Wheel Of the Year
Our last post I mentioned that due to my experience with the Fae Markets I wanted to open a portal of sorts that made our shop special at certain times of the year. The primary times that this will happen will be centered around the Sabbaths but also special astrological and spiritual events. The last sale was for Lammas also known as Lughnasadh or August Eve. Originally this post I was going to do a deep dive into the holiday itself but realized that Lesson One really should be about the whole thing: The Wheel of the Year. So, (Puts glasses on and adapts teacher persona) take a seat, class is now in session.
The Wheel of the Year is the Calendar of Sabbats, generally from Pagan and Celtic tradition but mostly associated with Wicca and Witchcraft. These Holidays/Sabbats are still celebrated by practitioners and also those of the culture or who still believe in their significance. Each of the Sabbats are seasonal festivals marking the changing of the seasons and the progression of the year as well as celebrating the connection of our world to that of the spirit world.
Now (drawing a diagram on the chalk board) I will tell you about the Wheel of the Year and their dates in the Northern Hemisphere, as that is where we are. The dates will be different if you are in the Southern Hemisphere. The first Sabbat is Imbolc (proceeds to put each Sabbat into the diagram) which happens on February 1-2 and is the festival of light, celebrating purification and the end of winter. Then comes Ostara also known as Spring Equinox. This occurs on March 19-21 and as its name indicates it celebrates the Equinox. Equinoxes and solstices tend to gives away their purpose but there is more to it, it also celebrates balance. Beltane comes on April 30-May 1 and is considered the festival of fire and fertility and is seen as the peak of Spring. Litha or Summer Solstice comes next on June 20-22, this is the longest day of the year and the peak of Summer. Lugnasadh or Lammas has come and went for us, it was on August 1 and is the first harvest festival and the Feast of Bread. Mabon or the Autumn Equinox has yet to come on September 21-24. This is the second harvest festival and the peak of Autumn. The most well known Sabbat, Samhain comes on October 31st, it is the third and last harvest festival but is also the Festival of the Dead when the divide between our world and the spirit world is thinnest. Then the year raps up with Yule or Winter Solstice on December 20-23 which is the shortest day of the year and the return of light to the world.
As you can see there is an interesting seperation of the holidays. Three celebrate Spring and Fall respectively and only one celebrates Winter and Summer respectively. There are eight Sabbats all together but it is fascinating that a majority of the Sabbats are focused in the Fall and Spring. We will learn more on this in other lessons. (Removes glasses and shifts back to business owner persona)
This is only a quick summary of the calendar. I would like to do a deep dive post into each Sabbat eventually but with the return to the Human Realm has come the return of the dreaded brain fog which keeps me from my work and my flow states. Bittsy has been on a mission back in the Fae Realm to get me something to help me keep the flow state and prevent the brain fog from seeping back in. In the meantime I will keep doing my best and getting you stories and information as I can.
Speaking of, I have heard that we have a shipment of new fairy wings coming soon along with a new employee for Fae Retail. Yes, you heard right, the stamp of approval has come down from on high and we are officially allowed to have other Fae Staff. There was a lot of negotiating and any candidates before approval are required to be adept with glamor so they don’t reveal themselves to those not touched by magic or with Magic Sight. But we will have a new post next month introducing our new employee when she arrives and telling you more about what is to come.
The next sale will be for Mabon, as it is an Equinox it will be 25% off sight wide and will be for the week of Mabon so starting on Sunday September 20th and going to Saturday September 26th. So keep an eye out on our social media for the code drop, because without the code you won’t have the Harvest Blessing. Until we speak again my Fae Retail Friends and Family, keep fighting that brain fog and hold dear all the little bits of magic that you have in your life.
