Wheel of the Year
We talk about the eight festivals of the year.
Really, these are two times four festivals that interweave. Those of the Sun and those of the Moon.
In simple terms, the Sun represents the male energy, the God.
The Moon represents the female energy, the Goddess.
Festivals of the Sun
Winter Solstice – Alban Arthun, the Light of Arthur, the Bear, for the nights are long and dominated by the constellation The Great Bear. Whilst the Solstice itself can now be calculated with a great degree of accuracy, this festival is about the return of the sun. We celebrate the point just after the solstice when it is apparent that the days are growing longer and the land will once again bear fruit.
The Vernal Equinox – Alban Eiler, the Light of Spring. Here the day and night are of equal length. It is a time of balance in which to take a deep breath in preparation of the heady rush into Summer.
Summer Solstice – Alban Hefen, the Light of Summer. As with the Winter Solstice, we celebrate this festival and the point where the days show that they are beginning to shorten. The Sun’s power is waning and we must begin our preparation for the coming Winter.
The Autumn Equinox – Alban Elfed, The Light of Autumn. Once again we find a point of balance, this time we will be tipped into Winter. This is also the time when we celebrate the harvest giving thanks for all we have received and all that we are taking with us into the Winter months.
Festivals of the Moon
Imbolc – 1st February. New Moon. The earth is waking after the long sleep of Winter. Whilst much has been happening underground, the first signs we have above are usually the snowdrops which brave the snow and are taken to symbolise this festival.
Beltane – 1st May. First Quarter. The days are warmer. The fecundity of the earth is intoxicating, everything bursting with new growth, the sap rising fast. And not just in the vegetation! Beltane was the traditional time for choosing the one to whom you wish to be espoused.
Lughnasagh – 1st August. Full Moon. The ripened corn fields mark the beginning of the harvest season. For this reason, Lughnasagh is often called Lammas, or Loaf Mass, and is celebrated with bread made from the newly harvested grain.
Samhain – 1st November. Last Quarter. The earth begins her long sleep of Winter. The nights are drawing in and there is time for reflection. It is also a time for re-evaluating who we are as we reconnect with our ancestors.
Deity
This is always a personal area. We will each have our own experience of Deity but there are traditional associations.
Imbolc is a time of waking. This is the Goddess in her maiden form. She is beginning her journey back from the Underworld into this. Traditionally this festival is associated with Bride. The male energies of this time are those of Galahad setting out on his quest.
Beltane sees the door to Underworld burst open an the Goddess returns heralding Summer. She is Rhiannon come looking for her mate. She is Blodeuwedd in her feminine voluptuousness. The God who gives his name to the season is Bel, husband of Don.
Lughnasagh sees the Goddess as Mother, the nurturer. She offers us the cornucopia of the harvest. She is Modron the Great Mother. She is Epona, the Great Mare. Arianrhod of the Silver Wheel. The festival takes its name from the God Lugh, the Irish Sun God or Llew Llaw Gyffes in the Mabinogion.
Samhain brings the Goddess in her Wise Woman face. Cerridwen with her Cauldron stirring her herbal brews. The God who guards the Way to the Underworld is Gwyn-ap-Nudd.
