Sabbats and Esbats
All witches know the importance of the sabbats (solar and seasonal holidays) and the esbats (lunar celebrations and non-sabbat gatherings), and that each one has a different form, focus, and feel to it. These holidays are a witch’s way of keeping connected to the rhythm of the universe, but they are also more than this; depending on tradition, each sabbat (and sometimes, each esbat) has a rich history of ritual observance delving deep into the myths of that particular culture. Given how varied the sabbats and esbats can be, I will mostly speak of them in general and basic terms. There are many different things created for each of the holidays, such as oils, incenses, powders, brews, and foods. It would be redundant to include tons of food recipes for the different holidays, but I will include a few. The main focus of the food sections is on lists of ingredients and food ideas for the different holidays, which you can combine in your own way for your holiday feasts.
The sabbats are celebrated eight times a year in the following order:
Please note that each of the sabbats is known by many variant names (again, depending on tradition), but these are fairly common names and how I address them on the following pages. I focus on each sabbat individually and follow up with a section on esbats. For now, let us begin at the beginning. For witches, Samhain marks both the ending and the beginning—our new year.
Samhain
This holiday is generally celebrated on October 31 and is the main origin of the secular holiday of Halloween. In the old calendar, Samhain marks the beginning of the dark half of the year, the third harvest. This period is the meat harvest, the opening of the veil between this world and the otherworld, and a time to honor the dead. Even though these may seem like bleak or spooky reasons to mark a holiday, this night is always celebrated with joy and is usually a favorite day of witches. In many traditions, this night also honors the crone goddess, and many Witches pay homage to her on this night. I myself honor the crone goddess Cailleach (KYLE-ee-ock) on Samhain, for it is said that at this time she is reborn and begins summoning forth the powers of winter. She is the ancient Celtic hag goddess of winter and a possible derivative of the green-faced “witch” so prominent in modern Halloween decorations today. She has a blue-black face; the old Scottish word glas referred to the color blue-black in some instances, but green in others, so it has been suggested that a mistranslation may have led to “witch hags” being given green faces. The word cailleach is still used today to refer to a witch. That being the (possible) case, I have made my peace with the green-faced witch and have decided to add her to my own Samhain/Halloween decorations with the intention of honoring the Cailleach.
Other modern Halloween customs also find their origins in the distant past. Costumes, jack-o’-lanterns (originally and sometimes still made of turnips), apple bobbing, ghost stories, and even trick-or-treating all have historical and Pagan significance. I personally choose to revel in the secular side of Halloween before I have the formal Samhain ritual later that night. Celebrating the modern, public side of Halloween helps lend that feeling of tribal acknowledgement of the day to my Samhain experience. When these festivals were first celebrated in ancient times, everyone in the community, and indeed everyone in Celtic (and other) nations, acknowledged and usually took part in the rites. These days, newer religions have pressed the Pagan holy days into the shadows and they are only celebrated by small, spread-out groups with little public fanfare. Through the mask of Halloween, Samhain has luckily retained a large public presence. Even though non-Pagans usually do not have any idea of the holiday’s true significance, the energy of so many people all participating in one of our holidays leaves me with a wonderful feeling of community.
On this night, it is traditional to release the energy of the old year, honor the dead, honor the crone goddess, ask for protection through the dark half of the year, work divinations to foretell events in the new year, and make a wish for the future. There are many ways to do these things and I will give a few examples. For divinations, the methods described in chapter 11 can be used as part of your Samhain celebration.
Brew
Special brews to help you embrace the energies of the season can be created for each of the sabbats. These are known as attunement teas. One example is the following:
Samhain Attunement Tea
Warm the apple cider in a pot to just under boiling and add the herbs. Remove from heat and cover. Allow to steep for ten to fifteen minutes before straining and drinking. As you drink it, focus on letting go of the past (the old year) and connecting to the future.
Powder
This powder can be sprinkled in circles around the altar candles to enhance your attunement to the power of this day during your ritual.
Samhain Powder
Grind and mix the herbs together and then combine with the cornstarch. Charge the powder with your intent to connect with the energy of Samhain; focus on the feeling you get as Halloween draws near and infuse this into the powder.
Powder Spell
Making a Samhain Wish
Write out your wish on the piece of paper. Cut the apple in half through the center and sprinkle the Samhain Powder over the pentagram shape that is exposed on the inside of the apple halves. Fold the paper into a square, making sure to make all folds toward you. Place the paper on the bottom apple half and set the other half of the apple on top. Carefully put the apple in the paper bag and twist up the bag to secure. Hold the bag in both hands and focus all your energy and intent on achieving your goal. Bury the bag with the apple in it to seal the spell.
Oil
You can use this oil to anoint the body prior to ritual, or to anoint candles used in Samhain rites.
Samhain Oil
Warm the olive oil, hazelnuts, and herbs in a pot over low heat until you can smell the herbs in the air. Remove from heat and charge them with the energy of Samhain; keep the image of gently falling autumn leaves and the feeling this image evokes as you send energy into the oil. Strain and bottle the oil for use.
Oil Spell
To Honor the Crone
Anoint the candle with the oil and charge it to be a sacrifice in honor of the crone goddess. If you are honoring a specific goddess, charge the candle to be a sacrifice in her honor. As you light the candle say the following:
With this candle I now light,
I honor you on this sacred night.
Mighty Goddess, queen of the dark;
Into your season, I now embark.
Please guide me on my spiritual path,
And protect me from harsh winter’s wrath.
Blessed be.
Charms
Charms of protection are traditional during this time of greater connection to the Otherworld. Even though we invite the spirits of our loved ones to our celebrations, it is still a good idea to have protective amulets to prevent any unwelcome spirits from making their presence known. The first and most obvious charm of protection used on this night is the jack-o’-lantern.
Jack-O’-Lantern
Originally made from hollowed-out turnips with a candle placed inside, modern jack-o’-lanterns are hollowed-out and carved pumpkins. Whether using a turnip or pumpkin, the principle of the lantern remains the same: to turn away evil.
It is traditional to carve a scary looking face on the jack-o’-lantern to scare away any nearby evil, but you can also carve runes, pentagrams, or other symbols of protection instead of a face, or incorporate it into the face’s design. After settling on a design, draw it on the front of the pumpkin with the marker so you have a pattern to follow while carving. Once you’ve hollowed out the middle, carve the pumpkin and bless it as an amulet of protection. Use a blessed candle to light up the pumpkin.
No-Ghoul Garlic
This charm is very easy to create; you only need one
ingredient!
The protective powers of garlic have been known for centuries. Nearly everyone has heard that garlic repels vampires, but regardless of whether or not that is true, garlic is indeed quite a strong magical protectant. Charge a rope of garlic with protective energy and hang it in your kitchen. You can also make several and add them to your Halloween decorations to keep evil at bay. You can also carry a single garlic clove in a black magic charm bag as an amulet of personal protection.
Foods
There are many foods that are traditional and modern that can be eaten in celebration of the holiday. Since Samhain marks the third harvest, the meat harvest, foods that contain beef, pork, or other meats are traditional. Breads are also traditional, as are foods made from squash, turnips, potatoes, and corn. While it is true that potatoes are definitely not ancient in Ireland, they have been grown there since the sixteenth century, so they have been traditional fare for a considerable amount of time. Here are some recipes and ideas for Samhain.
Apple bobbing
For luck in the new year, it is traditional to eat an apple on Samhain night. If the apple can be plucked out of the water without using your hands, it is even luckier. Fill a large basin with water and float several apples in the water. Everyone can take a turn trying to grab an apple with their teeth. Whoever gets their apple the fastest should have the best luck of the year.
Apple Spirit Food
It is a traditional practice to bury apples in the earth so that their energies can feed those spirits wandering about on this night.
Dumb Supper
It is an Irish Samhain tradition to set extra places at the table for departed loved ones to honor them, and to eat the dinner in silence, hence the name “dumb” supper. Traditional foods for this supper include porridge, bread, wine or mead, and a bit of tobacco set on the table. These days, we are free to enjoy many foods at our dumb supper. I personally have never liked porridge, but to each their own.
Samhain Stew
Cut the meat into 1 inch cubes. Lightly dust the meat in a little flour. Brown the meat a few pieces at a time in a large sauce pan. When all the meat has been browned, set it aside and place the onions and garlic in the pan, cooking until onion is tender (about 3 to 5 minutes). Add the rest of the flour, and while stirring constantly, add water until smooth. Add the bouillon and salt. Add the meat back to the pan and heat until boiling, stirring constantly. When it has begun to boil, reduce heat to low and allow to simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally and adding a little water if needed. Add the rest of the vegetables, except zucchini. Heat to boiling again and then reduce heat to low and simmer for another 20 minutes. Finally, stir in zucchini and simmer for 10 minutes, until the zucchini is tender. Serve hot.
Shopping List
Here is the list of the ingredients used in the Samhain section.
|
❏ Allspice |
❏ Corn |
❏ Potatoes |
|
❏ Apple (fruit and cider) |
❏ Cornstarch |
❏ Pumpkin |
|
❏ Bay |
❏ Flour |
❏ Rosemary |
|
❏ Beef (stew meat) |
❏ Garlic |
❏ Sage |
|
❏ Bouillon cubes |
❏ Hazelnut |
❏ Salt |
|
❏ Candles (black) |
❏ Olive oil |
❏ Tarragon |
|
❏ Carrots |
❏ Onion |
❏ Turnip |
|
❏ Cloves |
❏ Pork |
❏ Zucchini |
Yule
Yule, Nollaig, Winter Solstice—whatever you wish to call it, it is a magical night. Give or take a few days, December 21 marks the point at which winter begins in the northern hemisphere; it is the day in the earth’s orbit when the sun is directly over the tropic of Capricorn and we receive the least amount of the sun’s rays. This is the low point in the solar cycle (for the northern hemisphere; for those in the southern hemisphere, it is the summer solstice at this time), but it is also the point of beginning anew. Though this day is the shortest of the year, from this point forward, the days will become longer and the sun’s influence will grow in strength. It is for this reason that it’s said the sun is reborn on this night.
Many Pagan practices used to celebrate Yule were adopted into Christianity’s Christmas holiday; everything from Santa to presents to the Christmas tree are actually Pagan in origin and are perfectly suited to our Winter Solstice sabbat festivities. To celebrate this time of solar rebirth, many candles are lit to symbolize the light of the sun returning to us; boughs of evergreen are brought indoors to reinforce our connection to nature and to bring its life force into our homes; a yule log is lit in honor of the heat of the sun; and a feast is held to celebrate both surviving the harshness of winter and the hope of things to come.
Brew
Wassail is an excellent “attunement tea” for Yule. There are quite a few variant recipes for this drink, many with alcohol. I have chosen to include a nonalcoholic version that is easy to prepare and very effective for attuning to the spirit of the season.
Nonalcoholic Wassail
Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Simmer over low heat for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and charge with intent to connect with the Yuletide spirit. Serve in mugs with a cinnamon stick or candy cane.
Powder
Yule Powder
Grind all the herbs together and add the cornstarch. Charge the powder with intent and bottle for use.
Powder Spell
Yule Pine Cones
This charm enhances the holiday atmosphere without being as overpowering as those store-bought, spice-scented pine cones.
Pour some glue into the bowl and dilute slightly with water; stir with the paintbrush. Paint the ends of each pine cone with the glue. Holding the pine cone over the pan, sprinkle the pine cone with the powder, shaking off any excess. Allow the pine cones to dry, and then charge them with your desire to enhance the holiday atmosphere. Once dried, you can decorate with them as you would any other pine cones.
Oil
Yule Oil
Add the oil, cinnamon, apple peel, and rosemary to a pot; heat over low heat until you can smell it in the air. Remove from heat and allow it to cool. Charge with your desire, strain, and bottle for use.
Oil Spell
It is part of Yuletide to welcome back the reborn sun. One way to do this is through candle magic.
Welcoming the Sun
Carve a sun shape (a circle with eight spokes) onto the candle, and then anoint it with the oil. Charge the candle with solar energy and light it. Chant the following:
From longest night to bright new day,
The sun is reborn and I rejoice.
Gaze at the candle for a bit and focus on the return of the waxing light.
Charm
Since Yule is filled with magic, it is only natural that some of the items we commonly associate with this time of year started out as charms.
Tree Ornament
It is said that the glass ball ornaments seen on Christmas trees are descended from the protective charms known as witch balls. It’s quite easy to turn an ordinary glass ornament into a witch ball.
Carefully remove the loop for the ornament hook, and fill the opening with the rosemary. Replace the loop and gently hold the ornament in both hands to charge it with your intent for protection through the winter. Hang on your Yule tree where it can radiate its energy throughout the home.
Foods
The Yule feast menu is usually similar to what people eat for Christmas dinner: roast turkey or pork, stuffing, vegetables, cookies, pies, and one of my favorites, mashed potatoes.
Yuletide Mashed Potatoes
Potatoes are healing and nurturing foods, both in their regular use and in their magical abilities. Butter is symbolic of transformation and is a sacred food of the fae, as is milk. Combining these foods creates a classic comfort food perfect for the holiday.
In a large pot, boil potatoes until very tender, 30 minutes. Drain the potatoes and place in a large bowl. With a large fork or hand mixer, mash the potatoes, adding the milk, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy. In modern times, it is a wise idea to substitute 1% milk for whole milk and to use a fat-free butter substitute when making mashed potatoes; though butter is symbolic of transformation, the physical transformation we undergo from eating too much of it is usually unwelcome!
Shopping List
Here is the list of items and ingredients used in the Yule section.
|
❏ Apple (fruit and cider) |
❏ Glue |
❏ Pine cones |
|
❏ Black pepper |
❏ Lemon juice |
❏ Potatoes |
|
❏ Butter (or fat-free butter alternative) |
❏ Milk |
❏ Pumpkin pie spice |
|
❏ Candles (white) |
❏ Nutmeg |
❏ Rosemary |
|
❏ Chamomile |
❏ Orange juice |
❏ Salt |
|
❏ Cinnamon |
❏ Ornaments |
❏ Sugar |
|
❏ Cloves |
❏ Paintbrush |
❏ Sunflower oil |
|
❏ Cornstarch |
❏ Pins |
|
Imbolg
Though Imbolg is one of the major sabbats of the year, its traditional practices are rather few due to the fact that it falls in one of the coldest parts of the year for many. This sabbat marks the “quickening of the year”—a time to work divinations to foretell the weather and see if frost is out of the ground. This is an important holiday in the agricultural sense for it is the turning point in the year (halfway between winter and spring) and it is hoped that early planting may begin at this time or soon after, weather permitting. It is also an important holiday in the religious sense because in the old days, it was celebrated by many as the day of Brigid, a powerful fiery goddess of inspiration and smithcraft. In the modern craft, it is seen as a celebration of the recovery of
the goddess from her work in giving the sun rebirth.
Due to its weather forecasting element, Imbolg has filtered down into modern society as Groundhog Day, the day when people observe a groundhog to determine if winter is waning or if it will last six more weeks. Anciently, it was noted that if serpents came out of their holes at this time or if frogs could be heard croaking, the ground had thawed and it was likely that warmer days were on their way. The more modern use of a groundhog seems to be divination by opposites. If the groundhog sees its shadow (meaning the day has to be somewhat sunny for there to be a shadow), it is said to mean that winter shall remain cold for another six weeks. If the groundhog does not see its shadow (since on cloudy days there are rarely shadows), it means that winter is ending early. Rather than observing snakes or frogs or sneaking up on cute little groundhogs, I prefer to use other divination methods for predicting the weather and what the future may hold in the coming spring.
Brew
The attunement tea for Imbolg combines the energy and warmth of the sun with the cozy closeness of the remaining winter.
Imbolg Attunement Tea
Heat the water to boiling, then remove from heat. Steep the tea bags and sage for five to ten minutes. Next, pour a cup of the tea, adding the honey and lemon to the cup. Sip to connect with the energy of the holiday.
Powder
Imbolg Powder
Grind the herbs together and stir in the cornstarch. Charge with your intent to connect to the energy of Imbolg. Bottle the powder for use.
Powder Spell
Brigid’s Spell for Strength
Using the pin, carve an upward-pointing triangle into the candle. Charge the candle with your desire for inner strength both in health and in overall willpower. Sprinkle a ring of Imbolg Powder around the base of the candle and light the candle. Say the following chant:
Power of fire; candle’s flame,
Restore my strength in Brigid’s name.
This may be repeated for as long as desired. Allow the candle to burn for as long as is safe.
Oil
Imbolg Oil
Warm the oil and herbs over low heat until you can smell the herbs in the air. Allow to cool and charge with the fiery energy of Imbolg. Bottle for use.
Oil Spell
Oil Scrying
Pour the oil into the bowl and gaze into it for omens and symbols of the future.
Foods
Lamb is a traditional food of Imbolg, as are dairy foods and all edible seeds.
Roast Leg of Lamb
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Crush the juniper berries (if using) and stir them in with the mustard, salt, and pepper. Spread the mustard mixture all over both sides of the lamb. Place the lamb with the fat side up on a rack in a roasting pan. Roast for 2 to 2 ½ hours until meat has internal temperature of 160 degrees on a meat thermometer.
Charm
Seeds are packed with the growth and abundance energy of Imbolg, sunflower seeds in particular. Using seeds and grains in a prosperity charm now maximizes effectiveness as we begin the time of waxing light.
Seeds of Prosperity
Charge the seeds and grains with your desire for prosperity and place in the magic bag. Seal the bag and hold it in your hands. Chant the following as many times as you feel necessary to seal the spell.
Seeds and grain, sprout abundance;
Bring prosperity to me now.
Carry this charm with you as much as possible.
Shopping List
Here is the list of ingredients used for Imbolg in this section.
|
❏ Almond oil |
❏ Garlic |
❏ Mustard |
|
❏ Black pepper |
❏ Green fabric |
❏ Poppy seeds |
|
❏ Candle (red) |
❏ Honey |
❏ Rice (brown) |
|
❏ Chamomile tea |
❏ Juniper berries |
❏ Sage |
|
❏ Coriander |
❏ Lamb Leg (15 pound) |
❏ Salt |
|
❏ Cornstarch |
❏ Lemon juice |
❏ Sunflower (oil and seeds) |
Spring Equinox
The Spring Equinox celebrates balance. The sun is perfectly over the equator, day and night are equal, and we’ve arrived at the midpoint between winter and summer. Flowers bloom in a burst of color and life. The sweet songs of birds fill the blossoming trees and the earth herself feels young, renewed, and revived. Even those of us with really strong allergies can still appreciate the beauty of this magical time … at least once the allergy medicine kicks in. It is such an awe-inspiring sight to see bees, butterflies, and birds all working to complete nature’s cycle, pollinating flowers and cracking open seeds.
This time of year can offer great opportunities for connection to nature and appreciation of the delicate balance and how each creature has an important part to play. Again, if you suffer from allergies make sure that you have the appropriate medication with you as necessary. Gasping and wheezing tend to be a distraction from communion with nature—this I know for a fact.
On the Spring Equinox, it is traditional to celebrate new life and the growth of nature in its waxing cycle. Traditional practices include coloring eggs as symbols of fertility, decorating with flowers and herbs, and eating fresh early fruits and vegetables in the sabbat feast.
Brew
The attunement tea for the Spring Equinox is a bright mix of herbs.
Spring Tonic
Heat the water to just boiling then remove from heat and add the herbs. Cover the pot and allow the herbs to steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Sweeten with honey if desired.
Oil
Spring Equinox Oil
Put the herbs and oil in a pot and heat on low until you can smell the herbs in the air. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Charge the oil with your intent, strain, and bottle.
Oil Spell
Spring Cleaning Besom
A besom is a witch’s ritual broom. It is used for purification and cleansing magic. You can enchant a regular broom with magic and use its power to cleanse your home of negativity.
Anoint the handle of the broom with a dab of the magic oil. Wipe off any excess so the handle is not too slippery and gently sweep each room of the house in a clockwise motion to clean out the psychic grunge that builds up over time. When you are finished, wash the whole broom in cold running water.
Powder
Spring Equinox Powder
Grind together the lemon zest and thyme, then stir in the cornstarch. Charge with your intent and bottle.
Powder Spell
Springtime Energy Boost
Set the pink candle on the back left corner of an altar table. Set the light blue candle on the back right corner, and set the yellow candle in the front middle of the table to create a triangle pointing at you. Sprinkle a small ring of powder around each candle. Sit before the table and light the candles in this order: pink, blue, then yellow. Say this chant to focus the spell:
As flowers begin to bloom and grow,
The world is blessed with waxing light.
I ask for renewed energy to flow, and
Restore my strength, vigor, and might.
Sit before the candles in quiet meditation for a while to soak up their energy. When finished, extinguish them in reverse order of lighting.
Charms
Eggs are a traditional feature of this holiday, as they symbolize growth and fertility. The practice of coloring eggs dates back hundreds of years. You can use decorated eggs as charms to bring in the energies of the season and place them among your other ordinary decorations without anyone being aware of their magical purpose.
Eostre Eggs
If using the food coloring, pour the coloring into the cups and add a ¼ teaspoon of vinegar to each cup. Lower an egg into each cup. Allow the eggs to soak up the color for fifteen minutes, then remove to wire rack to dry. Once the eggs have dried, hold each one and charge it with your desire for it to become a charm of springtime energy.
Seeds of Magic
Planting magically charged seeds in the ground and then cultivating the plant that develops is an excellent way of utilizing the growth-related energy of this time in manifesting your desires. Plant seeds of an herb or flower that corresponds magically to your goal. You can look at the shopping lists at the end of each chapter to find herbs that magically relate to your goals.
Pack the potting soil into the flower pot or seed trays. Bless the water to be free of all impurities. Open the seed packet and pour all the seeds into your strong hand. Will your energy into the seeds and charge them with your desire. Carefully plant a few seeds in each tray or spread out the seeds in the flower pot. Chant this spell as you sprinkle the blessed water over the seeds:
This is my aim, this is my goal;
[State goal] will manifest for me as you grow.
Make sure to tend to the seeds and water them regularly. Transplant them to your garden after a few weeks, and nurture them to maturity.
Foods
The foods of spring are any early fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, and mixed greens.
Quick Spring Soup
Add all ingredients except tomato sauce in a pot and boil until the vegetables are tender. Add the tomato sauce and simmer until thickened slightly. Serve warm.
Shopping List
Here are the ingredients used in the Spring Equinox recipes.
|
❏ Black pepper |
❏ Lemon |
❏ Sugar (granulated) |
|
❏ Broom |
❏ Macaroni |
❏ Sunflower oil |
|
❏ Candles (pink, yellow, light blue) |
❏ Marjoram/oregano |
❏ Tarragon |
|
❏ Carrots |
❏ Packet of seeds |
❏ Thyme |
|
❏ Cornstarch |
❏ Peppermint |
❏ Tomato sauce |
|
❏ Eggs |
❏ Potatoes |
❏ Vinegar (white) |
|
❏ Food coloring or water-based paint |
❏ Potting soil |
❏ Zucchini |
|
❏ Honey |
Bealtaine
The May Eve/May Day sabbat is the counterpart to Samhain/Halloween. Where Samhain initiates the dark half of the year, Bealtaine brings in the light half of the year and the full force of nature’s power. On both holidays, the veil between this world and the Otherworld thins, and spirits and faeries roam the night. In the modern craft, this day is seen as the mating/wedding of the Goddess and God.
Brew
Bealtaine is a time of flowers and herbs, bees and honey, growth and greenery. The attunement tea for this holiday draws this energy.
Bealtaine Attunement Tea
Heat the water to boiling and remove from heat. Add the peppermint and the two tea bags. Allow to steep for 10 minutes and pour a cup. Sweeten with honey if desired.
Oil
This oil can be used to anoint candles for growth spells and Bealtaine rituals. It can also be used to anoint the body for Bealtaine and to encourage strength.
Bealtaine Oil
Heat the herbs and oil on low until you can smell the scent in the air. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Once cooled, charge the oil and bottle for use.
Powder
This powder can be sprinkled around the candles on your Bealtaine altar during rituals to increase your ability to connect with the energy of the holiday.
Bealtaine Powder
Grind and mix the herbs together, then add the cornstarch. Charge the powder with your intent, and bottle for use.
Charms
Most of the magical work of Bealtaine centers around fertility and growth. Any of the fertility spells and recipes in chapter 6 can be used at this time for an extra boost of power. Here is a way to charm a plant to encourage it to grow.
Charmed Plant
During Bealtaine, it is wise to bless plants for growth. If you have a garden and want to bless it subtly, you can bless one plant indoors and plant it in your garden with the intent that the blessing will spread to all the other plants.
Set the plant in the cauldron and place the cauldron in the middle of the room, on the ground. Focus your intent while holding the besom, lightly sweep a clockwise circle around the cauldron, and plant with the intent of cleansing the plant of any negativity or ill health. Finally, hop over the plant on the broom (seriously!) and state with conviction, “I bless this plant and the earth!” Now you can plant it in the garden and as you do, visualize it growing strong and healthy. Affirm in your mind that this blessing shall spread to all the plants in your garden.
This blessing is reminiscent of ancient crop blessings in which people leapt high in the fields astride poles to bless and encourage plant growth. That practice is one of the origins of the belief that witches fly on brooms, which is partially why I recommend doing it indoors to avoid developing an odd reputation amongst your neighbors.
Foods
Any and all fruits and vegetables are appropriate for Bealtaine, but especially strawberries. Their rich red color and sweetness capture the vibrancy of this time of year. Early grains are also appropriate; oat cakes are the ancient traditional food eaten at this time.
Bealtaine Oat Cakes
Mix together the dry ingredients, then stir in the water. Mixture will be sticky. Knead the dough on a floured surface, adding flour just until the dough is no longer sticky. Press dough into a circle a ¼ inch thick. Cut the circle into eight wedges. Add the oil to a pan and cook each wedge on medium-high heat until browned on both sides; 3 to 5 minutes per side. Remove to a cookie sheet. Once all the wedges are cooked, place them in a 250 degree oven for ten minutes or so to make them crisp. Serve with butter and strawberry jam.
Shopping List
Here are the ingredients used in the Bealtaine section.
|
❏ Almond oil |
❏ Flour |
❏ Passionflower tea |
|
❏ Butter |
❏ Garden plant |
❏ Peppermint sprigs |
|
❏ Cilantro |
❏ Hibiscus tea |
❏ Salt |
|
❏ Coriander |
❏ Honey |
❏ Strawberry jam |
|
❏ Cornstarch |
❏ Marjoram/oregano |
❏ Vegetable oil |
|
❏ Curry powder |
❏ Oatmeal |
|
|
❏ Flax seed |
❏ Paprika |
Summer Solstice
The first day of summer (around June 21 in the northern hemisphere) marks the time when the earth is at a place in her orbit where the sun is directly over the tropic of Cancer, and the northern hemisphere receives the largest amount of sunlight. In the southern hemisphere, the summer solstice is around December 21, when the sun is directly over the tropic of Capricorn. The summer solstice is the longest day and is the counterpart to the winter solstice—the longest night. It is a time for celebrating the high point of the solar cycle, protecting crops and animals through this time of continued growth, and honoring the power of fire, especially for its cleansing and protective qualities.
Brew
The midsummer attunement tea contains parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme, but I’m not breaking out into song. These herbs just have an affinity for the summer season and help us better connect to its energy.
Midsummer Attunement Tea
Heat the water to boiling, then remove from heat. Add the herbs, cover, and allow it to steep for at least ten minutes. Strain and sweeten with honey if desired.
Oil
This oil can be worn on the body or used to anoint candles during midsummer celebrations to better connect with the energy of this day. This oil can also be used for cooking midsummer meals to bring the summer energy within.
Midsummer Oil
Combine oil and herbs in a pot and heat over low until you can smell the scent in the air. Remove from heat and allow the oil to cool. Charge the oil with your intent to capture the energy of summer. Strain and bottle the mixture for use.
Powder
It should be noted that this powder recipe does not contain any cornstarch. The reason for this is that the spell that follows requires the burning of the powder and burned cornstarch smells weird. If you are using this powder to circle candles or for any other noncombustible purpose, you can add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, as it does a good job of holding the powder together.
Midsummer Powder
Grind and combine the herbs, and charge them with your intent.
Powder Spell
This spell is done to offer thanks to the gods, to ask that disease be kept from us, and to ask that we flourish and prosper though the summer. If you have a garden, ask also that the plants continue to thrive and that the harvest will be bountiful.
Midsummer Sacrifice
If you have an outdoor fire pit, it would be ideal to have a midsummer gathering or barbecue and light a fire in the fire pit for this spell. You could also use a cauldron on the ground outdoors with a small fire kindled within it, or even a cauldron indoors with a candle in it. Light the fire (in whichever form), pick up the container of powder, and focus on your desire for blessing. When you are ready, toss the powder into the fire (or sprinkle a bit on the candle’s flame) with the words:
Mighty gods of summer’s glory,
I offer these herbs in sacrifice.
May disease be kept far from me,
And through the summer may I thrive.
Blessed be.
Charm
This charm captures the energy of midsummer and confers luck, protection, and abundance to its wearer if you keep these qualities in mind as you create the charm bag.
Midsummer Charm Bag
Combine the seeds and herb in a bowl or cauldron and charge them with your desire. Pour the mixture into the charm bag and seal it. Wear or carry it as often as possible to keep the powerful energy of the Summer Solstice with you until the next sabbat.
Foods
The foods of summer are barbecue, fresh salads, and fruit. Here’s a salad recipe that’s light and perfect for this time of year.
Midsummer Salad
Dressing
Combine and toss the salad ingredients. Mix the ingredients for the dressing in a bottle with a tight-fitting screw top. Shake the bottle vigorously for a minute or so to combine the vinaigrette dressing. Pour dressing over the salad and toss once more before serving.
Optional: If desired, you can add ¼ cup sunflower seeds and/or ½ cup of shredded cheese and 1 cup cubed chicken breast that has been sautéed in 2 tablespoons oil and 1 teaspoon minced garlic.
Shopping List
Here is the list of ingredients used in the Summer Solstice section.
|
❏ Apple cider vinegar |
❏ Garlic |
❏ Shredded cheese |
|
❏ Basil |
❏ Lettuce |
❏ Spinach (baby leaves) |
|
❏ Chervil |
❏ Mushrooms |
❏ Sunflower (seeds and oil) |
|
❏ Chicken breast |
❏ Peppermint |
❏ Tarragon |
|
❏ Chives |
❏ Parsley |
❏ Thyme |
|
❏ Cloth (yellow, gold, or green) |
❏ Rosemary |
❏ Tomato |
|
❏ Corn seeds |
❏ Sage |
❏ Wheat kernels (or whole wheat flour) |
|
❏ Fennel seeds |
❏ Salt |
❏ Zucchini |
Lughnasadh
This holiday marks the beginning of the harvest season and is celebrated as the first festival of harvest. Lughnasadh is the origin of the county and state fairs we have today. Anciently, large gatherings were held for trade, horse racing, games, and feasting, all in celebration of the harvest as well as for commerce and preparation for the coming winter. It is the time of year to take stock and evaluate whether or not you have what you need to make it through the dark half of the year.
For most of us, the fear of actually completely running out of food, water, or firewood before springtime with no way to get more is no longer a reality, but it is still wise at this time to make sure you are prepared and that everything is in order to get through the winter months. Modern concerns that can be addressed at this time include finances, auto and home repairs, and any insurance needs as well as the traditional concerns regarding food, animals, water, and firewood. None of this is meant to imply that Lughnasadh is a boring holiday; far from it. It is a night devoted to feasting, games, honoring the earth goddess and god, and working sympathetic magic to cool the heat of the sun. This magic is worked in order to prevent the often-scorching August heat from damaging the crops before they can be fully harvested.
Brew
The attunement tea for Lughnasadh isn’t so much a tea as it is a juice blend. Since this sabbat marks the beginning of the harvest, berries and apples are perfect choices to help us connect to the energy of the day, as they are just beginning to reach their peak.
Lughnasadh Juice Blend
Mix the two juices together and sip slowly while focusing on the power of the sun.
Oil
Lughnasadh Oil
Heat the oils and other ingredients in a pot over low heat until you can smell the scent in the air. Remove from heat and allow the oil to cool. Charge the oil with intent. Strain and bottle for use.
Oil Spell
This spell is designed for the positive people, things, and experiences in your life. It is both a show of appreciation for these things and also a call for their protection and preservation in your life.
Lughnasadh Spell for Preserving Blessings
Anoint the candles with the oil. Set the black candle on the left side of the table and the white candle on the right. Carve a sun symbol (a circle with eight rays coming from it) in the yellow candle and place it in the center of the table. Next, take the pen and paper and write out a blessing list: names of people, things, and experiences for which you are grateful and would like to preserve. Anoint the blessing list with Lughnasadh Oil by dabbing a bit on each corner. Set it under the yellow/gold candle. Now light the black candle and say:
Goddess, eternal one, sovereign origin of creation, you who never wane but merely change your focus: please preserve the wondrous gifts you have bestowed upon me. I am truly grateful for all you have given me and pledge my vigilance in caring for my blessings.
Light the white candle and say:
Mighty God, you who have provided abundance for all your children and whose cycle of life, death, and rebirth shall be mirrored by us all: I ask you grant the continued existence of and connection to my blessings. I give my thanks and pledge my lasting appreciation for what I have been given.
Light the yellow/gold candle and say:
Power of the sun, golden, fiery orb, empower the blessings in my life with continued strength and protection. Blessed be.
Allow the candles to burn for as long as you can, then extinguish in reverse order of lighting, with thanks.
Powder
This powder can be used not only in Lughnasadh celebrations but also in prosperity magic.
Lughnasadh Powder
Combine the cornmeal, flours, and cornstarch. Charge with your intent, and bottle the powder for use.
Powder Spell
Harvest Money Spell
Charge both candles: the gold candle to bring in the power of the sun, and the green candle for the energy of the earth. Set the green candle on the left and the gold candle on the right of your altar. Pour a ring of powder around each candle. Light the candles. Spread the butter on the whole grain bread, and with your finger charge the bread with intent by focusing your energy and tracing a sun symbol in the butter. Fold the bread in half to capture the sun symbol within and say:
The power of the sun and power of the earth have here conjoined to give form to abundance. I have in my hands the gift of harvest. I partake of the harvest so that I may reap my own prosperity. So mote it be.
Eat the bread and butter to take the energy of abundance into yourself.
Charm
A good charm for this holiday is the making of a corn husk doll. You can buy corn husks in the store; tamales are wrapped in them.
Lughnasadh Corn Doll
If the husks are too dry to work with, you can soak them in water for a little while to make them more pliable. Twist the corn husks into a roughly human shape. Make a loop for the head and twist arms and legs. You can bless the corn husk doll as a symbol of abundance and keep in the home until the next Imbolg, when it is then buried in the garden.
Foods
The foods of Lughnasadh are the first harvest gleanings—nuts, berries, squashes, breads, beans, and also lamb. Corn has also become a main staple of food at this time, so here is a recipe for cornbread.
Lughnasadh Cornbread
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Grease a square baking pan with butter. In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs and add the butter, milk, flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, and baking powder until well blended. Pour batter into pan and bake 20 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool and cut into eight pieces.
Shopping List
Here are the ingredients used in the Lughnasadh section.
|
❏ Apple (fruit and juice) |
❏ Cornstarch |
❏ Pearl barley |
|
❏ Baking powder |
❏ Eggs |
❏ Rye flour |
|
❏ Blackberry juice (or raspberry juice) |
❏ Flour (unbleached) |
❏ Salt |
|
❏ Butter |
❏ Garlic |
❏ Sugar |
|
❏ Candles (white, black, yellow or gold, and green) |
❏ Hazelnut |
❏ Sunflower oil |
|
❏ Corn (meal and oil) |
❏ Milk |
❏ Whole grain bread |
|
❏ Corn husks |
❏ Mushroom |
❏ Whole wheat flour |
Autumn Equinox
The second festival of harvest is a time of giving thanks for the bounty of the earth. This holiday is often known as the “Witches’ Thanksgiving,” a name that is very appropriate. The Autumn Equinox is the true time of thanksgiving, as late November is well past harvest season.
Now that the blazing heat has cooled and the leaves are beginning to change, we return to a time of balance. The day and night are equal once more, as this day is the dark twin to the Spring Equinox with the sun positioned directly over the equator. The Spring and Autumn Equinoxes would be identical but for the fact that one is on the upswing and the other is on the downswing of the year. The Autumn Equinox is the beginning of nature’s period of rest; the focus of the life energy of plants shifts more to their roots, versus the rush of energy needed in spring to create and sustain new flowers and green leaves.
The majority of the celebration of this sabbat involves giving thanks to the mother goddess for earth’s bounty and also drawing the remaining light and heat of the sun into our bodies and into the earth to help sustain us through the time of darkness. If we were comparing the sabbats to the lunar phases, the Autumn Equinox would be the last quarter moon before the dark-moon time of Samhain. On this equinox, we celebrate the mother goddess, as this is the time when she is beginning to transform into the crone. It is a bittersweet festival of giving thanks and releasing anything holding us back so we are ready to journey into the unknown at the new year.
Brew
The attunement “tea” for the Autumn Equinox is a blend of harvesttime juices and herbs that serve to connect us to the energy shift.
Autumn Tonic
Heat the apple juice to just under boiling, then remove from heat and add the sage and tea bag. Allow to steep for ten minutes. Add the pomegranate juice and reheat if you want it warm, or stir in honey to taste and drink.
Oil
This oil carries with it the energies of the harvest—falling leaves, cool breezes, longer nights, and that cozy feeling of fall. It can be used in spells for wisdom and protection as well as in the sabbat celebration.
Autumn Equinox Oil
Combine all ingredients in a pot and heat over low until you can smell the scent in the air. Remove the pot from heat and allow to cool. Once cooled, charge the oil with intent, strain, and bottle it for use.
Oil Spell
This spell is a rite of pure thanksgiving. It transmits your gratitude to the goddess and god.
Autumn Rite of Giving Thanks
Anoint all the candles with the Autumn Equinox Oil and place them in a semicircle on the table, starting with the dark red candle on the left and moving forward with the brown, orange, yellow and finally the green candle on the right. Light the candles from left to right, saying:
The earth begins her time of slumber;
For my blessings, I give thanks to you.
My heart and mind are filled with wonder;
The gifts of harvest shall see us through.
My loyalty and heart you have always and forever;
My devotion is eternal, ceasing never.
Blessed be.
Allow the candles to burn for as long as possible in sacrifice to the goddess, and then extinguish them in reverse order of lighting.
Powder
This powder can be used for protection of home and property, as well as used in the sabbat celebration.
Fall Harvest Powder
Grind and combine the herbs and leaves. Then add the cornstarch. Charge with your intent and bottle the powder.
Powder Spell
Circle of Protection
Pour a ring of powder around the outside of your home to bless and protect it from danger.
Charm
This charm can be made to increase wisdom and the ability to make correct choices, and all it takes are three nuts that are renowned for their powers of wisdom and mind-strengthening.
Autumn Nut Charm
Charge each of the nuts individually with your intent, then place them in the charm bag and seal it. Carry the bag with you as often as possible.
Foods
The foods of the Autumn Equinox are all the traditional Thanksgiving foods: roast turkey or chicken, mashed potatoes, baked squash, apple and pumpkin pies, and breads. A traditional bread for the sabbats is an older, heavy bread known as bannock.
Harvest Bannock
Mix together the flour and salt. Cut in the butter and add water. Knead the dough until smooth. Grease a pan (preferably cast iron) and press the bannock into the pan. Bake on top of the stove on low heat. Cook slowly, making sure the outside does not burn before the center is cooked. When the bread can be released from the pan (about ten minutes into cooking), carefully flip it over and cook the other side of the bread, approximately ten more minutes. Place on wire rack to cool. Bless the bread as it cools, and serve with butter.
Shopping List
Here are the items and ingredients used for Autumn Equinox in this section.
|
❏ Almond (nuts and oil) |
❏ Cornstarch |
❏ Pomegranate juice |
|
❏ Apple (fruit and juice) |
❏ Flour |
❏ Rosemary |
|
❏ Butter |
❏ Hazelnut |
❏ Sage |
|
❏ Candles (dark red, brown, orange, yellow, and green) |
❏ Honey |
❏ Salt |
|
❏ Cloth (black, brown, or red) |
❏ Passionflower tea |
❏ Walnut |
Esbats
Esbats are celebrations held on specific moon phases. The full moon is a common time to hold an esbat, but they may also be held on the new moon or on a weekly basis. Weekly coven meetings aren’t usually overly formal; they are generally study meetings, so I am going to focus on the new moon and full moon esbats.
New Moon Esbats
The new moon is the time when the sun and the moon meet in the same astrological sign and are considered “conjunct,” and if there is an exact conjunction, a solar eclipse results. Since the new moon is the beginning of the lunar cycle, a new moon esbat is a time of new beginnings. In my tradition, any meetings held on the new moon focus on asking for guidance and inspiration to understand the nature of our obstacles and the strength to overcome them. Then the chalice (filled with juice or wine) and a white candle are passed around and each member gives thanks for a blessing in their life and states a problem that they wish worked on. They then take a sip from the chalice and pass it and the candle to the next person. After everyone has had their turn with cup and candle, any training exercises are worked on, frequently a magical goal for the full moon is discussed, and finally it is time to acknowledge and settle any grievances coven members may have. New moon esbats, at least in my tradition, are mostly practical occasions; think family meeting instead of intricate religious ceremony.
Full Moon Esbats
The full moon is the culmination of psychic power. It is the exact midway point in the lunar cycle, when the sun and moon are opposite each other. This esbat is more formal, as it is a celebration of the moon and the Goddess. In my tradition it is kind of complex, as more than one goddess is honored, but to each their own. In any case, the full moon esbat begins at moonrise (dusk). The celebrants gather together and bannock bread is baked (see Autumn Equinox section of this chapter) and a special potion is brewed in the cauldron. The celebrants call on the goddesses and visualize beams of moonlight being drawn down and filling their third eyes and/or hearts with goddess energy. They pay homage to the goddesses and then call down moonlight into the chalice, which is filled with pure water. The water is then sprinkled around and everyone also takes a sip from this cup. Next, the group joins together to cast a spell for a previously agreed upon goal. Afterward, the esbat meal is held, with everyone having some of the bannock and some of the potion from the cauldron. Finally, any divination or psychic work is engaged in, and then the ceremony is concluded.
Since both the new and full moon esbats are about the moon, the foods and oils, charms, etc. are all moon-related, and so are all grouped together.
Brew
This tea can be brewed during an esbat ceremony and sipped to connect to the lunar energy and promote a relaxed mental state—the ideal frame of mind for magic.
Lunar Tea
Heat the water to boiling, then remove from heat and add the tea bag and lemon juice. Cover and let steep for ten minutes. Pour a cupful and sweeten with honey to taste.
Oil
This esbat oil can be used to anoint the wrists, third eye, and back of the neck to promote psychic ability and a proper ritual mindset.
Esbat Oil
Combine the ingredients in a pot and warm over low heat until the air smells lemony. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Once cooled, charge the oil with lunar energy, strain, and bottle.
Oil Spell
This spell is to find a solution when there seems to be no way to make everyone happy. Too many people are under the impression that in order to “win” someone else has to “lose,” but with the concept of the Infinity of Solution, all things are possible.
Full Moon Infinity of Solution Spell
Scratch the problem into the candle with the pin. Anoint the candle with the oil and charge it with your desire to solve the problem in such a way as to make everybody happy. Do not focus on any way that this might be accomplished. Remember, only focus on the end result in magic and NEVER on the process! Once the candle has been charged, light it and say:
Conflict has grown and needs to be cured,
A remedy is sought in which all may find joy.
For good of all, harm to none is ensured,
Infinity of solution, I hereby employ.
Allow the candle to burn out on its own if it is safe to do so. If not, let it burn for as long as you can and extinguish. Re-light each day until it is completely burned down.
Powder
This powder can be used to ring candles on an esbat altar, and also in spells of purification and protection.
Moon Dust Powder
Grind and combine the lemon zest and coconut flakes. Add the cornstarch, charge with intent, and bottle for use.
Charm
This charm can be carried to enhance psychic ability. Rub the bag on your third eye daily and before engaging in any divination or psychic work.
Witches’ Moon Charm Bag
Combine all the ingredients in the charm bag and seal. Hold the bag in your hands and charge it with lunar energy. Say:
Magic herbs and Witches’ moon,
I ask you now for psychic boon.
Let my intuition be unleashed and free,
Empower this charm, so mote it be.
Carry the bag with you as much as possible.
Foods
As previously mentioned, in my tradition bannock bread is a staple for esbats. In modern times, there are many recipes that have evolved for use in the ritual meals. Potatoes, turnips, cabbage, and mushrooms have lunar associations and lemonade, white grape juice, or white wine are ritually appropriate esbat beverages. One of the most well-known foods eaten on esbats are crescent cakes. They are essentially almond cookies that are moon-shaped and a frequent item served during the “Cakes and Wine” ceremony of Sabbats and esbats.
Crescent Cakes
Mix flour, sugar, and almonds in a large bowl. Cut in butter and egg yolk. Cover the bowl and chill dough for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Shape the chilled dough into a log and cut off 1-inch thick pieces. Shape the pieces of dough into crescents, or roll out the dough and cut out shapes with a moon-shaped cookie cutter, and set them on a greased cookie sheet. Bake the cookies for 15 to 20 minutes and cool on a wire rack. If desired, you can toss the cookies in additional powdered sugar before serving.
Shopping List
Here is the list of ingredients and items used for esbats.
|
❏ Almonds |
❏ Cornstarch |
❏ Grape seed oil |
|
❏ Bay leaves |
❏ Cucumber |
❏ Lemon |
|
❏ Butter |
❏ Eggs |
❏ Lemongrass |
|
❏ Candles (white) |
❏ Flour |
❏ Passionflower tea |
|
❏ Cloth (white) |
❏ Honey |
|
|
❏ Cloves |
❏ Grape juice (white) |
❏ Sugar (powdered) |
|
❏ Coconut flakes |
|
|