Sabbats & Esbats in Wicca.

'THE SABBAT TRADITIONS

The Wheel of the Year is a Neo-pagan term used to describe the annual cycle of the Earth's seasons, and it tells the story of the life of the God and Goddess. While some traditions refer to the God as the consort or companion of the Goddess, they are most often viewed as equals. Neither is complete without the other.

In this cycle, the God (Sun) is reborn each Yule, (Winter Solstice) after the longest night of the year. As the days become longer, he grows in power and warms the cold Earth. She awakens from her slumber to renew and flourish.

Then on Litha (Summer Solstice), the God once again begins to weaken and the days grow shorter. As the Sun's power slowly fades, the Earth falls asleep and waits for his rebirth on the next Winter Solstice.

Our ancestors adjusted their lives to these seasonal changes. They followed both the solar and lunar cycles of the year.

These ever-changing cycles became known as the Wheel of the Year. There are eight Sabbats. Four of them, sometimes referred to as the Greater Sabbats, are based on old Celtic festivals. The other four, or lesser Sabbats, are based on the first days of the four seasons. These are also known as solstices and equinoxes. A solstice is the time of year when the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky, marking the longest and shortest days of the year. In the northern hemisphere, the summer solstice is celebrated around June 21, when the sun reaches its northernmost point on the celestial sphere. The winter solstice happens around December 22. Due to seasonal differences, these celebrations are reversed in the southern hemisphere.

The word equinox is derived from the Latin equus (equal) and nox (night). An equinox happens twice a year when night and day are about the same length. The Sun is crossing the Equator (an imaginary line around the middle of the Earth) and it is an equal distance from the North Pole and the South Pole. Since summer and winter seasons are opposite on either side of the equator in the northern hemisphere the equinox in September is known as the "autumnal (fall) equinox". However, in the southern hemisphere, September is the time of the "spring (vernal) equinox". Although astronomically the solstices and equinoxes mark the beginning of the seasons, to our ancestors, they actually represented the midpoint of each season. This is why October 31 to November 1 (Samhain) was traditionally celebrated as the end of fall and the beginning of winter, while the Winter solstice was considered the midpoint of winter. Spring began on February 2 (Imbolc), summer on May 1 (Beltane), and autumn on August 1 (Lughnasadh or Lammas). It’s important to note that these dates are not the same around the world. The Sabbat dates in this book are for the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere these festivals are commonly shifted by six months to match the local seasons. You will want to adjust your celebrations accordingly.

Keeping in tune with nature’s cycles may sound a bit complicated, but it’s not. The bottom line is to simply celebrate the change in seasons and enjoy whatever activity is appropriate for the current time of year in YOUR part of the world. And don’t make your rituals too complicated. They should be fun and a true expression of thankfulness for what is to come. Your Sabbat celebrations and Esbat rituals should always express your love and appreciation for nature. Be sure to give thanks for all the little blessings in your life, like the soft grass beneath your feet, the colorful flowers in your garden or an old tree that provides you with shelter from the weather. Being grateful for the blessings we have already received can cast a transforming blanket of joy and peace over our mundane life experiences.

In Wicca, the "THREE-FOLD LAW OF RETURN" or “LAW OF THREE” teaches that whatever we do, for good or ill, will be returned to us threefold. Thus, the very act of sending thoughts and feelings of gratitude out will guarantee that you’ll have even more to be grateful about in the future. The more things you find to be thankful for, the faster new Divine blessings will start flowing into your life. This is a well-known Universal Law also referred to as the Law of Attraction!

If your rituals seem empty because you simply memorize words and perform activities that have no meaning to you, there is not much benefit in doing them. One reader shared with me that she did not need a special altar or a certain color candle for special occasions. All she needed was to be outside and concentrate on a flower, a star, the moon, the warmth of the sun, the cool earth, or listen to some rippling water to feel connected to all that grows and lives. This person is simply doing what feels right to her. It’s up to you whether you celebrate the seasons or not, but if you do, choose activities, rituals and/or foods that make each occasion enjoyable for YOU. Tip: If you miss the exact day or time that a Sabbat is normally celebrated, it's not the end of the world. What's MOST important is to celebrate when you can. Strive continually to balance your life with the rhythms of the natural world. Every time you stop to observe nature's cycles and take part in an activity that honors the change in the season, the ordinary becomes extraordinary and your life becomes more magical.'

-- Zoe, Kardia. 'Living Wicca Today Pagan Holidays & Earth Magic: A Beginner's Guide to Wiccan Traditions and Practices' (pp. 12-14).


ESBATS

'Esbats & Moon Lore The face of the Moon doth change its aspect, yet is ever the same; . As the Holy Law doth reveal a different face to each of the Children of Light, yet is unchanged in its essence.'

-- Zoe, Kardia. 'Living Wicca Today Pagan Holidays & Earth Magic: A Beginner's Guide to Wiccan Traditions and Practices' (p. 54).


'While solar activity is the basis for Sabbat celebrations, Esbats are gatherings and rituals that are traditionally scheduled around the cycles of the Moon.

This is a popular time for initiation ceremonies, healing magic or other rituals that involve the lunar activity of the moon and are traditionally associated with the feminine energy or the Goddess.

Lunar observance and ritual are an important part of the Wiccan religion. During an Esbat, time is usually set aside to honor the God and Goddess. However, because the Moon is a symbol of the Goddess, some traditions may focus only on the feminine aspect of the Divine. The bottom line is there is no single, preferred way to celebrate an Esbat. Let your heart guide you and do whatever you feel most comfortable with.

The cycle of the Moon has traditionally been connected with the Triple Goddess. Her three aspects include the Maiden (Crescent Moon), the Mother (Full Moon), and the Crone (Dark Moon). Two specific energy paths are also linked to the moon cycle. These are waning (decreasing) and waxing (increasing).

Finally, there are thirteen Moons in a calendar year, and each is connected with a different type of energy, based on the season.

If this sounds complicated, just remember that it all boils down to simply following the increasing or decreasing energy of the moon and the natural flow of the seasons. When it comes to the seasons, we all know that it's best to work with Mother Nature, so we plant in the spring and harvest in the fall. The same logic applies when working with the cycles of the moon.  If you want to decrease, banish or remove a problem, many believe it is best to tackle that issue between the Full Moon and the New Moon, while the moon is waning or decreasing. The day or night of the New Moon is considered the strongest for banishing. On the other hand, spells or magic for increase, growth, and gain should be done after the New Moon, while it is waxing or increasing. The day or night of the Full Moon is considered the most powerful for increasing energy work. This type of Moon magic is ancient, and it is still practiced today.   Our ancestors knew that everyone was affected by the power of the Moon and they used Her influence to better their lives.  Those who practiced magic would use various lunar cycles to enhance their spells and rituals, tapping into the larger amounts of energy they believed existed during this time.  The mystical influence of the Moon is still acknowledged today by most Wiccan and Pagan groups and many plan their activities around the cycles of the moon, as they feel this gives their spellwork, healing or magical rituals a little additional energy.'

-- Zoe, Kardia. 'Living Wicca Today Pagan Holidays & Earth Magic: A Beginner's Guide to Wiccan Traditions and Practices' (pp. 55-56).