| The Sabbats tell the story of the Goddess and God. In festival form, they reveal a seasonal and agricultural Wiccan legend. Four of the eight are related to the Solstices and the Equinoxes. |
| Samhain is pronounced "sow-en" and is the Wiccan New Year, both a beginning and an ending point of the ever turning wheel . At this time the third and final harvest of the year is celebrated, a yeild that ensures that life witll continue throughout the harsh winter ahead. But as life is celebrated, so is death. Witches traditionally believe Samhain to be a time when the viel seperating the world of the living from that of the dead ( the otherworld ) is parted, and ancestors may join in the festivities. Popular activities include communication with the dead. divinations to see what the New Year holds and the hosting of the "dumb supper" , a feast for both the living and the spirits of the dead that is held in complete silence. The modern festival of Halloween has its roots in Samhain. The popular childrens custom of Trick -or-Treating stems from an Old English practice in which children went door to door begging "soul cakes " to feed the wandering spirits. Many Wiccans also mark the symbolic death of the Horned God on this night. |
| Samhain Incense: 1 TBSP Nettle 1 TBSP Calendula 1 TBSP Bay Leaf a little bit of Oak Leaf 1 TBSP Tarragon 2 drops Frankencinse 1 TBSP Sage 2 drops Myrrh Place all ingredients in a bowl to be used for magical purposes.The Frankincense and myrrh are resins used to bind the ingredients and retain scent. Burn on an instant-light charcoal in a screened incense burner . |
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| Yule : Celebrated circa December 21 |
| Samhainn : Celebrated October 311 |
| Yule is celebrated on the winter Solstice, and is an observance of the turning of the solar year from waning to waxing. This is the most important Sabbat in the Teutonic traditions, the word Yule coming from the old Norse jul, meaning "wheel". Some Mythology teaches that the Sun is the newborn son of the Goddess, others that the Sun is the wintertime Crone who has turned her Virgin form again. The Christmas practice of venerating lighted trees and burning the Yule log--both symbolic of the divine gift of fire to humanity-- all come from the European Pagan customs. It is also customary on this Sabbat to greet the rising Sun on the day it starts to grow once again and to reenact the battle between the Deities who represent both the dark and light halves of the year. At this time the Deities of Light will emerge victorious. This is not a mockery of Christianities Holy Day. The Winter Solstice is an ancient Pagan festival that early Christian leaders adopted as the symbolic date of Jesus' birth. |
| Winter Solstice Incense: Pine Needles myrrh Cinnamon dried apple leaf or wood Frankincense Blend all ingredients. You want to make enough to use during your ritual and to share with others. Put some in a small bottle with a cork and tie a ribbon around its neck to give as a gift. To charge it, place in your magic space before using it in ritual. |
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| Imbolc : Celebrated February 1 |
| Imbolc, also called Imbolg or Oimelc, is also known as Candlemas because of the tradition of lighting a profusion of candles to symbolize the growing warmth of the waxing Sun. In terms of the agricultural year, this was the time when ewes milk began lactating , hence the translation of Oimelc as "ewes milk". At this time many Witches honor the young Goddess as the waiting bride of the Sun God. Others see her as being the Sun itself coming to bring spring to earth. Traditional practices on Imbolc are wearing of candle-studded headresses by women, divinations to see how much longer winter will last, and the destructon of harvest icons such as the Grain Dolly, an effigy of a female woven from grain cut down in the fall. |
| Imbolc Incense: Heather Benzoin, dragons blood, storax or myrrh sage Chamomile Blend all Ingredients and keep in a magick bag bottle or jar |
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