Witchcraft Information
Here are some basic points of interest relating to the practices of Witches. Please note that I am giving only general definitions and uses which may not apply to the entire Witchcraft community. Witches can vary greatly in their practice due to differences in tradition and also to individual preference. I am going to begin with how I define what it means to be a Witch (as opposed to being a Magician, Sorceress, Wizard, etc.), and what Witchcraft and Magic are to me.
This is followed by a Glossary of Terms that are frequently found in the Witchcraft community and an overview of each Sabbat.
Witch:
I define Witch as: a person, either male or female who has the inner spiritual calling, the commitment, the talent AND who has also made the conscious choice, to practice Witchcraft.
Witchcraft:
I define Witchcraft as: the practice of the indigenous spiritual and magical traditions of Old World Pagans, often including but not being limited to: acknowledging and/or honoring the old Deities; recognizing that divinity encompasses both the masculine and the feminine (and beyond); celebrating on the old holidays (Sabbats) according to their tradition; celebrating at times designated by the phase of the moon; being spiritually attuned to nature, animals, the elements, and the Otherworld; as well as possessing the ability to successfully practice magic.
Magic:
I define it as the following: Magic is the science and process of projecting emotionally and intellectually charged energy into the spiritual plane in order to manifest change in the physical world.
This is followed by a Glossary of Terms that are frequently found in the Witchcraft community and an overview of each Sabbat.
Witch:
I define Witch as: a person, either male or female who has the inner spiritual calling, the commitment, the talent AND who has also made the conscious choice, to practice Witchcraft.
Witchcraft:
I define Witchcraft as: the practice of the indigenous spiritual and magical traditions of Old World Pagans, often including but not being limited to: acknowledging and/or honoring the old Deities; recognizing that divinity encompasses both the masculine and the feminine (and beyond); celebrating on the old holidays (Sabbats) according to their tradition; celebrating at times designated by the phase of the moon; being spiritually attuned to nature, animals, the elements, and the Otherworld; as well as possessing the ability to successfully practice magic.
Magic:
I define it as the following: Magic is the science and process of projecting emotionally and intellectually charged energy into the spiritual plane in order to manifest change in the physical world.
Glossary of Witchy Terms
Anima – A Latin word that has many meanings depending on context. It can mean the breath of life, wind, or the soul; the eternal aspect of a person. Generally speaking, nowadays it is used to denote the female aspect of a person.
Animus – A Latin word that usually signifies the principle of thought and reason and/or the spirit or ghost; the astral aspect of a person (as opposed to the eternal soul). Generally speaking, nowadays it is used to denote the male aspect of a person.
Athame – A relatively modern term for the Witch’s ritual dagger. Frequently, the Witches' knife is double-edged with a black handle. It is a tool used to channel energy.
Boline – A name for a second knife that many Witches have for practical uses such as cutting herbs; sometimes crescent or sickle-shaped and may have a white handle, frequently spelled “bolline” or “boleen”. Sometimes known as a burin.
Cauldron – A round metal pot (usually made of cast iron), ideally standing on three legs used to hold ritual fires, water, ashes, and/ or offerings, or used to cook meals or brew liquids. The cauldron is generally seen as being linked to the element of Water and to Spirit as well as being symbolic of the divine female generative principle (Goddess).
Censer – A container used to hold burning incense for ritual.
Chalice – A goblet-style cup (on a stem with no handles) that has been consecrated to be used in ritual. The chalice is also symbolic of the divine feminine and linked to the Water element.
Consecrate – To make or declare something sacred or dedicated to a spiritual purpose, usually by cleansing it and charging it with spiritual energy.
Deiseal – A term denoting moving in a clockwise or sunwise direction. Pronounced “jeshil” or “jeezhil” it is a Celtic term (Scottish and Irish) with more than one spelling. Most commonly spelled “deosil” today.
Divination – The practice of trying to communicate with the Otherworld through the agency of an exterior tool or focus such as a crystal ball, Witch’s Mirror, Tarot cards, et cetera, frequently in an attempt to answer a question or gain knowledge of future events. Using methods of divination allows the Witch to have greater access to the psychic mind and facilitates communication for those that are not actively psychic but may also be employed by those that are already highly psychic to enhance or clarify the information being received.
Elements – The basic breakdown for the states of matter; Earth, Air, Fire and Water. The original four are Earth (solid), Water (liquid), Air (gas), and Fire (fire is categorized as being a chemical reaction); this understanding goes back at least, to ancient Greece. Witches use this knowledge in not only a physical sense but also a spiritual sense and we recognize a fifth element; Spirit, which is regarded (usually) as the raw spiritual substance from whence all physical things form, i.e. “God Force”. In the spiritual sense, the fifth element shifts and manifests into the pure energy of each of the four elements and then from these astral essences, the physical elements are formed. Everything that exists is seen to be manifest as the result of interplay between the pure astral essences of Spirit and the other four elements in some pattern.
It is interesting to note that this system has been frequently decried by scientists since the development of the “Periodic Table of Elements” but when one observes this table, it is easy to see that it is merely a further breakdown of the original four physical elements since everything on the table of elements is either solid, liquid, gas or the result of chemical reaction (fire).
Esbat – A Witches meeting held either for religious ritual, magical and/or training purposes. The time of this meeting is most often designated by the phase of the moon and generally speaking, there is usually an Esbat held on the Full Moon and frequently the New Moon.
Faery – This has two meanings. The first meaning is that of an elder race of beings that have lived on the physical plane and now dwell in the Otherworld. Most often, these beings are seen as the children of the Mother Goddess (In Ireland, they are known as the Tuatha De Danann) and are viewed as Deities. If one is coming from a Judeo-Christian perspective, a helpful comparison would be that the Mother Goddess is God and that her original children would be the equivalent of angels, it is a similar dynamic.
The second meaning is that of a nature spirit. These two meanings are somewhat interconnected as in the lore; the elder races retreated to the Otherworld through the faery mounds and made the nature spirits subject to them. Nature spirits are the active souls of nature and its elements; the spiritual essence and consciousness of the natural world. Tree spirits and flower faeries are good examples of nature spirits.
Faery Lover or Companion – A faery faith term used to denote otherworldly beings that enter into a union with humans, this has been demonized in the past by other religions and sometimes mislabeled as incubus or succubus visitation or demonic possession. Sometimes this union can be sexual in nature but this is not always the case. The faery companion becomes the conduit to the otherworld; the Witch (those Witches who work with such beings) being bonded to a member of the otherworld is thus granted access in a similar fashion as being married into a royal family can grant a “commoner” a title and position.
This relationship is difficult to achieve as the Faery Companion must be “courted” and a level of trust must be built by both sides. The nature of the faery lover has been debated much as of late and is thought by some to be a manifestation of the individual Witch’s anima or animus (depending on the gender of the Witch), since it is dormant and “unmanifest” in the physical world; it is seen as being active in the Otherworld and union with it fully aligns the Witch and thus empowers their ability to touch both realms. Not every Witch works with such companions although a great many do work with companions or helpers of a spiritual nature in some form though they may be identified by other names.
Familiar – The primary meaning for this term now is an animal that shares a psychic bond with a Witch and who works with them. This animal is generally regarded as much more than “just a pet” as many animal familiars have very strong bonds with their Witch which in many cases continues even after the animal has passed into the Otherworld.
Another meaning for familiar is that of Familiar Spirits, a being or beings in the Otherworld that communicate with the Witch though various means, similar to a Faery Companion though somewhat less personal in nature. There are divergent views on the nature of these spirits with some viewing them as being the Witch’s spirit guides, ancestors, higher self or as members of the “Hidden Company”. The last meaning is that of a faery lover or companion; these are sometimes called familiar spirits as well.
Fetch – There are several meanings for this term. The first is as a ghost of a living person, i.e. their astral body which is said to be seen by a family member as a foretelling that the person represented is going to die, but this can also be the astral body consciously sent out in astral projection, sometimes in an animal form. The second meaning for fetch is a magically created thought form creature that is used by the Witch to aid in spell work. The third meaning is as that of a faery lover or companion. Another meaning for a fetch is a familiar spirit. As you can see, there is a great deal of overlap with some of these terms.
Grimoire – A book of magic and spells. This term has been used by Witches as a name for their own books of magic and ritual as has the term Book of Shadows. The term grimoire is frequently used by magical practitioners that are not Witches to describe their own magical texts. A great many Witch books have their own individual names and so these are general terms for a Witch's magical books as a whole versus a single specific book.
Handfasting – A ritual in which two people are bonded together sometimes for a trial period and sometimes for a lifetime or longer by declaring their feelings for one another and being bound together by an elder by literally having their hands fasted (fastened) together and bound with cord as an act of magical binding, it is popularly known as the Witches’ Wedding ceremony.
Hidden Company – Our spiritual and sometimes genetic ancestors; Witches who have passed into the Otherworld and as such act as spirit guides for living Witches, giving them guidance and sometimes protection or magical assistance.
Initiation – Both a ceremony and a process. As a ceremony, it is a rite in which a person becomes accepted into and bound to a Circle, Coven, Family Clan or Household. As a process, it is the development of the deep inner understandings and spiritual connections that transforms an ordinary person into a Witch. This inner initiation can happen either before, during or well after the initiation ceremony and can happen almost spontaneously to people practicing as solitaries if they do the work.
Otherworld – A general term for the Spirit World, the Faery Realm, and/or other dimensions.
Pentacle – A pentacle is a disc, plaque, pendant or ornament that displays a magical symbol, most frequently, the pentagram. A pentacle is sometimes referred to as a peyton.
Pentagram – A five-pointed star drawn in an unbroken line; when drawn with the point upward, it symbolizes the five elements, the Mother Goddess, and a person in an ideal state of being with their spirit in control of their material nature, with spirit being seen as the top point in the pentagram and the other points as the elements. A downward-facing pentagram can denote, the Horned God, binding of negativity, and a materialistic state of being with matter in control of spirit, the spirit seen as the pentagram point on the bottom. When placed on a pentacle, frequently with a circle around it, the pentagram is seen as representative o the physical plane and the element of earth.
Sabbat – A relatively modern term for the sacred feast days of the Witch. Eight has become the standard number of holidays though this can vary by tradition. Some traditions only celebrate the solstices and equinoxes while others exclusively celebrate the old fire festivals of Samhain, Imbolg, Bealtaine, and Lughnasadh. There are many variations depending on region and choice and the names of the holidays vary greatly. Each holiday is connected to the interplay of the sun and the earth and each marks a key point in the yearly cycle. The individual rituals vary by tradition or each holiday and much additional lore can be attached to these days depending on region. For a general understanding of the Sabbats, please see the Sabbat section below.
Scry – Gazing. To gaze into a pool of water or ink, a crystal ball or black mirror or any blank surface as a means of divination.
Spell – A specific ritual designed to bring about a magical effect. Also, the chant or words spoken during said ritual.
Stang - A forked branch or staff that has multiple uses. It can be used to represent the Horned God (if it has two forks or if left in its natural state) or the Goddess (if it has two or three forks). It can also be a representation of the "World Tree" (Yggdrasil, The Bile' Tree, etc) and used as a bridge between the realms (as can an actual tree). Not every Witch uses a Stang whereas some Witches use two. In some traditions, the stang is moved around and is stuck in the ground at different points depending on the time of year and in others it is always placed in the center to represent the center of all things.
Tuathal – A Celtic word denoting a counterclockwise or moonwise motion.
Wand - A rod (usually made of wood, but sometimes made of metal) that is used as an extension of the will and a channel for magical energy. Energy can be sent through the wand in a similar fashion as one uses the Athame. There are many additional uses for a wand since it is essentially a smaller version of the stang. It can be used as an aid in meditation or journey work to help one move from realm to realm and it can also be used in healing magic and to invoke Deities and spirits.
Widdershins - from the Germanic languages meaning opposite course. This too is a common word used to indicate a counterclockwise direction.
Anima – A Latin word that has many meanings depending on context. It can mean the breath of life, wind, or the soul; the eternal aspect of a person. Generally speaking, nowadays it is used to denote the female aspect of a person.
Animus – A Latin word that usually signifies the principle of thought and reason and/or the spirit or ghost; the astral aspect of a person (as opposed to the eternal soul). Generally speaking, nowadays it is used to denote the male aspect of a person.
Athame – A relatively modern term for the Witch’s ritual dagger. Frequently, the Witches' knife is double-edged with a black handle. It is a tool used to channel energy.
Boline – A name for a second knife that many Witches have for practical uses such as cutting herbs; sometimes crescent or sickle-shaped and may have a white handle, frequently spelled “bolline” or “boleen”. Sometimes known as a burin.
Cauldron – A round metal pot (usually made of cast iron), ideally standing on three legs used to hold ritual fires, water, ashes, and/ or offerings, or used to cook meals or brew liquids. The cauldron is generally seen as being linked to the element of Water and to Spirit as well as being symbolic of the divine female generative principle (Goddess).
Censer – A container used to hold burning incense for ritual.
Chalice – A goblet-style cup (on a stem with no handles) that has been consecrated to be used in ritual. The chalice is also symbolic of the divine feminine and linked to the Water element.
Consecrate – To make or declare something sacred or dedicated to a spiritual purpose, usually by cleansing it and charging it with spiritual energy.
Deiseal – A term denoting moving in a clockwise or sunwise direction. Pronounced “jeshil” or “jeezhil” it is a Celtic term (Scottish and Irish) with more than one spelling. Most commonly spelled “deosil” today.
Divination – The practice of trying to communicate with the Otherworld through the agency of an exterior tool or focus such as a crystal ball, Witch’s Mirror, Tarot cards, et cetera, frequently in an attempt to answer a question or gain knowledge of future events. Using methods of divination allows the Witch to have greater access to the psychic mind and facilitates communication for those that are not actively psychic but may also be employed by those that are already highly psychic to enhance or clarify the information being received.
Elements – The basic breakdown for the states of matter; Earth, Air, Fire and Water. The original four are Earth (solid), Water (liquid), Air (gas), and Fire (fire is categorized as being a chemical reaction); this understanding goes back at least, to ancient Greece. Witches use this knowledge in not only a physical sense but also a spiritual sense and we recognize a fifth element; Spirit, which is regarded (usually) as the raw spiritual substance from whence all physical things form, i.e. “God Force”. In the spiritual sense, the fifth element shifts and manifests into the pure energy of each of the four elements and then from these astral essences, the physical elements are formed. Everything that exists is seen to be manifest as the result of interplay between the pure astral essences of Spirit and the other four elements in some pattern.
It is interesting to note that this system has been frequently decried by scientists since the development of the “Periodic Table of Elements” but when one observes this table, it is easy to see that it is merely a further breakdown of the original four physical elements since everything on the table of elements is either solid, liquid, gas or the result of chemical reaction (fire).
Esbat – A Witches meeting held either for religious ritual, magical and/or training purposes. The time of this meeting is most often designated by the phase of the moon and generally speaking, there is usually an Esbat held on the Full Moon and frequently the New Moon.
Faery – This has two meanings. The first meaning is that of an elder race of beings that have lived on the physical plane and now dwell in the Otherworld. Most often, these beings are seen as the children of the Mother Goddess (In Ireland, they are known as the Tuatha De Danann) and are viewed as Deities. If one is coming from a Judeo-Christian perspective, a helpful comparison would be that the Mother Goddess is God and that her original children would be the equivalent of angels, it is a similar dynamic.
The second meaning is that of a nature spirit. These two meanings are somewhat interconnected as in the lore; the elder races retreated to the Otherworld through the faery mounds and made the nature spirits subject to them. Nature spirits are the active souls of nature and its elements; the spiritual essence and consciousness of the natural world. Tree spirits and flower faeries are good examples of nature spirits.
Faery Lover or Companion – A faery faith term used to denote otherworldly beings that enter into a union with humans, this has been demonized in the past by other religions and sometimes mislabeled as incubus or succubus visitation or demonic possession. Sometimes this union can be sexual in nature but this is not always the case. The faery companion becomes the conduit to the otherworld; the Witch (those Witches who work with such beings) being bonded to a member of the otherworld is thus granted access in a similar fashion as being married into a royal family can grant a “commoner” a title and position.
This relationship is difficult to achieve as the Faery Companion must be “courted” and a level of trust must be built by both sides. The nature of the faery lover has been debated much as of late and is thought by some to be a manifestation of the individual Witch’s anima or animus (depending on the gender of the Witch), since it is dormant and “unmanifest” in the physical world; it is seen as being active in the Otherworld and union with it fully aligns the Witch and thus empowers their ability to touch both realms. Not every Witch works with such companions although a great many do work with companions or helpers of a spiritual nature in some form though they may be identified by other names.
Familiar – The primary meaning for this term now is an animal that shares a psychic bond with a Witch and who works with them. This animal is generally regarded as much more than “just a pet” as many animal familiars have very strong bonds with their Witch which in many cases continues even after the animal has passed into the Otherworld.
Another meaning for familiar is that of Familiar Spirits, a being or beings in the Otherworld that communicate with the Witch though various means, similar to a Faery Companion though somewhat less personal in nature. There are divergent views on the nature of these spirits with some viewing them as being the Witch’s spirit guides, ancestors, higher self or as members of the “Hidden Company”. The last meaning is that of a faery lover or companion; these are sometimes called familiar spirits as well.
Fetch – There are several meanings for this term. The first is as a ghost of a living person, i.e. their astral body which is said to be seen by a family member as a foretelling that the person represented is going to die, but this can also be the astral body consciously sent out in astral projection, sometimes in an animal form. The second meaning for fetch is a magically created thought form creature that is used by the Witch to aid in spell work. The third meaning is as that of a faery lover or companion. Another meaning for a fetch is a familiar spirit. As you can see, there is a great deal of overlap with some of these terms.
Grimoire – A book of magic and spells. This term has been used by Witches as a name for their own books of magic and ritual as has the term Book of Shadows. The term grimoire is frequently used by magical practitioners that are not Witches to describe their own magical texts. A great many Witch books have their own individual names and so these are general terms for a Witch's magical books as a whole versus a single specific book.
Handfasting – A ritual in which two people are bonded together sometimes for a trial period and sometimes for a lifetime or longer by declaring their feelings for one another and being bound together by an elder by literally having their hands fasted (fastened) together and bound with cord as an act of magical binding, it is popularly known as the Witches’ Wedding ceremony.
Hidden Company – Our spiritual and sometimes genetic ancestors; Witches who have passed into the Otherworld and as such act as spirit guides for living Witches, giving them guidance and sometimes protection or magical assistance.
Initiation – Both a ceremony and a process. As a ceremony, it is a rite in which a person becomes accepted into and bound to a Circle, Coven, Family Clan or Household. As a process, it is the development of the deep inner understandings and spiritual connections that transforms an ordinary person into a Witch. This inner initiation can happen either before, during or well after the initiation ceremony and can happen almost spontaneously to people practicing as solitaries if they do the work.
Otherworld – A general term for the Spirit World, the Faery Realm, and/or other dimensions.
Pentacle – A pentacle is a disc, plaque, pendant or ornament that displays a magical symbol, most frequently, the pentagram. A pentacle is sometimes referred to as a peyton.
Pentagram – A five-pointed star drawn in an unbroken line; when drawn with the point upward, it symbolizes the five elements, the Mother Goddess, and a person in an ideal state of being with their spirit in control of their material nature, with spirit being seen as the top point in the pentagram and the other points as the elements. A downward-facing pentagram can denote, the Horned God, binding of negativity, and a materialistic state of being with matter in control of spirit, the spirit seen as the pentagram point on the bottom. When placed on a pentacle, frequently with a circle around it, the pentagram is seen as representative o the physical plane and the element of earth.
Sabbat – A relatively modern term for the sacred feast days of the Witch. Eight has become the standard number of holidays though this can vary by tradition. Some traditions only celebrate the solstices and equinoxes while others exclusively celebrate the old fire festivals of Samhain, Imbolg, Bealtaine, and Lughnasadh. There are many variations depending on region and choice and the names of the holidays vary greatly. Each holiday is connected to the interplay of the sun and the earth and each marks a key point in the yearly cycle. The individual rituals vary by tradition or each holiday and much additional lore can be attached to these days depending on region. For a general understanding of the Sabbats, please see the Sabbat section below.
Scry – Gazing. To gaze into a pool of water or ink, a crystal ball or black mirror or any blank surface as a means of divination.
Spell – A specific ritual designed to bring about a magical effect. Also, the chant or words spoken during said ritual.
Stang - A forked branch or staff that has multiple uses. It can be used to represent the Horned God (if it has two forks or if left in its natural state) or the Goddess (if it has two or three forks). It can also be a representation of the "World Tree" (Yggdrasil, The Bile' Tree, etc) and used as a bridge between the realms (as can an actual tree). Not every Witch uses a Stang whereas some Witches use two. In some traditions, the stang is moved around and is stuck in the ground at different points depending on the time of year and in others it is always placed in the center to represent the center of all things.
Tuathal – A Celtic word denoting a counterclockwise or moonwise motion.
Wand - A rod (usually made of wood, but sometimes made of metal) that is used as an extension of the will and a channel for magical energy. Energy can be sent through the wand in a similar fashion as one uses the Athame. There are many additional uses for a wand since it is essentially a smaller version of the stang. It can be used as an aid in meditation or journey work to help one move from realm to realm and it can also be used in healing magic and to invoke Deities and spirits.
Widdershins - from the Germanic languages meaning opposite course. This too is a common word used to indicate a counterclockwise direction.
The Sabbats
The following is a generalized listing of the Witchcraft Festivals, their approximate dates on the calendar, and spiritual significance. The first name given in each entry is the name that I use personally for the day and other names shall be listed in each description. NOTE: The dates given are for the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, the dates are reversed and (for example) when the North is experiencing the Vernal Equinox, the Southern Hemisphere is shifting into Autumn.
Samhain (October 31st)
This holiday marks the turning point from the light half of the year to the dark half of the year. Witches view the year as being divided primarily in two (in keeping with ancient pagan thought), with the Summer half or Light half as extending from May 1st to October 31st and the Winter or Dark half as being the other six months encompassing all of November thru the end of April. On the day when we shift from one half of the year to the other (October 31st and May 1st), there is a brief time between the two; on October 31st, that is Samhain.
Samhain (pronounced: sow-en), “summer’s end” is a time without a time; it is a holiday that celebrates the final harvest of the year. Anciently, this would be primarily the meat harvest when the cattle that were least likely to survive the harsh winter were slaughtered both for their meat and also to ensure that the limited resources available could be devoted to the strongest cattle to keep them alive until summer. The meat harvest was conducted with reverence and some of the meat (and bones) was given to the fire in sacrifice to the Deities. In fact, the word bonfire was originally, bonefire and was a fire of animal bones.
Since this day falls between the two halves of the year, it is a time when the veil between the worlds thins and the dead and Otherworldly creatures have a greater reach into the world of the living. As Witches, we invite our beloved dead to come and share in our celebration and we protect ourselves from any disruptive or malevolent spirits. Most Witches celebrate this as the time to release the old year/the beginning of the new year, the festival of the dead, and the start of winter. It is celebrated with joy as we welcome our ancestors and beloved dead and realign ourselves to the eternal cycle of life. We acknowledge the darker aspects of the Deities and know that dark does not equate to evil and that death is a necessary aspect of the cycle of life, yet the spirit remains eternal. We are comforted to know that though the dark Goddess may be considered the crone of death, she provides release and renewal for the weary and offers the promise of rebirth.
We may dress in costume at this time to project our desire to the Otherworld as an act of sympathetic magic. Symbols such as the jack o’ lantern, carved out of pumpkins or turnips can be used as an amulet to ward away malevolent spirits. Burying apples in the earth is said to feed the spirits who wander without loved ones to call them home. Setting a place for a departed loved one at the feast table and lighting a candle in their honor is a way to connect to their energy. This time is celebrated with great joy knowing that our loved ones continue to progress in the Otherworld and that we may meet again in this life or the next.
Nollaig (December 21st)
Yule, Nollaig, the Winter Solstice; all are terms used to describe this holiday, the beginning of winter (December 21st in the northern hemisphere/June 21st in the Southern). There is a great mystery locked within this night. On this night, the longest one of the year when the sun has it least amount of influence over the Earth, the winter season officially commences and yet from this day forward, the days will grow longer and the sun will regain its strength until it peaks at the summer solstice. Whereas the Sabbat of Samhain honors and acknowledges the mystery of death, Nollaig honors and acknowledges the mystery of rebirth, but rebirth is a process.
At the winter solstice, the sun is just beginning to be reborn. It is akin to a person’s spiritual rebirth since we know that the days are lengthening and that the sun is growing in power but, as it is winter, we cannot outwardly perceive the change. We must trust (even though in modern times we may not realize that’s what we doing since we tend to take things for granted) that the change has been made and that the days will in fact grow in warmth and light.
Despite the assertion by some historians that the Celts did not celebrate or even acknowledge the solstices and equinoxes (which would seem to fly in the face of monuments such as Stonehenge in England and Newgrange in Ireland), the winter solstice has been celebrated as a time of family togetherness and great joy, even in the face of harsh conditions. Candles are lit to celebrate the renewed light of the sun, boughs of evergreen are brought indoors to reinforce our connection to nature and to bring fresh life energy into the home, a ‘yule log’ is burned in honor of the returning heat of the sun, a feast is prepared to be shared with loved ones in celebration of the day and for hope of good things to come.
Imbolg (January 31st)
This holiday, also known as Oimelc, Imbolc, Candlemas, and Brigid’s Day is celebrated as the “quickening of the year” a day to work divinations to foretell the weather and see if the icy grip of winter is breaking and giving way to an early Spring. The beginning of February is the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, thus Imbolg is the cross quarter day of new life. This day is celebrated by many Witches as the day of Brigid, an important Deity aligned with the element of Fire, smithcraft, poetry, medicine and in some tales, is essentially the bright Spring counterpart to the Cailleach, the Hag of Winter.
In these tales, the Cailleach imprisons Brigid (or Bride) and blights the land with winter frost and snow. When Brigid regains her freedom, the snow melts away and Spring once more returns. In a variation, the Cailleach and Brigid are seen as different facets of the same Deity and as Brigid ages through the Spring, Summer and Fall, she transforms into the Cailleach of Winter until she once more decides to be reborn as Brigid, the fiery arrow, and the season of growth returns.
Regardless of the individual tradition, the overall theme of this holiday is that of beginnings; ewes are just beginning to get milk, the first stirrings of Spring may be starting to sprout (in warmer areas), we look for signs in nature as to whether or not frost is out of the ground and winter is ending early. Imbolg is considered the festival of light since it celebrates fire, warmth and new life. It is tradition to light many candles, have a meal which includes milk (ideally sheep’s or goat’s milk) and other dairy foods, seeds, spices, and for non-vegetarians, roast lamb. Incidentally, Oimelc (ewe’s milk) is the celebration of the new lambs, Imbolc (first light) is the celebration of the beginning of return of light and Spring and these were both celebrated by the Celts at this time of year. These celebrations were melded together as a single holiday (especially since the Sabbats are usually celebrated over a period of a few days) to become a single fire festival encompassing both themes.
Spring Equinox (March 21st)
The first day of spring is a beautiful time (hopefully) and its burgeoning greenery and lengthening days are the outward manifestations of the delicate interaction between the sun and earth. The inward manifestations of this interaction are seen in renewed energy both within ourselves and the animal kingdom and also in the desire to create and procreate. The times of equinox are excellent times for sex magic and creating change! The spring equinox in particular, due to its growth energy and warmth is an excellent time for beginning big projects such as spells to create very large, life altering changes; moving, large-scale travel, conception magic, new careers, etc.
A good ritual is (surprise!) the coloring of eggs in celebration of fertility and creation and it is also a good idea to plant charged crystals beneath favorite plants in your Spring garden to speed their growth and ensure a good harvest in the autumn. Any spells cast at this time receive an extra spark from the energy currents that are flowing during the equinox.
Bealtaine (May 1st)
The Sabbat of Bealtaine is a pivotal time in the year, marking the beginning of the Light Half of the Year; the Summer cycle of growth and life. It is the bright counterpart to the Samhain holiday and is a celebration of new life: human, animal and plant. This is a liminal (transitional; threshold) time when, much like at Samhain, the doorways to the Otherworld open and Spirits, Ancestors and Faery are much more involved in our physical world. This is the ultimate time of growth with the bulk of our food supply beginning to grow into strength at this time.
Witches celebrate this time as a festival to honor the Gods for their gift of this season of cultivation and prosperity, a celebration of fertility, and as a fire festival of vitality and life. This is very much a time of the Mother Goddess of the land.
As a priest of The Cailleach, this is a bittersweet time, for this Sabbat marks the end of Cailleach’s yearly reign and it the night in which she transforms herself to gray stone, waiting until Samhain to reemerge as the Sovereign of Winter.
Traditional practices include feasting, dancing, drinking and leaping over fire for luck and cleansing; a bonfire is traditional though for safety’s sake, a candle will suffice. Dairy foods, oat cakes and any fresh vegetables are good choices for the Bealtaine meal and it is a good idea to set out a bowl of cream for the faery-folk.
Midsummer (June 21st)
The time of the summer solstice is considered the midway point in the summer season which began at Bealtaine. The summer solstice marks the time when the earth has shifted so that the sun’s rays are directly over the highest point (Tropic of Cancer, in the northern hemisphere) or over the lowest point (Tropic of Capricorn, in the southern hemisphere). This holiday is the peak of power in the light half of the year and an ideal and legendary time for magic and transformations of all kinds.
On the summer solstice, it is traditional to light a bonfire, both as a cleansing tool and as a celebration of the power of fire, light and heat. Dancing around the fire, giving thanks for the growth and health of the crops, animals and family members (and working any protective magic for their continued well-being), eating, sleeping and even making love outdoors are all traditional practices. Sleeping beneath an elder tree is said to give visions of the faery that roam the night during this holiday.
Lughnasadh (August 1st)
For many this holiday is a bit of a mystery. It is usually known that this Sabbat is the “first harvest” but this is not a full enough explanation of the power of this day. In general, this is a festival of the magic of transformation and abundance. Since it is the beginning of the harvest season, it is the time to evaluate the year so far and take stock of what we have sown, speak truthfully to ourselves about what we were unable to accomplish and how we may work differently in the future. It is also the time of gathering abundance and securing that our needs will be met through the fall and winter.
Traditionally, this is a time of fairs and games; not only a celebration of the fruits of our labors but also, a time to network with others for both business and friendship. The county and state fairs that we have today are loosely descended from this holiday. In the ancient past, fairs were held to sell and trade cattle and horses and the first harvests gleanings (the carnivals came later). The religious aspects of the day vary from tradition to tradition but a consistent theme of sovereignty and sacrifice is found throughout.
In my tradition, it is customary to include a symbolic ritual to cool the heat of the scorching summer sun so that it does not damage the crops before they can be fully harvested. Lughnasadh occurs at the beginning of what is usually the hottest month and so any effort to quell that heat seems wise. In ritual this is frequently an act of sympathetic magic such as dousing a candle in the cauldron with water from the ritual chalice.
It is traditional to bake fresh bread for the holiday and use it in the harvest feast made up of the fruits and vegetables grown in the season. An offering of bread is given in thanks to the Deities in anticipation of a bountiful completed harvest. The Deities prefer to be thanked both before and after Their gifts are given. It shows proper respect for their power and effort.
Autumn Equinox (September 21st)
The Autumnal Equinox is a time of balance as the polar tilt of the Earth shifts the hemisphere (either Northern or Southern, depending) away from the peak of solar energy and back to where the sunlight shines most directly over the equator. This time initiates Fall and when our energies tend to move inward and downward. The leaves fall from the trees and we too should focus on clearing away that which no longer serves us in preparation for the long winter ahead.
Since this is also the agricultural harvest season, this holiday is traditionally thought of as “The Witches’ Thanksgiving” as we reap the rewards of our hard work through the first half of the year and give thanks for what we have received. Traditional practices include feasting (anything considered “thanksgiving food” works here and cleaning and storage of anything that will not be used during the rest of the year. This is a great time to do fall cleaning, preparing things like fireplaces and storage closets, cleaning gardening tools, putting away swimsuits and summer clothes and getting out more blankets and coats.
This is also an ideal time of year for spiritual cleansings, banishing bad habits and thoughts and anything that could be considered “inner work”. During Autumn, the energy of plants and trees travels away from the dying leaves and flowers and gathers in the roots and base. So too does our own energy naturally move from an outward focus to a more introspective frame of mind.
