Our Wheel of the Year
The liturgical calendar in the Craft is known as the "Wheel of the Year" and is divided into eight spokes, or Sabbats. Four of these, the Lesser Sabbats, are Quarter-based, occuring at the two Equinox and two Solstice
points of the year. The other four, occuring at "cross-quarters" (the midpoints between two quarters) are known as the Major, Grand, or Greater Sabbats. Taken together, these sabbats honor and celebrate the changing seasons and our place within them.
On a deeper level, there is much symbolism in our liturgical calendar. To those in the Craft, the Wheel (or Circle) is symbolic of the way we view the Universe. We worship in Circles; we see cycles in the months, the year, and in our lives. Always continually turning, these cycles forever return to their original points of beginning. Always life is changing and yet it always stays the same, in that the same types of things always happen and always in the same order. Winter follows Autumn, which follows Summer, which follows Spring; the grain is harvested, consumed, and replanted from the former year's seeds; from darkness we are born into light; into darkness we pass to be born again into the light of a new world.
This way of viewing the universe is reflected in the liturgical calendar. The rhythm of "change within constancy" is the eternal dance of the God and Goddess in the Craft. With each turning of the Wheel the Lord is born, grows strong, woos and wins the Lady, and then allows himself to grow weak and die, that life can be renewed with the next turning of the Wheel. The Goddess, on the other hand, is constant throughout the year. Ever eternal, Her face changes from Maiden to Mother to Crone, the image of the season at hand; never born, she never dies but forever gives birth to the renewal of life and spirit.
In this modern technological age, it may sometimes be difficult to see how the religion of an agrarian-based peoples could hold any meaning for us. However, regardless of the way we make our living, spend our free time, or gather food for our tables, the Wheel forever turns and we are both dependent upon and adapt to its ever-changing seasons. This is the strength of the Craft; though our surroundings, our ideas, our society may change, the underlying concepts of the Craft are eternal and unchanging. Once again, we see that play of change within constancy. Becoming aware and acknowledging what is happening in the world around us and to its people at each of these eight spokes of the Wheel gives a greater understanding of where we all come from, where we are presently in our lives, and the possibilities of the future that awaits us.
What follows, then, is one view of the dance between Lord and Lady; a turning of the Wheel which our society, linearly-based, calls a "year." Based on the old Celtic form of reckoning time, the day and the year start at sunset. Thus, our "calendar" begins with the new year of Samhain, the final Autumn harvest.
Samhain (Sow'-en), usually observed at Hallowe'en, celebrates the final harvest of the season. It was traditionally the time when the livestock was culled, with those not likely to make it through the winter slaughtered in order to provide food for the village. For us, it's a time to reflect on what this year now ending has brought to us, and to come to terms with that which we wanted but were not able to achieve. On a deeper level, it is a time to reflect on that one wonderment of life over which we have little, if any, control - death. We recognize the passing of family, friends, and those in the community who have passed on within this year. We also honor the memory of those important to us who are long gone, as well as giving honor and recognition to our ancient ancestors. Many of us also make it a point at this time of year to honor the many individuals, men and women both, who have lost their lives through the centuries amidst accusations of "Witchcraft."
At Samhain we say that on this night, the veil between the worlds is thinnest. We believe this night is of special importance, belonging neither to the old year nor yet to the new one. At such times, communication with those who have passed over and not moved on yet may be possible. It is at Samhain that we salute the God as he sails away into the darkness, having given his life at the harvest for us, his children. This is but a temporary absence, as he is born once again to the Goddess at Yule. The Goddess turns her Crone face to us at this Sabbat, body bent and wrinkled with age; eyes shining bright with wisdom. Though seen as the destructor and avenger at this time of year, she holds in her hands a cauldron of water of limitless depth - her promise to us of rebirth to all which has been cut down to make way for the new.
Though the Goddess has turned her Crone's gaze upon us during this season of darkness, we see at Yule one of the strongest manifestions of the power of the Triple Goddess as she gives birth to the new Sun God, the promise of returning light at our darkest hour. This lesser sabbat, occuring at the winter solstice, marks the shortest day of the year and hence, the time of greatest darkness. A festival of joy and light, we gather for song, feasting, and gift-giving. As the Goddess tends her newborn son, she rests from her labors for the current moment, in order to prepare for the change and growth of the coming seasons.
Imbolc (Em' bolc - hard, gutteral "c"), meaning "in the milk," was traditionally keyed to the lactation of the ewes. It marks the recovery of the Goddess after giving birth to the new Sun god, who is growing into a young boy by this time. His power is felt in the lengthening days of sunlight, though that power is fickle in his youthfulness as we wake to warm sun one day and cold, grey skies the next. The Goddess begins to manifest the Maiden aspect, with the first few flowers of the season pushing up through the melting snow.
Ostara, (O' Star' ah), the Spring Equinox, reckons our first true day of Spring. The Goddess, joyful in the strength and lust of Maiden, begins to blanket the Earth with fertility as the fields initiate their bright flourish of wildflower colors and the trees bring forth new buds. The God stretches and grows to maturity, his strength on the verge of conquering the darkness. At the Spring Equinox are the hours of dark and light equal, and from now until Mabon, the new Sun God will rule in strength.
Beltane, standing opposite the Wheel from Samhain, marks the celebration of life renewed with as much intensity as Samhain marked and honored death and rebirth. The God is now full-grown to manhood. The Maiden, her fertility all-encompassing, stirs and rouses the God's desires. As they lay amongst creation, united as one by their eternal love, their union creates the new Sun God-to-be, the promise of rebirth to which we hold so close at Samhain. Yet, even though we're reminded at this Sabbat that all things have an ending, it is with joy and hope and desire and passion for the fertility of the world and for ourselves that we dance laughingly around the Maypole. For fleeting moments, the world stands still in promise of what might yet be, and the urge to love and merriment overwhelms.
Litha marks the Summer Solstice or "Midsummer," the longest day of the year. The sun is at its zenth now; the energies of nature have reached their highest point. The God and Goddess, now mature in their deepening love, revel in the fertility of the earth despite the knowledge that from this point on, his power will begin to wane.
Lughnasadh, or Lammas, is also known as the Festival of First Fruits, as season of yearly harvests begins. The first of the harvest festivals, it also marks the waning strength of the God; the nights grow longer and the days moderate their warmth. The Goddess, now fully enveloped in her Mother aspect, watches in sorrow at his diminishment, but finds comfort and strength in the realization she carries the seed of the new year's Sun God within her. This is the time of Thanksgiving for those of us in the Craft; a time to give thanks for all the forms of bounty the earth gives to us - the bounty of the harvest; the bounty of the bonds of love found among our family and friends; the bounty of our spirit. It is a time to recognize the lineage from which we come, and to honor the dying God's coming sacrifice.
Mabon, the first day of Autumn, is also known as the Autumn Equinox. Mabon marks the second harvest of the season, and is a time of rest after hard work. Once again day and night are equal. Nature declines, readying itself for the cold winter dark as the Sun God sacrifices himself to ensure life for his children. This sabbat is also known as "Harvest Home" and the "Festival of the Harvest Moon."
And so the Wheel of the Year turns once again to Samhain, as we ready ourselves for the depth of winter and the start of a new turning of the Wheel. Ever it was, and ever thus shall it be.