| THE SABBATS |
| ESBAT |
| The Esbat or full moon has long been seen by Wiccans of different traditions as powerful time for rituals and magick. Many covens have their monthly meetings during the Esbat. |
| Sabbats are festivals to celebrate the turning of the year. The four "Greater Sabbats" are know as Samhain, Imbolg, Beltane and Lughnasadh. The four "Lesser Sabbats" are the Spring and Autumn Equinox, and Summer and Winter Solstice. No work and magick are done on a Sabbat unless in an emergency. It is a time to rejoice with the Gods. |
| IMBOLG (immol'g) 2nd February The quickening of the year, the first stirrings of Spring in the womb of Mother Earth. It is a fire festival with emphasis on light rather than heat. The first ray of light coming out of the winter darkness. Imbolg is the feast of Brigid, the Triple Muse Goddess and of fertility. It is tradition on Imbolg at sunset to light a candle in honour of the Sun's rebirth. Traditional Incense: myrrh, wisteria, basil. Traditional Herbs: myrrh, angelic, all yellow flowers. Crystals: amethyst, garnet, onyx. Candle Colours: white,red, pink, brown. SPRING EQUINOX 21st March The Sun is becoming stronger and light and dark are in balance with light mastering the darkness.It is a solar festival. A time for planting seeds and working on your garden. A time for renewal. Traditional Incense: rose, sage, jasmine, strawberry, african violet. Traditional Herbs: jasmine, rose, strawberry, daffodil, acorn, cinquefoil, violets, Crystals: bloodstone, amethyst, red jasper, aquamarine. Candle Colours: Green, yellow, gold, all pastel shades. BELTANE (b'yal-ten) 30th April 'Bel-fire'- the fire of the Celtic God known as Bel. A festival of human sexuality and fertility. Branches and flowers used to be brought back from the forest to decorate the doors and windows. Traditional Incense: frankincense, rose. Traditional Herbs: frankincense, rose, daisy, hawthorn, ash tree, bluebells. Crystals: rose quartz, orange carnelian, emerald, sapphire. Candle Colours: All colours of the rainbow spectrum, dark green MIDSUMMER 22nd June The Sun God is at his highest and brightest and day is at its longest. We greet and honour him at the peak of his annual cycle to bring fertility to the land. Both a Fire and Water festival. A good time to perform magick of all kinds and for Faerie magick. Traditional Incense:myrrh, rose, frankincense, wisteria, pine, lemon. Traditional Herbs:hemp, chamomile, rose, elder, lavender, mugwort, wild thyme. Crystals: all green stones especially jade and emerald. Candle Colours: green, blue, yellow LUGHNASADH (loo-nus-uh) 31st July The commemoration of Lugh a fire and light God. The God's sacrificial mating with the Goddess. A gathering of the harvest. Traditional Incense: sandalwood, rose. Traditional Herbs:myrrh, frankincense,acacia flowers, cornstalks, wheat, heather,oak leaves,sunflower Crystals: aventurine, peridot, citrine. Candle Colours:green, golden yellow, light brown, orange AUTUMN EQUINOX 21st September Day and night are once again balanced with darkness mastering over the light. We begin to say good bye to the Sun although he is still with us but only softer than he was before. The end of harvest and a time for rest after labour. Traditional Incense: myrrh, sage. Traditional Herbs: sage, thistle, myrrh, ferns, marigold, milk weed, rose, passion flower oak leaves. Crystals: lapis lazuli, sapphire, yellow agate. Candle Colours: orange, yellow dark red, brown, indigo SAMHAIN (sow-in) 31st October The Celtic new year. A time when the veil which seperates our world with that of the spirit world is at its thinnest making it a good time for communication with the dead and divination. It is tradition to leave a plate of food outside the home for the souls of the dead. It is, on the other hand, a time of feasting and the affirmative of life and fertility in the face of the coming darkness and for getting rid of weaknesses. Traditional Incense: sage, apple, nutmeg. Traditional Herbs:sage, apples, straw flax. Crystals: all black stones esp. onyx, jet, obsidian. Candle Colours:black, orange YULE 22nd December The Goddess has given birth to the Son-Lover who will re-fertilize her and bring back light and warmth. Traditional Incense:rosemary, pine, bayberry Traditional Herbs:bay, frankincense, sage, rosemary, mistletoe. Crystals:ruby, cat's-eye. Candle Colours: red, green, silver, gold, white. |
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