#Wheel of the wiccan year

[silverclaw13]

Beltane 2024

Sunflowers Happy Beltane to all! May you be blessed with the season’s energies. Beltane To our ancestors, Beltane celebrates the beginning of summer. Bale or “bon” fires are an important part of the Beltane Sabbat. All fires at home or in shops were extinguished and then re-lit from the sacred bonfires that blazed on the tops of the surrounding hills. This was also the time when the herds were…

[ivyodessa]

Blessed Lammas/Lughnasadh 🪻🥖🌻

[hearthandheathenry]

All About Imbolc

Imbolc, also known as Imbolg, celebrated on February 1st, marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox in early Ireland and Scotland, and also signified the beginning of the first signs of spring after all the harsh winter days. Originally a pagan holdiay in pre-Christian times, there is little in writing about the historic traditions and customs, although many historians believe it revolved around the Celtic Goddess Brigid, lambing season, and cleansing due to observed ancient poetry.

Brigid is a Goddess and daughter of the father-God of Ireland, Dagda. She is associated with quite a few things depending on the sources, but universally associated with wisdom and poetry. Other associations of hers are blacksmithing, protection, domesticated animals, childbirth, fire, and healing. She was also known as a protector of the home and the family.

Once Christianity arose, it is believed that the Goddess was syncretized with the Irish Saint Brigid by Christian monks due to the many overlapping associations. This caused Imbolc to quickly turn into St. Brigids Day and the next day into Candlemas with the rising Christian popularity, enmeshing the holiday associations together.

Today, many people have mixed the traditions and melded many associations from both religious and cultural history to celebrate their own unique way. Common ways to celebrate are making a Brigid's Cross, welcoming Brigid into the home, having a feast in her honor, cleaning the home and oneself, visiting a holy well, and in some parts of the world they still hold festivals and processions carrying a representation of Brigid. Many pagans nowadays are using associations of hers and their connection with nature to create their own ways to celebrate, however, and you can absolutely celebrate however you feel called to do so.

Imbolc Associations:

Colors - white, gold or yellow, green, and blue

Food - milk, butter, cheese, seeds and grains, breads, herbs, blackberries, oat porridge, wild onion and garlic, honey

Animals - sheep and lambs, swans, cows, burrowing and hibernating animals

Items - candles, corn dolls, Brigid's cross, fires, snowdrops and white flowers, crocuses and daffodils, flower crowns

Crystals - amethyst, garnet, ruby, quartz, bloodstone

Other - lactation, birth, feasting, farm preparation, cleansing and cleaning, the sun, poetry and creative endevours, smithing, water

Ways To Celebrate Imbolc:

make a Brigid's cross

light candles

have a feast

bake bread

plan your spring garden

leave an offering for Brigid

make a corn doll

craft a flower crown

clean your home

take a cleansing bath

make something out of metal

have a bonfire

look for the first signs of spring

make your own butter or cheese

do divination work and seek wisdom

write a poem

[iridescent-witch-life]

For all the northern hemisphere witches, it's comming up to the summer solstice.

(source: no longer active on instagram)

[marmeloop]

my altar Imbolc aesthetic 2024 🐑

~ blessed imbolc

[thelandboundseawitch]

🐏Imbolc🐏

Imbolc, also known as Candlemas, or Brigid's Day, is a sabbat which celebrates the end of winter and the coming of spring. Groundhog's Day, a holiday celebrated in North America at this time, is very also celebrates the end of winter. The waking trees, softening and reviving Earth, and the return of the goddess. Imbolc starts on February 1st and lasts until sunset the next day.

Activities

Candle-making

Spring Cleaning

Create a Brigid Cross with straw

Plan your spring garden

Bake bread

Make potpourri

Make corn dollies

Make herbal tea

Take a hot bath

Making flower crowns or floral wreaths

Altar Decorations

White Candles

Brigid Cross

Corn Dollies

Flowers

Seeds and bulbs

Bread

Sheep and Lambs

Goddess Statues

Animals

Deer

Groundhog

Bear

Lamb

Ewe

Swan

Colors

White

Pale Green

Pale Pink

Pale Yellow

Lavender

Pale Brown

Crystals

Amethyst

Garnet

Onyx

Ruby

Turquoise

Bloodstone

Calcite

Moonstone

Deities

Bridgid

Gaia

Aphrodite

Venus

Hestia

Cupid

Eros

Flowers

Lavender

Chamomile

Daffodil

Crocus

Iris

Snowdrop

Food

Grains

Oats

Herbal Teas

Nuts

Bread

Potatoes

Seed

Honey

Milk

Cheese

White Meat

Raisins

Spice Cake

Incense and Oils

Frankincense

Jasmine

Myrrh

Rosemary

Basil

Wisteria

Vanilla

Lotus

Plants & Herbs

Angelica (Wild Celery)

Basil

Bay Laurel(Bay Leaf)

Rosemary

Cinnamon

Hay / Straw

Willow

Birch

Juniper

Spells and Rituals

Imbolc is the perfect time to cast spells, especially ones related to new beginnings, fertility, and the hearth. Spells regarding birth and rebirth are also seasonally appropriate due to many animals giving birth at this time of the year.

Final Notes

According to an old english folk tradition, if the weather is fine and clear on Candlemas, then cold and stormy weather will reign for the remaining weeks of winter. And bad weather at the beginning of February is a harbinger of a milder winter, and an early thaw.

There are different meanings for what Imbolc means, some say it means “In the belly” because of herding animals being pregnant. But historically Imbolc comes from the Gaelic word “Oimelc” which means “ewes milk”, because some animals have just given birth.

[kawaiigrimoire]

🕯️Imbolc Preparations 🌱

What an eventful winter it’s been!After a long period of rest, I’m really looking forward to Imbolc. Here are some things I’ve done to prepare:

🌲 Putting away all the holiday decorations

🌱 Planting seeds

📦 Re-organising and getting rid of old items

♻️ Recycling old paperwork/schoolwork

💻 Deleting old software and documents from school

📱 Deleting apps, photos, texts

👕 Repairing old clothes and buying new clothes

📓 Journalling and making plans to set in motion

🕯️ Making plans for Imbolc

[amentet-draws]

Drew this candle a while ago just to warm up.

Lammas blessings by the way. And happy harvest!

Some years ago some of my fellow online Wiccan buddies have come with an idea of making a candle chain for every sabbat, not just Imbolc. Each of us was keeping the flame for 24 hours (more or less, depended on our schedule and time zones), then passed it to another via phone call or message. I loved taking part in it. Especially when making phone calls! (I didn't have a smartphone yet when we've just started so messaging was harder than phoning).

Sadly that web coven is no more.

But therefore it's totally OK to post candle drawings for each Sabbat (until at last I come up with something new)

[galacticnikki]

A Baby Witch's First Grimoire

Entry 24 - Mabon Correspondences

It's that time of the year where the leaves begin to change colors and the chill of fall rolls in. Mabon is the second harvest, I like to call it Witch's Thanksgiving. Mabon carries with it themes of the circle of life. The earth gave life to the planet, fall brings it's slow departure for winter, and then it's reborn in the spring. Blessed be your Mabon and may you be blessed with good fortune, prosperity, comfort, and joy.

Mabon Correspondences

Colors:

Brown

Orange

Violet

Maroon

Russet

Deep Gold

Red

Altar Items:

Wine

Grape Juice (if alcohol isn't an option)

Leaves

Pine Cones

Apples

Pomegranates

Gourds

Acorns

Grains

Corn

Vines (such as ivy)

Dried Seeds

Activities:

Wine Making

Foraging

Walking in the Woods

Giving Thanks

Having a Harvest Feast

Having a Balefire

Spellwork:

Protection

Prosperity

Financial Security

Spirit Work

Balance

Animals:

Dogs

Wolves

Hawks

Eagles

Vultures

Falcons

Other Predatory Birds

Stones:

Amethyst

Yellow Topaz

Sapphire

Lapis Lazuli

Yellow Agates

Foods:

Wine

Grapes

Nuts

Apples

Breads

Root Vegetables

Herbs:

Acorn

Benzoin

Ferns

Grains

Honeysuckle

Marigold

Milkweed

Myrrh

Passionflower

Rose

Sage

Solomon's Seal

Thistle

[theyoungwaldschrat]

Holy days at the Sacred Mountain Imbolg / Ostara / Beltane / Litha / Lughnasadh / Mabon / Samhain / Yule

[silverclaw13]

Happy Ostara 2024

Spring Arrives with Ostara Happy Ostara all of us at GoddessHasYourBack.com wish you and all your kin a great sabbat. Ostara Ostara happens at the Spring (Vernal) Equinox. The days become equal to the night, and the light finally overcomes the darkness of winter. Ostara’s theme is fertility. The God courts the Goddess and their sexual energies of desire flow over the Earth, leading to a burst of…

[ivyodessa]

Blessed Beltane 🏵️🌱🌼

[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

[iridescent-witch-life]

@paperwitchco

[ceo-draiochta]

Obviously plenty of issues with wicca but one thing I just don't understand is why they had to drag us into it? There are alternative english, non gaelic, holidays celebrated around those times if they were so set on the dates.

The fact that English people, who literally lived through Irelands war of independence decided they were going to slap gaelic names on their neo religion is so fucking tiring. Can they not just leave us alone for a minute.

And I understand that the mixing of 'druidism' and wicca in early stages had an impact, Nichols specifically and it wasn't until later wiccans realised Gardner had lied about the entire foundations of his religion.

(Any supposed "Scottish" past of these people is blatant Highlandism, that justifies nothing btw)

But to this day people are uncritically using the words imbolc, bealtaine, lughnasadh and samhain in a wicca context with no regard for the fact that people just stole from a culture their country had tried to decimate. Is there no thought into the appropriateness of the use of these holidays?

Lá Bealtaine, Lá Lúnasa and Oíche Shamhna were all still celebrated at this point too? While imbolc is presumably subsumed into Brigids day. There were real living people celebrating (and still celebrate) these holidays, they weren't for random English people to take and twist into a god and goddess sex metaphor.

I have personally never heard of people today trying to do something about this but I also would not frequent IRL wicca spaces. So those more in the know, is there any push or discussion about this?

[notdelusionalatall]

Blessed Summer Solstice ♥