#summer magick festival

[aerikarkadian]

Summer Magick Festival 2024 Recap

We’ve been back from Orlando and SMF 2024 for a few days now and Selene and I were just talking about how hard it’s been to reset. I was telling her that our spirits got a dose of pleasant energy and now they’re in withdrawal again from being in reality. This is a pretty common feeling with all festivals, though. But just in case you’ve never heard of Summer Magick Festival in particular, it’s a…

[thetarotman]

Litha, the Summer Solstice

What are some of your favorite Summer Solstice Rituals or activities?

Personally, I rarely celebrate the Summer Solstice. Also, in some of the Magickal groups in which I have been involved, over the years, most of them did not always make a habit of doing a Summer Solstice Ritual. However, working with Amy C. Wilson, the Living Goddess and Creatrix of the Moon Serpent and Bone Markets, I would become more aware and attuned to the Summer Solstice, as there is at…

[greenwitchcrafts]

August 2024 Witch Guide

New Moon: August 4th

First Quarter: August 12th

Full moon: August 19th

Last Quarter: August 26th

Sabbats: Lughnasadh/Lammas- August 1st

August Sturgeon Moon

Also known as: Barely Moon, Black Cherries Moon, Corn moon, Dispute Moon, Harvest moon, Herb Moon, grain moon, Mountain Shadows Moon, Red moon, Ricing Moon, Weodmonath & Wyrt moon

Element: Fire

Zodiac: Leo & Virgo

Animal spirts: Dryads

Deities: Diana, Ganesha, Hathor, Hecate, Mars, Nemesis, Thot & Vulcan

Animals: Dragon, lion, phoenix & sphinx

Birds: Crane, eagle & falcon

Trees: Alder, cedar & hazel

Herbs: Basil, bay, fennel, orange, rosemary, rue & St.John's wort

Flowers: Angelica, chamomile, marigold & sunflower

Scents: Frankincense & heliotrope

Stones: Carnelian, cats/tiger's eye, emerald, fire agate, garnet, jade, moonstone, peridot, red jasper, red agate, sardonyx, topaz & tourmaline

Colors: Dark green, gold, orange, red & yellow

Energy: Abundance, appreciation, authority, courage, entertainment, finding your voice, friendship, gathering, harvesting energy, health, love, pleasures, power, prophecy, prosperity, vitality & wisdom

The name Sturgeon Moon comes from the giant lake sturgeon of the Great Lakes & Lake Champlain; this native freshwater fish was readily caught during this part of summer & an important food staple for Native Americans who lived in the region. At one time the lake sturgeon was quite abundant in late summer, though they are rarer today.

• August's full moon is the first Supermoon of the year, which means that it will appear bigger & brighter than the full Moons we have seen so far!

Lughnasadh

Known as: Lammas, August Eve  & Feast of Bread

Season: Summer

Element: Fire

Symbols: corn, grain dollies & shafts of grain

Colors: Gold, golden yellow, green, light brown, orange, purple, red & yellow

Oils/Incense: Aloe, apple, corn, eucalyptus, safflower, rose & sandalwood

Animals: Cattle (bull & calf)

Birds: Chicken/Rooster

Stones: Aventurine, carnelian, citrine, peridot, sardonyx & yellow diamond

Food: Apples, barely cakes, berries, berry pies, breads, colcannon, cider, corn, grains, honey, lamb, nuts, potatoes, rice, sun-shaped cookies & wild berries

Herbs/Plants: Alfalfa, aloe, blackberry, bramble, corn, cornsilk, corn stalk, crab apple, fenugreek, frankincense, ginseng, goldenseal, gorse, grape, medowsweet, oak leaves, pear, rye, sloe & wheat

Flowers:  Clyclamen, heather hollyhock & sunflower

Trees: Acacia, apple, myrtle,oak & rowan

Goddesses: Aine, Alphito, Bracacia, Carmen, Ceres, Damina, Danu, Demeter, Ereshkigal, Freya, Frigga, Gaia, Inanna Ishtar, Kait, Persephone, Sul, Taillte, Tea & Zaramama

Gods: Athar, Bes, Bran, Dagon, Dumuzi, Ebisu, Ghanan, Howtu, Liber, Lono, Lugh, Neper, Odin & Xochipilli

Issues, Intentions & Powers: Accomplishment, agriculture, challenges, darkness, death, endings, release & transformation

Spellwork: Abundance, bounty, fire magick, rituals of thanks & sun magick

Activities:

• Bake fresh bread

• Weave wheat

• Take walks in nature or along bodies of water

• Craft a corn doll

• Learn a new skill

• Watch the sunrise/sunset

• Leave grains and seeds in a place where birds, squirrels and other small animals can appreciate them

• Eat outside with family/friends/coven members

• Donate to your local foodbank

• Prepare a feast with your garden harvest

• Give thanks & offerings to the Earth

• Trade crafts of make deals

• Gather and/or dry herbs to use for the upcoming year

• Celebrate/honor the god Lugh by hosting a competition of games

• Participate in matchmaking or handfasting ceremonies

• Decorate your altar with symbols of the season

• Clean up a space in nature

• Plant saved seeds or save seeds to use in the future

Lughnasadh or Lammas is a Gaelic festival marking the beginning of the harvest season. Historically it was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland & the Isle of Man. Traditionally it is held on 1 August, or about halfway between the summer solstice & autumn equinox. In recent centuries some of the celebrations have shifted to the Sunday nearest this date.

Lughnasadh is mentioned in early Irish literature & has pagan origins. The festival is named after Lugh the god of craftsmanship. It was also founded by the god Lugh as a funeral feast & athletic competition/funeral games in memory of his foster-mother Tailtiu. She was said to have died of exhaustion after clearing the plains of Ireland for agriculture.

• Tailtiu may have been an earth goddess who represented the dying vegetation that fed mankind.

• Another tale says that Lugh founded the festival in memory of his two wives, the sisters Nás & Bói. 

In the Middle Ages it involved great gatherings that included ceremonies, athletic contests (most notably the Tailteann Games which were extremely dangerous), horse racing, feasting, matchmaking & trading.

• With the coming of Christianity to the Celtic lands, the old festival of Lughnasadh took on Christian symbolism. Loaves of bread were baked from the first of the harvested grain & placed on the church altar on the first Sunday of August. The Christianized name for the feast of Lughnasadh is Lammas which means “loaf mass”.

Some believe this is the time where the God has weakened & is losing his strength as seen in the waning of the day's light. The Goddess is pregnant with the young God who will be born on Yule.

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

Wikipedia

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

Encyclopedia britannica

Llewellyn 2024 magical almanac Practical magic for everyday living

[talonabraxas]

Thu, 1 Aug 2024

Also known as Lammas, Lughnasadh is the first of three autumn celebrations in the Wheel of the Year. Lughnasadh is celebrated on August 1, which is in the sign of Leo, when the sun reaches 15 degrees of Leo.

2024 Wheel of the Year (Sabbats)

Pagan Wheel

Feb 2 – IMBOLC (also called Candlemas, Imbolg, and Saint Brigid’s Day) It is midway between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. This sabbat reminds us that the light is growing stronger and that the harshness of winter will start to fade. To celebrate the growing light, many Pagans will light candles on this holiday.

Mar 19 – OSTARA /Spring Equinox: light and darkness are in perfect balance on this day. Moving forward, daylight will continue to grow as we head into Spring. It is a time to celebrate balance and the arrival of Spring. It represents new beginnings and the freshness of a new day. What’s past is in the past and past and it’s time to move forward.

May 1 – BELTANE (also known as May Day) (pronounced BELL-tain) This is an exciting and energetic holiday that celebrates sexuality, fertility, and all of the life that comes with Spring. It is a time of great joy and celebration! Feel the creative energy of the Universe. It is a time of renewal and rebirth … a time to grow as a person and reinvent yourself if you so desire.

June 20 – LITHA / Summer Solstice The Sun is at its maximum strength … it is the longest day of the year. This is a season of growth, fruitfulness, abundance, and strength. It’s a great night to perform spells for money, abundance, and financial security … and the strength to do what you need to do to be successful.

June 23 – Midsummer’s Eve: the night before Mid-Summer (June 24). It is considered a night of potent magick. Many Witches will be performing rituals and casting spells on this night. It is also a night when fairies roam the land. If you work with the fairy realm, this is an important night for you!

Aug 1 – LAMMAS (also known as Lughnassadh) the first harvest festival. It celebrates the first grains harvested for baking bread. Celebrate by baking or buying a loaf of bread and sharing it as a celebration.

Sept 22 – MABON / Fall Equinox: the light and darkness are in balance on this day. But it marks the change from the light half of the year to the dark half of the year. Moving forward the darkness will grow longer and the daylight will grow shorter. It is a celebration of the second harvest festival and is celebrated by feasting and visiting with family and friends.

Oct 31 – SAMHAIN (pronounced SAH-win) (as known as Halloween) This is the Witches’ New Year! The veil between worlds is thinnest and the dead are thought to return and visit. It is a night to communicate with the spirits, spirit guides, and ancestors. It is also a night to work with Tarot cards and Crystal Balls!

Samhain is also a time when we come to terms with death and are openly encouraged to let go of our fears of it. It is a time when we acknowledge the hard moments of life that we usually don���t think or talk about. If there are things we need to let go of, Samhain is a good time to release them!

Dec 21 – YULE / Winter Solstice: The real reason that this time of year was celebrated .. before christianity existed. We are halfway through the dark part of the year. The darkness is at its peak…moving forward the light begins to grow stronger and days become longer. You can see why the newly formed cult of christianity, which is what it was at the time, choose this time of year for the birth of christ…the light grows strong and brighter…the Sun is reborn. Yule traditions include burning a Yule log, kissing under mistletoe, and placing an evergreen tree in your home to represent the sustaining of life during the winter.

[hearthandheathenry]

All About Litha

Litha is the modern name given to the Wiccan and pagan holiday for the summer solstice, a.k.a. the longest day of the year. In 2024, the holiday falls on June 20th for the northern hemisphere. Generally, the intense power and energy of the sun is celebrated by those wishing to participate, and many celebrations revolve around fire and light and other symbolic things representing the sun.

Historically, the actual word "Litha" was associated with the June and July months in the Anglo-Saxon communities in Europe, as written by Venerable Bede from the 8th century. However, different cultures and regions have their own names for midsummer or solstice festivals, and Litha is a modern name and version adopted by new-age Wicca and modern Druidry. Some Wiccans and pagans will use the name "Midsummer" for the holiday, though, as that name signifies the many solstice traditions held in Europe as a whole and has a more ancient history in texts. Since their new-age holiday enmeshes many traditions together, Midsummer makes sense as an alternative name.

Because Litha was created by Wiccans, which is a new-age practice, they have adopted different solstice traditions from more ancient pagan religions that aligns with their religious beliefs. Just like other solstice celebrations, their summer Sabbat named Litha is all about the sun and the abundance and life is brings to us all, especially in agricultural communities. The sun's energy is thought to be the most powerful at this time, so many Wiccans use this opportunity for spellwork, cleansing, and energy-intensive work and projects. Since it's a combination of many traditions, there is no one way to celebrate the holiday. Some ways to celebrate include having a bonfire, focusing on love and romance, gathering herbs and other plants, creating flower crowns, singing and dancing, enjoying time outside, and feasting by having a picnic under the sun. Since Wicca is also a very divided religion with many sects, certain branches may celebrate different ways. The overlaps seem to be focusing on the sun, height of summer, and nature, like other religions on the same day. In terms of associations, it is generally believed that anything you associate with summer can be used for Litha, such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, sun, fair weather, bright colors, etc.

Litha Associations

Colors - yellow, orange, red, green, blue, pink, purple, other bright colors

Food - fruits and vegetables, citrus, melons, berries, honey, mead, wine, herbal teas, salads

Animals - bees, snakes, butterflies, birds

Items - sun wheels, sunflowers, chamomile, dandelions, torches, wreaths, flower crowns

Crystals - sunstone, citrine, carnelian, tigers eye, diamond, amber

Other - sun, fire, bonfires, picnics, faeries, love and romance, power, bountiful harvest, high energy

Ways To Celebrate

have a picnic under the sun

make a sun wheel

enjoy a sun themed feast filled with summer foods

have a bonfire

light candles and give thanks to the sun and the light

make a flower crown or bouquet of summer flowers

do spellwork that needs large amounts of energy

use the sun to charge your crystals

make sun tea

make an offering to the faeries

focus on relationship and self love magick

go to a farmers market

go for a nature walk

create a vision board

plan out your goals and projects

sing and dance to joyful songs

gather and dry herbs to use

[sagradaserenidad-cr]

Lughnasadh - August 1

On this day the Celtic sun god, Lugh, is celebrated with banquets and festivals. After all, this date fits with the beginning of the harvest season, and that is why it is associated with baking bread. It is a time of harvesting the crops and thanking the gods for the bounty harvested that year. But alas, this is not only a time for celebration but also a great opportunity to reflect on our path and growth. Accepting the energetic darkness as part of the cycle of life, it can help us transform and see all that can be learn from the darkness.

Associations:

Magickal intentions for this time: Abundance, Growth, Transformation, Protection, Ancestor work, Strength.

Plant allies for this season: Wheat, Corn, Rosemary, Rose, Peony Sandalwood.

Crystal allies to help with this time: Aventurine, Citrine, Carnelian, Onix, Obsidian.

Animal allies to call upon this time: Pig, Rooster, Crow.

Tarot cards associated to this time: The Chariot, Wheel of Fortune.

Representative colors: Warm earthy tones such as beige, brown, orange, and even bronze.

Some ideas to celebrate:

Dress in colors that represent this season or braid your hair if possible.

Create a wheat wreath and decorate your hair with it.

Bake bread or other pastries you like, bread is more traditional but who says you can´t enjoy making any other pastry you adore!

Take a ritual bath to thank yourself, think of it as a sort of self love bath.

Write a list of things you wish to grow in your life, or that you want to keep growing.

Reflect on what energetical darkness means to you, you can even go a step further and do shadow work, but please be mindful don't force yourself to do too much, nor push yourself too hard with it. Take your time.

Grow your relationships, either spending time with people you like and fill your life with joy, or use this time to grow your relationship with yourself, after all we deserve to celebrate ourselves!

Read your tarot cards, or get your cards read this season.

Thank the gods, goddesses, spirits, the universe or even yourself for all the growth, either physical, emotional and/or spiritual you have gone through this year .

Overall use this time to celebrate your accomplishments no matter how big or small!

Reflections for this part of the cycle

Of your sunny summer objectives, which ones maintained? What other ones have been set aside? What things fill your life spiritually, emotionally and physically?

Which of those are those things should you continue to nurture? In addition to recognizing, those things that drain. Which of those things should you let go?

[the-blog-of-gog]

Celebrating Beltane: A Neo-Technomancy and Chaos Magick Perspective

Beltane, celebrated on May 1st, marks a pivotal point in the pagan calendar, symbolizing the peak of spring and the hint of summer on the horizon. This festival, rooted deeply in Celtic traditions, is rich with themes of fertility, fire, and renewal. It's a time when the veil between the natural and the supernatural feels particularly thin, making it ripe for magickal endeavors.

Historical Roots and Modern Interpretations

Traditionally, Beltane is a fire festival. Ancient Celts lit bonfires to honor the sun and encourage its growth in the coming months. This act of lighting fires was also symbolic of purification and protection. In the context of neo-technomancy—a blend of technological insights and magickal practices—these fires can be seen as a metaphor for sparking new innovations and transformations in the digital realm.

How Neo-Technomancers and Chaos Magicians Celebrate Beltane

Digital Fire Rituals: For the modern magick practitioner, the Beltane fire can be reimagined through the glow of our screens or the electricity coursing through our gadgets. This could involve creating digital artworks that incorporate fiery visuals or programming dynamic fire simulations that serve as focal points for meditation or ritual work.

Virtual Maypole Dancing: The maypole dance, a traditional part of Beltane known for its intricate weaving of ribbons around a pole, symbolizes the entwining of energies and the fertility of the earth. Neo-technomancers might recreate this dance in a digital environment, perhaps through a collaborative online platform where participants from around the world contribute to a virtual maypole, weaving together digital threads to create a communal art piece.

Energetic Device Blessings: Just as tools and personal items were often passed through the Beltane fires for blessings, technomancers might hold a ritual to cleanse and empower their electronic devices. This could involve using electromagnetic fields or specialized software designed to 'purify' and optimize the functionality of their gadgets, aligning them with the owner’s magickal and mundane needs.

Sigil Creation for Growth and Prosperity: The creation of digital sigils to harness the energy of Beltane is another powerful way for technomancers to blend magickal intent with their technological skills. These sigils, designed using graphic software, can be used as part of digital wallpaper, shared on social media, or even integrated into user interfaces, continuously radiating magickal energy.

Chaos Magick and the Spirit of Spontaneity: Aligning with chaos magick principles, Beltane is a perfect occasion for spontaneity. This might involve using algorithmic generators to make unexpected choices or to create random, yet meaningful, magickal symbols or spells.

The Broader Implications of a Technomantic Beltane

Celebrating Beltane in this contemporary magickal-technological hybrid manner not only honors its ancient origins but also reinterprets its significance for the digital age. It’s about integrating the primal energies of old with the innovative potentials of today—using technology not merely as a tool, but as an extension of the practitioner’s will.

As we stoke the fires of Beltane in our digital hearths, we are reminded that the essence of magick lies in transformation—whether of ourselves, our environments, or our societies. And in this transformative process, technology becomes our ally, helping to manifest our deepest desires into the physical and virtual worlds.

So, this Beltane, let’s ignite the old fires with new sparks. Let's celebrate with a spirit of innovation and a respect for tradition, blending the two into a unique expression of our time. Through these practices, Beltane becomes more than just a date on the calendar—it becomes a moment of personal and communal alchemy, a time when we can truly connect the dots between the magickal and the technological, and perhaps, transform the world one byte and one spell at a time.

#BeltaneMagic #NeoTechnomancy #ChaosMagick #DigitalDivinity #MagickalInnovation #EcoTechWitch #SpiritualTech #MagickalCommunity #ModernWitchcraft #PaganTraditions

[thenightling]

Wiccan Holidays

Wheel of the Wiccan Sacred Holidays and what they equate to.

Note: I'm writing this out for non-Wiccans.

Disclaimer: This is extremely simplified.

Samhain (October 31st) Overlaps with Halloween. This is a time when the veil between worlds is thin and also the Ancient New Year and harvest. Magick is supposed to be strongest at this time of year. It is also a time to honor and respect the dead.

Yule (Jol) Winter Solstice - Equatable to Christmas (in fact Christmas is called Yule in many parts of the world). Longest night of the year. Shortest day of the year. A time for feast and exchanging gifts. A time to remember love, kindness, and charity. This is supposed to be a very magical time of year.

Imbolc (February 1st) Overlaps with Groundhog Day and Candlemas. Also Overlaps with Saint Brgid's Day. Celebrates the slow return of spring.

Ostara - Celebrated at the Spring equinox. Equatable to Easter (including the colored eggs). Celebrates the start of spring. Also a day of balance. Day and night are perfectly even.

Beltane - May 1st. Overlaps with Walpurgisnacht and May Day. Celebrates the approach (or start) of summer. The half-way point to Samhain. The veil between worlds is very thin. Supposedly this is a night when faeries and other supernatural entities can be found to barter with, trade spells and potions, or just have festivals. It's a magical time and spring equivalent to Samhain.

Litha (Summer Solstice) Also called Midsummer Day / Night. In Ancient Greece (Before there were four seasons) there were just Summer and Winter. And this was the half-way point through the Greek summer. This is also the scientific start of summer. Longest day of the year. Shortest night. This is a magical time of year.

Lughnasadh (August 1st) the start of the Gaelic harvest season or Spooky Season (though for Halloween collectors that's actually July 5th). It's a celebration of the return of cooler weather.

Mabon (Autumn equinox). Equatable to Thanksgiving. Day and night are perfectly even. It's a day of balance. And the veil between worlds starts to thin, and magick is on the rise. This will reach its peak at Samhain. Mabon is a time to Feast and give thanks even though it's roughly one month before Canadian Thanksgiving and two months before American Thanksgiving.

[witchin-y-bitchin]

Celebrating the Wheel of the Year with R-SAD

This blog has been long in the making. I wanted to talk a bit about something that affects my life every year, in turn heavily impacting my practice. I apologize in advanced for the length—this one’s a doozy.

First of all, what is R-SAD?

You’re likely familiar with seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD, which is a mental health disorder that causes an individual to become intensely depressed during the colder months of the year. This concept is where the phrase “Winter Blues” comes from. However, you may not have heard about its sister disorder, reverse seasonal affective disorder or R-SAD.

R-SAD is exactly what it sounds like: the reverse of traditional seasonal affective disorder in that sufferers of R-SAD experience intense depression during the hotter months of the year. There’s not a lot of research on SAD, and even less on R-SAD. The current theory is that, in relation to how SAD is believed to be caused by a lack of sunlight, R-SAD is caused by too much sunlight.

Living with R-SAD can be difficult. When ever the Summer months roll around I become depressed and unmotivated. Interacting with others and even taking care of myself becomes a chore. This is made worse by the fact that many people don’t understand R-SAD and are often confused when people with R-SAD become more closed off during the seasons in which you are expected to become more sunny (no pun intended).

Quick disclaimer: I’m not a doctor. If any of this is ringing true for you, talk with a mental health professional. I cannot diagnose you, but just know if you do struggle with experiences like these, you are not alone.

Before moving on, let’s review the Wheel of the Year real quick…

It’s hard not to run into the Wheel of the Year in witchy and Pagan spaces. But just in case you need a refresher, the Wheel of the Year is a collection of eight sabbats that originally came from Wicca. Many of the sabbats were inspired by ancient Celtic and Germanic festivals. Although the Wheel of the Year originated with Wicca, it has grown to be a common practice among non-Wiccan witches and Pagans alike. The eight sabbats follow the changing seasons, marking the beginning and middle of each season with celebration. Half of the sabbats are solstices and equinoxes, and the other half fall about mid way between the first four.

The sabbats are Yule (Winter Solstice), Imbolc, Ostara (Vernal Equinox), Beltane, Litha (Summer Solstice), Lughnasadh or Lammas, Mabon (Autumnal Equinox), and Samhain. I will go into a little more detail about each later on.

Traditionally, the sabbats are split in half into the Dark Half of the Year and the Light Half of the Year. The Light Half of the Year is thought to be the time of life, joy, and celebration. The Dark Half of the Year is thought as the time of death, introspection, and rest. Practitioners are thought to make powerful magick during the Light Half of the Year and to recuperate that power during the Dark Half of the Year. However, for those of us struggling with R-SAD, these traditional concepts can be hard to follow. I don’t feel more energized and positive during Spring and especially not Summer. And during Fall and Winter I’m far more excited and interested in my life and my practice. I’d like to share how I have adapted to the Wheel of the Year as someone with R-SAD to show folks that you can change things to make them work better for you.

~

First we’ll cover my favorite part of the year: the Dark Half.

The Dark Half of the Year consists of Mabon, Samhain, Yule, and Imbolc. For me, it is during this time that I feel motivated and optimistic. I’m in a positive mindset and I often find myself inspired to engage more with my practice. Let’s look at how I approach each of these sabbats.

Mabon

Getting to Mabon is a big accomplishment for me. It’s the first dark sabbat which means if I’m here, I got through the most difficult part of the year. That’s why this is the gratitude sabbat. I’m grateful I worked through my difficulties and was able to survive up until this point. This sabbat also holds a major theme of family for me, as I try to reconnect with those I neglected during my months of hardship.

Samhain

Samhain is the holiest day of the year for me. It’s the time when I feel I’m at my witchiest. I am incredibly powerful at this point and I like to focus on magick that connects to the spirits around me, making allies and strengthening pre-existing bonds. Spirit work is the theme of Samhain. In some ways, I celebrate this sabbat most closely to how it is commonly celebrated, as opposed to the others.

Yule

Yule for me is simply about pure celebration. It’s at this point that we’re at the height of Winter and that I personally have feelings of joy and festivity. Because of this Yule is a great time for any forms of positive or attractive magick, especially ones centering on happiness and optimism. I have a lot more energy during the darker periods, so I like to do as much as I can to make up for the lull in my practice during the Spring and Summer.

Imbolc

Imbolc is a bit of a bittersweet time for me. As the last dark sabbat, it’s a reminder to get ready for hard times. For many Imbolc is a symbol of hope that better times are on their way, but for me it’s more about hope that I’ll make it through what’s to come next. Around this time I like to focus on preparing for my mood dip and reminding myself that I can get through whatever it is the warmer months throw my way.

~

Then there’s the Light Half of the Year…

The Light Half of the Year consists of Ostara, Beltane, Litha, and Lammas. Contrary to its title, it is this period of the year during which I am in my “darkest hour.” My mood is low and I struggle to find motivation to do even the simplest of tasks. I may find myself neglecting my practice more and isolating. Here’s a deeper look at what each of these sabbats mean to me.

Ostara

Even though Ostara is, in many ways, “the beginning of the end,” I try my best to look at from a more positive perspective. While most folks look at Ostara as the time to plant seeds for the magick they’re hoping to cultivate during the warmer months, I see it more as an incubation period. Anything that I’ve been working on is put aside for the time being because I know that trying to work on it while my energy is low will only lead to more stress. So my seeds aren’t so much planted on Ostara as they are stratified and saved for later.

Beltane

For me, Beltane is a great time for awareness. Even though my mood is really dipping by this point, nature is just starting to come back to life. Taking some time out of my day to look at the flora and fauna around me to see how they are changing is refreshing. It helps to remind me that life continues, even when it feels like it’s ending. For most, Beltane is THE fertility sabbat, and that theme rings true for me too, but rather than actively participating in fertility I like to look outside and experience the fertility of nature. Beltane is also one of the two sabbats during which the veil between this world and the Otherworld is at its thinnest, so connecting to spirits and ancestors for a much needed pick-me-up is another loved practice of mine.

Litha

Litha is the silver lining in the stormy clouds. Litha was the first sabbat I celebrated as a Pagan, so I have some nostalgic feelings about it. Being Midsummer, Litha is also a reminder that I’m half-way through the difficult times. Just one more half is left to go and I will be back in cooler weather. Magick focusing on gaining power and energy is helpful during this period to help me trudge through the rest of the boiling months.

Lammas

This sabbat has major Nine of Wands energy—it’s the last stretch before better times. At this point I focus my attention on harvesting the last of my energy to push through just a little longer.

~

Cool story, bro, but… so what?

As a Trad Crafter, I am already focused on adapting my practices to the land around me. I enjoy celebrating the Wheel of the Year because of its larger connection to the witchy and Pagan community, but the traditional forms of celebration don’t line up very well with the ecology of where I live, nor do they match the cycle of my power. Working to make the sabbats more appropriate for both where I live and how I feel has helped me to create a much deeper connection with them. Instead of trying to force myself to preform workings at certain times when I feel my worst, I allow myself to forget about how the sabbats “should” be followed.

Having seasonal depression in any form sucks, but in a way it has helped me realize that my practice should be my own. Before I knew about R-SAD, I tried to celebrate the sabbats in the same way as everyone else, even though I felt pretty miserable doing it. After I learned more about how my emotions work in a cycle, I was able to actually enjoy following the Wheel of the Year without it feeling like an impossible chore.

Anyhow, thanks for reading! The liminal space where spirituality and mental health is a hard one to navigate, but it’s something I would love to explore further. If anyone wants to share their own experiences working in this space I’d love to hear about it. Until then…

See ya later! 👋

[sovaghoul]

Celebrations

There are eight Sabbats, or holidays, in the Wiccan calendar, along with the thirteen Full Moons, of the year, commonly called Esbats.

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Four of the Sabbats are considered Major or Greater Sabbats, also called Fire Festivals. They are Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lammas. The other four occur at the two Solstices and two Equinoxes of each year, and are considered the Minor or Lesser Sabbats. Sometimes they’re named also, with the most common being Ostara, Midsummer/Litha, Mabon, and Yule. The Wheel of the Year, as the whole of the calendar is sometimes called, is an agricultural calendar, marking the seasons according to observable events, such as the first planting or the first harvest. It also tells the story of the life of the God, conveying how His life stages are connected to these agricultural events.

Each new year is usually considered to have its beginnings at Samhain (or Halloween), as the word Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”) means “summer’s end” in Gaelic, and it is believed by some that the ancient Celts divided the year into only two seasons, Winter and Summer. My theory of why the year begins with darkness, is a matter of honoring the Empty Nothing that is the beginning (and ending) of all things; before a new life is created, the womb in which it will grow is empty, and it then returns to that state after the birth.

The word “equinox” means “equal night,” and indeed at those two points of the year, there are equal hours of both daylight and darkness. “Solstice” means “Sun stands still,” and at those two points, there is the most/least sunlight (Summer/Winter, respectively), so the Sun seems to pause.

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The dates given below are those traditionally observed for the Sabbats in the Northern Hemisphere. However, some choose to figure them according to astrology, celebrating the Major Sabbats at the precise midpoints between the Solstices and Equinoxes, rather than fixed dates. As such, I’ve included those astrological “timestamps” as well.

🎃 Samhain – October 31 or Sun at 15° Scorpio – Beginning of Winter. A time for communion with and honoring the dead. It is believed that the Veil between worlds is thin on this night, and so Spirits and the Fae are more active, and divination will be more successful. The God is the Horned Lord of the Underworld now, rounding up the souls of the departed on the Wild Hunt. Some believe the Goddess also descends at this time, to retrieve the God and guide Him to His rebirth. Usually considered the Wiccan New Year. Sometimes considered the third and final of three harvest festivals, wherein the “harvest” is that of the year’s dead souls by the Lord of the Underworld. Any number of Gods associated with that realm and with death itself are commonly honored at this time, as well as ancestors and other loved ones who have passed on. This Sabbat is also called Halloween, which is a shortening of All Hallows’ Evening, “hallows” meaning essentially “sacred things.” The traditions of costumes, jack o’lanterns, and trick-or-treating are all old Pagan customs.

🎄 Yule – on or about December 21/Sun at 0° Capricorn – Midwinter. Rebirth, the Light returns. Yule comes from a Nordic word, “jul,” meaning “wheel,” and perhaps this refers to the “restart” of the year, the year beginning to turn again with the rebirth of the Sun. The Mother Goddess brings forth Sun God to renew the world. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree was originally a form of sympathetic Magick, reminding the trees to bear fruit in the coming Spring. Caroling door-to-door, or wassailing, and burning a Yule log, are also very old customs. Some see this as the beginning of the Oak King’s rule. Also simply referred to as the Winter Solstice.

🕯 Imbolc – February 2 or Sun at 15° Aquarius – Beginning of Spring. Cleansing, newness, advancement. The word has two possible origins: “oimelc,” meaning “ewe’s milk,” the time when mother sheep nurse their lambs; or “imbolg,” which means “in the belly,” interpreted as a reference to potential not yet realized. Indeed, the God is now realizing His own potential, finding His pure self and tapping into the creative fire. For some, this the Traditional time of Initiations. Others also celebrate the end of the Goddess’ Underworld journey at this time. Sometimes considered the first of three fertility festivals, the fertility of the mind, of ideas, the planning stages. Some choose to specifically honor the Irish Goddess Brighid at this time. Also called February Eve, Candlemas, or the Feast of Torches.

🥚 Spring Equinox – on or about March 21/Sun at 0° Aries – Mid-Spring. Balance, bringing forth the light, beginnings of life and fertility (where most of the symbols of Easter came from; rabbits, eggs, and baby chicks are all older, Pagan fertility symbols). This is a good time for Spring cleaning, physically and spiritually. Sometimes considered the second of three fertility festivals, honoring the new growth of the Earth, of plants and animals emerging again after the Winter. Some choose to specifically honor the Germanic Goddess Ēostre at this time. As this Sabbat is sometimes named fo Her. Also called Ostara, Eostar, or Lady Day. (Years ago, I came up with also calling it Vernalia, as another term for the event is the Vernal Equinox.)

❤ Beltane – May 1 or Sun at 15° Taurus – Bringing in Summer, growth, and celebrating fertility. The Lord and Lady consummate Their love. Dancing the Maypole is a staple celebration, symbolizing this union. The word refers to “bel fires,” an old tradition of building huge fires and driving livestock between them, meant to ensure their fertility. Additionally, people would leap over fires for their own fertility. For some, this is the Traditional time for Handfastings/weddings. Others considered it a day when rules surrounding marriage and commitment (i.e., monogamy) were suspended. Sometimes considered the third and final of three fertility festivals, where fertility is taken more literally, honoring the sacredness of sexuality. Sometimes spelled Beltainne or Bealtane, or referred to as May Day.

☀️ Midsummer – on or about June 21/Sun at 0° Cancer – Shining light, the longest day, merriment and celebration meant for all; even after Christianity became widespread, celebrations of Midsummer were a large event for entire towns with large public events that involved everyone. The God’s highest point of power, and so also the start of His decline. It's common to honor any number of Deities associated with the Sun. Some see this as the beginning of the Holly King’s rule. Also called Litha or the Summer Solstice.

🌾 Lammas – August 1 or Sun at 15° Leo – Beginning of Autumn. Harvest, bounty. The word comes from Gaelic meaning “loaf mass,” recognizing the sacredness and sacrifice of the grain. The Winter months approach and we must prepare for them. Sometimes considered the first of three harvest festivals, the year’s first harvests of grain and other vegetation. By some this Sabbat is also called Lughnassadh ("loo-nah-sah"), and specifically honors the Irish God Lugh, where contests of sport are held in honor of His trials from mythology.

🍁 Fall Equinox – on or about September 21/Sun at 0° Libra – Mid-Autumn. Balance again, but heading into decline instead of increase. The God retreats to the Underworld, a willing sacrifice. But the seed of new life still waits in the harvest stores. Sometimes considered the second of three harvest festivals, specifically when animals are slaughtered and their meat cured and stored for the coming Winter. It is often considered a time of reflection, and banishing what is no longer needed. Also called Mabon. (Since this is the Autumn Equinox, I came up with calling it Autumnus.)

To learn more about folkloric origins and traditions associated with the Sabbats, I invite everyone to check out Witches Sabbats. While not everything there aligns with these specific views, it is all nonetheless interesting information.

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Also important are the Full Moons, or Esbats, of each month. These are times to work Magick, casting spells for healing or prosperity, or doing other works (the Sabbats are generally not appropriate times, as the focus then is to turn the Wheel of the Year and celebrate the season). It is the specific time also to honor the Goddess and to attempt connection with Her, through meditation, channeling, or divination.

Other phases of the Moon can be celebrated as well, if one so chooses:

🌔 Waxing Moon – the phase just before Full. This is a time for spells having to do with growth and gain.

🌖 Waning Moon – the phase just after Full, a time for banishing what we no longer need.

🌑 New (or Dark) Moon – some believe this is a time for the Goddess to rest, as She is hidden by darkness, and therefore no Magick should be performed. Others feel it is a time to do Shadow Work, confronting the most difficult and hidden parts of ourselves.

There are many names for the 13 Full Moons of the year, depending on your culture/Tradition/practice. Some use these names to create a year-long story, similar to the Sabbats, and others take them individually to create unique Full Moon experiences that align to the time of year (so that, say, Full Moon ritual in May would look different from the one in December). Check out the image below for just a sample of the various names.

Next post: Elements

[orcposts]

hello krogurr, this is the first ogre again. after some reflection and blunt head trauma, i realized that the other ogre is right — i am jealous and sad.

for all my learning of magicks, i am powerless to stop so many adventurer twinks from being enchanted by the flutter of orcish loincloths. They ignore the bounty of ogre flesh that wobbles before them, only to attend the orcish orgy festivals that i never get invites to.

why, just yesterday this elven femboy wizard escaped my dungeon and headed straight to the war tent of Grogmar the Three-Legged, an insult i will not soon forget. But now i realize this bitterness can only push others away. Anyways, i hope you can forgive me.

fortunately for you blunt force head trauma is an integral ingredient for both orcish mating rituals and open invitation to orgy festivals. we shall have a summer wedding. and also we can bash in grogmar's head together, he stabbed krogurr once for flirting with him and his real folly is not having apologized.

love, krogurr

[aerikarkadian]

Summer Magick Festival 2023 Recap

It has been almost two weeks since Summer Magick Festival 2023. Like all festivals, we must eventually return to real life. Unfortunately, I took zero pictures, so you’ll just have to rely solely on my textual opinions. If you’ve never heard of Summer Magick Festival, it’s a collection of workshops, rituals, vending, and family that takes place each year at a hotel in Orlando, FL. In their own…

[nishadesigns]

Beltane Blessings 2024- Ravenhawks Magazine Magick for Mind, Body and Soul- Nisha Designs

Beltane celebrated on the first of May, marks the beginning of summer in the Celtic calendar, when the Earth is fertile and full of life. This ancient festival is deeply rooted in the theme of fertility and the celebration of life, fire, and abundance. It’s a time when the veil between worlds is thin, similar to its opposite on the Wheel of the Year, Samhain. Beltane is a moment to honor the…

[greenwitchcrafts]

August 2023 witch guide

August 2023 witch guide

Full moon: August 1st in Aquarius

New Moon: August 16th

Blue moon: August 30th Aquarius into Pisces

Sabbats: Lughnasadh August 1st



August Sturgeon Moon

Also known as: Corn moon, harvest moon, ricing moon, barley moon, dog moon, fruit moon, grain moon, herb moon, red moon & wyrt moon

Element: Fire

Zodiac: Leo & Virgo

Animal spirts: Dryads

Deities: Diana, Ganesha, Hathor, Hecate, Mars, Nemesis, Thot & Vulcan

Animals: Dragon, lion, phoenix & sphinx

Birds: Crane, eagle & falcon

Trees: Alder cedar & hazel

Herbs/plants: Basil, bay, chamomile, fennel, orange, rosemary, rue & St. John's wort,

Flowers: Angelica, marigold, sunflower

Scents: Frankincense & heliotrope

Stones: Carnelian, cats/tiger's eye, fire agate, garnet, red jasper & red agate

Colors: Gold, orange, red & yellow

Energy: Authority, appreciation, courage, entertainment, finding your voice, friendship, gathering, harvesting energy, health, love, pleasures, power &vitality

Sturgeon moon gets it's name from the high numbers that are caught at the Great Lakes & Lake Champlain in North America during this time of year. The names come from a number of places including Native Americans, Colonial Americans & European sources.



Lughnasadh

Also known as: Lammas, August eve & Feast of bread

Season: Summer

Symbols: Scythes, corn, grain dollies & shafts of grain

Colors: Gold, green, yellow, red, orange, light brown & purple

Oils/incense: Aloe, apple, corn, eucalyptus, safflower, rose & sandalwood

Animals: Cattle & chickens

Stones: Aventurine, carnelian, citrine, peridot, sardonyx & yellow diamond

Foods: Apples, grains, barley cakes, wild berries, cider, honey, potatoes, rice, sun shaped cookies, blackberry, corn, nuts, breads, blueberry. berry pies & grapes

Herbs/Plants: Alfalfa, aloe, all grains, blackberry, corn, corn stalk, crab apple, fenugreek, frankincense, ginseng, goldenseal, grapes, myrtle, oak leaves, pear, rye, blackthorn &wheat

Flowers: Sunflower, cyclamen, heather, hollyhock & medowsweet

Goddesses: Aine, Alphito, Bracacia, Carmen, Ceres, Damina, Demeter, Freya, Grain goddesses, Ishtar, Kait, Kore, Mother Goddess, Sul, Sun Goddesses, Taillte, Zaramama, Ereshkigal & Ianna

Gods: Athar, Bes, Bran, Dagon, Ebisu, Dumuzi, Ghanan, Grain Gods, Howtu, Liber, Lono, Lugh, Neper, Odin, Sun Gods & Xochipilli

Issues, Intentions & Power:  Agriculture, changes, divination, endings, fertility, life, light, manifestation, power, purpose, strength, success & unity

Spellwork: Sun magick, rituals of thanks/offerings, bounty, abundance & fire magick

Activities:

Bake fresh bread

Weave wheat

Take walks along bodies of water

Craft a corn doll

Watch the sunrise

Eat outside with family/friends/coven members

Donate to your local foodbank

Prepare a feast with your garden harvest

Give thanks to the Earth

Decorate your altar with symbols of the season

Clean up a space in nature

Plant saved seeds

This cross-quarter fire festival is celebrated on August 1st or the first full moon of Leo & the seventh sabbat of the year. It represents the first harvest when the Earth's bounty is given for the abundance received.

Some believe this is the time where the God has weakened & is losing his strength as seen in the waning of the day's light. The Goddess is pregnant with the young God who will be born on Yule.

In some traditions, this day honors the Celt god Lugh, the god of craftsmanship; He is skilled in many things including wheel making, blacksmithing & fighting. Though there is some discrepancy as to why Lugh is honored on this day. Some tales say it's because he held a harvest faire in honor of his adoptive mother, Tailtiu.



Sources;

Farmersalmanac .com

Boston Public Library- The Origins & Practices of Lammas/Lughnasadh by Dhruti Bhagat

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

[talonabraxas]

2024 Wheel of the Year (Sabbats) Pagan Wheel

Feb 2 – IMBOLC (also called Candlemas, Imbolg, and Saint Brigid’s Day) It is midway between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. This sabbat reminds us that the light is growing stronger and that the harshness of winter will start to fade. To celebrate the growing light, many Pagans will light candles on this holiday.

Mar 19 – OSTARA /Spring Equinox: light and darkness are in perfect balance on this day. Moving forward, daylight will continue to grow as we head into Spring. It is a time to celebrate balance and the arrival of Spring. It represents new beginnings and the freshness of a new day. What’s past is in the past and past and it’s time to move forward.

May 1 – BELTANE (also known as May Day) (pronounced BELL-tain) This is an exciting and energetic holiday that celebrates sexuality, fertility, and all of the life that comes with Spring. It is a time of great joy and celebration! Feel the creative energy of the Universe. It is a time of renewal and rebirth … a time to grow as a person and reinvent yourself if you so desire.

June 20 – LITHA / Summer Solstice The Sun is at its maximum strength … it is the longest day of the year. This is a season of growth, fruitfulness, abundance, and strength. It’s a great night to perform spells for money, abundance, and financial security … and the strength to do what you need to do to be successful.

June 23 – Midsummer’s Eve: the night before Mid-Summer (June 24). It is considered a night of potent magick. Many Witches will be performing rituals and casting spells on this night. It is also a night when fairies roam the land. If you work with the fairy realm, this is an important night for you!

Aug 1 – LAMMAS (also known as Lughnassadh) the first harvest festival. It celebrates the first grains harvested for baking bread. Celebrate by baking or buying a loaf of bread and sharing it as a celebration.

Sept 22 – MABON / Fall Equinox: the light and darkness are in balance on this day. But it marks the change from the light half of the year to the dark half of the year. Moving forward the darkness will grow longer and the daylight will grow shorter. It is a celebration of the second harvest festival and is celebrated by feasting and visiting with family and friends.

Oct 31 – SAMHAIN (pronounced SAH-win) (as known as Halloween) This is the Witches’ New Year! The veil between worlds is thinnest and the dead are thought to return and visit. It is a night to communicate with the spirits, spirit guides, and ancestors. It is also a night to work with Tarot cards and Crystal Balls!

Samhain is also a time when we come to terms with death and are openly encouraged to let go of our fears of it. It is a time when we acknowledge the hard moments of life that we usually don’t think or talk about. If there are things we need to let go of, Samhain is a good time to release them!

Dec 21 – YULE / Winter Solstice: The real reason that this time of year was celebrated .. before christianity existed. We are halfway through the dark part of the year. The darkness is at its peak…moving forward the light begins to grow stronger and days become longer. You can see why the newly formed cult of christianity, which is what it was at the time, choose this time of year for the birth of christ…the light grows strong and brighter…the Sun is reborn. Yule traditions include burning a Yule log, kissing under mistletoe, and placing an evergreen tree in your home to represent the sustaining of life during the winter.

[marztheincredible]

Hello, it's me again! So in Chapter 8, Eda mentions in passing that there were a bunch of celebrations that Belos did away with or corrupted for his own ends, the sole exception being The Bloody Eye. What were some of the celebrations/festivals that went away when Belos came to power?

I went over some of the other Holidays already! But I’m regards to this question will dive a bit more into it.

The Bloody Eye is a Festival and Holiday that has been relatively untouched. It helps that different towns on the Isles celebrate the telling of The Story differently as well.

While The Bloody Eye is Celebrated without hindrance, the week of celebration it resides in, Week of Celestial Observation, is not. The different celestial events are now more of a ‘watch party’ of the stars than celebrating and partaking in the ancient magicks found within.

The Rhythm of Reflection is complicated. As time being ruled under the Emperor carried on, the tradition of wearing white and the array of colors signifying your guilt faded away, this is mainly seen within Covens. The Emperor’s Coven more so than others. Emperor’s Coven Members and Scouts wear mostly white, they’ve been chosen by the man who speaks to The Titan himself, and he says that their sins are forgiven, they have no shame or atonement to be asked of. Being the hand of The Titan’s will shields them from such a unnecessary posturing. During the Savage Ages, everyone young and old partook in this holiday. It was a time to be truthful to one another and a way to open up long needed conversations and words left unsaid.

The traditions of The Feast of Abundance was explained in its own chapter! For Willow and Gus they had marked this day as just a signifier that a new semester at Hexside is beginning and the hot days of Summer have begun. But thanks to Luz, Eda, and King we know theres much more to this day of eating large quantities of food.

The Frigid Refrains were a warning to all that winter is coming. Now, there is no warning at all. With the hectic weather of the Isles, this has unfortunately led to an increasing amount of deaths and towns left without wards to be buried in the encroaching and sudden snow/ice storms.

Winter Solstice & The Long Night: While Winter Solstice is celebrated by leeway of presents like Christmas, The Long Night is forgotten. It has been for a while. It was a day where The Children of the Isles would honor the day the Titan fell into his eternal slumber. Some would fast for the entire 18 hours, but the majority would travel out and spend the night in nature. Embracing the life the Titan gave the land with his decaying muck. However, because of the decline and degradation of the forests and other areas that are too dangerous due to the loss of Druids, this tradition much like the others, has seemingly vanished.