Witches Wheel

Yule ( midwinter's eve ) winter solstice Dec 22

The holiday of Christmas has always been more
Pagan than Christian, with it's associations of Nordic divination, Celtic
fertility rites, and Roman Mithraism.The holiday was already too
closely associated with the birth of older Pagan gods and heroes. And many of
them (like Oedipus, Theseus, Hercules, Perseus, Jason, Dionysus, Apollo,
Mithra, Horus and even Arthur) possessed a narrative of birth, death, and
resurrection that was uncomfortably close to that of Jesus. And to make
matters worse, many of them pre-dated the Christian Savior.
Ultimately, of course, the holiday is rooted deeply in the cycle of the year. It is
the Winter Solstice that is being celebrated, seed-time of the year, the longest
night and shortest day. It is the birthday of the new Sun King On this darkest of nights, the
Goddess becomes the Great Mother and once again gives birth. And it makes
perfect poetic sense that on the longest night of the winter, there springs the new spark of hope, the Sacred Fire, the Light of
the World, the Coel Coeth.
That is why Pagans have as much right to claim this holiday as Christians.
Perhaps even more so, as the Christians were rather late in laying claim to it,

For modern Witches, Yule (from the Anglo-Saxon "Yula", meaning "wheel"
of the year) is usually celebrated on the actual Winter Solstice, which may
vary by a few days, though it usually occurs on or around December 21st. It is
a Lesser Sabbat or Lower Holiday in the modern Pagan calendar, one of the
four quarter-days of the year, but a very important one.

Preparation:
Let all be properly prepared and purified.
In the centre (or just south of centre) of the Circle stands the Cauldron of Cerridwen wreathed about with
pine boughs, holly, ivy and mistletoe and therein is laid a balefire of nine woods: rowan, apple, elder,
holly, pine, cedar, juniper, poplar and dogwood.
The altar is decorated as is the Cauldron and bears two red candles as well as an unlit red candle or torch
for each covener present. There should be no other light except the altar candles and those about the
Circle.
HP casts the Circle, calling forth the Ancient Ones to bear witness.
HP draws down the moon upon the HPS and then lights the balefire.
HP then moves to the north, before the altar, as the HPS stands in the south with the coveners in a circle,
alternately man and woman, about the Cauldron between them.
The circle now moves slowly deosil once about the Circle. As each passes the HPS they kiss her upon
the cheek; as they pass the HP, he hands each one a candle which is lit from the balefire.
Coveners dance slowly deosil as the HP calls:
HP:
Queen of the Moon, Queen of the Sun,
Queen of the Heavens, Queen of the Stars,
Queen of the Waters, Queen of the Earth,
Bring to us the Child of Promise!
It is the Great Mother who gives birth to Him;
It is the Lord of Life who is born again.
Darkness and tears are set aside when the Sun shall come up early.
Golden Sun of hill and mountain,
Illumine the land, illumine the world,
Illumine the seas, illumine the rivers,
Sorrows be laid, joy to the world!
Blessed be the Great Goddess,
Without beginning, without ending,
Everlasting to eternity.
Io Evoe! Heh! Blessed be!
All raise their tapers high and repeat twice the last line.
HPS joins the dance, leading it with a quieter rhythm.
The burning cauldron is pushed into the centre and the dancers jump over it in man and woman couples.
The last couple over the fire should be well purified, three times each, and may pay an amusing forfeit as
the HPS may ordain.
Cakes and wine follows and, after the Circle has been closed, much merriment, feasting, dancing and
games

NOTES
This is mostly Sheba with slight adaptations from the Farrars. Producing a text for any Sabbat is
made difficult by the fact that everyone seems to modify the Sabbat rituals. Even the Farrars don't
print the GBG Sabbats.

The HP's speech was written by Doreen Valiente. It's given here as she wrote it (according to the
Farrars in Eight Sabbats For Witches) rather than in one of the more common versions. (As with
her "Witches' Rune", many Covens prefer a modified version.)

Kissing the HPS appears to be a Sheba-ism; however, it's probably only common among North
American Garneroids.

IMBOLC ( Candlemas ) Feb 2

"Candlemas" is the Christianized name for the holiday, of course. The older
Pagan names were Imbolc and Oimelc. "Imbolc" means, literally, "in the
belly" (of the Mother). For in the womb of Mother Earth, hidden from our
mundane sight but sensed by a keener vision, there are stirrings. The seed that
was planted in her womb at the solstice is quickening and the new year grows.
"Oimelc" means "milk of ewes", for it is also lambing season.

For modern Witches, Candlemas may then be seen as the Pagan version
of Valentine's Day, with a de-emphasis of "hearts and flowers" and an
appropriate re-emphasis of Pagan carnal frivolity. This also re-aligns the
holiday with the ancient Roman Lupercalia, a fertility festival held at this
time, in which the priests of Pan ran through the streets of Rome whacking
young women with goatskin thongs to make them fertile. The women seemed
to enjoy the attention and often stripped in order to afford better targets.
One of the nicest folk-customs still practiced in many countries, and especially
by Witches in the British Isles and parts of the U.S., is to place a lighted
candle in each and every window of the house, beginning at sundown on
Candlemas Eve (February 1st), allowing them to continue burning until
sunrise.

The HPS, carrying the Wand, leads the coveners with a dance step to the chosen site.
The Volta Dance follows: in other words, lively dancing in couples.
HPS casts the Circle in the usual way.
HP then enters the Circle, with a Sword in his right hand and a Wand in his left. He lays these on the
altar.
HP now salutes the HPS with the Fivefold Kiss.
She says Blessed be and gives him the Fivefold Kiss in return.
HP assumes the god position before the altar as the HPS invokes:
HPS:
Dread Lord of Death and Resurrection,
Of Life, and the Giver of Life;
Lord within ourselves, whose name is Mystery of Mysteries;
Encourage our hearts,
Let the Light crystallize itself in our blood,
Fulfilling us of resurrection;
For there is no part of us that is not of the Gods.
Descend, we pray thee, upon thy servant and priest.
Any initiations to be done are done at this point.
The ceremony of Cakes and Wine follows.
The Great Rite is done if at all possible.
Feasting, dancing and games follow the closing of the ritual.

NOTES
l From Stewart Farrar What Witches Do; he derived it from Alex Sanders' BOS.

EOSTARA ( Vernal Equinox ) Spring equinox March 21

Now comes the Vernal Equinox, and the season of Spring reaches it's apex,
halfway through its journey from Candlemas to Beltane. Once again, night and
day stand in perfect balance, with the powers of light on the ascendancy.

Mother Goddess, who has returned to her Virgin
aspect at Candlemas, welcomes the young sun god's embraces and conceives a
child. The child will be born nine months from now, at the next Winter
Solstice.

Preparation:
A Symbol of the Wheel is on the altar, flanked with burning candles, or with fire in some form - torches,
or small tripods with fire in their cups.
The Symbol of the Wheel may be a plain disc, or an eight spoked wheel, or the pentacle. Alex and
Maxine Sanders used a circular mirror with a broad frame, also circular, decorated as a twelve-pointed
star.
In the centre of the Circle is either a cauldron full of inflammable material, or (out of doors) a bonfire
ready to be lit.
HPS casts the Circle.
HPS then stands in the West, and the HP in the East, both with carrying wands.
HPS:
We kindle this fire today
In the presence of the Holy Ones,
Without malice, without jealousy, without envy,
Without fear of aught beneath the Sun
But the High Gods.
Thee we invoke, O Light of Life;
Be thou a bright flame before us,
Be thou a guiding star above us,
Be thou a smooth path beneath us;
Kindle thou within our hearts
A flame of love for our neighbours,
To out foes, to our friends, to our kindred all,
To all men on the broad earth;
O merciful Son of Cerridwen,
From the lowliest thing that liveth,
To the Name which is highest of all.
HPS then draws invoking pentagram before the HP and then hands the Wand to him, together with the
scourge.
The Maiden strikes a light and hands it to the High Priest, who lights the cauldron or bonfire. He
(carrying a wand) and the High Priestess (carrying a sistrum) lead the dance, with the rest following in
couples. Each couple must leap over the fire. The last couple over the fire before it goes out must be well
purified. The man must then give a fivefold kiss to each of the women, as the woman to the men, or any
other penalty the HPS shall decide.
Cakes and wine shall follow.

NOTES
l From Stewart Farrar's What Witches Do derived from Alex Sanders' BOS
I copied the published version more or less as is. Notably I did not correct several logistic
nuisances. A Coven may only have one Wand (of course some have more) this version of this
ritual requires two. The HP is carrying his wand, when the HPS hands him her wand and the
scourge, for no obvious reason. He has to just put down the lot (or hand them to someone), as the
next thing he does is light the cauldron.

BELTANE( May Day ) May 1

The old Celtic name for May Day is Beltane (in its most popular Anglicized
form), which is derived from the Irish Gaelic "Bealtaine" or the Scottish
Gaelic "Bealtuinn", meaning "Bel-fire", the fire of the Celtic god of light (Bel,
Beli or Belinus). He, in turn, may be traced to the Middle Eastern god Baal.
Other names for May Day include: Cetsamhain ("opposite Samhain"),
Walpurgisnacht (in Germany), and Roodmas (the medieval Church's name).
This last came from Church Fathers who were hoping to shift the common
people's allegiance from the Maypole (Pagan lingham - symbol of life) to the
Holy Rood (the Cross - Roman instrument of death). Incidentally, there is no
historical justification for calling May 1st "Lady Day". For hundreds of years,
that title has been proper to the Vernal Equinox (approx. March 21st), another
holiday sacred to the Great Goddess. The nontraditional use of "Lady Day" for
May 1st is quite recent (within the last 15 years), and seems to be confined to
America, where it has gained widespread acceptance among certain segments
of the Craft population. This rather startling departure from tradition would
seem to indicate an unfamiliarity with European calendar customs, as well as a
lax attitude toward scholarship among too many Pagans.

By Celtic reckoning, the actual Beltane celebration begins on sundown of the
preceding day, April 30, because the Celts always figured their days from
sundown to sundown. And sundown was the proper time for Druids to kindle
the great Bel-fires on the tops of the nearest beacon hill.

Due to various calendrical changes down through the centuries,
the traditional date of Beltane is not the same as its astrological date. This
date, like all astronomically determined dates, may vary by a day or two
depending on the year. However, it may be calculated easily enough by
determining the date on which the sun is at 15 degrees Taurus (usually around
May 5th). British Witches often refer to this date as Old Beltane, and
folklorists call it Beltane O.S. ("Old Style"). Some Covens prefer to celebrate
on the old date and, at the very least, it gives one options.

Preparation:
Two white candles are on the altar with a wreath of spring flowers. Quarter candles are green.
HPS leads the coven, riding poles if possible, about the Covenstead with a quick, trotting step, singing:
All:
O do not tell the priests of our Art,
For they would call it sin;
But we will be in the woods all night,
A-conjuring summer in.
And we bring you good news by word of mouth,
For woman, cattle and corn,
For the sun is coming up from the south
With oak and ash and thorn.
A ring dance follows after which the High Priestess casts the Circle.
High Priest draws down the Moon upon the High Priestess.
All are purified in sacrifice before Her.
She then purifies the High Priest at her own hands.
All Partake of Cakes and Wine followed by feasting and dancing and singing and the Great Rite, if at all
possible, in token or truly.

NOTES
l Derived from Stewart Farrar's What Witches Do, based on Alex Sanders' BOS
Some parts expanded based on The Grimoire of Lady Sheba where Farrar is unclear. (He rarely
gives the actual BOS text, whereas she always does, but from a slightly different BOS.)

l
LITHA ( Midsummer's Eve ) Summer Solstice june 22

In addition to the four great festivals of the Pagan Celtic year, there are four
lesser holidays as well: the two solstices, and the two equinoxes. In folklore,
these are referred to as the four "quarter-days" of the year, and modern
Witches call them the four "Lesser Sabbats", or the four "Low Holidays". The
Summer Solstice is one of them.
Technically, a solstice is an astronomical point and, due to the procession to
the equinox, the date may vary by a few days depending on the year. The
summer solstice occurs when the sun reaches the Tropic of Cancer, and we
experience the longest day and the shortest night of the year.
The two chief icons of the holiday are the spear (symbol of the Sun-God in his
glory) and the summer cauldron (symbol of the Goddess in her bounty).It is
interesting to note here that modern Witches often use these same symbols in
the Midsummer rituals. And one occasionally hears the alternative
consecration formula, "As the spear is to the male, so the cauldron is to the
female..." With these mythic associations, it is no wonder that Midsummer is
such a joyous and magical occasion!

The cauldron, filled with water and decorated with flowers, is placed before the altar. HPS casts the
Circle and then stands before the Cauldron, wand upraised. HP stands in North behind the altar; coven is
in a circle, facing inwards, alternately man and woman. HPS says:
HPS:
Great One of Heaven, Power of the Sun,
We invoke thee in thy ancient names -
Michael, Balin, Arthur, Lugh, Herne;
Come again as of old into this thy land.
Lift up thy shining spear of light to protect us.
Put to flight the powers of darkness.
Give us fair woodlands and green fields,
Blooming orchards and ripening corn.
Bring us to stand upon thy hill of vision,
And show us the lovely realms of the Gods.
HPS traces an invoking pentagram upon the HP with her wand. He comes desoil about the altar picking
up his own wand and the scourge. He plunges the wand into the cauldron and holds it up, saying:
HP:
The Spear to the Cauldron, the Lance to the Grail, Spirit to Flesh,
Man to Woman, Sun to Earth.
Saluting HPS with wand, he joins the Coven in their circle. HPS picks up a sprinkler and stands by the
cauldron, saying:
HPS:
Dance ye about the Cauldron of Cerridwen, the Goddess, and be
ye blessed with the touch of this Ccnsecrated water; even as the
Sun, the Lord of Life, ariseth in his strength in the sign of the
Waters of Life.
HP leads a slow circle dance deosil about the Cauldron. As each passes, HPS sprinkles them with water
from it.
Cakes and wine follow and dances, rites and games as the HPS shall direct. A balefire may be lit and
leaped.

NOTES
l based on Stewart Farrar's What Witches Do, which is based on Alex Sander's BOS
There's a similar ritual given as "A Beautiful Old Fire Rite to the Horned God" in The Grimoire of
Lady Sheba. The HPS' first speech is broken into verses here (but not in the Farrar version) and in
Sheba's version. I think it's easier to read that way.

LAMMAS ( First Harvest ) Aug 1

Although in the heat of summer it might be difficult to discern,
the festival of Lammas (Aug 1st) marks the end of summer and the beginning
of fall. The days now grow visibly shorter and by the time we've reached
autumn's end (Oct 31st), we will have run the gamut of temperature from the
heat of August to the cold and (sometimes) snow of November.
The history of Lammas is as convoluted as all the rest of the old folk holidays.
It is of course a cross-quarter day, one of the four High Holidays or Greater
Sabbats of Witchcraft, occurring 1/4 of a year after Beltane. It's true
astrological point is 15 degrees Leo,Tradition has set August 1st as the day Lammas is
typically celebrated. The celebration proper would begin on sundown of the
previous evening, our July 31st, since the Celts reckon their days from
sundown to sundown.
This date has
long been considered a "power point" of the Zodiac, and is symbolized by the
Lion, one of the "tetramorph" figures found on the Tarot cards, the World and
the Wheel of Fortune (the other three figures being the Bull, the Eagle, and the
Spirit). Astrologers know these four figures as the symbols of the four "fixed"
signs of the Zodiac, and these naturally align with the four Great Sabbats of
Witchcraft.
"Lammas" was the medieval Christian name for the holiday and it means
"loaf-mass", for this was the day on which loaves of bread were baked from
the first grain harvest and laid on the church altars as offerings. It was a day
representative of "first fruits" and early harvest.

Poles should be ridden in a ring dance about the Covenstead. And sing the Ancient Call. The casting of
the Circle follows. HPS traces the Five Point Star before the Coven saying:
HPS:
O Mighty Mother of us all, Mother of all things living, give us
fruit and grain, flocks and herds and children to the tribe, that we
may be mighty. By thy Rosey Love, do thou descend upon thy
servant and priestess here.
HPS draws down the Moon upon herself and all salute Her.
After a brief silence for contemplation, the Ceremony of Cakes and Wine follows.

NOTES
l Per Stewart Farrar's What Witches Do.

MABON ( Autumnal Equinox ) Sept 21

Technically, an equinox is an astronomical point and, due to the fact that the
earth wobbles on its axis slightly (rather like a top that's slowing down), the
date may vary by a few days depending on the year. The autumnal equinox
occurs when the sun crosses the equator on it's apparent journey southward,
and we experience a day and a night that are of equal duration. Up until Mabon
(Harvest Home), the hours of daylight have been greater than the hours from
dusk to dawn. But from now on, the reverse holds true. Astrologers know this
as the date on which the sun enters the sign of Libra,modern Witches and Pagans, with their desk-top computers
for making finer calculations, seem to prefer the actual equinox point,
beginning the celebration on its eve (this year, sunset on September 21st).
Mythically, this is the day of the year when the god of light is defeated by his
twin and alter-ego, the god of darkness. It is the time of the year when night
conquers day.

The altar is decorated with the symbols of autumn: pine-cones, oak sprigs, acorns, ears of grain, etc.
After the Circle has been cast, the coven stands in a ring facing inwards, men and women alternately.
The High Priest stands to the west of the altar and the High Priestess to the east, facing each other. The
High Priestess recites:
HPS:
Farewell, O Sun, ever-returning Light,
The hidden God, who ever yet remains,
Who now departs into the Land of Youth
Through the Gates of Death
To dwell enthroned, the Judge of Gods and men,
The horned leader of the hosts of air -
Yet even as he stands unseen about the Circle,
So dwelleth he within the secret seed -
The seed of newly-ripened grain, the seed of flesh;
Hidden in earth, the marvellous seed of the stars.
In him is Life, and Life is the Light of man.
That which never was born, and never dies.
Therefore the wise weep not, but rejoice.
HPS hands HP the wand, and picks up a sistrum; they lead the dance three times round the altar.
The Candle Game is played, followed by cakes and wine and any other games the High Priestess decides
on.

NOTES
l Based on Stewart Farrar's What Witches Do, which is based on Alex Sanders' BOS.
The Candle game, as described in Stewart Farrar's What Witches Do:
The men form a ring facing inwards, either sitting or standing. The women stand in a ring outside
l
them, standing on something if too short. The men pass a lighted candle from hand to hand, deosil,
while the women lean forward and try to blow it out. The man who holds it when it is blown out
gets three flicks of the scourge from the successful blower, and must give her the Fivefold Kiss in
return. The candle is relit and the game proceeds.
l There are lots of variants possible. Have fun.

SAMHAIN ( All Hallow's Eve ) Oct 31

All Hallow's Eve is the eve of All Hallow's Day (November 1st). And for
once, even popular tradition remembers that the Eve is more important than
the Day itself, the traditional celebration focusing on October 31st, beginning
at sundown. And this seems only fitting for the great Celtic New Year's
festival.
The Celts called it Samhain, which means "summer's end", according to their
ancient two-fold division of the year, when summer ran from Beltane to
Samhain and winter ran from Samhain to Beltane. (Some modern Covens echo
this structure by letting the High Priest "rule" the Coven beginning on
Samhain, with rulership returned to the High Priestess at Beltane.) According
to the later four-fold division of the year, Samhain is seen as "autumn's end"
and the beginning of winter. Samhain is pronounced (depending on where
you're from) as "sow-in" (in Ireland), or "sow-een" (in Wales), or "sav-en" (in
Scotland), or (inevitably) "sam-hane" (in the U.S., where we don't speak
Gaelic).
Not only is Samhain the end of autumn; it is also, more importantly, the end of
the old year and the beginning of the new. Celtic New Year's Eve, when the
new year begins with the onset of the dark phase of the year, just as the new
day begins at sundown. There are many representations of Celtic gods with
two faces, and it surely must have been one of them who held sway over
Samhain.

To Witches, Halloween is one of the four High Holidays, or Greater Sabbats,
or cross-quarter days. Because it is the most important holiday of the year, it is
sometimes called "THE Great Sabbat." It is an ironic fact that the newer, selfcreated
Covens tend to use the older name of the holiday, Samhain, which
they have discovered through modern research. While the older hereditary and
traditional Covens often use the newer name, Halloween, which has been
handed down through oral tradition within their Coven. (This is often holds
true for the names of the other holidays, as well. One may often get an
indication of a Coven's antiquity by noting what names it uses for the
holidays.)
With such an important holiday, Witches often hold two distinct celebrations.
First, a large Halloween party for non-Craft friends, often held on the previous
weekend. And second, a Coven ritual held on Halloween night itself, late
enough so as not to be interrupted by trick-or-treaters. If the rituals are
performed properly, there is often the feeling of invisible friends taking part in
the rites. Another date which may be utilized in planning celebrations is the
actual cross-quarter day, or Old Halloween, or Halloween O.S. (Old Style).
This occurs when the sun has reached 15 degrees Scorpio, an astrological
"power point" symbolized by the Eagle.

Of all the Witchcraft holidays, Halloween is the only one that still boasts
anything near to popular celebration. Even though it is typically relegated to
children (and the young-at-heart) and observed as an evening affair only,
many of its traditions are firmly rooted in Paganism.

Preparation:
l Balefire in centre.
l Two black candles upon the altar.
l A red candle in each of the Quarters.
l A wreath of autumn flowers and the crown of the Horned One are upon the altar.
All Coveners are properly prepared, naked and bound.
All are purified by the scourge.
HPS erects the Circle. The HP says:
HP:
O Gods, beloved of us all,
bless this our Sabbat that we,
thy humble worshippers,
may meet in love, joy and bliss.
Bless our rites this night
with the presence of our departed kin.
Facing north with arms upraised, coveners hand-linked in a semicircle behind him, the HP invokes the
Horned One.
HPS bearing a priapus wand then leads the Coven in a meeting dance, slowly, to the Witches' Rune. HP
gives each an unlit candle and brings up the rear of the dance. The candles are each lit from the balefire
before the outward spiral.
When it is done the HPS assumes the Goddess position saying:
HPS:
Dread Lord of the Shadows, God of Life and Bringer of Death!
Yet as the knowledge ofthee is Death, open wide, I pray thee, the
gates through which all must pass. Let our dear ones, who have
gone before, return this night to make merry with us. And when
our time comes, as it must, O thou the Comforter, the Consoler,
the Giver of Peace and rest, we will enter thy realms gladly and
unafraid; for we know that when rested and refreshed among our
dear ones, we will be reborn again by thy grace, and the grace of
the Lady Cerridwen. Let it be in the same place and the same time
as our beloved ones, and may we meet, and know, and remember,
and love them again ! Descend, we pray thee, on thy High Priest
and Servant, N....
HPS goes to the HP and, with wand, draws the five-point star upon his breast and upon the crown of the
Horned God. HP kneels and HPS places the crown upon his head. Fresh incense is cast into the
thurible. HPS strikes the bell and HP says:
HP:
Hear ye my witches,
Welcome to our Great Sabbat.
Welcome we the spirits
Of our departed kin.
HPS strikes bell. Witches walk slowly around the Circle.
HPS fills chalice with wine and hands it to HP who drinks and then says:
HP:
In humility, as the Horned One asks,
I bid my witches drink.
HP takes chalice to first witch, giving it with his right hand whilst taking the taper with his left
(kiss), then extinguishing the taper before accepting back the chalice. Repeat with each witch
present. HP then says:
HP:
Listen, my witches, to the words of the Horned One, Drink, dance
and be merry in the presence of the Old Gods and the spirits of
our departed kin.
Coveners partake of cakes and wine.
Dances and games follow closing of Circle.
Great Rite if at all possible by High Priestess and High Priest if no other.
Merry meet, merry part.

NOTES
l There are plenty of published Samhain rituals, containing at least some of these elements.
This is from What Witches Do by Stewart Farrar, fleshed out from Lady Sheba's Book of
Shadows, as usual.

Nice Altar