The wheel of the year
Witches celebrate the seasons and these festivals form the wheel of the year. There are eight sabbats, starting with Samhain, Yule, Imbolg, Oestara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas and Madron.
They form the wheel of the year because like a wheel, the cycle is never ending, starting again as soon as it finishes. Even though we celebrate these sabbats, magic is very successful at these special times of year.
The sabbats are split into two groups. The Major and Minor sabbats.
Samhain, Imbolg, Beltane and Lammas are Major sabbats – Samhain being the greatest (witches new year-Halloween), with Beltane next in line. The
On Samhain and Beltane the veil between worlds of the living and the dead is at its thinnest, so therefore it is a traditional time for divination or scrying.
Yule and Litha are Solstices. At Yule, the days are at their shortest and the nights their longest. At Litha, the days reach their longest and the nights their shortest.
Oestara and Madron are the Equinoxes. This is when days and nights are equal in length.
Samhain - 31 October
Usually pronounced Sowhain, this is the end of the old year and beginning of the new. It begins as soon as it gets dark on 31st October and celebrations are usually timed to begin at
This sabbat marks the time of year where winter is on its way and with it the darker, colder months.. For witches this is a time for spirits of loved ones to return and usually a special place is set at the feast of Samhain to welcome them. We DO NOT summon the spirit of the dead, as we feel that if they wish to join us, they will do so.
It is traditional on Samhain to light a candle in the window to guide the welcome spirits home and to also deter unwelcome spirits. At this time of year, the Goddess takes on her role of Crone or Wise one, and we can look to her for guidance and wisdom. This takes the form of divination, Tarot, Dark mirror or scrying etc.
Yule - 21st December
This is the winter solstice and has the shortest day and the longest night. It is the celebration of the rebirth of the sun. Witches will bring evergreen decorations into the home to remind them of the new growing season. Holly with berries is the traditional, the berries representing the resting Mother and life returning to our lands, and the green of the holly representing the Holly king, who rules until this time. Mistletoe is another favourite as it is believed to have magical powers because it grows between the earth and sky and isn’t rooted to the ground. At Yule, the Oak king, Lord of summer is born again, and the Oak and Holly kings who are brothers, share the rule of the year, the Oak king reigns from midwinter to midsummer, the time of increasing light and the Holly king, reigning from midsummer to midwinter, the period of increasing darkness. (Light and dark are not describing good and bad). At the solstice, light and dark are said to battle to decide who will have control over the coming months.
Imbolg - 2nd February
Imblog is when we see the first signs of spring. The trees are all coming back to life and certain flowers begin to bloom. At Imbolg, the Goddess has returned to Maiden, dressed in white. The God who was reborn at Yule, is now back to a young man, full of vigour and his pursuit of the Maiden starts at this sabbat.
Oestara – 21st March
Oestara is celebrated as a spring festival. The Goddess, who put on the robes of Maiden at Imbolg, is seen as truly embodying the spirit of spring now, as all around you can see flowers in full bloom, and trees full of leaves. Oestara is also the Spring Equinox, again when day and night are equal in length. It is a time of discarding the old and venturing into new. We rid ourselves of these things that are no longer needed – old habbits, thought and feelings and take on new ideas. It is also a time of spring cleaning the spirit and the home.
Beltane – 1st May
Beltane is the second most important sabbat for witches after Samhain. It is a time when the veil between worlds (like Samhain), are at their thinnest, but, Beltane is not a time for greeting and celebrating those that have passed on, but a time when more mischievous spirits may take advantage. For this reason, witches take caution when performing divination around Beltane as even the Goddess and the God have a sense of humour and will play with your results. Be careful about working any magic at Beltane as the phrase ‘be careful what you wish for’ is even more appropriate. This is the festival of the Fire God Bel. Now the Goddess takes on her role of Mother, and the God descends to reign beside his Queen and the marriage of them both is celebrated, for spring was when the God pursued his Maiden, and now at Bletane, she has allowed herself to be captured. Because of the God and Goddess’s marriage this is also a major fertility festival
Litha – 21st June
Litha is the summer solstice with the longest day and the shortest night of the year. At this time, the Oak and
The Goddess is still wearing the robes of Mother and she is full of promise of harvest.
Lammas – 1st August
Lammas is the sabbat of the dying and rising of the sun god Lugh. It is a time of personal sacrifice to repay what we have been given. Some other sabbats are times of giving up old and taking on new, Lammas is a time for making sure we have given enough back for what we have received and achieved. Lammas is a time for considering the positives in your life.
Madron – 21st September
This is the Autumn equinox – again a time when day and night are equal. Madron, like the other equinoxes is a time when we seek balance within. It is a time of throwing out the old and taking on new things. Although this sounds like Oestara, it is slightly different, for Madron is the feast of the healer, the bringer of justice and the release of prisoners. (Old regrets and arguments we have held onto.)
This is a time for forgiveness of others, but primarily you. Your prisoners are the things you have said or not said, and things you regret, and a time for physical, mental and spiritual healing, to find a sense of balance.
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