The sabbats are holidays celebrated throughout the year on solstices, equinoxes, and the midpoints between them. These sabbats form the Wheel of the year.
There is a controversy surrounding the dates of these holidays, as people celebrate them all over the earth, not only in the northen hemisphere but in the southern too.
One viewpoint is that the Sabbats should be celebrated as they were originally created to be… in other words, Samhain is October 31st, regardless of where you live. In the Southern Hemisphere, even though you are just gearing up to summer on October 31st, this perspective says that you celebrate the cleansing and releasing, the honouring of the dead just as you would if you lived in the Northern Hemisphere. The other viewpoint (the one I personally agree with) is that you should celebrate when you feel like the season corresponds with the holiday, in other words, your craft, your rules. So if you live in the southern hemisphere, you have the choice.
I’ll be writing the dates for each holiday starting with the northen hemisphere and then the dates that many people celebrate them in the southern hemisphere
🌲𝐘𝐔𝐋𝐄
{December 21st//June 21st}
Yule focuses on rebirth and renewal as the sun makes its way back to the earth. It’s all about new beginnings, reflection and embracing warmth. Much like Christmas, many celebrate with a feast, gift giving, being cosy and appreciating the good.
↟Stones: citrine, ruby, garnet, alexandrite, green tourmaline.
↟Activities: decorate your altar with incense associated with Yule, burn ash wood for prosperity, bake using Yule flavours like ginger or cinnamon, make wreathes to hang around the house, spend time with loved ones.
🕯️𝐈𝐌𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐂
{February 1st//August 1st}
Imbolc focuses on celebrating the nature that is preparing to grow and renewal, also known as “candlemas” and the “Feast of Pan”.
↟Nature: basil, blackberry, heather, celandine, iris, wisteria, vanilla, bay, yellow and white flowers.
↟Foods//flavours: pumpkin and sunflower seeds, poppy seeds, peppers, onions, spices, and herbal teas.
↟Foods//flavours: olives, maple syrup, honey, edible flowers, chocolate, pine nuts, nettle or lavender tea, local fruits and vegetables.
↟Stones: amethyst, rose quartz, moonstone.
↟Activities: gardening and planting seeds, bake breads with olives or honey for example, start new projects, talk to plants, do some painting, decorate with wildflowers.
🌰𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐄
{May 1st//November 1st}
Beltane focuses on fertility, love and abundance. Also known as “may day”, on this sabbat many celebrate with dancing, bonfires and many high energy activities, including enjoying themselves sexually with a partner or even conceiving children.
↟Activities: dance, decorate with florals and symbols of the sea, go to the beach, go hiking, have a bonfire, feast on fruits, vegetables and grains, laugh and let your hair down. And if you’re trying to conceive or simply would like to have sex, Beltane is a wonderful time to do so.
🦋𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐀
{June 21st//December 21st}
Litha focuses on growth and celebrating the longest day of the year and the sun, before the shorter days begin.
↟Activities: make or buy a sun catcher, surround yourself with warm tones, watch the sunrise and sunset, make sun water, spend time outdoors, make use of herbs.
🌾𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐒//𝐋𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐃𝐇
{August 2nd//February 2nd}
Lammas, or lughnasadh focuses on celebrating the first of the three harvesting sabbats and taking time to really feel the positivity in different aspects of life.
Tie together with the cord, using three knots, the old and
new keys.
Add them to the jar, saying “New and old bring days of gold
and nights of harmony in this my sanctuary.”
Add next the nails, salt, and rosemary, saying for each, “Keep
safe these walls, good fortune send, but from my door keep all who malice
intend in this my sanctuary.”
Add enough wine until the items are covered, seal, and shake
seven times, saying seven times, “Stand sentinel, admitting only those who
speak and mean well to this my sanctuary.”
Bury the bottle as near to the front door as you can or keep
it in on a dark high shelf where it will not be disturbed.
-
“1001 Spells: The Complete Book of Spells for Every Purpose,”
Cassandra Eason
*even though we moved in a month ago, I am still doing this one within this week, time really isn’t a big deal*
I hate how “daddy issues” is used to call women crazy and un-datable rather than bring up the fact so many fathers are abusing their daughters to the point of emotional breakdown
I used to get jealous every time it rained, the thought of it soaking through your shirt reminded me it was closer than I’ll ever be again.
Every time my phone buzzed and still, not a single message from you, not a single ‘I’m sorry’, naively believing in you to grow some sense and come back home.
All of those kisses, too much whiskey, touches from strangers. And I couldn’t figure out why they never quite tasted like you do.
Every time I saw you in a photograph smiling without me, how easy it was for you to let me go.
Until the day we collided for the last time and I thought maybe you were just better at playing pretend.
I let go of my jealously. I stopped checking my phone. I put down the whiskey and switched instead to water. I stopped pretending. Today, I forgive you. I’m smiling in the photos without you, too.
