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The Sabbats
The Witches' Sabbath (1797-1798) by Francisco de Goya. Sabbats in History and Mythology / Samhain (October 31st) / Yule (December 21st) / Imbolc (February 2nd) / Ostara (March 21st) / Beltane (April 30th) / Litha (June 21st) / Lughnasadh (August 1st) / Mabon (September 21st) Written and compiled by George Knowles.
“And
the Goddess told us”
Whenever
ye have need of anything once
in the month and better it be when the moon is full, then
shall ye assemble in some secret place and
adore the spirit of me, who
am Queen of all witches. There
shall ye assemble ye
who are fain to learn all sorcery yet
have not won its deepest secrets, to
these will I teach all things that are as yet unknown. And
ye shall be free from slavery and
as a sign that ye be truly free, you
shall be naked in your rites and
ye shall dance, sing, feast, make music and love, all
in my praise.
For
mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and
mine also is joy on earth for my law is love unto all beings.
(See Charge of the Goddess - by Doreen Valiente) Wicca Witchcraft is not just about casting spells
and working magic. Wicca is also a
wonderful life living religion, a continuous celebration of all aspects of life.
In all, Wiccans celebrate 21 festivals (Rituals) each year.
These are broken down into eight main festivals called “Sabbats” marking the suns annual cycle and that of life and nature.
The other thirteen festivals are Full Moon celebrations called
“Esbats”, at which times they gather together to honor the Goddess and God.
SabbatsSabbats are the eight main festivals
celebrated by witches; they are solar rituals marking the points of the sun's
yearly cycle and that of life and nature. Traditionally
they are grouped into two categories with four Greater Sabbats and four Lesser
Sabbats. The four Greater Sabbats are those associated with agriculture and the
bearing cycles of animals, thus their dates my vary slightly from year to year.
Known by a variety of names the four Greater
Sabbats are: Imbolc
- (February 2nd) also known as: Oimelc
/ Candlemas Beltane
-
(April 30th) also known as:
Roodmas / May Eve / Walpurgis Night Lughnasadh -
(August 1st) also known as: Lammas Samhain
-
(October 31st) also known as: Hallowmas
/ Halloween The four Lesser Sabbats contain the Solstices and Equinoxes representing the astronomical beginnings of the seasons. their dates may vary by a day or two each year as they depend upon the sun’s entry into the zodiacal signs of: Aries (Spring), Cancer (Summer), Libra (Autumn) and Capricorn (Winter). The four Lesser Sabbats are: Ostara -
(March 21st) also known as:
The Spring Equinox Litha -
(June 21st) also known as: The
Summer Solstice Mabon -
(September 21st) also known as: The
Autumn Equinox Yule -
(December 21st) also known as:
The Winter Solstice The Mythology of the SabbatsThe rituals of the Sabbats are an enactment of the myths that surround the relationship of the Goddess and God, and the effects this has on life and nature as the year unfolds. Stories differ slightly from tradition to tradition, but the most common myth begins when the Goddess descends into the Underworld (see the "Descent of the Goddess") in search of the slain God, for she would solve all mysteries, even the mystery of death. They meet, exchange mysteries, make love and became one. From their union came the birth of the Sun God at Yule. Of old the original beginning of the Celtic new year started with Samhain in October: SamhainOctober 31st - also known as: Hallowmas / Halloween / November Eve / Feast of the Dead / Feast of Apples / All Hallows Eve: Samhain celebrates the “Feast of the Dead” a farewell celebration to the God, who as “Lord of the Harvest” and then “King of the Hunt” sacrificed himself at the time when the earth bounty was depeleted and his animals were being slaughtered to provide sustenance throughout the coming winter months. The Goddess begins her descent into the underworld in search of the God. YuleDecember 21st - also know as: The Winter Solstice: Yule celebrates the rebirth of the Sun God, born of the Goddess after her return from the Underworld. Yule is the time of greatest darkness and has the shortest days of the year. Fires and candles are lit to welcome the return of the Sun Gods light, while the Goddess rests after delivery and the hardships of her winter in labor. ImbolcFebruary 2nd - also known as: Oimelc / Candlemas / Lupercalia / Feast of Torches / Feast of Pan / Snowdrop Festival / Feast of the Waxing Light / Brigid’s Day: Imbolc marks the recovery of the Goddess as she sleeps on peacefully after the birth the Sun God. It acknowledges the maturity of the Sun God as he grows in strength to become the new light of the year. After the shut down life of winter hibernation, his light purifies the earth and although the God is still young, he is lusty, his power can be felt in the lengthening of the days. As his warmth fertilizes the earth, it causes seeds to germinate and spout as the earliest beginnings of spring appear. OstaraMarch 21st - also known as: Spring Equinox /Springs Rites of Spring / Eostra’s Day: Ostara celebrates the waking of the Goddess after her rest. Warmed by the strengthening light of the Sun, she wakes bursting forth from her sleep and blankets the earth with fertility. The first true days of spring begin as days and nights become equal, and light overtakes darkness. The God stretches and grows to maturity. He walks the fields and forests delighted with the abundance of life and nature. He with the help of the Goddess impel all living creatures out of hibernation, to mate and reproduce. BeltaneApril 30th - also known as: Roodmas / May Eve / Walpurgis Night: Beltane marks the courtship of the Goddess and God in a renewal of the ancient marriage of polarity. As the young God emerges into manhood, he desires the Goddess and they fall in love. They meet together in fields and forests where spurred on by the energies at work in nature, they unite and the Goddess again becomes pregnant of the God. LithaJune 21st - also known as: The Summer Solstice: Litha embraces the beginning of summer, and is the solstice marking the longest days of the year. The God is in his prime and the powers of nature reach their highest point. The earth is awash with ripeing and growing bounty after the mating of the Goddess and God. Lammas/LughnasadhAugust 1st - also known as: August Eve / Feast of Bread / Harvest Home: Lammas/Lughnasadh is a celebration of the bounty brought to the earth by the union of the Goddess and God. It’s the time of the first harvest when the plants of spring begin to wither and die. They drop their fruits for our use, and seeds to ensure a future harvest. So too does the God begin to die as daylight decreases and the nights grow longer. The Goddess looks on in sorrow and watches God dying, but with joy she realizes he lives on inside her, her unborn child. MabonSeptember 21st) - also known as: The Autumn Equinox: Mabon repressents the completion of the harvest started at Lughnasadh. The days and nights become equal as darkness overtakes light. The God dies as the “Lord of the Harvest” and then “King of the Hunt” in a willing sacrifice. He then descends into the earth to the Underworld, there to await his renewal and rebirth of the Goddess. Nature declines and draws back its bounty in readiness for the winter and it’s time of rest. The Goddess looks at the weakening sun, and a fire burns in her belly as she feels the presence of the God. She prepares for her own journey into the Underworld, to search for him again. And so the cycle of the ritual year begins again with Samhain in October.
Sources
Encyclopedia
of Wicca & Witchcraft - by
Raven Grimassi. Wicca, A guide for the Solitary Practitioner - By Scott Cunningham
First published the 30th July 2001, 20:14:56 © George Knowles
Best wishes and Blessed Be
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