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🔮 The Witches’ Wheel of the Year: A Journey Through the Eight Sabbats
The Wheel of the Year is a sacred calendar observed by Wiccans, witches, and many modern pagans. It marks eight seasonal festivals—known as sabbats—that celebrate the eternal cycle of nature: birth, growth, harvest, death, and rebirth. These sabbats are divided into four solar festivals (solstices and equinoxes) and four cross-quarter fire festivals rooted in Celtic tradition.
Together, they form a spiritual compass, guiding practitioners through the rhythms of the Earth and the mysteries of transformation.
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🌑 1. Yule (Winter Solstice – around December 21)
- Theme: Rebirth of the Sun, hope in darkness
- Traditions: Lighting candles, burning the Yule log, decorating with evergreens
- Symbolism: The Goddess rests after giving birth to the Sun God; the longest night gives way to growing light
Yule is a time of deep stillness and sacred renewal. As the sun is reborn, so too is the promise of warmth and life. Many Christmas customs—like tree decorating and gift-giving—echo ancient Yule rites.
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🕯️ 2. Imbolc (February 1–2)
- Theme: Awakening, purification, new beginnings
- Traditions: Honouring Brigid, lighting white candles, home blessings
- Symbolism: The first stirrings of spring beneath the snow; a time for rededication and inner cleansing
Imbolc honours the Celtic goddess Brigid, patron of poetry, healing, and hearth. It’s a sabbat of quiet preparation, where seeds of intention are planted in the soul.
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🌸 3. Ostara (Spring Equinox – around March 21)
- Theme: Balance, fertility, renewal
- Traditions: Egg decorating, planting seeds, celebrating new life
- Symbolism: Day and night are equal; the Earth awakens in full bloom
Named after the Anglo-Saxon goddess Ēostre, Ostara celebrates the fertile union of light and life. Eggs and hares—symbols of rebirth—are central to this sabbat’s lore.
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🔥 4. Beltane (April 30 – May 1)
- Theme: Passion, union, vitality
- Traditions: Maypole dancing, bonfires, handfasting rituals
- Symbolism: The sacred marriage of Goddess and God; fire and fertility surge through the land
Beltane is a celebration of sensuality and creative fire. It’s a time to honor love, growth, and the wild joy of being alive.
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☀️ 5. Litha (Summer Solstice – around June 21)
- Theme: Abundance, power, illumination
- Traditions: Sun rituals, feasting, gathering herbs
- Symbolism: The sun is at its zenith; nature is lush and full
Also known as Midsummer, Litha is a sabbat of radiant energy. It’s a time to celebrate achievements, embrace warmth, and honor the light within.
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🌾 6. Lughnasadh (August 1–2)
- Theme: First harvest, gratitude, sacrifice
- Traditions: Baking bread, sharing feasts, honoring Lugh
- Symbolism: The grain is cut; the fruits of labor are gathered
Named for the Celtic god Lugh, this sabbat marks the beginning of the harvest season. It’s a time to reflect on what we’ve sown and what we’re willing to release.
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🍂 7. Mabon (Autumn Equinox – around September 21)
- Theme: Balance, thanksgiving, reflection
- Traditions: Harvest feasts, nature walks, altar offerings
- Symbolism: Day and night are equal again; the descent into shadow begins
Mabon is a modern name for this equinox sabbat, introduced in the 1970s. It’s a time to honour the Earth’s bounty and prepare for the inward journey of winter.
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🕸️ 8. Samhain (October 31 – November 1)
- Theme: Death, ancestors, mystery
- Traditions: Ancestor altars, divination, candlelit vigils
- Symbolism: The veil between worlds is thin; spirits walk among us
Samhain is the witch’s New Year—a time to honour those who came before and to embrace endings as sacred beginnings. It’s a deeply mystical sabbat, rich with ancestral wisdom.
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🌀 Turning the Wheel
Each sabbat invites reflection, celebration, and connection to the Earth’s rhythms. Whether practiced in solitude or shared in circle, the Wheel of the Year offers a path of spiritual attunement and poetic transformation. Source: pagangrimoire.com
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