Starweaver's Online Book Of Shadows: Wicca Lesson 3
Wicca Lesson 3
Living Wicca Foundation
THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR - THE SABBATS
Good references for this topic are the following books:
The Sabbats
Wheel of the Year
A Witches Bible Compleat
The Wiccan year starts at Samhain (Halloween), with the "death" of the
God and the mourning of the Goddess.
Oct 31 Samhain (pronounced sow-in)
Dec 20-23 Yule (actual date of solstice varies)
Feb 2 Imbolc (also Imbolg, Candlemas)
Mar 20-23 Ostara (actual date of equinox varies)
May 1 Beltane (also Bealtaine, May Day
)
Jun 20-23 Litha (also Midsummer -- actual date of solstice varies)
Aug 1 Lughnasadh (also Lammas -- pronounced loo-na-sa)
Sep 20-23 Mabon (actual date of equinox varies)
Note that all of these holidays are on or near dates that are holidays
for other religions or secular observances. In addition to knocking
down old pagan temples and putting churches on the same site because
people were used to going there, the church did the same for holidays.
Picture a wheel with eight spokes with Samhain at the top. This is the
Wheel of the Year.
Samhain:
The Last Harvest festival. The slaughter of the animals in
preparation for the winter ahead. The sacrifice of the God. Festival
in honor of the dead. Acknowledges that those who have gone before are
still part of the cycle of life and part of the family. The Veil
between the worlds is thinnest at this time of year and it is believed
that spirits, ancestors, the gods, et cetera, cross and walk among
humans at this time. Oktoberfest! Beer started at Lughnasadh is now
drinkable.
The Celtic New Year, adopted by Wicca. (Some traditions
extinguish the God candle on the altar and don't light it again until Yule.)
Yule:
The God is reborn. Jesus, Orpheus, Mithra, Dionysus, are some of
the dying and reborn gods born at this time of the year. Many
Christmas holiday traditions are of Northern European pagan origin.
Hanukkah, an old New Moon Jewish tradition, actually predates the
period to which the myth is dated. It was originally a festival
tracing the returning sun.
Imbolc: The Child God and Goddess meet. Animals and plants beginning
to wake from winter's dormancy (especially groundhogs).
Ostara: The Goddess becomes pregnant by the God. A fertilility
holiday: symbols are eggs, bunnies, flowers, babies. Originally a
Germanic holiday, not celebrated by the Celts. Linked to Passover,
Purim and Easter. Also Lady Day, the day on which Mary became pregnant
with Jesus.
Beltane:
The marriage of the Goddes and the God. A fire holiday, the
other major holiday of the Celtic year. Fertility rites, rekindling of
the fires. The Great Rite is celebrated.
Litha:
Summer solstice, very important in Scandinavia. Lots of
marriages occur at this time. Celebrates the peak of male power,
fatherhood of the God. The Great Rite is celebrated.
Lughnasadh:
Sacrifice of the Grain God. Aztecs used loaf of bread
shaped like a man to symbolize the God. John Barleycorn. The Great
Rite is celebrated.
Mabon:
Sacrifice of the Wine God (Dionysus). Berries and fruits are
emphasized. Second harvest. Equivalent to Jewish Succoth.
Note: all three harvests (Lughnasadh, Mabon, Samhain) are sacrifices,
since something had to be given to the Earth for anything to be taken
from the Earth.
Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane and Lughnasadh are the Major or Greater
Sabbats.
Yule, Ostara, Litha and Mabon are the Minor or Lesser Sabbats.
ESBATS
Good references for this topic are the following books:
Moon Magick by DJ Conway
Esbat: a worship ritual held usually at the time of the full moon; can
also be held at the new moon. Focus is on the Goddess.
There are 12, possibly 13, moons in a solar year. Some traditions name
each of the full moons.
Jan Wolf Moon
Feb Ice Moon (also Storm Moon)
Mar Storm Moon (also Chaste Moon)
Apr Growing Moon (also Seed Moon)
May Hare Moon
Jun Mead Moon (also Honey Moon and Dyad Moon)
Jul Hay Moon (also Wort Moon)
Aug Corn Moon (also Barley Moon)
Sep Harvest Moon (also Wine Moon)
Oct Blood Moon (also Hunter's Moon)
Nov Snow Moon
Dec Cold Moon (also Oak Moon)
The second full moon in one month is a Blue Moon.
Workings may be more effective if done in a proper phase of the moon:
Waxing moon for things you want to grow and increase.
Full moon for integrating and perfecting your work; positive things;
time of highest psychic potential.
Waning moon for things you want to decrease.
Dark moon for banishments, bindings, secrets. Also a time of great
psychic potential but different in flavor from full moon.
Always a good idea to call the quarters to act as watchtowers and
empower the circle at full and new moons because of the greater energy
available.
RITES OF PASSAGE
There are five secular rites of passage:
Wiccaning:
similar to Christening or bris. Blesses a baby and calls
the gods to watch over it. Does not dedicate a child to Wicca,
however. They need to choose their own path.
Coming of Age:
Age of first menstruation or around age 13. Similar to
Bar Mitzvah or Confirmation.
Handfasting:
Marriage. Usually "for as long as we shall love one
another." Other traditions pledge a year and a day, renewing vows
every year.
Croning/Sageing:
Elderhood. At the time of menopause or around age 50.
Marks the transition to respected elder of the community.
Crossing the Bridge:
Death. Similar to a wake.
There are several religious rites of passage as well. These will vary
from tradition to tradition. Here are the ones for the Living Wicca
Foundation:
Dedication:
Student dedicates to study for a year and a day.
Initiation:
Student promises self to service of the Lord and Lady as a
Wiccan. They are taught how to run a ritual and how to maintain an
altar, et cetera. Some groups have more than one level of initiation.
It is recommended that you read "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary
Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham chapter 8 and pages 127-143, and
"Buckland'sComplete Guide to Witchcraft" by Raymond Buckland pages
97-100 and 38-39.
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