Seasonal Frustration: How to Celebrate the Sabbats When the Weather Is Challenging
Michael Furie
One of the cornerstones of most Pagan practice is a reverence for nature and the physical and spiritual forces behind natural phenomena. This reverence is one reason the solar festivals are celebrated. This being the case, it would seem that no matter what the season, the weather conditions would be welcomed and enjoyed, but this isn’t always true. Frankly, the weather is just awful sometimes. It can be difficult to plan a beautiful Yuletide sabbat celebration when everyone is snowed in and the wind chill factor takes the temperature into the below-zero range. Similarly, it is nearly impossible (and rather unsafe) to have a wonderful Lughnasadh holiday complete with bonfire and outdoor games if the weather is oppressively hot and your local area is suffering from a severe drought.
Though it may be tempting to grumble and complain (and I do) or even to give up entirely (which I refuse to do), it is much more productive and in keeping with our witchy forebears to modify our plans and adjust to the prevailing conditions. Just because we may revere nature, we needn’t feel obligated to automatically enjoy whatever forces surround us or feel guilty if we dislike the weather of a particular season. As Witches and Pagans, it is incumbent upon us to live from our authentic self, and as such, if we can’t stand a ton of snow or extreme heat, we needn’t feel inadequate. The questions then become, (1) If I don’t care for the weather of a particular season, should I even celebrate it? and (2) If I do celebrate it, how should I do so?
I think it is important to mark each holiday in some way. It keeps us in tune with the rhythm of nature, and also it just feels like the right thing to do, even if there are some difficulties. The key to celebrating even in harsh conditions is modification.
Personally, I think it is important to mark each holiday in some way. It keeps us in tune with the rhythm of nature, and also it just feels like the right thing to do, even if there are some difficulties. The key to celebrating even in harsh conditions is modification. Most books and websites that describe Pagan religions have some type of general narrative regarding the progression of the holidays and how they link together, from the dark hibernation time through birth, growth, and harvest and back down to the hibernation of winter. Aside from the basic predominant themes of the holidays, there exist underlying and alternative aspects to the sabbats that provide us with things to focus on other than the shifting weather patterns of the time. Since the primary weather-based challenges of holiday celebrations can be broken down into two basic categories—too hot or too cold—I will cover the days as divided anciently, the sabbats of the dark half of the year and the sabbats of the light half, respectively. Though we were all taught that the earth experiences four seasons, in many regions there really are just two: hot and cold. Let us look at the fall/wintertime sabbats first, as many people feel unhappy during extended periods of cold weather.
In many places, by the time Samhain/Halloween rolls around, the cold weather has already set in for the season. Many children have had to suffer through a cold, rainy Halloween. Even though the main theme of Samhain usually relates to darkness, cold, spirits, death, and the Otherworld, it is also considered the beginning of the new year. One practice for Samhain is to harness the energy of the day and channel it into a projection, a sort of New Year’s resolution/wish spell. This can be enacted through choice of costume and decoration for the day. Solar and warm colors can be worn, fires can be lit, and hot, hearty foods (soups, stews, etc.) can be served, all with the goal of encouraging warmth in our lives. Now, I am not suggesting that you perform active weather magic to effect an external change, but rather that you set the magical intention for yourself to continue to draw warmth throughout the cold time of year. Practically speaking, this magic can result in various forms of experience, such as travel to warmer locations, increased time at home out of the weather, an inner strength that seems to ward off feeling cold, and many other possibilities. There is no real rule that says Samhain has to be cold, dark, and spooky. The acknowledgment, reverence, and celebration are the most important aspects; the individual forms and methods used are simply the blessing of personal practice.
In places where Samhain has already brought in an icy chill, by the time the winter solstice arrives, the short days, long nights, seemingly endless snowstorms, and bitter winds can have even the most enthusiastic Witch tired of the cold and ready for spring. Luckily, the energy and power of this particular sabbat is attuned to just that type of mindset. Though this solstice is the onset of the season of winter, it is also the beginning of growth in the solar cycle and is considered the sun’s rebirth. This works out perfectly if our desire is to rid ourselves of the cold. If the streets are clear and the electricity and heater are working, then it’s relatively easy to plan an enjoyable holiday that focuses on family and warmth. But if the weather is uncooperative and/or
the power goes out, then the whole day can feel cold and lonely. To overcome this, it is a good idea to work traditional sympathetic magic to encourage the rebirth of the sun. In many (if not all) Pagan traditions, it is customary to light fires to encourage the sun’s growth. Whether it be a candle, a fire kindled in a cauldron, a yule log in a fireplace, or some combination of methods, the purpose is to beckon forth the powers of the sun. According to ancient thought, Witches and Pagans needed to conduct the sabbat rites in order to maintain the natural balance, with the belief that if they didn’t, then the sun, moon, and earth wouldn’t have enough power to continue the cycle.
For me, this notion parallels the modern scientific concept known as the “observer effect,” wherein the person conducting an experiment, simply through the act of observation, cannot help but affect the outcome. Whether necessary or not, the magical act of energizing the sun does create a type of cooperative bond, a joining of the Witch’s intent with that of the solar energy. This psychic link, once established (and reinforced over the years), can really strengthen a person’s ability to draw upon the energy and heat of the sun. I should make it clear that this isn’t weather magic; rather, it is a participatory action of acknowledgment and celebration of the solar cycle and a reaching out energetically to unite with the shift taking place. This work doesn’t have the same potential for mishap since it’s not about manifestation but instead is focused on connection. Said connection can then be used to draw in the feeling of warmth to help overcome some of the cold. At this time of year, meditating on the heat and power of the sun (essentially a drawing down of the sun’s energy) and feeling it pouring onto you to foster energy and warmth is a valuable exercise and can be done as often as needed throughout the season.
Though the holiday of Imbolc is said to be when the first stirrings of spring occur, in many places the only thing that has sprouted is yet another flurry of snow and cold weather. For me, the antidote to the cold is through a somewhat underrated part of this sabbat: food. Seeds, spicy foods, dairy, and lamb are traditional foods for this day, but I like to bake breads since nothing can warm up a home faster than using the oven. Even if baking is not your strong suit, there are many baking mixes that can be repurposed for magical use. If the mix is more of a batter, such as for cornbread, magical symbols can be traced into the butter or oil on the pan before the batter is poured so the bread will absorb the intention as it bakes. For firmer dough, runes and symbols such as a sun disc can be cut into it before baking. A nice, warm dinner party can be the central focus for a very enjoyable Imbolc.
At the Spring Equinox sabbat, the weather has usually started to warm up, but now a new problem can rear its ugly head: allergies. This particular problem has plagued me for most of my life, so spring isn’t exactly my favorite time of year. I’m very grateful to live in an age in which we have access to antihistamines, but it is still almost impossible for me to be outdoors for any length of time without sneezing, wheezing, and itching. For those of us with allergies, outdoor celebrations aren’t the best choice. A nice indoor option, especially in colder climates, is to plant seeds for herbs that are aligned with a magical goal (spring is an excellent time for initiating long-term magic), charging the seeds with intent, and caring for them as they grow throughout the season in order to manifest your goals. This becomes a physical manifestation of the power of the equinox. Though dull and not very celebratory, spring cleaning (both physical and magical) is also a good and practical way of tuning in to the energy of the Spring Equinox. A house blessing afterward can bring the magic of the day back into the home and enliven the holiday.
The light half of the year officially begins on May 1st and includes Beltane, Midsummer, Lughnasadh, and the Autumn Equinox. These holidays, being the equal but opposite counterparts of the winter sabbats, can present the equal but opposite problem of being way too hot. The light half of the year begins with Beltane, the sabbat of life and fertility. It is exactly opposite Samhain on the Wheel of the Year and so is one of the most powerful sabbats. Whether this day will be on the hot side or still cold depends on the region. Either way, a simple means of harnessing the energy of the day is to leave a bowl of water outdoors (perhaps with herbs such as meadowsweet or basil soaking in it) overnight on May Eve and let it soak up the May morning sun. This infuses it with the power of the day, making it a sabbat holy water. This water can be used for blessings, hex breaking, and general anointing purposes.
Midsummer, the actual summer solstice, follows Beltane and can be quite warm. Where I live, the temperature has almost invariably climbed into the 100-degree range by this point, so holding an indoor celebration or (ironically) waiting until nighttime to have an outdoor ritual are usually the best choices. Even though most people focus on the solar/fire aspects of the day, Midsummer has a secondary theme of well and water magic. Much like the duality of the winter solstice, the summer sabbat marks the peak of solar power and is the longest day of the year but it also means that from this point on the days will get shorter until winter. Sympathetic magic to balance the heat with coolness can consist of floating a candle in a water-filled cauldron and letting it burn until it is consumed by the water, or burning a candle in an empty vessel and then dousing it with a cup of water as a ritual act.
The hottest sabbat is usually Lughnasadh, on August 1st. Last year, the weather was so hot where I live that the taper candle on my kitchen table actually melted and bent like a cane. Needless to say, with the weather that hot, I wasn’t about to celebrate outdoors. Since the candles were melting without even being lit, I decided to use some electric candles. Electricity and fire are related, so even though the candles are artificial, they do set the appropriate atmosphere. Aside from the harvest and grain themes of Lughnasadh, a custom of the day is to cool the heat of the sun to ensure that the crops will endure long enough to be fully harvested. If there is a ritual fire or an actual candle, dousing it with water can be the ritual act for cooling the sun. If not, another option is to water a garden, if you have one, using the water to protect the plants from the August heat.
The Autumn Equinox sabbat is a bit tricky. In some areas it is still hot out and hardly feels like fall, but in other areas the cold has already set in and it feels more like winter. In either case, since this sabbat is considered the Witches’ Thanksgiving, a good way to celebrate is to make a nice dinner from harvest vegetables and grains. Most of the traditional Thanksgiving foods fit the criteria. The most important aspect of the day is, after all, thankfulness.
There is more than one way to observe a sabbat. Marking the day needn’t be about slavishly adhering to methods and procedures that may not resonate with our own experience. Since the sabbats are about connecting to the earth, it is actually better to adjust to the local atmosphere rather than conform to a set pattern made centuries ago for areas thousands of miles away. This keeps the sabbats relevant to our present lives. The holidays aren’t always about formal ritual or involved energy work. If the weather or season is not conducive to heavy ceremony, the day can still be celebrated, honored, and, most importantly, enjoyed as part of the Wheel of the Year.
Michael Furie is the author of Spellcasting: Beyond the Basics, Supermarket Magic, and more, and has been a practicing Witch for more than twenty years. An American Witch, he practices in the Irish tradition and is a priest of the Cailleach. Michael lives in Northern California and can be found online at www.michaelfurie.com.
Illustrator: Bri Hermanson