Pagan wheel

The Pagan Wheel of the Year turns with many significant dates and festivals. The highlights are the eight seasonal Sabbats, and the thirteen Esbats which we celebrate as each Full Moon.

Our ancient ancestors relied on the movements of the Sun and Moon mainly to guide them. There are Four Greater Sabbats, which are Celtic in origin. The Lesser Sabbats are the four solar festivals whose timing is due to the relationship of the sun to the earth. These are known as the Winter Solstice or Yule (the shortest day), Summer Solstice or Midsummer (the longest day), and the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes when the hours of light and darkness are equal. These will be the opposite if one lives in the Southern hemisphere.

These holy days are not created as a result of some historic event, which we identify as holidays, they are a celebration of nature. Once a year, we have a night that is the longest night of the year, accompanied by the shortest day. This seasonal cycle is one of the key ways in which we witness the natural cycle of birth, growth, death, and rebirth.   Those who follow the Path of the Rose observe the Sabbats to establish and maintain a balance with nature. Sabbats provide a time to look within, to reassess the life-path we have taken and make a course direction if necessary.  By meditating and working with the natural world through ritual and celebration one establishes a relationship with these powerful messengers and we have an opportunity to gain insight while experiencing a true connection to everyone and everything.  The first of the Sabbats occurs in February.  In the Southern Hemisphere we will experience Llamas on February 1st.  In the Northern Hemisphere we will experience Imbolc.

Lammas altar

February 1st   Celebration of Llamas in the Southern Hemisphere

The subtle changes of the waning sun that occurred at the Summer Solstice become more evident as the balance of day and night seem to shift more dramatically. It is the point in time when the first grains are collected and ritualistically sacrificed to ensure the continuance of the cycle of life both physically and spiritually. Known as the Festival of First Fruits or First Breads. For more information on this sacred sabbat celebration and the rituals that support the alliance with the natural world please click here.

The Goddess Brigid

February 2nd Celebration of Imbolc in the Northern Hemisphere

Imbolc serves to remind us that spring is approaching.  This is a holy day of new beginnings and growth.  Part of the teachings of the ancient earth religion is to light candles at sunset and place them in the windows of the house to honor the Goddess at Imbolc. This is the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox serving as a powerful time to nourish the dreams and wishes you placed the night of the Winter Solstice.  Being a writer and one who loves the creative arts this is a special holy day for me to celebrate. It is a day to honor the Celtic sun/fire Goddess Brigid known as the triple Goddess of Healers, Poets, Writers, Artists, Dancers, Smiths, and Craftsman. As the Goddess of Inspiration, she blesses those who bring beauty into the world through music, story and visual expression by gifting inspiration on this night.  For those who would like to go deeper into the celebration of Imbolc with ritual and celebration I have posted sacred ceremony to honor Brigid.  Please click here

For those who work with sacred oils there is a special oil to assist one in celebrating Brigid on this night.  If charged on the altar this oil can provide inspiration and creative passion.

The Brigid oil

Brigid Oil – $60.00

Brigid is the Goddess that comes to the healer, the writer, the poet, the artist and the dancer.  Her symbols are the cauldron, candles, fire, springs and healing wells.  She is an Irish Goddess known throughout Europe as the Bright One because of her inspiring beauty and fiery qualities.  She is known as the lady of the sacred flame.   She is the bringer of prosperity, a goddess of new growth and birth.  Her sacred flame brings inspiration and ignites the spark inside our heart to illuminate our personal creative talents and gifts.  The oils contained within the Brigid oil are from the sacred lands of Ireland.  The base oil is pure rose from Egypt blessed on the holy of holy altars at the time of the turning of the wheel in the Temple of Isis. The oil was blessed on Imbolc known as Brigid’s holy day in Mount Shasta the root chakra of our beloved earth. Place on the wrists and rub together breathing in the essence of Brigid to find inspiration and creative assistance from the Goddess. Place on the temples to activate one’s creative vision.

If you are interested in purchasing the Brigid Oil please contact Guy at [email protected].

February 15th Chinese New Year and New Moon Solar Eclipse

The strongest and most important energy of this New Moon Solar eclipse is that all possibilities are placed on the table for you to review as you make new plans for the future. This provides a time to question your old habits and behaviors as you search for new and inventive ways to make progress. This is the ideal time to make a fresh start, so write your new goals down on a sheet of paper. The Partial Solar eclipse in February will compliment themes you discover with the Total Lunar Eclipse on January 31st.    In Chinese Astrology, the yearly cycle completes and we welcome the Year of the Earth Dog and all that this magickal being brings.  Homes are thoroughly cleaned before the New Year in order to remove any traces of negativity and create an opportunity to start over with a clean slate. When we think of the dog, it brings to mind “Man’s Best Friend”, a loyal and faithful companion.  The wolf is considered to be the mightiest of the animal allies, the teacher and path finder that holds the wild essence of the dog. This is the year we will begin to comprehend with greater clarity that we are all intricately connected one to the other.  We will begin to see how our relationships weave back to each other and ultimately to the earth itself.

For those who are members of our online Moon cycle and Sacred Sabbat Celebration Subscription Series, I have posted a New Moon Ritual working with the energies of this night and guidance how to prepare an altar.  Click Here.  I will be posting next week an audio guided meditation to work on a deeper level with the energies of the Solar Eclipse.  This new moon provides an opportunity to overcome feelings of separateness through union as we become one with the universe.

A tradition of celebrating the Chinese New Year, Red envelopes, known as hong bao are given as gifts.  These red envelopes represent good luck, happiness and abundance.  For those who are interested I have created my own version of the hong bao.  As a night of good luck and good fortune with the partial solar eclipse this is a night of divination. I have prepared Enchanted Wisdom Envelopes which include a special personal message and three of the enchanted path cards to assist you on your journey.  The cards will take you deeper into your soul story and assist you in navigating the changes in your life.  You receive a ceremonial envelope which includes the personal message, an I Ching coin from Bali blessed in sacred ceremony, three enchanted path cards to guide your journey and instructions how to work with them.  It provides a view between the cracks in the universe to receive a glimpse of your future. These also make unique gifts for someone special celebrating a birthday, a new beginning or the completion of a cycle on their journey.  Total cost $38.00 plus shipping.

If interested please contact Guy at [email protected].

There is no full moon in February but we will celebrate two full moons in March as the earth recalibrates herself in the year of sacred relationships.

Wishing you a magickal February.

Love and cuddles, Robbyne

If you would like to join our spiritual community Weave the Web to receive planetary updates,  announcements of upcoming spiritual journeys, retreats and celebrations  please click here.

If you would like to join our Sabbat Celebration and Moon Cycle ritual online subscription series to receive monthly New Moon, Full Moon, and sacred sabbat rituals as well as a guided audio meditation, please click here for options

I would love to hear from you any thoughts and experiences you might want to share below in our comment space.

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