The Wheel of the Pagan Year Brigid Amor (Note: Dates are for the Northern Hemisphere) Yule (Winter Solstice): Yule is a time of the greatest darkness, the shortest day of the year and the beginning of the wheel of the year. Symbolizes the overcoming of depression and despair, rebirth, celebration of the return of the Light and return of the Sun God. The Goddess gives birth to a son, the God, at Yule. Since the God is also the Sun; this marks the point of the year when the Sun is reborn as well. The Goddess, slumbering through the winter of Her labor, rests after Her delivery. Fires or candles are lit to welcome the Sun's returning light, a reminder that death is followed by rebirth. Beginning of the regeneration of the Crone into the Maiden for Imbolc. The God transitions from the Waning Year of the Holly King to the Waxing Year of the Oak King. Colors: gold, green, red and silver Altar decorations: bayberries, holly, mistletoe, poinsettias, and a sprig of evergreen. Activities: Burning of Yule log, bonfire Herbs: Ivy, Rosemary, Bayberry, Cedar, Chamomile, Evergreen, Frankincense, Juniper, Sage, Arborvitae, Ash, Bay Laurel, Blessed Thistle, Holly, Mistletoe, Moss, Oak, Pinecones Goddesses: Dagda, Brighid, Isis, Demeter, Gaea, Diana, The Great Mother Candlemas (Imbloc): Celebrates the first signs of Spring. This is the seasonal change where the first signs of spring and the return of the sun are noted. The festival commemorates the successful passing of winter and the beginning of the agricultural year. The Sun God begins to increase in strength and the Goddess changes form from the Crone to the Maiden (in the transition of the three-fold energies of the Goddess.) Colors: white Altar Decorations: evergreen or dried broom Activities: Clean out what you don’t need, make a list of goals, buy a pentagram or goddess necklace. Herbs: Snowdrop, Rowan, Angelica, Basil, Bay, Benzoin, Heather, Blackberry, Celandine, Coltsfoot, Iris, Myrrh, Tansy, Violet Goddesses: Agaehindvo, Ameaterasu, Anu, Aphrodite, Aradia, Arianrhod, Arinna , Athena, Befana, Bertha, Blaize, Branwen, Brigit, Demeter, Diana, Februa, Felicitas, Freya, Gaia, Hera, Hestia , Inanna, Irene, Juno Februata, Kuan Yin, Lucia or Lucina, Oya, Pax, Pele, Perchta, Persephone, Sarasvati, Selene, Sul-Minerva, Venus and Vesta. Spring Equinox (Ostara): Equal day and equal night, equal female and equal male. The Sun God's strength increases. The Maiden celebrates her fertility. The fertility of the Earth is apparent. This is the time when the developing soul begins to prepare for future activity. Since day and night are equal at or around this time, the soul also strives to balance the male and female within its consciousness. Colors: all colors Altar Decorations: spring flowers Activities: Paint eggs for your altar (symbolizes rebirth), interact with animals and nature Herbs: Woodruff, Olive, Peony, Crocus, Easter Lily, Daffodil, African Violet, Jasmine, Sage, Acorn, Celandine, Cinquefoil, Dandelion, Dogwood, Honeysuckle, Iris, Jasmine, Rose, Tansy, Violet Goddesses: Anna Fearina, Aphrodite, Arianrhod, Astarte, Athena, Blodeuwedd, Bran, Chalchiuhtlique, Coatlicue, Cocomama, Copper Woman, Corn Maiden, Corn Mother, Cupra, Cybele, Damara-ana, Demeter, Diana, Doda, Erce, Eriu, Erzulie, Esther, Flidais, Flora, Freya, Gaia, Garbhog, Guadalupe, Guinevere, Hathor, Haumea, Hera/Juno, Hina, Indara, Iris, Ishtar, Isis, Ix Chel, Kore, Kuan Yin, Lakshmi, Libera, Lilith, Madhusri, Ma-Ku, Mary, Melusine, Menvra, Minerva, Morwyn, Nepthys, Oddudua, OestreOn-niona, Oshun, Ostara, Ova, Painted Woman, Parvati, Persephone, Renpet, Rheda, Salamaona, Venus, Vesna, and Vesta. Beltane: Official New Year for witches. Celebrate the fertility of the Goddess. The lusty Sun God has matured and seeks a wife. He courts and marries the Maiden at this time (May Eve festival.) Also the traditional Sabbath where the rule of the Wheel of the Year is returned to the Goddess. This Festival also marks the transition point of the threefold Goddess energies from those of Maiden to Mother. Colors: dark green Altar Decorations: spring flowers, blackthorn and hawthorn Activities: Birth magick, eat fertility fruits (peaches, mangoes, strawberries and raspberries), write poetry, celebrate marriage Herbs: Honeysuckle, St. Johns Wort, Angelica, Cinquefoil, Daisy, Frankincense, Almond, Belladonna, Clover, Hawthorn, Ivy, Marigold, Meadowsweet, Bluebells, Ash Tree, Orchid Root, Rose, Rowan, Sorrel, Woodruff Goddesses: Aphrodite, Asherah, Belili, Blodeuwedd, Bona Dea, Brighid, Danu, Eostre, Freya, Flora, Gwenhwyvar, Hina, Kwan Yin, Ishtar, Lada, Maia, Mary, Mawu, Oiwyn, Oshun, Rauni, Sappha, Spider Woman, Tonantzin, Vesta and Xochiquetzal. Summer Solstice (Litha): The Horned God is at the peak of is manifest Power and the flowering Goddess welcomes Him. Celebration of the Fire at the peak of the Sun God's strength. The fire, once again, represents the Sun, feted on this time of the longest daylight hours. The Maiden is now a mother-to-be, pregnant with the harvest to come. The human soul is full of activity. All that is needed for future growth has already been given. Colors: blue and green Altar Decorations: roses Activities: Burn lavender incense, give gifts, sex magick Herbs: Lily, oak, Ivy, Yarrow, Wild Thyme, Daisy, Carnation, Chamomile, Chickweed, Chicory, Cinquefoil, Delphinium, Dogwood, Elderflower, Fennel, Figwort, Hemp, Larkspur, Lavender, Male Fern, Meadowsweet, Mistletoe, Mugwort, Pine, Rose, St. John's Wort, Verbena, Wisteria, Vervain Goddesses: Aine, Ameaterasu, Anahita, Aphrodite, Artemis, Asherah, Brighid, Cardea, Coaltique, Corn Mother, Danu, Erzulie, Esmeralda, Freya, Flora, Gaia, Hera, Hestia, Iamanja, Inanna, Ishtar, Li, Litha, Mawu, Oraea, Oshun, Oya, Pele, Rhea, Rhiannon, Spider Woman, The Corn Mothers, Tiamat, Tonantzin, Vesta, Yellow Land Earth Queen, Yemaya. Lammas (Lughnasadh): The Sun God continues his decline. Mother Nature begins giving birth to the Harvest. This festival marks the change of the Threefold Goddess energies from that of Mother to Crone. A time of gathering what one has sown. The Sun God is in his decline, even as the Sun continues to warm the Earth and encourage the ripening of the crops. At this time, he may be known as the Grain God. Mother Nature begins to deliver the fruits of her mating with the Sun God at Beltane. The Earth is producing its fruits and beginning to rest. The human soul is likewise beginning to receive the fruits of its labors. Colors: gold, harvest colors Altar Decorations: bilberries, stems of grain, poppies, seasonal flowers Activities: Name goals, give harvest related offerings to the God and Goddess, bake bread, reminisce Herbs: Grains, Cornstalks, Grapes, Cyclamen, Acacia, Aloes, Benzoin, Honeysuckle, Fenugreek, Frankincense, Berries, Myrtle, Heather, Hollyhock, Mistletoe, Oak Leaves, Oat, Sunflower, Wheat Goddesses: Aphrodite, Artemis, Bast, Bau, Binah, Ceres, Changing Woman, Corn Mother, Demeter, Epona, Fortuna, Gaia, Guadalupe, Habondia, Hathor, Ishtar, Isis, Juno, Mawu, Prosperpina, Rainbow Serpent, Rhea, Rhiannon, Tailtu and Tonantzin Autumnal Equinox (Mabon): Equal night and equal day, equal male and female. Mabon is the completion of the harvest begun at Lughnasadh. Day and night are equal. Nature declines, draws back its bounty, readying for winter and its time of rest. The bounty of the harvest is celebrated in wine festivals, knowing that soon winter will bring uncertainty. Celebration of the second Harvest. Beginning of the sacrifice of the Sun God. Balance between the male force of the declining Sun God and the maturing Earth Mother. Balance. The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year's crops. Colors: brown, orange, yellow Altar Decorations: pomegranates (symbolizes Demeter), red fruit, pinecones, wheat, autumn flowers, fruit Activities: Make offerings (ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer), sex magick and balancing, making wine, gathering dried herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods, walking in the woods, scattering offerings in harvested fields, offering libations to trees, adorning burial sites with leaves, acorns, and pine cones to honor those who have passed over Herbs: Hazel, Corn Aspen, Asters, Mums, Oak, Pine Cones, Benzoin, Myrrh, Sage, Acorn, Benzoin, Fern, Grains, Honeysuckle, Marigold, Milkweed, Myrrh, Passion Flower, Rose, Solomon's Seal, Thistle, Vegetables Goddesses: Modron, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Pamona, The Muses, Akibimi, Cessair, Lilitu, Sin, Pamona Halloween (Samhain): Celebrate the triumph of eternal life over physical death. Samhain is the Feast of the Dead. On this night, the veil between the realm of the living and the realm of the dead is lifted, making communication with spirits easier. The Sun God is symbolically dead. The Earth Mother, having given birth to all, is the Crone, mourning the loss of her husband. It is the last of the three harvests. This festival also marks the transition of rulership of the Wheel of the Year from that of the Goddess to that of the God. Colors: black and orange Altar Decorations: homemade herbal candles, apples (symbolizes divination), pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns, Activities: Divination, drying winter herbs, meditation, past life recall, spirit contact, remembering the dead Herbs: Mums, Broom, Thistle, Acorns, Apples, Heather, Mandrake, Mint, Nutmeg, Sage, Straw, Oak Leaves, Arborvitae, Corn, Dittany of Crete, Ferns, Flax, Fumitory, Hazel, Mullein, Nightshade, Pumpkin, Turnip, Wormwood Goddesses: Arianrhod, Astarte, Baba Yaga, Cardea, Ceres, Cerridwen, Copper Woman, Demeter, Dione, Diti, Epona, Eurydice, Gaia, Gula, Hathor, Hecate, Hel, Hela, Holda, Inanna, Isis, Kali, Kalma, Kore, Lakshmi, Lilith, Maat, Mari, Minerva, Nephthys, Oya, Samia, Sarama, Sedna, Sheshat, Skinmo, Sina, Spider Grandmother, Tara, The Morrigan, Vanadis Esbats: Carnation, Gardenia, Iris, Lily, Night Jasmine, White Roses and any white or Nocturnal Flowers Back