A Magical Guide to the Wheel of the Year 2021
Welcome, 2021!
We finally said goodbye to this difficult year of social distancing, and it’s time to say hello to all the possibilities of the new year.
With this magic almanac for the new year, you can manifest your best self, protect your energy during difficult times, reach your objectives, and realize your dreams.
The Wheel of the Year is an annual cycle of eight neo-pagan festivals also called Sabbaths among Wiccan. They include four solar holidays (Winter Solstice, Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Fall Equinox) and four seasonal holidays (celebrating or marking a significant seasonal change).
If you are a baby witch, or you want to get in touch more with the spiritual world (magically or not), read below to learn how we can twist secular traditions into something magical and holy.
THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2021
Winter solstice or Yule: December 21 - January 1
Imbolc: February 1-2
Spring equinox or Ostara: March 20
May Day or Beltane: May 1
Summer Solstice or Litha: June 24
Lammas or Lughnasadh: August 1
Fall equinox Mabon: September 21-29
Samhain or Halloween: October 31 – November 1
THE SOLAR HOLIDAYS
The solar holidays are the greater sabbaths. They originate from Germanic traditions and originally marked the solstices and equinoxes, fitting into the rhythm of the ways people farmed. They include Yule, Ostara, Litha, and Mabon.
THE SEASONAL DAYS
The lesser sabbats, or the cross-quarter days, mark the midpoint between a solstice and equinox. They have their origins in Celtic traditions, where these signaled the beginning (not middle) of a season. They include Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain.
THE FESTIVALS AND HOW TO HONOR THEM
Yule
In old almanacs Yule was represented by the symbol of a wheel, conveying the idea of the year turning like a wheel, The Great Wheel of the Zodiac, The Wheel of Life. Yule occurs on the winter solstice and marks the beginning Capricorn season. That’s the moment when the north pole is tilted away from the sun, making it the shortest day and longest night of the year. Think of it as the start of a new journey, a new adventure. It’s a time we pause to appreciate ourselves and our loved ones, showing gratitude.
Imbolc
Originally, this day was called Imbolc (lambs milk) because the lambing season began. It is the promise of renewal, of hidden potential, of earth awakening and life-force stirring. Here is hope. We welcome the growth of the returning light and witness Life's insatiable appetite for rebirth. Imbolc is traditionally the great festival of the loved pagan Gaelic Goddess of Bridgit. She is a Goddess of healing, poetry, and inspiration. That’s a good moment for purification rituals and candle magic.
Ostara
Ostara falls on the spring equinox and the beginning of Aries season. It is traditionally the day of equilibrium, neither harsh winter nor the merciless summer, and is a time of childish wonder. The equinox occurs when the sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north, marking the beginning of spring and Aries season. Similar to those indicating the fecundity of spring, symbols for Ostara include eggs, rabbits, flowers, and seeds. It is a good time to perform banishings spells and also perform workings to gain things we have lost or qualities we wish to have.
Beltane
Beltane celebrates light, fertility, and the coming of summer. The name is thought to come from the phrase “Bel’s Fire”, a reference to Bel, the Celtic sun god but means “bright fire”.This is a holiday of Union between masculine and feminine energy. It is a time of fertility and harvests, the time for reaping the wealth from the seeds that we have sown. Celebrations may include dancing or sex magic.
Litha
Litha is also known as Midsummer celebrates the longest day of the year at the Summer Solstice and the beginning of Cancer season. Because this Sabbat glorifies the Sun God and the Sune. Fire plays a very prominent role in this festival Most celebrate the summer solstice with bonfires on the beach and picnics. Common practices at Litha, include also protecting one’s self from unseen forces, for example creating amulets.
Lughnasadh
Lughnasadh (named for the Celtic hero-god Lugh, associated with order and truth) is the festival of the harvest season. It’s the moment to show our infinite gratitude to Mother Earth. Walking through the woods to spend some time meditating in beautiful surroundings and making bread and sweets are both ideas to celebrate this festival.
Mabon
Mabon marks the beginning of autumn and the Libra season. It celebrates the Autumn Equinox through thanksgiving and reflection on what one has gained and lost over the year.
The autumnal equinox occurs when the sun crosses the equator on its apparent journey southward, and we experience a day and a night that are of equal duration. Up until Mabon, the hours of daylight have been greater than the hours from dusk to dawn. But from now on, the reverse holds true. This is the time to look back not just in the past year, but also on your life, and to plan for the future. In the rhythm of the year, Mabon is a time of rest and celebration, after the hard work of gathering the crops.
Samhain
Samhain occurs on Halloween’s Eve. Samhain is a major festival in several aspects. It is new year's eve for witches, as well as our third and final harvest festival. This is a good night for deep reflection, long meditation sessions, and inner work. This is the night when the veil is thinnest, the gates between the worlds are open. Souls of the dead are said to visit their homes at midnight. Possible spirit workings include a dumb supper for the beloved dead - ouija - séances - trance possession - automatic writing - leave spirit plates of food outside your home.
(*Note: Samhain is pronounced sowen, soween, saw-win, saw-vane, or sahven, not sam-hayne.)
Even if you are a witch or not, since these holidays fall during seasonal shifts and energetically potent intervals, you can plan your magical efforts and rituals according to them. Maybe these will become part of your new magical year traditions!
Dusky Witch