Lughnasadh (the three most common pronunciations are; loo-NAS-suh, LOO-nah-sod, or loo-NESS-uh) takes place on August 1st in the northern hemisphere and February 1st in the southern hemisphere. This is my explanation of this holiday. It may or may not work for you and your path. There are a number of things that this Sabbat usually celebrates:
Fertility (in plants, animals, and humans)
The first harvest
Honor the God Lugh
Honor any other deities related to the harvest (there are many)
Some ways of celebrating culturally are:
Creating a feast with harvest foods
Baking bread
Making jelly or jam
Making tomato sauce
Preserving food (canning, jarring, etc.)
Going on a picnic
Going for a hike
Singing
Playing games, especially outdoor games
Plan a BBQ with seasonal foods
Make crafts using corn and corn husks
Some ritual ideas are:
Imbibe food with intention or energy and eat it
Make sacrifices to the local land wights, fae, or whatever else you believe in
Midsummer or Litha takes place on the summer solstice (around June 21st in the northern hemisphere and December 21st in the southern hemisphere. This is my explanation of this holiday. It may or may not work for you and your path. There are a number of things that this Sabbat usually celebrates:
The power and strength of the sun
Various sun Gods
The longest day of the year
The Oak King takes over for the Holly King
Some ways of celebrating culturally are:
Have a bonfire
Eat foods that honor fire (usually spicy)
Eat seasonal foods
Go on a picnic
Go for a hike
Drink mead, but drink responsibly
Have a drum circle
Dance
Host a barbeque
Watch the sun rise
Spend time with family
Pick herbs
Make a flower or oak leaf crown or wreath
Pick seasonal foods (where I live, this means we go strawberry picking)
Watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Some ritual ideas are:
Fire magic
Drum or make other music
Dance or move
Honor a sun God
Reaffirm your relationship to any deities you work with
I am part of a lot of Wicca groups on Facebook. Almost daily we get someone who is new and wants to know about Wicca or Paganism asking what they need to do. Some also ask for a teacher. Almost 100% of the people who respond to those posts send them a book list to read. There are tons of people who do not learn that way and could use a teacher. Admittedly, people are going to have to read this, but I’m not giving you full books to read. These are my recommendations for people who are new and want to learn more.
Figure out what you believe. Is there a specific pantheon you are interested in? Are you interested in a specific type of Wicca? Figure out which deities you want to worship.
How would you like to worship?
Are you light, dark, or grey? Are you interested in only good deities and harming none? Are you interested in being in the middle because nature isn’t just light? Are you interested in dark imagery and exploring the darker side of you?
Are all of these questions too much or too specific for you? Here are some good ways to get started in Wicca. There are other types of Paganism out there worth looking into as well, in case you decide Wicca isn’t right for you.
Look into different Gods and Goddesses to see which ones resonate with you.
Connect with like-minded people. Find others near you. There are a number of groups on Facebook. Join them and see if there is anyone who lives near you. Check meetup to see if there is a local group. See if there are any metaphysical shops near you. They may offer classes or at least may connect you with any groups in the area. See if there is a Pagan Pride Day near you. Attend and make some friends!
Don’t agree with my assessments about the Elements, Sabbats and Esbats, altar tools and setup, or how to create a Circle? That’s great! That means you have an opinion on how something works and that will help you better find the path that’s right for you. There is no right way to worship in Wicca. Find what works for you and do it!
Several of you may have noticed that I didn’t mention divination (like tarot cards, pendulums, runes, etc.) or spells. Wicca is a religion. While many people who believe in Pagan religions may cast spells or read tarot cards, they are not a part of the religion. There are people who do divination and cast spells that are not religious and there are people that worship in this religion without doing divination and casting spells. For those who are interested, I will include articles about those in the future.
A final note about meeting Wiccans in real life. Because this is more of a “do-it-yourself” religion than book religions, we often end up with a lot of the people that are no longer welcome in churches, a synagogues, or mosques for a variety of reasons that then choose Paganism. There are some socially awkward people, some flaky people, and some toxic people. If you see any red flags, avoid those who display them. However, there are some truly wonderful Pagans out there, so don’t let that deter you from finding your tribe!
Some people prefer to just celebrate the Sabbats. I see those as Sun holidays, since they are all determined by the solar calendar. The Esbats are Moon holidays, since they are determined by the moon. I think that celebrating both is important for a balance in my religious practice.
However, I had put off writing this article for a while because I never really celebrated these apart from a group. When I first started learning about Paganism in the form of Wicca, the only thing I knew to do to celebrate the full moon was to do a “Drawing Down of the Moon”. However, I had never progressed far enough in my Wiccan studies to learn how to do this, so once I started celebrating with a Circle that only sporadically celebrates full moons. For years, I didn’t really celebrate Full Moons. Sometimes I just forgot. Other times, I didn’t keep track of the full moons. Now that I am trying to revitalize my faith, I am trying to celebrate them. At the time of this writing, I still didn’t know how to do a “Drawing Down of the Moon”. I did some soul-searching and some research and this is what I came up with.
This is what this Esbat celebrates:
The most powerful time of the Lunar cycle
Most magically potent time of the Lunar cycle
The cyclic nature of life
Women’s monthly cycles
The Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess
Fertility and fruition
Here are some ways that I and others celebrate it culturally.
Just like other forms of worship, there is usually an order in which everything is done. Because Paganism is a broad term encompassing many different religions, this is just a broad, generalization and may not be true for every tradition. In my experience, the sections with the asterisks next to them are included in just about every ritual. This can be done alone or in a group. Advanced practioners can simply sit there and accomplish this all energetically without moving or speaking, but that’s pretty rare. Most people tend to use movements or words aloud to symbolize what they mean to do. While there are formal ways to be trained in some traditions of Paganism, some people will also just call themselves a Priest or Priestess without any training, so you have to be wary. Some traditions have a specific High Priest and High Priestess to lead all rituals, some traditions take turns leading, and yet others have different people do different parts of the ritual. I know this is very vague, but it’s difficult to make broad generalizations on such a vast array of practices!
Smudging The participants wave a cleansing incense at each other in turn, often white sage. If this is done by a solitary practioner, the person smudges themselves.
Grounding This is a whole other topic unto itself, but it’s the act of taking unnecessary energy and putting it into the ground. Advanced practioners can do this on their own, but less experienced people may need guided visualization, actually touching the earth, or a grounding tool such as hematite to help them.
Casting the Circle* This can be done in many ways, but it’s usually done by walking in a circle counter clockwise, either by one person around all of the participants or the whole group (if there is a group). Sometimes an athame or wand is used (see ritual tools).
Calling the Elements* All of the elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water are called to join the circle. They can be called by different people or just one. The wording varies.
Calling the Deities* Whatever deities are appropriate can be called now. The wording varies.
The Purpose of the Ritual* Whatever the purpose of this ritual is completed now. It could be to celebrate the full moon or a sabbat (holiday). It could be to get wisdom and guidance for a purpose. It could be to do energy work or a spell (focused prayer). There are many many reasons to have a ritual.
Cakes and Ale Food and drink are consumed for a sacred purpose, which varies depending on the purpose of the ritual.
Releasing of the Deities* Whatever deities that were called are thanked for attending the ritual (often called Circle) and for helping with the purpose of the ritual. A common phrase at this point is, “Go if you must, stay if you will. Hail and farewell.”
Releasing the Elements* The elements are thanked for attending the ritual and for helping with the purpose of this ritual.
Taking Down the Circle* Whatever was done to cast the Circle is undone, usually in reverse.
One thing that I find is that the more experienced I get, the less ritual tools I need. I will list some of the more commonly used ritual tools in Wicca and their uses. Also, all tools should be consecrated (cleansed). Usually this is done by the four elements (passing it through incense, passing it through flame, sprinkling water on it, and sprinkling salt or earth on it).Â
This is actually the one I have on my altar
Athame – Pronounced “ah – thah – meh” , this a ritual knife. Different traditions have different ideas about what this should look like. Some state what color the handle must be, what it is made of, or whether or not the blade should be double-edged. It is associated with the element of fire but some traditions believe it is associated with the element of air. It is often used for channeling and directing energy, cutting things for ritual purposes, and sometimes for casting a circle or calling the elements.
Wand – This is probably the most famous ritual tool and appears in many movies about witches and wizards. However, magic doesn’t happen like that in real life. The wand has little to no power of its own. Like the athame, it is a channel for energy and is also used to direct it. Unlike the athame, it’s usually made out of wood and is associated with the element of air but some traditions associate it with the element of fire. There are many traditions that state how long a wand should be or what should or shouldn’t be added to the wood. It is usually used for casting a circle.
Chalice- This usually represents the element of water. It can be used to share ritual drinks. It can also hold liquids that are used as an offering on an altar. It can represent a womb or a vagina in various workings as well.
Pentacle – This usually represents the element of earth. It can be made of ceramic, wood, or metal depending on your preferences or that of your tradition. A pentacle has the symbol of a five pointed star surrounded by a circle. Contrary to popular belief, it does not have to be ‘point up’ or ‘point down’. I haven’t seen it used often in rituals and believe that its primary purpose is to help provide grounding and to be a symbol of spirituality. Sometimes it is kept in the middle of the altar as well.
Incense – Incense varies based on the herbs and the scents. While it is considered an air element, the uses vary based on what type of incense you are using. For example, sage is usually used for cleansing and purification.
Candle – Candles usually represent the element of fire, but their uses can vary depending on their color. For example, they can be used to represent the four elements if you choose candles with colors representing each element. They can also represent a God or Goddess. They can be inscribed with symbols, herbs, or oils for a purpose and burned to achieve that purpose.
Cauldron – These are also often associated with witches. Cauldrons can be used similar to a chalice to represent a womb. They are associated with the element of water. They can also be used to combine herbs or “potions”. Mostly, I have seen them used to burn pieces of paper with words written on them.
Salt – Salt is sometimes left as an offering in a dish or used as a cleansing/purifying agent.
Crystals and gemstones- Crystals are often chosen for a purpose (for example amethyst is used to promote the psychic abilities). Gemstones all have different uses and affiliations, similar to incense. Clear quartz can be imbibed with power and used for a specific purpose. They can also be used to represent the different elements or a specific deity.
I usually celebrate the Sabbats with my Circle. Unfortunately, I have moved far away from them. As a result, any time they gather for a night ritual, I can’t attend. I’d fall asleep on the way home. I thought they were celebrating Samhain on a Friday night, so I didn’t attend it. I later found out it was on a Saturday, so I was a little annoyed. I had to figure out how to celebrate this Sabbat on my own.
Now, Samhain is my least favorite Sabbat. Usually our Circle’s ritual will involve honoring the deceased and I spend the whole night crying because I miss them. Never mind the fact that the last family member I lost was close to 10 years ago, I still bawl my eyes out every Samhain because I still miss them.Â
While I did decorate my altar with the photos of deceased friends and family this year, I decided to treat Samhain like a new year and did some divination based on my resolution to lose weight. I asked how I could overcome the my issues with consistency and asked what was holding me back. My favorite go-to divination tool is a pendulum, but this required more than a yes or no answer. I dug through my pile of divination tools that are rarely used and was drawn to two that I almost never use — crone stones and tarot cards.Â
First, I decided to draw three crone stones. Usually when divination tools are drawn in groups of 3, the first one represents past, the second one represents present, and the third one represents the future. I drew them in the above order. According to the booklet that came with them, the first one is The Dancer. The Dancer’s message is that physical energy can be used to tap divine energy. Get outdoors. Take a yoga class. Yes, the booklet actually said that! I used to enjoy running, but my body can’t handle it anymore. I have been meaning to start walking, but have had difficulties finding the time.Â
The second stone was She Who Knows. The booklet discussed the inner knowing that we all possess. I turned my attention inward and realized that it is my emotions holding me back. My first husband was emotionally abusive and some of it still affects me today. Admittedly, the more time goes by, the less it affects me.  I am healing, it’s just taking longer than I would like. I look forward to the day when I am completely healed! I feel like my weight-loss journey is one of the last vestiges of the emotional damage. He once told me he wasn’t attracted to me after I gained weight. I think subconsciously I stay this size so he won’t still be attracted to me. It’s not even like I see him that often. Nonetheless, it’s time to move on.
The third stone was Let Go. The booklet said it signifies the release of emotional baggage. That’s what I need to do to succeed at losing weight and getting healthier? So I just need to figure out how to get rid of my emotional baggage. It’s easier said than done. I’ve been working on it for years.
I am not really adept at using tarot cards. It took me forever just to find a set I liked. I needed to use the paper that came with it just to remind myself how to do the traditional spread.  For those of you who are interested in such things this is the Tarot of the Moon Garden.Â
1. PRESENT POSITION – Judgement: Rejuvenation, rebirth, improvement, and development. That sounds about right. 2. IMMEDIATE INFLUENCE – The Sun: Accomplishment, contentment, success, satisfaction. This sounds like a pretty good influence! 3. GOAL OR DESTINY – The Star: Fulfillment, the proper balancing of desire and work, and effort, love and expression, bright prospects. Wow, you can’t get much better than that! 4. DISTANT PAST FOUNDATION -Knight of Pentacles: A mature and responsible person, reliable, methodical, patient, persistent, organize. Yup, that’s the person I used to be. I am working hard to become her again. 5. RECENT PAST EVENTS – Seven of Swords: New plans, endeavor, partial success. Again, this seems right. I keep moving, starting new jobs, starting over, and starting new weight loss plans that don’t come to fruition. 6. FUTURE INFLUENCE -The Fool: Thoughtlessness, folly, lack of discipline, irrationality, insecurity, and enthusiasm. This is going to be what influences my future!? Well, shit. I had hoped for something a little more promising. 7. THE QUESTIONER -Nine of Cups: Success, marital attainment, well-being, abundance. Well, I do have a job I like. I have an awesome husband and an amazing son. I like where we live. I could use a little more financial abundance. Things are tight with money right now and I need to lose weight, but otherwise I’m doing quite well for myself. 8. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS -King of Pentacles: A person of character and intelligence, loyal friend, reliable marriage partner. I’m not sure how this is an environmental factor. It just sounds like a description of me. Maybe I am the environmental factor? 9. INNER EMOTIONS -Nine of Swords: Concern, anxiety, and despair. Well, that about sums it up! 10. FINAL RESULTS -Ace of Swords: Great determination, initiative, strength, force, activity, triumph, and success. I couldn’t ask for better!Â
A few of these made no sense like the King of Pentacles and the Fool, but overall, it looks like I am going to be able to do what I’m supposed to do and lose the weight.
I also tried to do some shamanic journeying to ask for wisdom. However, I ended up falling asleep instead, so that ended my Samhain.
Genre: Non-fiction, informational, religious (Wiccan)
After the table of contents, this book starts off with its first chapter “The Pageantry and Meaning of the sabbats”. It is sort of an introduction and sort of a catch-all for various things the author wanted to include that may or may not relate to the subject area. It goes through the Wheel of the Year and explains which holidays are practiced in which Pagan cultures around the world. It takes a brief detour from sabbats to go into ritual tools, the elements, how to make a robe, the role of ritual and about this book.
After the introductory chapter, there is one for each sabbat, which is about 20-30 pages long each. Each chapter contains 4-8 pages on the historical context of each sabbat, a few recipes, a few crafts with complete how-to guides, an idea for a ritual, and ideas for activities. Sometimes there is one or two music suggestions for each sabbat as well.
On page 201, part 2 of the book begins. It is entitled “Rituals”. It contains 60 pages of sabbat rituals for groups and solitaries. Finally, we have the appendices. Appendix 1 has an outline for ritual construction. Appendix 2 has the elements of spell construction. Appendix 3 has a glossary. Appendix 4 is a resources and merchants guide. Appendix 5 contains the instructions for making felt sabbat calendars. Appendix 6 has various correspondences such as other names, symbols, colors, animals, deities, activities, stones, foods, taboos, plants, meaning, attunement teas, ritual oils, and mythical creatures associated with each sabbat. Appendix 7 has Pagan symbols with their meanings. Appendix 8 has cross stitch patterns.
At the end is the bibliography and selected readings followed by the index.
Verdict: 10/10
This book actually contains more than you really need in a book about the sabbats, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It gave a ton of information about each of the sabbats, a bunch of recipes, ways to celebrate culturally, crafts to make, sample rituals for both solitaries or groups. I was annoyed initially at not getting a generic list of activities and or Gods/Goddesses associated with each sabbat, but the appendices had these in them too!
I actually found this book early on in my spiritual journey. I was really excited because it contained pronunciations of the different sabbats. I wanted to talk to my family about the holidays I was practicing, but didn’t know how to say them!
Being a working mother, it seems like I really don’t have much time to do the things I would like to do. I spent most of today working on updating this blog to not contain my ramblings, but actual information as well. It still doesn’t contain everything I would like it to, not by a long shot.
When I was done working on my blog, I decided to arrange the photos of those who have passed on. My altar was already pretty bare. We had just moved in two months ago and I had yet to unpack all of my Pagan altar-type stuff. It took a few hours finding the photos of the people and pets I was looking for and cropping some of them to fit in the frames. I wanted it to be ready for Samhain night so I don’t have any setup to do. It’s bad enough we had an early freeze, so the pumpkins on our porch are unusable for carving now.
I also tried making the Skull Bread from the Simple Sabbat book I just reviewed. Both the looks and taste was pretty underwhelming. I followed the written directions exactly,  but I somehow produced something more like masks than skulls. I had planned to eat it on Samhain, but I took a tiny taste out of curiosity and it mostly tasted of yeast and spices. I couldn’t really taste the pumpkin.
I still don’t know exactly what I’m going to do on the day of Samhain, but I feel like I’m at least getting into the spirit of the season more!
The Sabbats are the eight Pagan holidays related to the passage of the sun, which is sometimes personified as a God. A lot of Wiccans have a story of how the God is born at Yule, grows to manhood, impregnates the Goddess at Beltane, and dies at Samhain only to be reborn again at Yule. Because they are based on the Sun, they mostly occur at the same time in the calendar year.
I am slowly including posts for each Sabbat. Each post goes into what is celebrated at each Sabbat, ways to culturally celebrate, and some suggestions for rituals at each.
The Esbats are the 12-13 Pagan holidays related to the passage of the moon. They usually coincide with the new moon or the full moon. The moon is often personified as a Goddess. Because women’s bodies (mostly) change on a 28-day cycle, the moon is often associated with females. When I have finished with the posts for the Sabbats, I will then focus on the Esbats.
