The Darkest Points of the Wheel of the Year

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We have previously discussed the Wheel of the Year and have given a brief overview of what each of the dates mean in Wicca. Now, we will pay special attention to four of these points in the wheel. We have chosen points associated with the coming of cold weather: Lughnasadh or Lammas, Mabon, Samhain, and, finally, Yule. Though Yule is the coldest and darkest of the four, it is also where light is actually found in the most auspicious manner.

We will discuss them in detail, looking at relevant energies that acquire significance around the time they take place. However, remember that you can celebrate Yule or Lammas whenever you feel it is Yule or Lammas, or whenever you feel their energies match what you need in your personal life. After all, time is not linear, and you have access to the energy of all sabbats at any time.

Remember that each point in the wheel of the year brings with it invaluable insight. This insight can be turned into a gift that can get you through the most challenging times of your life.

Lughnasadh, also known as Lammas, is a celebration of the last days of summer. It usually takes place on August 1st, but it is celebrated by many the night before, on July 31st. This day is not just about celebrating the fruits of our labor. The idea of mortality appears, as well. The myth surrounding this day is that the God Lugh (according to some Wiccans, one of the faces of the Horned God) sacrificed himself. He did this to save humanity. Lammas has a component of reflecting on the sacrifices others made for our sake.

Something that will resonate with many people in contemporary life is thinking about your ancestors. Most of us have at least one person in our bloodline who was an immigrant. This person left everything they knew and everyone they loved to start all over in a new country. This new country, at least in their time, offered more opportunities for economic growth and a more stable political climate. It is because of them that we are where we are now. Thinking about them around this date is a great day.

On Lammas, we reap what we sow. However, we may start to think about our own mortality as well. The days are starting to get shorter, and so are our lives. There was a component of this in the early farming days when the farmers would look at their accounts. They also froze or otherwise preserved some of the seeds and the doughs for later.

Lughnasadh gives way to Mabon. Mabon takes place on September 21st. Its counterpart is Ostara. Both are days of celebration, as the fruit is plentiful. They are times of abundance. However, during Mabon, the green colors of summer give way to the fire hues of autumn – orange, brown, gold, fiery red. This sabbat receives its name from a Welsh God. However, there are no records of this celebration being celebrated in the times of the Celts.

During this time, we return to the darkness. Wiccans don’t see darkness as something evil. It is a part of the whole, and, as the whole is present in all of us, it is present in all of us. From darkness we come and to darkness we must return. It isn’t winter yet, but we can almost feel it coming. Winter, according to Wicca, is a time of introspection. It is a time for thinking about what may be possible. A time for dreaming and planning, but not for manifestation necessarily.

During Mabon, we reflect on the hopes and expectations we had last Imbolc and how they manifested into our lives. Some may have come exactly as you imagined. Some of your desires may have taken quite an unexpected shape or turn. This is a time to enjoy the fruits of your labor (and the consequences of your mistakes). We are asked to complete what we started.

After Mabon comes Samhain. Now we are in the dark, we may need some guidance to traverse through it. During Samhain, it is believed that the boundaries between the physical world and the Otherworld start to get blurry. We may hold dance or music festivals to commune with spirits from the Otherworld and our ancestors. We ask for guidance when it comes to this time of deep introspection.

In the Western World, a lot of the ancient traditions from the Celtic world are present in Halloween celebrations. The Celts also dressed up in costumes during this date. The Celts called it “mumming.” Once they were dressed up, they would go from door to door singing songs for the dead in each household. They would receive cake as payment. Sounds familiar?

The ancient Celts would also play pranks during Samhain. However, in this ancient time, they blamed their wrongdoing on the Fae (and the Fae would, for sure, be involved in a few naughty tricks of their own).

So far, we have gone from storing away the seed for later, to a time of great abundance, to a time where we seek guidance among the darkness. What comes next? Yule, of course.

Yule takes place on December the 21st. It marks the Winter Solstice. Despite the usual cold weather that comes around this date, it is a day of hope and resurrection. The Sun God is rising. It is no coincidence that Christians celebrate Christmas a few short days after it. Christ would be the Sun starting to appear again.

We have gone through the dark night of the soul, and now there’s a spark of hope. The Sacred Fire of the Celts, however weak, starts to be present again. But first, we must undergo a metaphorical death once again. We must go through the longest night of the year before the days start to get shorter once more.

The symbol of the wheel is particularly important for this sabbat. After all, Yule comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “jõl,” which means “wheel.” Yule is one of the climactic points of the wheel of the year. This is a great date to reflect on the cyclical nature of time. This is counterintuitive to the Western idea that time is linear. However, the more spiritually aligned and intuitive among you probably know that very few things are actually linear. Like the Moon and the seasons of the year, everything is cyclical. Processes finish and restart all the time. Old matters may resurface when we least expect them, if we can benefit from looking at them from a brand new perspective. And, even in the deepest despair, we can see flashes and sparks from the future. This is hope. The spirit of Yule is all about the cyclical.

In short, we have observed how Lammas prepares us for the winter ahead by encouraging us to not only celebrate but think about the darker times ahead. One of the most valuable things you can do around Lughnasadh is think about ways in which you can make your future self’s life easier right now. Then, Mabon is a last celebration of abundance before we enter the darkness of autumn and winter. During the Samhain, the veil between our world and the Otherworld becomes thinner. This is an opportunity to ask for the guidance of our ancestors during this dark time. Finally, in Yule we go through the longest night of the year to see the resurrection of the Sun at the end.

How do you celebrate these dates, if at all? Let us know in the comments!

References:

https://www.goddessandgreenman.co.uk/mabon/

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/samhain

http://www.thewhitegoddess.co.uk/the_wheel_of_the_year/yule_-_winter_solstice.asp

 

 

 

Discover the Magic of Birthstones: Unleash Your Inner Talents

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birthstones zodiac

Every month has a crystal that represents it. Depending on the month you were born, you will have a different birthstone. Here are all the birthstones for all twelve months and a brief explanation about what they do:

 

January: Garnet

 

Garnet is the stone of winter par excellence. It provides the vital strength you need during the cold months. If your birthstone is garnet, you provide a lot of strength to the people around you, and you have the soul of a warrior. Garnet is also connected to what the heart desires and empowers you to do what you must to achieve them.

 

February: Amethyst

 

Amethyst is the stone for transmutation and transformation. It can turn the energy of any person, situation, object, or being, and transform it into something more positive. If your birthstone is Amethyst, you have the capacity to go through deep transformative processes. You come back from these processes better than you were before, like a Phoenix.

 

March: Aquamarine

 

Aquamarine is a gentle guide to all things spiritual. It works as a spiritual compass of sorts, and keeping it close to you will keep you on the right path. People whose birthstone is Aquamarine incarnate with an ancestral wisdom from many lives past. They can tap into their wisdom. Then, they can gently translate the most complex of truths into terms even the most skeptical people can understand.

 

April: Diamond

 

Diamonds are one of the crystals with the highest vibrations. They are great for channeling messages from Angels, spirit guides, and your ancestors. People whose birthstone is Diamond are innately prepared to receive these messages from other planes. They have the ability to work for the planet to have higher vibrations.

 

May: Emerald

 

Emerald is a crystal that aids the heart during spiritual awakenings and powerful transitions. If your birthstone is Emerald, you have the capacity to lovingly guide people whose lives have been turned upside down. You may have to go through a few of these experiences yourself to earn wisdom.

 

June: Alexandrite

 

Alexandrite encourages the imagination and the inner voice. It is ideal for people in their youth. This is so because it will help them listen to their most authentic selves. Alexandrite can help you get aligned with the path that is right for them. It encourages emotional maturity and creativity. People whose birthstone is Alexandrite are meant to master their emotions and turn them into art.

 

July: Ruby

 

Rubies are like second hearts. When you thought the going was getting too tough, and you could not possibly go on for another second, Ruby comes to the rescue. It reveals a strength in you that you did not know you had. If Ruby is your birthstone, you can help others tap into these inner reservoirs of strength. You are known for bringing your heart into hopeless situations.

 

August: Peridot

 

Peridot is a very healing stone that became popular during wartime. It treats any kind of wound or physical pain. It holds the power of nature within. Its ability to heal has to do with its connection to Mother Earth. People whose birthstone is Peridot are usually very connected to nature. They are meant to look after it and be an advocate for all nonhuman natural things on this planet.

 

September: Sapphire

 

Sapphire is a crystal that invites us to let go of stress and limiting beliefs. It is great for codependent people. This is so because it helps them to break these damaging patterns. Sapphire encourages you to learn how to be autonomous and self-sufficient. People whose birthstone is Sapphire usually have a soul’s mission that involves breaking generational trauma. They will bringing new, renovated energies into the bloodline.

 

October: Tourmaline

 

Tourmaline has the capacity of absorbing any excess of energy present in a person, being, object or environment. It is a very noble stone that sacrifices itself for the betterment of everything else. People whose birthstone is Tourmaline have the task of becoming altruistic. However, they must do so without falling into the trap of self-sacrifice.

 

November: Topaz

 

Topaz is the crystal for empaths. Those who are drawn to Topaz feel the emotions and symptoms of their surroundings as if they were their own. Topaz helps them identify these external stimuli and not carry them as a burden. It teaches people to let others feel their pain instead of taking it on as their own.

 

December: Turquoise

 

Turquoise is the crystal for inner peace. Those whose birthstone is Turquoise are natural harmonizers. They know how to order any disordered situations and turn them into a state of harmony. These people might have a harder time having adventures and dealing with surprises and excitement. However, they are like a warm blanket in the lives of their closest friends and family.

 

 

First Full Moon of 2020

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full moon at 2119 PM 090120 336x252

A Beautiful First Full Moon of 2020 was shining in the sky so I snapped a few shots of it for you today, the first full moon of 2020.

These rising full moon shots were taken at approximately 5.30 PM on the 9th of January 2020.

The moon is known as a Wolf Moon and peeks at 19:21 this evening.

And now for some shots on or after 7.15 PM…

And finally, a few videos!

full moon at 21:19 PM 090120 2560x1920
My favourite image of the evening: taken at the apex of the full moon on January 9th 2020 at 7.19 PM