MAGICK AND THE
WHEEL OF THE YEAR
The Wheel of the Year is a cyclical, ever-turning seasonal “calendar” marked in eight places: the astronomical turning points of the solstices and equinoxes and four Celtic agricultural fire festivals, or cross-quarter days—Samhain (October 31), Imbolc (February 2), Beltane (May 1), and Lughnasadh or Lammas (August 1 or 2). The cross-quarter days are also the midpoints between the seasons. Again, the solstices and equinoxes correspond to the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn), whereas the cross-quarter days correspond to the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius).
In many traditions, the Wheel begins with Samhain, also known as the Celtic New Year. Samhain is considered both the end and the beginning of the cycle. In some magickal traditions, the places on the Wheel of the Year also correspond mythopoeically to the courtship of the Goddess and the God, with many variations depending on which tradition is being observed. Although no culture in antiquity has ever observed the Wheel of the Year as a whole, the way many Pagans view it today, it is a synthesis of ancient Celtic and Teutonic observances that make sense on both seasonal and intuitive levels. Observing and celebrating the turning points on the Wheel is a reminder to live in the moment, to align oneself with the cycles of the seasons, and to tap into the energies of a given space and time. To better understand each of the points on the Wheel, turn to the section of the sign that corresponds with it, which will give you a deeper awareness of the archetype of the season.
Samhain (October 31): The Heart of Autumn
Cross-Quarter Day • Scorpio • Fixed • Water
The shadows are growing longer, and darkness falls a little earlier each night. Already passed into memory are the long golden days of summer, and in their place are the deeply evocative, earthy smells of ripe apples, turning leaves, and wood fires. The Goddess is now the Crone, and the God waits in the underworld until his resurrection at Yule. Samhain is the third and final Harvest, at the midpoint between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice. It is both the first and last of the cross-quarter festivals, and the roots of today’s Halloween are firmly embedded in and nourished by ancient Celtic soil. Samhain was traditionally celebrated between sunset on October 31 and sunset on November 1.
The ancient peoples of northern Europe were much more attuned to the cycles of the year because their survival was tied inextricably to the land. To them, it was apparent that Samhain was the end of one cycle and therefore naturally the beginning of the next. The ancients observed that by Samhain the once green and fertile fields were becoming barren, and the very last of the crops would be brought in to see the people through the cold winter ahead. Cattle were brought down from the high summer pastures, and some were sacrificed for the harvest feast while others were smoked and dried for the coming dark months. Burnished red apples and earthy root vegetables were stored for future suppers on nights when the winter wind would howl fiercely and the abundant bounty of summer was but a distant dream of another time.
Samhain was thought to be liminal space, and the veil between the worlds was at its thinnest, facilitating communication with the ancestors, but also opening the door to those of the Otherworld, such as nature spirits and faeries. People would put out offerings of food and drink for the spirits of the dead, which may be where the tradition of trick-or-treating originates. Alternatively, trick-or-treating could also have come from the practice of mumming, in which folk would dress in costume and recite verses for food. Ceremonial bonfires were lit, and from this sacred fire all other fires were lit. Divination was also commonly practiced on the Eve of Samhain, as was the custom of setting a place at the table for those who had gone before.3
Tuning In
Samhain occurs during Scorpio season, and there are many parallels between the symbolism of the two. Scorpio is intimately connected with the cycles of death and rebirth, and transformation is at the core of its archetype. Today many still celebrate Samhain by remembering their beloved dead. This time of year is liminal space, a between-the-worlds moment in the fabric of the seasonal year when we can connect with those who have gone before. This is also the time to honor the Crone, or Wise Woman, aspect of the Goddess. In the youth-worshipping culture we live in, it is all too seldom that the learned wisdom of the Wise Woman is venerated.
Samhain is a time to look fearlessly into our shadow selves and own what we find. Only then are we able to shine light into those hidden places and begin the process of healing. Samhain is not only a time for reflection, it is also a powerful time to release outworn personas, relationships, and phases of our lives that are no longer serving us. Samhain invites us to step across the threshold toward regeneration and personal rebirth through storytelling, guided meditation, and personal ceremony, as we shed our old skins and prepare to begin our next chapter.
Seasonal Altar
Because almost all the leaves are gone and it is the time of the dying of the year, you may wish to decorate your altar in deep or somber colors to reflect the tone of the season, such as black, deep red, muted purple, or shades of gray. Other symbols of death, such as skulls or skeletons, are also appropriate, as they speak to honoring the ancestors. And, of course, you may also want to include pictures of your own beloved dead, as the veils between the worlds are now at their thinnest, and it is a good time to connect with loved ones who have passed to the other side. You may want to set up your altar with the last of the fallen leaves, apples, pumpkins, root vegetables, and corn sheaves to align with the season. Because Samhain has always been a time for divination, you can charge your tarot cards or runes by placing them on your altar. Remember that Samhain is Scorpio season, so for more ideas turn to the SCORPIO chapter and table of correspondences. With all the sabbats there are alternate ways to honor each season, and you may wish to focus on one of the goddesses connected with Scorpio, such as Inanna or Cerridwen.
Yule (December 21): Gateway to Winter
Winter Solstice • Capricorn • Cardinal • Earth
Winter solstice marks the astronomical turning point that is the beginning of winter. It is the longest night of the year and ushers in the beginning of Capricorn season, which is cognate with the rebirth of the Sun. It was an important event for the ancient peoples of the Northern Hemisphere because it symbolized the miraculous continuation of life itself and provided hope at the darkest time of the year. Occurring on or around December 21, megalithic structures were built to honor and mark the return of the Sun, including Stonehenge in England and Newgrange in Ireland. This is the time of year when the God is reborn as an infant and the Goddess is seen in her phase of an cailleach, the old woman, or crone, of winter. The motif of rebirth is also reflected in Christian tradition, as Christmas marks the birth of the Christ Child within days of the winter solstice. The old tale of the Holly King and the Oak King describes the endless battle between the light and dark halves of the year that takes place at each solstice. At the winter solstice, the strapping young Oak King defeats the aged Holly King and grows in power until he in turn is vanquished once again by the Holly King at the summer solstice.
In many places in northern Europe, a Yule log, often oak, would be placed in the fire and the ashes scattered over the fields to ensure a good growing season. There were many folk customs and stories associated with the Yule log. Some believed keeping it under the bed would protect the house from fire and lightning for the ensuing year, while others attested that steeping a piece of the Yule log in water would help cows calve easier. Still others asserted that the ashes would protect the wheat from mildew.4 All in all, it seems that the Yule log was strongly associated with both protective and curative magick.
Tuning In
Winter solstice is a time for reflection. It is a time to pause (the word solstice means “Sun stands still” in Latin), and, indeed, it appears for a few days that the Sun sets in the same place around the solstice, giving us the illusion that it is standing still. And, just as the trees have long shed the last of their leaves to preserve their energy through the cold season and certain animals have gone into hibernation, we too have a chance to rest. The longer nights have given us an opportunity to nest, to curl up with a good book, and to dream. Although it’s not always possible with our busy schedules, a wonderful way to attune ourselves with the rebirth of the Sun is to keep vigil through the night and watch the sunrise in the morning. While the winter solstice heralds the beginning of winter, paradoxically it also marks the time that the days will soon be getting incrementally longer. If the solstice happens to be on a weekend, consider having a “rebirth of the Sun” gathering, so you can watch the sunrise with loved ones. Of course, mulled wine and comfort food would be part of the celebration, as would singing songs featuring the Sun. A backyard bonfire would be ideal to encourage the return of the Sun, but an indoor fire (with a Yule log) would also work well. In a pinch, a small brazier or even candles call the Sun back. Alternatively, you may wish to stay up and watch the newborn Sun rise on your own, so you can use this deeply introspective time to reflect and align yourself with the turning of the Wheel.
Seasonal Altar
Since this is a solar festival that celebrates the rebirth of the God, it makes sense to include solar symbols as well as symbols of the sacred masculine. Because winter solstice marks the time of the return of the Oak King, you could include acorns, a small fallen oak branch, dried oak leaves, or an oak Yule log if you have a fireplace. Sun wheels, small Sun objects, and yellow or gold candles can represent the Sun. Alternatively, you can decorate your altar in icy colors that reflect nature: winter white, silver, or silver-blue. Another color scheme that echoes this time of year is deep green, blood red, and white. Include fresh boughs of evergreens as well as holly and mistletoe, as these are all associated with this time of year and each has symbolic properties that resonate with different aspects of this day. Holly and oak represent the Holly King and the Oak King, while mistletoe was sacred to the Druids and is tied to masculine fertility.5 Because this festival marks the beginning of Capricorn season, check the CAPRICORN chapter and table of correspondences for alternative ways to honor the winter solstice.
Imbolc (February 2): The Heart of Winter
Cross-Quarter Day • Aquarius • Fixed • Air
Imbolc is the harbinger of spring, the time when the Goddess is celebrated in her Maiden aspect. It is the second of the cross-quarter festivals and sits midway between Yule and the spring equinox. Imbolc is a time of renewed hope and increasing optimism as the days grow visibly longer and the sunlight begins to warm the earth once again. Life is beginning in the quiet darkness of the earth’s womb, and our spark of inspiration is rekindled. This is a time to plant seeds of all kinds and to have faith that although we cannot yet see what they will grow into, there is life brewing, and spring is on its way. In Irish Gaelic, Imbolc means “ewe’s milk” or “in the belly” and heralds the start of lambing season in the Celtic countries. It is sacred to Brigit, goddess of poetry, healing, inspiration, and smithcraft.
Tuning In
Make sure you find the time to go for a meditative walk in nature today. You may be surprised to see that most ubiquitous symbol of Imbolc, the snowdrop, has returned. Its delicate spears of green against gently nodding pure white blossoms remind us that spring is just a turn of the Wheel away. If you can, pick a spot toward the west and check it at five in the evening a week or so before this sabbat, and then look again on Imbolc. Prepare yourself for a numinous moment: there will now be a glimmer of light on the western horizon revealing that the days are already becoming noticeably longer. There is a palpable quickening that stirs us on Imbolc, a spark of inspiration that becomes a quiet sense of hope that infuses our spirit and lets us know that winter is almost past.
Seasonal Altar
As Imbolc is especially connected to the goddess Brigit, it makes sense to honor her on this day. There are many folk customs associated with Brigit that you can incorporate into your Imbolc altar. Some like to weave a Brigit’s cross or make a “Bride’s Bed” and place it by the fire to welcome her. Another popular way to align with Brigit is by making a Brigit corn dolly. One year just before Imbolc I came upon a Christmas angel in a thrift store. She was made of corn sheaves, with long braided corn hair. I took one look at her, and all I could see was the goddess Brigit hiding beneath the angel’s smock and glued-on wings. I took her home and carefully deconstructed the Christmas overlay, removing the cross and the wings. Next, I took off the angel smock and dressed her in a green velvet cape I fashioned from an old scrap of material, tied red silk ribbons in her braids, and placed a Celtic knotwork necklace around her neck. And behold! I had the most beautiful Brigit dolly just in time for Imbolc. I couldn’t help but see the symbolic irony in all of this, for part of Brigit’s lore is that the people of Ireland loved their goddess so much that when Christianity came, they turned her into a saint so they could keep honoring her. With my Brigit dolly, I feel like I simply uncovered the goddess who was hiding beneath the angel the whole time.
Other ways to set up your altar for Imbolc are to include potted early spring bulbs that are readily available at most grocery stores. Be sure to add lots of candles, as Imbolc is also known as Candlemas. Colors for your altar can be colors associated with Brigit: white, green, and red. White is for the snow that still lies on the ground in many places in the Northern Hemisphere as well as for her aspect as the Maiden. Green is for the renewal of life, and red is for her connection to the fire element. I have also always associated Imbolc with pale blue gray, which echoes both the water element and the color of the sky at this time of year in the Celtic lands. As Brigit presided over sacred wells, you may wish to add a chalice of spring water. She is also connected to the fire element, so apart from candles you might want to burn some incense or light a fire in a small cauldron. Other offerings appropriate for Brigit are milk, cheese, honey, and wool. Turn to the AQUARIUS chapter to learn more about the goddess Brigit and for more altar suggestions.
Ostara (March 20): Gateway to Spring
Spring Equinox • Aries • Cardinal • Fire
We feel the anticipation of the growing light rise within us, just as the sap rises in the trees. The Wheel turns again and we are at Ostara, when all of nature celebrates the mystery of rebirth. The vernal equinox occurs on or around March 20 (depending on the year—check your astrological date planner), and light and dark, masculine and feminine are balanced. Spring equinox marks the time when the God and Goddess are equal in strength, with the God gaining power as the light increases. Young and spirited, the Goddess and God are courting. Buds burst from their cases, birds awaken us with their own courting music, and there is an undeniable feeling of unfurling optimism deep within the very rhythm of life itself.
Spring equinox has been celebrated in many cultures throughout history as a time of rebirth. In ancient Greece, Persephone rose from the underworld to be reunited with her mother, Demeter. In her joy, Demeter restored fertility and abundance to the land, causing the renewal of the earth. In the West Country of England, Ostara is sometimes referred to as “Lady Day,” a celebration of the Goddess and the reawakening of the land. Because all life is interconnected, we too feel the resurgence of energy, the exhale after the constriction of winter’s darkness. Now is the time to make new beginnings, to cast off any remaining hindrances that might be holding us back. As all of nature is in the throes of new growth, the time is ripe to embrace that flow and make positive changes in our own lives. Now is one of the most potent times of the year to embark on bold new beginnings.
Tuning In
At spring equinox, we get the opportunity to hit the reset button and begin again. It is the gateway into a new cycle, a time for planting seeds, envisioning possibilities, and stepping forward with courage and fresh optimism. Where do you wish you could start over? Align yourself with the energy of renewal and resurrection by taking a walk outside and mindfully noticing the signs of spring everywhere. Do you see the buds on every branch? The tender green shoots poking through the earth? Is there a change in the scent of the air? These are the signs that winter is finally over, and the magic of rebirth is tangible, immediate, and alive. Depending on where you live, try to find spring foods that only come out at this time of year, such as early asparagus, kale, nettles, or my absolute favorite, fiddleheads. Another powerful way to connect with this time of year is to plant something. If it is still too cold to plant outside, plant some herbs and place them in your kitchen window. The creative impulse of new life is everywhere. Spring equinox gives us a push and empowers us toward self-actualization, daring us to take a leap of faith and show up for our own initiation. Give some consideration to the role of creativity in your life. Do you make space for it, or is it something that you continually push to the back burner? This is an ideal time to reclaim the creative aspects of yourself and conjure something new.
Seasonal Altar
Although the weather may not be cooperative, an outdoor altar for Ostara is ideal. If the warmer days haven’t quite started yet, consider going for a walk before you set up your indoor altar, and collect some tokens of spring on your way. A fallen branch covered in new buds or some early spring flowers like daffodils or crocus bring the symbolism of this sacred time into your home. Alternatively, you can buy a living pot of spring flowers and place it on your altar. You may wish to include symbolism of the God and Goddess to signify the balance at this time of year. You can find iconography in the form of statues or images, or you can use a red candle to symbolize the Goddess and a white one to symbolize the God. Eggs are also a time-honored symbol of spring, as they suggest the potential of new life and fertility. Spring equinox is also the beginning of Aries season, so be sure to check the Aries chapter as well as the table of correspondences for more suggestions. You may want to celebrate the season by honoring a goddess connected with Aries.
Beltane (April 30–May 1): The Heart of Spring
Cross-Quarter Day • Taurus • Fixed • Earth
The first of May marks the third of the ancient cross-quarter festivals, known as Beltane or Beltaine. Beltane is an ancient Irish fertility festival and the midpoint between the seasonal gateways of the spring equinox and the summer solstice. It represents the consummation of the sacred marriage of the Goddess and the God. Flowers open, tempting bees and butterflies with their seductive colors and intoxicating perfumes, and the air is fragrant and warm, calling us to play outside or spend time in the garden.
In ancient times, bonfires were lit and the cattle driven between them to ensure good luck for the growing season before they were led to the bounty of their summer pastures. Another custom was to extinguish the hearth fires of each household, and then relight them from the village bonfire, or needfire.6 Echoing the sensual dance of nature, men and women would stray into the woods on May Eve to partake in the joyous celebration of earthly pleasures. However, it’s been long said that on Beltane the veils between this world and the Otherworld are thin, and if you happen to be wandering in the woods after dusk, chances are good that you may encounter one of the Fae. You never knew if the handsome lad or enchanting woman beckoning you into the forest was of this world or the other. Irish lore has it that the faery race evolved from the Tuatha Dé Danann, “the people of the goddess Danu,” and there are countless stories of humans straying into the Otherworld through a magickal portal, staying what seemed like a few hours, only to emerge and find a hundred years or more had passed.
We are left with one familiar vestige of Beltane, the maypole. Apart from its obvious phallic symbolism, in the traditional dance, which can still be seen in some places, an equal number of males and females entwine ribbons joyfully around a wooden pole planted in the ground. The dance symbolizes the intertwining, spiraling energy of yin and yang, or God and Goddess. Beltane occurs during Taurus season, and there are many parallels between this ancient fertility festival and the archetype of Taurus. Both are intimately concerned with the embodiment of pleasure, creativity, and the things of the body and of the earth.
Tuning In
You can align with the full-bodied energy of Beltane to reconnect with yourself as a sensual being. This is the time to give yourself permission to enjoy the skin you’re in and cultivate not only desire but also pleasure. This is the perfect time to reflect on any body image issues you might be struggling with and to embrace yourself as the manifestation of the goddess that you are. Take a moment to check in with yourself and ask yourself who you are as a sensual and sexual being. What are your needs? There are no right or wrong answers.
As Beltane and Taurus season is connected to the body, it’s a great time to indulge in the simple but ecstatic pleasure of dance. Whether you go out to dance or put on music in your own living room, feel the music right down to your core and let it align you with your sacral chakra, your center of sensuality, emotional stability, intimacy, and creativity. If you are a yoga person, it is also a fitting time for some deep, succulent stretches to get you out of your head and back into your body. Sensual pleasure comes in many forms. Beltane is the time to embrace what you love and fully give yourself to the moment. Eat your favorite foods, gift yourself some luxurious new bedding, or get out into the garden and feel the sensual satisfaction of getting your hands into the dirt. Make sure you find a moment to be outside, and go on a walking meditation around your yard, a neighborhood park, or forest. Give yourself over to the flow and realize you are a part of it.
Seasonal Altar
If the weather permits, setting up your Beltane altar outside is preferable, although you can bring the outside in and decorate your altar with seasonal flowers, some local organic honey, or a found branch with glossy green leaves. Because of Beltane’s association with the Fae, you might want to include an offering for them on your altar. Honey or a bowl of milk are traditional, but I’ve left them small crystals as a token in my garden. It appears the Fae appreciate creativity, so use your intuition. As Beltane is Taurus time, refer to the TAURUS chapter and list of correspondences for more altar ideas. You may wish to dedicate your altar to the union of the Goddess and the God, the goddess of love Aphrodite, or any of the other Taurean goddesses you’re drawn to. Appropriate themes to embrace and celebrate now are creativity, sexuality, and abundance (including cultivating meaningful work and prosperity).
Summer Solstice (June 21): Gateway to Summer
Summer Solstice • Cancer • Cardinal • Water
Summer solstice marks the astronomical turning point that is the beginning of summer. It is the longest day of the year and heralds the beginning of Cancer season, when life is at its most fertile. Usually on or around June 21, depending on the year, everything is at its full flowering peak—a final thrust before the gradual drift into the long exhale that is the dark half of the year. This is the time on the Wheel when we once again celebrate the sacred masculine. The God has grown steadily in power and strength to reach the point when he is at the peak of his vitality and everything in nature is bursting with life. Just like the Goddess, the God also has many faces, and at this time of year, he is especially attuned with his aspects of Cernunnos, the Greenman, and the Horned God. He channels the wild joy of the outward directed energy of the summer solstice. This is the time of the Oak King at his zenith of power. The Oak King presides over the waxing half of the year, from the rebirth of the Sun at winter solstice until the pinnacle of his strength at summer solstice, when the Holly King once again takes his crown. Although the summer solstice has been celebrated for thousands of years throughout many places in the world, it is especially remarkable at the ancient monument of Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. On the morning of summer solstice, the Sun rises dramatically over the heel stone, which is outside the circle, heralding the longest day of the year.
Tuning In
You can tap into the potent energy of summer solstice to reinvigorate yourself and strengthen your core. Since this is the time of the sacred masculine, it is the perfect time to reflect on your own animus, which, according to Jung, is the inner masculine that resides in all women. However, while this is a definitive Jungian meaning of the term, author and Jungian analyst Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés writes, “Animus can best be understood as a force that assists women in acting in their own behalves in the outer world.” 7 She further illustrates that “the role of the hidalgo, king or mentor, in a woman’s psyche is supposed to be to help her realize her possibilities and goals, to make manifest the ideas and ideals she holds dear, to weigh the justice of things, take care of the armaments, strategize when she is threatened, to help her unite all her psychic territories.” 8
Is your animus healthy, alive, potent? Is it doing its job of helping you stand your ground? Draw healthy boundaries? Go after the things that are important to you? If your animus seems less effectual than you’d like it to be, now’s the time to reawaken it. Estés explains that “the dreams of women strong in outer manifesting ability often feature a strong male figure who consistently appears in various guises.” 9 I once had a dream of a beautiful golden child who I understood to be my animus. He was a child because he was still developing, and I was still in the process of learning to stand up for myself and act on my own behalf. Years later, he showed up again in a dream, but this time he was a strapping adolescent. Around the time of the second dream, I had just made the monumental step of going back to school as a single parent. I was learning to take care of myself and move toward my goals with more courage. Who is your animus? What does he look like? If you have never given much thought to such questions before, now’s the time. One way you can get a glimpse of your animus is by reflecting on characters in myth or story that you admire. Perhaps you have an inner Gandalf, or maybe you resonate more with Luke Skywalker or a literary hero like Lord Byron. Your animus can even be represented by someone you know, perhaps a beloved grandfather who embodies characteristics you admire. I have always thought of the animus as the archetypal wise inner king, the counselor who offers sage advice but can show his fierce side when necessary.
Summer solstice is a celebratory time, and we are called outside to revel in the fecundity of the season. Try to find some time to go outdoors and connect with this turning point. Use all your senses, and reflect on the fullness of nature. Spend at least ten minutes really seeing what’s happening around you. Breathe this enlivening energy deep into your core, and allow it to replenish your vitality.
Seasonal Altar
If possible, try to set up your altar outside so you can make the most of the revitalizing spirit of this time of year. A balcony or even a spot by a window can also work. Choose what aspect of the summer solstice you are intuitively drawn to when setting up your seasonal altar. Like many of the sabbats on the Wheel of the Year, the summer solstice is rich with symbolism that can seem paradoxical but nevertheless is appropriate. For example, you may wish to focus on the power of the Sun or the sacred masculine and decorate your altar with an image of your animus, the Greenman, antlers, acorns (for the Oak King), or any other manifestation of the masculine that resonates with you. You can use Sun colors: yellow, orange, and red. Be sure to light a candle in one of these colors to honor the sacred masculine. Alternatively, as summer solstice is also the beginning of Cancer season, you can also refer to the CANCER chapter and table of correspondences for altar suggestions for this aspect of the sabbat. You can also honor this time of year by connecting with the water element and placing a chalice of sea or spring water on your altar. Seashells, driftwood, and sea salt are also good additions to a water element altar. On the other hand, you may feel called to celebrate several of the aspects of summer solstice. In that case, feel free to intuitively include any or all the correspondences, reflecting on the underlying mystery that ties it all together.
Lughnasadh/Lammas (August 1 or 2):
The Heart of Summer
Cross-Quarter Day • Leo • Fixed • Fire
Celebrated either August 1 or 2, the next cross-quarter festival on the ancient Celtic calendar is Lammas, or Lughnasadh. This day also marks the first of the three harvest celebrations, followed by the Second Harvest (autumn equinox) and the Final Harvest (Samhain), and is the midpoint between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox. This is the time when the God, having reached his peak at the summer solstice, now becomes the Lord of the Harvest, who is symbolically sacrificed as the grain so life may continue. It is a celebration of the transformation of the grain into life-sustaining food for the community. Although the God symbolically dies at this time of year, we know that he will be reborn again at Yule. The motif of eating the body of the sacrificed god echoes the Christian rite of the Eucharist, taking into oneself the body and blood of Christ. As with the other sabbats, Lammas is about the mystery of the cycles of birth, growth, death, and rebirth.
In Ireland, this day is known as Lughnasadh, after the god Lugh, meaning “the commemoration of Lugh.” Lugh was honored in Ireland and throughout Britain as well as continental Europe, and it is of note that this day happens to occur in the middle of Leo season, as Lugh was a god of light, a Sun deity, and went under such epithets as “Lugh the Long Handed” or “Lugh of the Many Skills.” In The White Goddess, scholar Robert Graves describes Lughnasadh as a time celebrated with games, athletic competitions, feasting, and merriment. Trial marriages, which lasted for a year and a day, also occurred on Lughnasadh.10 This was traditionally a time of great feasting and gratitude for the abundance of the earth, as well as the harvest of the first crops: wheat, corn, and barley. In England, this day was known as Lammas, from Old English hlaf-mas, or “loaf mass,” and people would bake special loaves decorated with symbols of protection, fertility, and prosperity.11
Tuning In
Although it is the heart of summer, the power of the Sun is now visibly beginning to wane. The seeds we planted in the spring are now ripening, and we look back at what we visualized six months ago at Imbolc and give thanks for what we are now bringing into manifestation. Take a walking meditation outside and make note of any impressions that arise. If you are able to go to a field, farm, or orchard where first fruits are being harvested, even better. Farmer’s markets are overflowing with early apples, blackberries, blueberries, and luscious grapes. Take a moment to reflect on the underlying mystery of this sacred time. What is coming to fruition in your own life that was once just a seed? How did you nurture that seed into what it is today? What sacrifices did you make? Time? Effort? Resources? Although this is a time of gratitude and celebration, there is also a slightly bittersweet undertone to Lughnasadh. If we look closely, we will see that there is a slight glimmer of gold now beneath the green. On an intuitive level we know that summer is fleeting and that harvest time will soon begin in earnest.
Seasonal Altar
Decorate your altar in the rich colors of the season: reds, gold, orange, yellow, and amber. Sunflowers are coming into their own now, as are ripe blackberries. Baked goods, especially bread, hold pride of place on a Lammas altar, reminding us of the transformation of seed into grain. As Lugh was also considered a god of crafts, or “many skills,” you can also add symbols of your own creative endeavors to your altar. And, as Lughnasadh falls right in the heart of Leo season, turn to the LEO chapter and table of correspondences for more ideas.
Autumn Equinox (September 21): Gateway to Autumn
Autumn Equinox • Libra • Cardinal • Air
The Wheel of the Year continues to turn, and the shadows are growing ever longer as the light graciously gives way to the approaching dark. On or around September 21, depending on the year, light and dark are balanced once again. The Sun enters the sign of Libra, and the Goddess now wears the face of wisdom. What are we reaping in our lives? What can we bring to the table after all the work we have done in the past year? Although we will be bringing in some bountiful crops, there will be some cherished plans and ideas we’ll have to let die on the vine. This is the Second Harvest, and it feels right to take stock of our lives and make sure our energies are balanced.
The autumn equinox is a natural, earth-centered time for giving thanks. The ancestors in the Northern Hemisphere would have celebrated this time of year with a harvest feast, complete with crackling bonfires and general merriment. Conversely, it was also a time for weighing and assessment, a time for reflection and rest after a long, active season of planting and tending. It marked the place on the Wheel to ready the nest for the approaching longer nights by putting up preserves, smoking meats, and ensuring all was sound for the coming winter. The balance of equal day and equal night was reflected in the celebration of the abundance of the passing summer while preparing for the coming dark. This is the time of year when Persephone leaves the topside world and descends into Hades to take her place as queen of the underworld, while her mother, Demeter, grieves her daughter’s absence and nothing grows again until her return in the spring.
Tuning In
At this liminal moment that hovers between light and dark, we have a chance to pause and reflect on the passing of the year. Try to find some time to be in nature and situate yourself with this important turning point. The days are now noticeably shorter, and the temperatures are cooler. The leaves are a riot of color, as the trees themselves are tuned in to the declining daylight as they prepare for winter. The green chlorophyll breaks down, and the trees will rest throughout the coming cold season, conserving their energy and living off the food they have stored throughout summer. Given the fact that the school year has just started and many people are back to work after summer vacations, we don’t often have the opportunity to rest at autumn equinox. But, even taking an hour to align yourself with the symbolism of this time of year can be beneficial for your natural rhythms and prepare you for a smooth and soulful transition into the dark half of the year. Consider planning a harvest feast in gratitude of the abundance of the season. Invite your loved ones and have everyone bring something that is freshly harvested and local. Each person can take a moment to express appreciation for what the passing year has brought them, thus creating an opportunity to build community, share stories, and cultivate a sense of belonging that will see them through the coming winter.
Seasonal Altar
Decorate your seasonal altar with colorful leaves and acorns, nuts, seeds, ears of corn, and root vegetables. In the Northern Hemisphere many varieties of grapes are now being harvested, and it’s a perfect time to visit a winery and experience the excitement of the harvest directly. You can bring home a bottle or two and place a cup of wine on your altar as an offering to the season. Honor Demeter and her daughter Persephone by placing a ripe red pomegranate on your altar, as a symbol of her cyclical return to the underworld. And, because the energies are balanced once again, you may choose to honor both the God and the Goddess on your altar, using iconography of each. Use the colors of nature to guide your color choices for altar cloths and such, or turn to the LIBRA chapter and table of correspondences for alternate ideas on celebrating this time of year.
3. James George Frazer, The Golden Bough (London: Macmillan, 1890; Old Saybrook, CT: Konecky & Konecky, 2010), 606–10.
4. Frazer, The Golden Bough, 611–13.
5. Robert Graves, The White Goddess (1948; repr., New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1999), 57, 65.
6. Frazer, The Golden Bough, 593–94.
7. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype (New York: Ballentine Books, 1992), 311.
8. Estés, Women Who Run with the Wolves, 313.
9. Estés, Women Who Run with the Wolves, 310–11.
10. Graves, The White Goddess, 301–2.
11. Graves, The White Goddess, 178.