Category: Sabbats
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The Death of Llew
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A Seasonal Interpretation Not of father, nor of motherWas my blood, was my body.I was spellbound by Gwydion,Prime enchanter of the Britons,When he formed me from nine blossoms.— Hanes Blodeuwedd, Robert Graves, trans. In most Pagan cultures, the Sun God is seen as split between two rival personalities: the God…
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Samhain
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All Hallows’ Eve / Halloween Halloween.Sly does it. Tiptoe catspaws. Slide and creep.But why? What for? How? Who? When! Where did it all begin?”“You don’t know, do you?” asks Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud climbing out of the pile of leaves under the Halloween Tree. “You don’t really know!”— Ray Bradbury, The…
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Harvest Home
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The Autumnal Equinox There were three men came out of the West,Their fortunes for to try,And these three men made a solemn vow,John Barleycorn must die…. Despite the bad publicity generated by Thomas Tryon’s novel, Harvest Home is the pleasantest of holidays. Admittedly, it does involve the concept of sacrifice,…
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Lammas
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The First Harvest It was upon a Lammas Night,when corn rigs are bonny,beneath the Moon’s unclouded light,I held awhile to Annie.. Although in the heat of a midwestern summer it might be difficult to discern, the festival of Lammas (August 1) marks the end of summer and the beginning of…
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Midsummer
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A Mid-summer Celebration “The young maid stole through the cottage door,And blushed as she sought the Plant of pow’r; —“Thou silver glow-worm, O lend me thy light,I must gather the mystic St. John’s wort tonight,The wonderful herb, whose leaf will decideIf the coming year shall make me a bride.” In…
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Lady Day
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The Vernal Equinox Now comes the vernal equinox, and the season of spring reaches its apex, halfway through its journey from Candlemas to Beltane. Once again, night and day stand in perfect balance, with the powers of light on the ascendancy. The God of Light now wins a victory over…
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Imbolc
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Candlemas – The Light Returns It seems quite impossible that the holiday of Candlemas should be considered the beginning of spring. Here in the Heartland, February 2nd may see a blanket of snow mantling the Mother. Or, if the snows have gone, you may be sure the days are filled with…
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Beltane
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A Celebration of May Day “Perhaps it’s just as well that you won’t be here …to be offended by the sight of our May Daycelebrations.”—Lord Summerisle to Sgt. Howie from The Wicker Man There are four great festivals of the Pagan Celtic year and the modern Witches’ calendar, as well.…
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Yule
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Midwinter’s Eve Our Christian friends are often quite surprised at how enthusiastically we Pagans celebrate the ‘Christmas’ season. Even though we prefer to use the word “Yule”, and our celebrations may peak a few days before the twenty-fifth, we nonetheless follow many of the traditional customs of the season: decorated…