The Autumn Equinox is officially here! You may be seeking more rituals and tools to be in better alignment with Mother Earth. One of the most powerful ways I’ve found to tune myself to the natural rhythms of Mother Earth is by following the wheel of the year…….. or as several call them…….the eight Sabbats.

You’ve probably heard some of the festivals from the Wheel of the Year mentioned, like Samhain (pronounced SOW-WEN and celebrated during Halloween), Beltane (May Day), and Yule (celebrated as the same time as Christmas). If you’ve been curious to learn more about the origins of these Sabbats the Wheel of the Year is where you’ll want to start! I will be starting with Yule, which is only a little over a month away and will be going into great depth with each one. I will provide you with recipes, rituals, and crafting ideas to assist you in celebrating each one. Some will speak to you stronger than others and that is ok!

Learning more about the Wheel of the Year will not only help you feel closer with nature and all the elements, but it will give you rituals to use year-round to connect with yourself and Mother Earth. I love the Wheel of the Year because when you start learning about them you see that several current /faiths/religions/traditions have pulled from the Wheel of the Year.

What exactly is the Wheel of the Year?

The Wheel of the Year is comprised of eight Sabbats or festivals that occur on or around the same day each year. The eight Sabbats are comprised of four solar events, i.e. the Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice, Spring Equinox, and Fall Equinox. The remaining four Sabbats are based on seasonal changes and farming. Here’s a rundown of the eight Sabbats, what they align with, and their dates:

Yule: December 21st – January 1st ~~ Winter Solstice

Imbolc: February 1st ~~ Holiday which signifies the first signs of Spring

Ostara: March 20th~~ Spring Equinox (first day of Spring)

Beltane: April 30th – May 1st~~ A fire ceremony that signifies the midpoint between Spring and Summer

Litha: June 21st or 22nd ~~ Summer Solstice

Lughnasadh: July 31st – August 1st ~~Marks the first harvest of the year.

Mabon: September 21st – September 23rd ~~ Fall Equinox

Samhain: October 31st – November 1st ~~ Marks the New Year on the Wheel of the Year. This is considered by many to be the most important of all of the Sabbats.

Who Utilizes the Wheel of the Year?

You don’t have to belong to or follow a specific religion or label to use or observe the Wheel of the Year. Most notably Wiccans, Pagans, Neo-Pagans, and non denominational persons reference the Wheel of the Year for festivals and rituals. If you don’t identify with any of these labels, but like to dabble in ritual, celebration, or intention setting, that’s perfectly fine! You’ll still be able to find many uses for this powerful tool.

Where did the Wheel of the Year start?

The Wheel of the Year is rooted in several cultures and combines festivals from Romans, ancient Greeks, Germanic cultures of northern Europe, and the Celts. This is one reason why you’ll see a variety of names for some of the festival and differing dates. For example, Lughnasadh also goes by Lammas and Litha also goes by Midsummer. Combining all eight into a wheel was a way to honor and streamline all of the celebrations that many Pagans, Wiccans, and non denominational people hold dear.

How to Use The Wheel of the Year?

Learning ways to implement the wheel of the year can certainly be overwhelming! There is so much information out there. I would love to make it easy for you to incorporate new tools into your personal practice, so below are some tips and tricks.

Here’s a rundown of some of the ways you can enjoy the wheel of the year:

• Create your own celebration for some or all of the Sabbats. (More to come in a later blog).

• Conduct a ritual for each Sabbat or the ones that speak to you the most.

• Make you house festive based on what Sabbat you are celebrating. This does not steer far from how most currently decorate for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Halloween etc..

• Cook specific foods for each of the Sabbats. You can google so many fun recipes.

• If you enjoy crafting the Sabbats are a perfect time to get creative with your loved ones, family and friends.

• The Sabbats build off one another from the beginning to the end of the year. Journaling is one of my favorite things to do to then go back and reflect. As the wheel turns, I love to see where my thoughts were during the previous Sabbat. It is so amazing to see my growth throughout the year.

I hope you find this “Wheel of the Year 101” somewhat helpful for a brief understanding of what it entails. Stay tuned for several Blogs and how to’s starting with Yule. I will be also posting on my social media channels (Instagram and Facebook) recipes, crafts and rituals that you can participate in to grow your knowledge and practice! Of course with me delving deep in the practice of Runes in the Northern Tradition, I will be intertwining Runes throughout the Wheel of the Year!

Gibu Alu!!~~~ Traci