Wheel of the Year: Sabbats and Celebrations
The Wheel of the Year is a sacred guide for many witches, marking the cycle of nature’s seasons through eight important festivals, or Sabbats. For me, following the Wheel of the Year connects me deeply to the earth, helping me celebrate the changing energies of each season. It’s a reminder of how everything in nature moves in cycles—birth, growth, death, and rebirth. These Sabbats offer moments for reflection, intention-setting, and a chance to engage in rituals that align with the energy of the world around us.
Here’s a breakdown of each Sabbat, its date, meaning, rituals, and the magic that comes alive at these times of the year. I hope you’ll find as much joy in them as I do!
1. Samhain (31st October - 1st November)
Meaning:
Samhain, often called the Witch’s New Year, marks the end of the harvest and the start of the darker half of the year. It’s a time to honour ancestors and loved ones who’ve passed, as the veil between the physical world and the spirit world is at its thinnest.
Rituals and Traditions:
I love lighting candles to guide the spirits of my ancestors and setting out offerings of food. It’s also a time for personal reflection, thinking about the year that’s passed, and setting intentions for the new year. I use this time to practise divination with tarot cards or scrying, as the heightened spiritual energy makes it feel especially powerful.
Seasonal Spells & Corresponding Deities:
Spells for protection, banishing, and honouring the dead are particularly potent now. I often call on deities like Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft, or the Morrigan, who governs fate and the cycle of life and death.
2. Yule (20th - 23rd December)
Meaning:
Yule celebrates the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. It’s a time of rebirth, as after this day, the light returns and the days grow longer. For me, Yule is a beautiful reminder of hope during dark times—just as the sun returns, so too can our inner light after hardship.
Rituals and Traditions:
I decorate my space with evergreen boughs, holly, and mistletoe, representing eternal life. Lighting candles or a Yule log in honour of the sun’s return is a favourite ritual of mine. It’s also a time for gathering with loved ones and sharing in the warmth of food, drink, and good company.
Seasonal Spells & Corresponding Deities:
Spells for renewal, new beginnings, and hope work well at Yule. I often invoke solar deities like Ra or Apollo, who represent light and life. The Norse goddess Frigg is another powerful presence during Yule, bringing blessings of family and hearth.
3. Imbolc (1st - 2nd February)
Meaning:
Imbolc is the festival of light and the stirrings of new life. It’s a time to celebrate the first signs of spring as the earth begins to awaken from winter. For me, it’s a reminder that growth is on the horizon, even if it’s not yet visible.
Rituals and Traditions:
Candle lighting is at the heart of my Imbolc celebrations, symbolising the return of the sun. I like to clean my space, both physically and energetically, to welcome fresh energy. Making a Brigid’s cross or leaving out offerings for the goddess Brigid are traditional ways to honour her.
Seasonal Spells & Corresponding Deities:
This is a time for spells of purification, inspiration, and healing. Brigid, the goddess of fire, fertility, and poetry, is central to Imbolc, and calling on her energy brings creativity and renewal.
4. Ostara (20th - 23rd March)
Meaning:
Ostara celebrates the Spring Equinox, when day and night are equal, and balance is key. It’s a time of growth, fertility, and new beginnings as nature fully awakens. The energy feels so fresh and hopeful at this time.
Rituals and Traditions:
I love decorating my altar with spring flowers and eggs, symbols of fertility and rebirth. Planting seeds—both literal and metaphorical—sets intentions for the growth I want to see in the coming months. I might also create a balance spell to harmonise areas of my life that feel out of sync.
Seasonal Spells & Corresponding Deities:
Spells for fertility, abundance, and balance are particularly powerful now. I often work with deities like Ostara, the Germanic goddess of spring, or Eostre, the goddess of dawn and renewal.
5. Beltane (30th April - 1st May)
Meaning:
Beltane is a celebration of life, fertility, and the full blossoming of spring. It’s a joyful, sensual festival filled with fire and passion. For me, Beltane is all about embracing the vitality of life and celebrating the abundance of the earth.
Rituals and Traditions:
Dancing around a maypole or lighting bonfires to symbolise the sun’s strength are traditional Beltane activities. I often create a small fire in my cauldron and jump over it for good luck and protection. It’s also a time for love spells or celebrating romantic connections.
Seasonal Spells & Corresponding Deities:
Fertility, love, and passion spells are ideal for Beltane. I work with deities like the May Queen, the Green Man, or Aphrodite, invoking their energy for creation and love.
6. Litha (20th - 23rd June)
Meaning:
Litha celebrates the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, when the sun is at its peak power. This is a time of abundance, vitality, and celebrating the fullness of life.
Rituals and Traditions:
Bonfires and feasts are common Litha traditions, honouring the sun’s energy. I like to spend time outdoors, soaking up the sun’s warmth and working with solar magic. Making sun water (similar to moon water, but charged by the sun) is one of my favourite Litha rituals.
Seasonal Spells & Corresponding Deities:
Spells for success, strength, and protection work well at Litha. I often call on sun deities like Helios or Amaterasu, celebrating their energy of light and life.
7. Lammas/Lughnasadh (1st August)
Meaning:
Lammas marks the first harvest of the year and the time to give thanks for the abundance that nature provides. It’s a time to reflect on what we’ve achieved and prepare for the darker half of the year.
Rituals and Traditions:
Baking bread is a key tradition for Lammas, symbolising the fruits of the earth. I also like to create a gratitude list, reflecting on the blessings in my life. Sharing food with friends and family connects me to the harvest spirit.
Seasonal Spells & Corresponding Deities:
This is a time for abundance, prosperity, and gratitude spells. I work with deities like Lugh, the Celtic god of craftsmanship, or Demeter, the Greek goddess of the harvest.
8. Mabon (20th - 23rd September)
Meaning:
Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, is a time of balance, gratitude, and preparation for the coming winter. It’s the second harvest festival, and for me, it’s a time to reflect on the fruits of my labour and give thanks for the bounty I’ve received.
Rituals and Traditions:
I like to decorate my altar with autumnal symbols like apples, pumpkins, and leaves. Creating a harvest wreath or doing a gratitude ritual helps me connect with the energy of Mabon. It’s also a perfect time for introspection as the darker months approach.
Seasonal Spells & Corresponding Deities:
Gratitude, balance, and protection spells are great during Mabon. I work with deities like Persephone or Mabon, the Welsh god of youth and harvest, to align with the season’s energy.
The Wheel of the Year is such a powerful way to stay in tune with nature's cycles. Each Sabbat offers its own unique energy, and by celebrating them, we can deepen our connection to the earth, ourselves, and the magic that’s all around us.
FAQs
Q: Do I have to celebrate every Sabbat to follow the Wheel of the Year?
A: Not at all! The Wheel of the Year is a guide, not a strict rule. You can celebrate the Sabbats that resonate with you most or adjust them based on your own personal path.
Q: Do I need specific tools for each Sabbat?
A: No, you can celebrate with whatever feels right to you. Some witches use elaborate tools and rituals, while others keep things simple. It’s all about your personal connection.
A: You can flip the Sabbats to align with your local seasons. For example, if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, you’d celebrate Yule in June and Litha in December.