Wiccan Holidays: The Sabbats

Here's a list of the holidays, their dates, and what is celebrated during them. I hope this helps someone who wants to know.

Samhain (Halloween)(October 31st): This is the witches new year. It is a time to honor those loved ones who have died and crossed over. Spirits fill the air during the night and our power in at its height. The veils between worlds are thin and therefore we have a better connection with different realms of existence.

Yule (December 21-23): This is the Winter Solstice. Being the longest night of the year, it is when the moon is in full power. We come together to celebrate the sun awakening and being reborn.

Imbolc or Candlemas (February 2nd): Life is just starting to wake up again. Seeds and newborn animals are blessed in preparation for spring.

Ostara (March 19-22): This is the Spring Equinox. We celebrate the earth awakening and seeds being planted. It is a celebration of the balance between the moon and the sun. Eggs are often used represent fertility.

Beltane (May 1st): This is a day celebrating fertility and abundance within life. It is usually celebrated with the maypole dancing and leaping over a ritual fire. Life in growing and in full force.

Litha (June 19-23): This is Midsummer. It is the longest day and shortest night of the year and therefore the time when the sun in the strongest. The "death" of the sun is celebrated at sunset with a fire because the rest of the year is mainly composed of nights being longer than days. This time is often connected with seeing faeries.

Lammas (August 2nd): This is the time of the first harvest of the season. It is the time for gathering food for winter. Bread is the main part of the meal to celebrate a healthy harvest of wheat.

Mabon (September 21-23): Day and night are again in balance and the final harvest is celebrated. Resting, feasting, and general making merry is all part of the fun. We again prepare for winter.

Balance

I would like to share a philosophy which I have. I often see the universe in terms of balance. When spells don't work and I feel I have done everything to make them work (including all of the practical things), I often wonder why they have not worked. Doubt about magic and the spell working is sometimes the case but I always believed full heartly.

A long time ago I was wondering this and a thought popped into my head. Well, it is quite selfish to be asking for these things I want to happen to just happen. In fact that has been the only conflict I have ever had with my religion. Sometimes it is not as powerful as you wish it to be and at the same time many spells are about getting something. I then thought perhaps the reason spells don't work is because we have not given nature and other people enough to GET what we really want. This makes sense. There needs to be a universal balance.

At the same fold I also feel there is more to this universal balance. For instance can the earthly really survive without the divine? Can change exist without stability? Magic has never been earthly in the first place. Energy can do anything in the right hands but at the same time can only affect so much physically.

The physical is about action and change. So what are the right circumstances for magic helping solve or create a situation in the physical plane? One thing that must be done is that the spellcaster has to put their ideas into motion. They must try to achieve their goal with more than magic. Then magic can help remove roadblocks and provide more energy for success.

At the same time we also must accept that what we want might not be what we need. What we need will be given to us and is what is best for us. Wicca is not about what you get from magic but learning that magic is everywhere. It is learning that performing magic can be a chance to give. Magic is about becoming aware of energies around us and learning that we can help change the world on a physical and spiritual level.

Setting Up Altars

You can set up an altar any way you want to. The four elements are usually represented somehow. Candles and other objects are usually used to represent them. The God and Goddess can also be represented by the color gold and silver. They can also be presented as the sun and the moon. Altars can be set up for particular events like the Sabbats or specific spirits or something else. They are usually where magic is done with spells and rituals. Altars can be permanent or put up and taken down.

Chakras & Auras

Chakras are energy centers in the body. Each chakra is often portrayed as circular with a certain color. The root chakra is located near the base of the spine and is red in color. It is our connection to the earth and helps ground and balance us. The spleen chakra is located between the base of the spine and naval and is orange in color. It is linked to sexuality and fertility. The solar plexus is located around the area above the naval and is yellow in color. It is the direct link to energy in the world and our power in this state of existence. The heart chakra is located in the chest area and is green or pink in color. It is connected with emotions and love. The throat chakra is located at the base of the throat and is blue in color. It is linked to communication and creativity. The third eye chakra is located between the eyebrows and is indigo in color. It is connected with visions, imagination, dreaming, and psychic abilities. The crown chakra is on the forehead and is purple in color. It connects us with higher realms and the universe. Crystals are often placed on chakras to heal and balance them. Auras are energy that is emitted from the chakras and can often be seen by sensitive individuals. Auras can be any number of colors and each color means something different. The color meanings of the aura usually correspond to the meaning of the chakra of the same color. The aura is where the chakras interact with other people and the environment around you. An unbalance chakra can be detected by certain colors in the aura. Black is a common color which signals unbalance. It is the goal of a spiritual practitioner to cleanse and balance the chakras and aura in order to gain a general sense of well-being and health.

Full Moon

People who are starting out with magic or just plain old curious may ask what the big deal is with the full moon. The moon represents the Goddess and when it is full, the Goddess is in full power. With every full moon there is a noticeable change in the feel of the night it falls on. Everything dark becomes illuminated in its glow and what seemed to be out of reach can be as palpable as a pentacle hanging from your neck. Energy thrives during a full moon. In fact menstrual cycles often correspond with lunar cycles to add on the power of women on these blessed nights. Moonstone is known to look more luminescent after bathing in the moonlight, hence its name. Every person has to admit that, though they may not believe in such a thing as magic, the full moon is beautiful.

Full Moon

moonlight glows on your skin
longing to feel the power from within
a sweet dark warm
where pain swirls a storm
ridden story of ages past
with our shadows being cast
as time suddenly slows
energy constantly flows
from moonlight which softly glows