry and we laugh. The Son of Light is changing and the Goddess Mother laments. This is a time that divine inspiration will give sacred life and meaning to the many challenges and changes we face, and to the light and shadows around us.

WICCA

Wicca is not a cult. A cult presupposes blind faith in a central figure whose every word is regarded as ultimate truth, and the utter conviction that no other way or philosophy will lead to this truth. You would be very hard pressed to find a Wiccan anywhere who would blindly follow anyone else. Wiccans are historically very independent people who seek truth from within through rituals, meditation, magic, study and communion with nature. Wiccans respect the right of everyone to worship in their own way. We do not feel that Wicca is the only way -- only that it is our way.
Wicca is not synonymous with Satan worship. The very concept of a supreme evil spirit is alien to Wicca. In fact, most Wiccans do not even believe in Satan. The devil is a Judeo-Christian construct and as such, it has nothing to do with Wicca. The notion that witches worship Satan was propounded by the Roman Catholic Church as it made its way across Europe, in an effort to suppress the native earth-based religions prevalent at the time. They succeeded to the extent that they drove the practitioners of these religions underground where much of their knowledge and traditions were lost. Through the work of the Golden Dawn, as well as anthropological and archeological research, many of these traditions have been rediscovered and incorporated into Neo-Paganism, an umbrella term for most modern earth-based and shamanistic religions.
Wicca is a positive journey to enlightment through Goddess worship and the mystical art of magick. Unlike many other religions, Wicca does not claim to be the one and only "religion" for everybody, nor does it campain against other beliefs. Wiccans believe that you can be of any "religion" and still be Wiccan and follow the Goddess and God. Wicca is not anti-Christian, Wiccans do not believe in an avenging God, sin or the devil. Wicca encourages free thought, creativity, individuality, personal, spiritual and psychic growth. It is a celebration of the cycles and seasons of the earth and life and believe in living in harmony with all living things.

Books & Music

The Celtic Spirit : Daily Meditations for the Turning Year by Caitlin Matthews

Discover the Living Wisdom of the Ancient Celts
The ancient Celts and their spiritual mediators, the Druids believed in the communion of all living things and sought harmony between nature and the human soul. Now, with this inspiring book of day-by-day mediations, renowned Celtic scholar Caitlín Matthews shows you how to reawaken the power of this age-old spiritual inheritance.
Using poetry, myths, reflections, rituals, and visualizations, Matthews leads you on a yearlong pilgrimage that will help connect the cycles of your soul to the circle of the seasons. From the winter months of Samhain the summer months of Beltant, from mediations on the gifts and blessings of life to the insights and promises of the soul, she enables you to complete your own sacred circuit of the turning year.
Brimming with the legends and lore of Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Britain, The Celtic Spirit is a brilliant introduction to the sacred wisdom of the Celtic path--and a potent resource for daily spiritual renewal.

The Celtic Book of Days: A Daily Guide to Celtic Spirituality and Wisdom by Caitlin Matthews

In Celtic tradition, spirituality is woven into and through the rhythms of daily life. Because the way we observe the unfolding year shapes the way we live, many have adopted the Celtic calendar strongly linked to natural elements and the seasons as a means of personal and spiritual discovery. The diverse writings and vibrant illustrations in this book have been carefully chosen to inspire daily reflection. Each month opens with a full-page illustration, and the daily entries are drawn from Celtic myth, poetry, prayers, and customs. Caitlin Matthews highlights the unique characteristics of each of the four Celtic festivals and the four magical gates of the year: Samhain (ancestral communion and introspection); Imbolc (beginnings and primal innocence); Beltane (creative and powerful expression); and Lughnasadh (maturity and consolidation).
Material from many eras of Celtic history is included to present both pagan and Christian streams of Celtic spirituality. The author has created new translations for many of the entries, including some material from rare and previously unpublished works. Throughout the book, full color art ranging from illuminated pages from the Book of Kells to modern illustrations highlight the text.

Celtic Devotional: Daily Prayers and Blessings

Celtic Devotional: Daily Prayers and Blessings by Caitlin Matthews

Mirroring the ancient formulaic prayers to the elements found in the Celtic tradition, along with the wondrous invocations and declarations of the bards of the Scottish, Irish and Welsh traditions, Celtic Devotional provides a mystical doorway through which the modern person can re-invest their life with meaning within the twilight times of dusk and dawn.
Celtic spirituality emphasizes the appreciation of nature and all forms of life--a popular and universally appealing philosophy that, along with other related pagan traditions, is having a renaissance. Beautifully illustrated and designed, this book will appeal to readers searching for ways to practice spirituality, offering blessings, prayers and devotions.

Earth Celebrations:Celebrate the Year- by Laurie Cabot

The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religions of the Great Goddess by Starhawk.

The Pagan Book of Days: A Guide to Festivals, Traditions, and Scared Days of the Year by Nigel Pennick

The Wheel of the Year: Living the Magical Life by Pauline Campanelli.

Ritual by Gabriella Roth and the Mirrors.

A great CD for any festival, holiday or special event. Each selection subtly blends into the next. But each piece is unique, painting mindscapes of beautiful mesas, summer campfires in the forest, or sunset on the beach--depending how you look at it. We love to take this CD on road trips.

At The Edge by Mickey Hart.

Another great CD for festivities, circles and holidays. Passionate and excellent for trance 'dance'! Mickey Hart's personal odyssey into the spirit of percussion. As producer of The World, he showcases some of the most dynamic, yet sublime music of our planet. On AT THE EDGE he combines these ancient techniques and instruments with the most modern of recording technology to explore the outer limits..This is a powerful CD!

Celtic Folklore Cooking by Joanne Asala.

Wonderful recipes and information for year-round celebrations.

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